PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. —

Students in Palm Beach County schools will not be required to wear a mask during the upcoming school year.

School board chairman Frank Barbieri made that abundantly clear after hours of debate at the board meeting Wednesday night.

 

Public comment at the meeting lasted more than two hours, with parents on both sides of the issue voicing their opinions.

“If you want to wear a mask or mask your child, that is your right,” said Amanda Lipke, who is against the mask mandate. “But you don’t have the right to force that on my child.”

 

Khara Holt, who supports a mask mandate, added, “Masking is a simple, safe, cheap intervention that saves lives."

The district’s plan for the upcoming year has been decided for some time and includes making masks optional.

 

But school board member Dr. Debra Robinson asked the board to reconsider the policy given the recent spike in COVID-19 cases.

 

That led to a packed meeting Wednesday night.

“You don’t have to ask the school to unmask your children,” said Cindy Falco, an opponent of the mask mandate. “You have the right to unmask your children.”

 

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