Education Secretary Affirms Power To Use Federal Funds To Counter School Mask Threats

Politico: States Can’t Block Federal Funds For Districts That Mandate Masks, Education Secretary Says
Public schools who want to institute mask mandate rules can't be denied federal funds, even if their state governments try to pressure them out of mask mandates, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said. The Florida state government threatened to withhold funds for schools in Broward and Alachua counties if they imposed mandatory mask rules. But the Biden administration has proposed using federal funds to make up the difference, with Cardona specifying Sunday that the schools "do not have to get the green light for [their] governor to use these funds." (Choi, 8/22)

In news on mask mandates in schools —

WUSF Public Media: Sarasota County School Board Votes To Require Masks
After nearly 50 parents, educators and health care professionals spoke during the public comment period, the Sarasota County School Board voted 3-2 to require students to wear masks in class for the next 90 days. The decision, which came after a meeting of more than five hours, allows for an opt-out exemption for students with a doctor's note or special needs students on an Individualized Education Plan. (Miller, 8/22)

The Baltimore Sun: One-Third Of Maryland School Districts Won’t Require Masks As State, Local Leaders Avoid Mandates 
Despite strong recommendations from both health and education leaders, masking will not be required in every Maryland school to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, as political leaders defer decisions about mandates to others amid vocal opposition. The result could be a logistical nightmare for schools, with hundreds of students quarantined at home without access in most districts to the online classes they had last year. (Bowie and Miller, 8/21)

AP: Schools In Florida's Capital City Impose Mask Mandate
The school superintendent in Florida’s capital city announced Sunday that masks will be required for students in prekindergarten through eighth grade, becoming the seventh district to defy Gov. Ron DeSantis ban on such COVID-19 mandates. Leon County Superintendent Rocky Hanna said the district has seen positive tests for the coronavirus skyrocket since school opened Aug. 11 in Tallahassee and its immediate suburbs. He said parents who don’t want their elementary or middle school student to wear a mask will need to get a signed note from their child’s physician or psychologist by Friday. (Spencer, 8/22)

NBC News: 'It's Impossible': Lack Of Covid Safeguards Overwhelm School Nurses
Florida's Hillsborough County Public Schools have had students in classrooms for only two weeks, and yet Katherine Burdge, a school nurse for the district, said she's more stressed out than at any other point during the coronavirus pandemic. The district, the eighth largest in the U.S., has had to isolate or quarantine more than 13,485 students and employees since the start of August, and more than 2,650 of them have tested positive for Covid-19. In response, the Hillsborough County school board ordered a more restrictive mask mandate Wednesday after hours of debate, defying Gov. Ron DeSantis' order that masking decisions be made by parents. (McCausland, 8/22)

WUSF Public Media: Alachua, Broward Officials Given 48 Hours To Reverse Mask Mandates Or Lose Pay 
The state Board of Education on Friday followed up on its threat to financially penalize local school officials who impose student mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic, detailing how it is targeting salaries of school board members in Alachua and Broward counties. State board Chair Tom Grady and Vice Chair Ben Gibson signed orders that gave the two districts 48 hours to reverse course on requiring parents to submit doctor notes to opt out of mask mandates. If local officials don't comply, the state will withhold district funds in amounts equal to the collective monthly salaries of the school board members. (Dailey, 8/22)

CNN: How Three School Districts Are Defying State Restrictions On Mask Mandates 
The debate over masks in schools has reared its head once again with the new academic year, and a handful of states have taken steps to restrict local officials' ability to implement their own masking requirements, either through the governor's office or state legislatures. These restrictions -- made despite guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommending masks for everyone in schools regardless of vaccination status -- have prompted showdowns between state officials and some local school districts, who say they're trying to protect their communities, particularly students who are ineligible for vaccines. (Andone, 8/23)

In mandates, isolation rules elsewhere —

AP: Arizona AG Says Businesses Can Require COVID-19 Vaccines
Private Arizona businesses can require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 but must allow reasonable religious and medical exemptions under state and federal law, state Attorney General Mark Brnovich wrote in a legal opinion. And they can impose vaccine requirements on patrons as well, as long as they provide reasonable accommodation for customers who can’t take a vaccine because of a disability or don’t discriminate against someone who won’t take a vaccine for religious reasons, the Republican wrote in Friday’s opinion. (8/22)

AP: Navajo Nation Issues Vaccine Mandate For Tribal Workers
All Navajo Nation executive branch employees will need to be fully vaccinated against the virus that causes COVID-19 by the end of September or be required to submit to regular testing, according to an executive order announced by President Jonathan Nez on Sunday. The new rules apply to full, part-time and temporary employees, including those working for tribal enterprises like utilities, shopping centers and casinos. Any worker who does not show proof of vaccination by Sept. 29 must be tested every two weeks or face discipline. (8/22)

Mississippi Clarion Ledger: COVID-19 Isolation Order Includes Fully Vaccinated Who Are Infected
Any Mississippian, regardless of vaccination status, who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to immediately isolate at home, according to an order issued Friday by State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs. The statewide order that is effective immediately, came the same day the Mississippi State Department of Health reported 5,048 new infections — the highest one-day case count since the virus first arrived in the state in March 2020. (Haselhorst, 8/22)

Northwest Georgia News: Four Georgia Mayors Take On Gov. Kemp’s No-Virus Mandates Order
The Democratic mayors of four Georgia cities are asking Gov. Brian Kemp to impose a mask mandate inside state buildings to show he is interested in the health of Georgians as well as the economy. An open letter sent to the Republican governor Friday by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson and Athens Mayor Kelly Girtz came one day after Kemp issued an executive order prohibiting local governments from imposing any restrictions related to COVID-19.Kemp cited the need to protect small businesses from government interference. (Williams, 8/20)

Also —

KHN: Journalists Investigate Vaccine Mandates And Health Worker Burnout 
KHN Midwest correspondent Lauren Weber discussed how public health workers are struggling to deal with the pandemic on the “Healthy You: Surviving a Pandemic” podcast on Aug. 12. She also spoke about covid-19 news on WAMU’s “1A” on Aug. 13. ... KHN chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner talked about the misunderstandings of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) on Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Central Time” on Aug. 9. (8/21)

KHN: Readers And Tweeters Ponder Vaccines And Points Of Fairness
Kaiser Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories. (8/23)