CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — Citrus County is moving forward with two plans for the upcoming school year: the traditional classroom style plan and the Citrus Virtual School plan.

The school district has extended the enrollment deadline for parents to choose which form of learning they want for their children.

Parents now have until Monday, July 20 at noon to submit their form. 

The district said this information is important to properly plan for opening schools on August 10. 

In Tuesday night’s school board meeting, several members questioned the health department on the actions that will be taken should a positive COVID-19 case come up.

Board member Thomas Kennedy said, “We’re getting asked these (questions), and you may or may not be able to answer all of these, but we’re trying to help inform.”

Tito Rubio with the Citrus County Department of Health assured members of the school board that he was here to provide help during the school year.

He stated, “Our position in this is just as an advisor to help them in their decision making.”

The biggest disconnect came from what the health department reportedly can and cannot do if a positive case came up in the Citrus County school district.

He said per HIPAA laws, the Health Department is not allowed to release medical information to the school district unless authorized by a parent. However, the department will work with the district to inform them if more precautionary measures need to be taken.

“I hear what you’re saying,” said board member Douglas Dodd. “But I don’t like getting hung up on where in the middle of a pandemic, parents need to have information. I would think the school district is still going to send out a message to parents of students affected at that school.”

Rubio responded by saying that information like that will be given on a case-by-case basis.