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Leon County Schools still planning to start school on Aug. 31, despite ruling on state reopening order

Leon County Schools
Posted at 5:05 PM, Aug 24, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-24 17:05:17-04

LEON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) — Despite a Leon County judge's decision to strike down the order requiring Florida's school districts to reopen brick and mortar schools 5-days a week in August, Leon County Schools say they're still aiming to reopen schools on Monday, August 31.

Leon County Schools Superintendent Rocky Hanna released a statement on Monday after the ruling was announced by the prosecutors in the lawsuit, the Florida Education Association.

"I firmly believe local districts should have the right to decide what is best for their community," Hanna wrote in the statement.

However, the district anticipates that the state will repeal the ruling, which will result in an automatic stay. That means, unless a judge decides otherwise, that the ruling will not take effect until an appeals court comes to a decision on the matter.

You can read Hanna's full statement below.

"I welcome the decision made today by Judge Dodson that portions of Emergency Order 20-06 issued by Commissioner Corcoran on July 6, 2020—mandating schools to reopen for in-person learning—are unconstitutional.

I firmly believe local districts should have the right to decide what is best for their community.

We anticipate Governor DeSantis and Commissioner Corcoran will appeal this ruling, temporarily placing a stay on the order. In the meantime, our district will continue to prepare this week for the reopening of our schools next Monday, August 31st with roughly 15,000 students returning to our campuses in-person and 15,000 students beginning school online."