Governor DeSantis is now suggesting that the salaries of top school officials could be withheld in a school district if they violate his order and attempt to force mask mandates on children:
NY POST – The Florida governor’s office said it may withhold the salaries of public school officials who institute mask mandates in their districts as new cases and hospitalizations surge in the state.
Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order banning school districts from establishing mask mandates earlier this month, days after the Center for Disease Control recommended that students and staff wear masks earlier this fall.
School boards were warned that state funding could be withheld if districts do not comply with the order.
On Monday, the governor’s office released a statement about what those financial repercussions could look like.
The state board of education could “move to withhold the salary of the district superintendent or school board members, as a narrowly tailored means to address the decision-makers who led to the violation of law,” a statement of the Governor’s office read, obtained by CBS 4 Miami.
The governor’s office said the decision is to protect “parents’ rights.”
“Education funding is intended to benefit students first and foremost, not systems. The Governor’s priorities are protecting parents’ rights and ensuring that every student has access to a high-quality education that meets their unique needs,” it read.
Of course, the woman running against DeSantis for governor next year has already tweeted lies about this:
Defunding schools and school administrators for refusing to endanger children is third-world dictator level dangerous. This should alarm everyone in the country, not just Florida. https://t.co/YlqkbA8SHL
— Nikki Fried (@NikkiFried) August 9, 2021
“Defunding schools” is not what DeSantis said at all, and his spox was quick to call her out for ‘disinformation’:
More disinformation from Nikki Fried. Schools wouldn't be defunded. Only the salaries of those superintendents and school board members who intentionally defy the EO and the subsequent rules protecting parents' rights. Think of it like targeted sanctions. https://t.co/xGWFLisRzQ
— Christina Pushaw (@ChristinaPushaw) August 9, 2021
As Pushaw also explained on her Twitter feed, “Ultimately — Education funding is for the students. The kids didn’t make the decision to encroach upon parents’ rights. So any financial penalties for breaking the rule would be targeted to those officials who made that decision.”
Exactly. Penalize the people responsible.