Broward School Board makes masks optional for high school students

South Florida Sun Sentinel | By Scott Travis | October 26, 2021

Broward high school students can take off their masks next week.

The School Board voted Tuesday to keep its mask mandate for elementary and middle students, but make them optional for high schools. The reason: Elementary students and some middle school students have no access yet to a vaccine.

“I don’t think it’s a fair situation to put our young ones in,” School Board member Nora Rupert said.

The change takes effect Monday.

Teachers and employees at high schools and district offices would not have to wear masks, but they would if they work at elementary and middle schools. The mask mandate for these students and employees would be reinstated if the positivity rate for people in Broward reaches 5%. Right now, it’s about 2.2%.

This was not the plan recommended by Interim Superintendent Vickie Cartwright. She suggested masks be optional for all students as long as the positivity rate remains below 5%.