MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL CAMPUSES CLOSED THROUGH MAY 1ST

MONROE COUNTY, Fla. – Recognizing that the Commissioner of Education does not have the authority to close schools in the State of Florida, at their first virtual meeting held on Tuesday, March 31st, the Monroe County School Board exercised their proper authority to do so and have officially closed all Monroe County School campuses through Friday, May 1st. This action is taken to support efforts across Monroe County to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The school board emphasized the fact that limiting access to school campuses does not shutdown student learning which as of April 1st has transitioned to a 100% online format. School is definitely in session in the Monroe County Schools. In accordance with the subsequently released Executive Order from Governor DeSantis, school campuses will be accessible for essential purposes during this campus closure.

Following the school board’s actions yesterday, today Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order Number 20-91 that includes a “Safer At Home” directive that “all persons in Florida shall limit their movements and personal interactions outside of their home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities.” The Order goes on to define “essential services” as those identified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, with subsequent revisions and additions possible in the future, and a short list of “essential activities” that also is subject to future changes. Social gatherings in public spaces are specifically noted as being not an essential activity. The Order also strongly encourages Florida residents to work from home. This is consistent with efforts currently underway in the Monroe County Schools. Executive Order 90-21 will be effective at 12:01 am on April 3rd and shall expire on April 30th unless subsequently extended.

“I concur completely with the School Board’s decision to close our school campuses through May 1st”, states Superintendent Mark Porter, “and this new Executive Order will do very little to change the activities currently taking place within the Monroe County Schools as nearly all of our employees are working remotely in support of our 100% online learning program.”

It should be noted that with nearly all employees working remotely now and in the future, public engagement with schools and the district office will be limited initially to telephone and email. The school district is working to put in place effective and timely communications parameters for public engagement that will continue to protect the health and safety of students, staff and the community.

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