We applaud our Sarasota County School Board members who voted in favor of enacting mask mandates to protect the health and lives of our students, school staff, and their families from the ravages of COVID-19. We thank these members for continuing to stand up for the best interests of our children and our community, despite overt political pressure from Florida’s irresponsible, science-denying governor, who continues to double-down on policies that endanger our community in order to advance his own political agenda and ambitions.

Florida needs courageous leadership from local elected officials, including our school board members, to support common-sense, scientifically proven measures such as mask protocols. Thank you, Sarasota County School Board.