Judge sides with Florida's largest teachers' union in school reopening lawsuit against state

[malaise]

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/education/education-lawsuit-teachers-union-florida/67-17856a39-8f8e-4584-bed9-de973c0ac2dd
<snip>

The Florida Education Association says Circuit Judge Charles Dodson has granted its motion for a temporary injunction against Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran's emergency order to reopen classrooms for in-person learning.

"Districts’ hands will not be tied as we continue the fight to protect students and educators in our public schools," the FEA wrote in a statement.

The court's ruling and injunction means local school boards around Florida can "make safety determinations for the reopening of schools without financial penalty," the order reads. Though the majority of school districts around the state have already reopened in their respective formats, the FEA said the ruling means districts can revisit other plans if needed to ensure the safety of students and teachers without the fear of losing state funding.

Dodson wrote in his ruling that the defendants – Corcoran and Gov. Ron DeSantis – "have essentially ignored the requirement of school safety by requiring the statewide opening of brick-and-mortar schools to receive already allocated funding."

"Shame on our governor and our commissioner of education," Ingram said.

On Monday, the court ruled the order was "unconstitutional to the extent it arbitrarily disregards safety, denies local school boards decision making with respect to reopening brick and mortar schools, and conditions funding on an approved reopening plan with a start date in August."

[guillaumeb]

1. Recommended.

Soon, very soon, COVID19 will fade away, as if by magic.