Miami-Dade parents upset over legislation that would financially punish schools for defying DeSantis’ anti-mask rules

Miami, Florida – On Friday over pending legislation that would take away tens of millions of dollars from the district’s budget, a group of Miami-Dade County public school parents voiced their outrage.

The Miami-Dade County Public Schools District, along with the Broward County Public Schools District, were among 12 across the state that defied the state’s ban on mask mandates and required students to wear masks in school.

The state’s House passed a $105 billion budget which includes a measure, supported by Governor Ron DeSantis, that would divert $200 million from the districts that defied his order on Wednesday.

Miami-Dade could lose $72 million, and the stripped funding would be spread among the state’s other districts.

The state Senate passed a nearly $109 billion spending plan on Thursday, but it would not punish the districts.

As the delta variant of COVID-19 was still ravaging the state, the 12 districts implemented mask mandates at the beginning of the current school year. The districts have since lifted the mandates.

Once an agreement is reached, the chambers can’t vote on it for 72 hours. Lawmakers must work out differences in the budget by March 8 if they want to end their session on time.