VIERA, Fla. — Brevard County is the latest school board to make masks optional at school. The School Board voted 4-1 on the new policy at a special meeting Friday.


What You Need To Know

  • CDC says unvaccinated students should still wear a mask

  • The police will affect summer school and activities

  • Parents against the decision have until July 16 to enroll in virtual school

The new policy will go into effect June 3 and affect any summer school classes and summer activities, continuing through the 2021-2022 school year.

The county says it will continue with enhanced cleaning measures and other "risk mitigation strategies." It also suggests parents who would prefer to keep their children out of class still can enroll in Brevard Virtual School, now through July 16. 

“I think it was a good vote because people should be able to make their own decisions,” said parent Bonnie Rowe, who supported the decision. “My kids will not being wearing masks.”

Parent Alexia Higgins, however, disagreed with the decision.

“I will proceed to not enroll in Brevard schools this next year,” said the mother of three.

This comes as the CDC and leading health experts are saying unvaccinated students should still wear a mask.

However, a letter from Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to superintendents last month told local districts to make masks voluntary next school year.

Lake, Flagler and Marion County school districts have already decided to make masks optional starting with summer programs.

Other districts are still deciding, including Seminole County, which told Spectrum News that its board will make a decision over the summer on what to do for the fall.

​Spectrum News has covered school board meetings like in Volusia County, where some parents were removed who came to protest mask mandates, while not wearing masks themselves.