Seminole County to require masks for students with opt-out option

The Seminole County School District said on Saturday that it is requiring masks for students for at least the first 30 days of the school year.

School officials said parents can opt out by writing a note and sending it with their child on the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 10.

The note can read, "I am opting out of the facial covering/mask requirement for (student’s name)" with the parent’s signature.

RELATED: Orange County to require masks in schools with opt-out choice

The change in mask policy is due to the recent increase in COVID-19 infections, due largely to the Delta variant.

In a news release from the district, school officials said they will review the mask policy before the 30 days expire.

The district’s website has details and frequently asked questions about the face-covering requirement: Click here.

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Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) made a similar announcement of a mask requirement for students on Friday.

Melissa Lymangrover has a child in the OCPS system. She wrote and emailed her daughter’s fourth-grade teacher a note saying she’s not going to require her daughter to wear a mask. 

Lymangrover says she wants her daughter to have the option to take it off during the day if she felt it was the right setting, like being socially distanced from others or feeling overheated.

"I have opted her out, but I will send her to school with masks. She’s a caring person. I know she’ll opt to wear it more than not," Lymangrover said. "She knows that it’s proper to wear one, to consider the health of others."

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