District School Board of Pasco County Emergency Rule – Face Coverings
As part of emergency procedures to be implemented by Federal, State, and Local officials related to the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and World Health Organization (“WHO”) recommend that everyone wear a face covering to help prevent community spread of this virus. The State of Florida is currently under Executive Order by the Governor declaring COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency, the Florida Commissioner of Education has issued an Emergency Order recognizing this public health emergency, and the Pasco County Administrator has issued an Emergency Order mandating the use of face coverings by all persons entering an indoor location of a business or government operation that is open to the public when not maintain social distancing from other persons (excluding family members or others residing in their home). Current medical research shows that COVID-19 is most commonly spread through respiratory droplets created when a person talks, sings, raises their voice, shouts, sneezes, or coughs, even when a person is asymptomatic. Appropriate face covering reduces and/or prevents the number of these droplets from making it into the environment and being inhaled by another person.
Therefore, in order to implement immediate mitigation measures during this pandemic, the School Board hereby mandates that all employees, visitors, and students wear a mask or other face covering while on school property, facilities and/or engaged in school activities.
Requests for a reasonable accommodation from the requirement to wear a face covering will be considered in accordance with the District’s policies and procedures as well as all applicable laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq., § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 794, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400, et seq. and/or any other applicable federal, state or local law.
The Superintendent shall be and is hereby directed to establish procedures regarding face coverings for staff, students, and visitors; to offer guidance as to the type of face coverings which are appropriate and circumstances under which face coverings may be excused; and to develop procedures related to the determination of accommodations for individuals unable to wear face coverings. The initial draft procedures developed by the Superintendent attached hereto as Exhibit A (Superintendent Procedures) and Exhibit B (Draft Process and Procedures) are incorporated herein by this reference. Recognizing that as additional information becomes available to health agencies, changes in specific recommended protocol may occur, the Superintendent shall be and is hereby authorized to modify procedures to harmonize with the prevailing conditions and local circumstances relative to COVID-19.
Legal: Governor EO20-52; 20-114; 20-139; 20-166; Florida DOE EO 2020-06 F.S. 120.54; 1001.33; 1001.41; 1001.42; 1001.49; 1001.51; 1012.27 School Board Bylaw/Policy: 0131; 5610.01; 8400
