HOLMES BEACH – While the Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to cause cases to soar, Anna Maria Elementary has made it through the first month of school with no staff testing positive and 12 positive student cases.
Of the 52 schools in Manatee County, Anna Maria Elementary is one of only four schools that have had no staff cases. Student cases also are among the lowest in the county.
While Manatee County has a school mask mandate, students may opt out for any reason, making the “mandate” more of a request than a rule. In contrast, nearby counties including Sarasota and Hillsborough only allow students to opt out for medical reasons.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has banned mask mandates, threatening to withhold funding from districts that violate the order and require masks, but 13 Florida school districts have implemented mask mandates without a parental opt-out in defiance of the governor.
Florida’s 1st District Court of Appeal ruled on Sept. 10 to uphold the governor’s ban on mask mandates in schools.
COVID-19 procedures in Manatee County schools
- All students and employees who are sick or who have symptoms will be sent home until they are symptom-free.
- Temperature checks will be taken daily for all employees and randomly for students.
- Reinforce and practice proper handwashing techniques among students and staff.
- Provide and encourage the use of hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Deep clean and disinfect schools and school buses daily, or in between uses as needed.
- Make every effort to social distance as much as possible in schools.
- District employees visiting schools, other than their own, must wear masks during the school day.
- Provide plastic shields in elementary classrooms and cafeterias where possible.
- All employees will answer COVID-related questions daily upon arriving at work.
- Limit non-essential visitors and volunteers to school campuses.
- Everyone eligible to be vaccinated is strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.
