Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced this weekend that Florida’s schools will remain closed for the rest of the academic year. At least 27 other states, including Washington, DC and New York City have made the same decision. Other states, such as Maryland, have extended their school closures until May 15.
“We spoke with a lot of folks, and there was a difference of opinion,” DeSantis said at a news briefing late Saturday. “Some parents don’t want their kids to go back, while for some parents, it’s been difficult at home and they would’ve liked the kids to return to school. But I think as we looked at the clock and we looked to see what it would’ve looked like, we’ve got pretty good momentum for distance learning. It’s obviously not the ideal situation, but given where we are with the school year, we felt that it was the best decision.”
A formal announcement is expected from the Monroe County School District on Monday, said School Board member Sue Woltanski. But on Sunday, board chair Mindy Conn told The Weekly, “Unfortunately, it is a time when being cautious is a necessity. While many may be disappointed that our campuses remain closed, it is the safest decision for all of us. Thankfully, online learning is going well from all the hard work from teachers, IT, staff, administrators, students and families.”
School officials statewide are reminding students and parents that the school year is not over, and attendance is required at online classes.
Stay tuned to KeysWeekly.com this week for a closer look at how the announcement impacts college admissions and academic and athletic scholarships.
