« To me, your rights end when that child’s rights are infringed on, » said Leon County Schools superintendent Rocky Hanna on Sunday.
Leon County Schools (LCS) is joining the growing list of Florida school districts defying Governor Ron DeSantis ‘ order banning mask mandates in schools. District superintendent Rocky Hanna said on Sunday, in a live-streamed video posted on Facebook, that students in pre-K to eighth grade will be required to wear masks, with no opt-out available, with one exception. He noted that parents can exempt their children from this decision only by providing a form signed by a physician or a psychologist. Parents have until the end of the week to complete the form, according to Hanna. « The reason for this is because these children are not eligible to become vaccinated and remain the most vulnerable in our community, » he said. On July 30, DeSantis signed an order giving parents the « freedom to choose » whether their child wears a mask. The governor later threatened to withhold salaries from school board members or the superintendent if they go against his order. Therefore, Hanna’s decision could risk his salary. « I am in total favor of individual rights and freedoms and the rights of parents; however, I strongly believe that my rights end when they infringe on the rights of others, » Hanna said.
