TAMPA, Fla. — Despite the new recommendations from the CDC, Hillsborough County School’s will keep masks optional for the upcoming school year, as Superintendent Addison Davis said he still wants parents to have a choice.
What You Need To Know
- Hillsborough County School’s will keep masks optional for the upcoming school year
- Bay area school districts mask policies
- CDC recommends vaccinated people wear masks indoors in areas with high cases
Dozens of people packed into Tuesday night’s board meeting to voice their opinion on the mask issue. Some students told board members the only way they feel safe returning to the classroom is if masks are mandatory since kids under the age of 12 aren’t eligible for the vaccine.
"Masks should be mandatory in elementary and middle school where COVID still hasn't gone away and all kids in elementary and many 6th graders can't get COVID shots,” said Ainsley McDonald, Student.
Other students said masks should be optional because they find them to be uncomfortable, which in turn, hinders their learning.
"I am a huge visual learner and I hate not seeing the expressions on my teachers,” said Rocco Terracciano, Student.
Hillsborough County Schools will put its “Back to School” plan out sometime this week. It will include all the COVID protocols for this school year.