VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Volusia County is the latest school district to begin reevaluating its mask policy. After a workshop, the school board voted Tuesday evening 5-0 to move forward with an amended optional face mask policy. 

What You Need To Know

  •  The Volusia County School Board voted Tuesday to move ahead with an amended optional face mask policy

  •  A motion was initially made to rescind the mask policy, but did not move forward

  • A full vote on the new policy is tentatively scheduled for June 22

This came after over a dozen of parents and students asked for the board to rescind the policy entirely. School Board member vice chair Jamie Haynes made a motion to 

“I want the policy rescinded because I do not believe that I have the authority to sit on a school board and make medical decisions that impact children,” said School Board vice chair Jamie Haynes. 

Instead of removing the policy, though, the Board decided to go in a different direction. 

“We’re looking at the pros and cons of just repealing the policy, or to create a new policy which would take effect in June, or a hybrid actually of both,” said Board member Carl Persis. 

Kim Short, a mother of two Volusia County students who watched the workshop, said she is ready for the masks to come off. 

“I would like the choice, my children do not want to wear them," she said. "I feel safe, but I appreciate that not everybody feels the same way I do, so I appreciate the idea of an optional policy."

The board will now advertise the amended policy for 28 days.

“It is still an emotional issue for any people and the board feels like at this point in time we don’t need to be telling parents what to do,” said Persis. 

Once the policy has been advertised for the legally required amount of time, a special meeting will be called where the policy will be voted on and potentially put into effect. According to the Volusia County school district spokesperson, that date tentatively stands at June 22.