Oakland commission holding emergency meeting to discuss OACS mask policy

The town of Oakland has called an emergency Town Commission meeting to seek direction for the mask policy at Oakland Avenue Charter School. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30, at Oakland Meeting Hall, 221 N. Arrington St.

The commission approved a mask policy July 27 following the recommendations of the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department of Education making masks voluntary. Three days later, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order ensuring parents’ freedom to choose whether to wear masks in school.

Orange County Public Schools and Superintendent Barbara Jenkins implemented a mandatory mask policy for all staff and teachers. A later policy gave parents the choice to opt out of the requirement.

A mandatory mask policy begins Monday, Aug. 30, and stays in effect until Oct. 30.

At OACS, about 55% of students’ parents opted out of wearing masks.

OACS is chartered through OCPS but is not bound by the mask policy change that has been implemented.

The meeting is open to the public, and guests can attend in person or virtually. To join the Zoom meeting, visit us02web.zoom.us/j/81994385802. The meeting ID is 819 9438 5802, and the passcode is 7VjL2F.