Two Florida school districts that defied state rules and imposed mask mandates for students have been given 48 hours to reverse course or lose state funding equal to the salaries of their school board members.
In an order sent Friday to the districts in Alachua and Broward counties -- the first of five districts in the state to impose mask requirements this month -- the State Board of Education said that if they do not reverse their mandates in two days, the districts will have to provide Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran the current salaries of each school board member.
Leaders in both school districts told ABC News Friday that they will not reverse their mask mandates and will take legal action against the state.
We think he has overstepped his purview," said Dr. Rosalind Osgood, chair of the Broward County School Board.
Osgood said accepting the money would amount to "taking money away from education," emphasizing that "it's about the kids."
Simon, meanwhile, noted in her statement that the Alachua County Commission has offered to make up the loss of funding.
The school districts in Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, and Palm Beach counties also voted this week to impose mask mandates for students. »