CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. -- Citrus County school board members voted to push back the start date from August 10 to August 20. Superintendent Sam Himmel said the later start date will help with planning and preparation. 

“Our schools are having to go back now and redo their master schedules,” Himmel added. “We are back into rehiring more teachers for virtual and we are having to make sure we’ve got everything in place for that.”

Right now, over 2,600 students are signed up for the full time virtual learning option. That number is also why she presented the board with two calendar options.

“One of the calendars does not impact Christmas break or Thanksgiving break, the other calendar does take a couple days away from both holidays.”

Also on one calendar, students will finish June 2, the other June 4. The Teachers Association will have to approve either one before making it final.

Himmel said, “This entire process will be a huge challenge.”

The Superintendent also asked the school board to vote on making masks a mandate and no longer a recommendation in schools and on buses.

“We feel like if we make it a mandate, that students will take it a little more serious.”

Not everyone agreed. Patty Gardner said she doesn’t want her kids to live in fear. “I don’t understand why are we going to create this environment of our children needing to walk around school like zombies. Do we have to make the children afraid of breathing -- that’s what we’re doing.”

The board unanimously voted for a 90-day mandate and will reassess every 3 months and some teachers approve as well. 

Terry Flaherty, a physical education teacher in the district added, “When everyone’s to wear masks is for the safety of our students, safety of our staff and it requires anyone coming in to have a mask.”

The mask mandate does not apply to kindergarteners through second grade.