NAPLES, Fla. — Several protestors were escorted out of the Collier County School Board meeting Tuesday for violating the building’s mask mandate. They were among a group of over 50 people who came to the meeting to protest the school district's mask mandate for students.
The meeting got off to a dramatic start as one woman encouraged everyone in the room to remove their face masks. In response, the board members quickly called a recess as Collier County Sheriffs escorted all visitors out of the meeting.
"What I'm asking the school board is simply to be reasonable. Give children at public schools the choice," says Dan Cook, a protestor at the meeting.
Once the recess concluded, public health experts began their monthly presentation to the school board about the current risks facing schools due to the pandemic.
As of March 1, 20201, 89% of Collier County students are attending school in-person. Board members used this opportunity to ask doctors how long a mask mandate will be necessary for schools.
"I wish I could answer as far as how long, my gut feeling is that we will be wearing masks until we have reached some sort of vaccine herd immunity," says Dr. Rebekah Bernard, "My best recommendation to all of us, is to see what the CDC says."
The board did not vote on extending or repealing the mandate.
