“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.
