Everyone has a story. What’s yours?|May. 18, 2021|United States|100 Min.|R
Genre: Drama
Description: On Monday morning at Stranahan High School, classes began at 7:30 AM. Although mask-wearing became optional following a new rule, most students chose to enter the building with their faces covered. This change came after Broward County Public Schools decided to relax mask mandates due to the county maintaining a COVID-19 positivity rate at or below three percent for ten consecutive days.
Last week, the school board voted to remove the mask requirement for high schools, effective Monday. However, elementary and middle schools must still adhere to the mandate. High school students expressed mixed feelings about the policy shift.
One Stranahan student remarked, “COVID is still around. Anyone could get it, regardless of vaccination status. I believe everyone should continue wearing masks.” Another student countered, “I don’t want to wear a mask because it’s hard to breathe.” A freshman, Swaminsky Liberal, shared, “I’m still cautious and will keep my mask on.”
School board members stated that mask mandates and quarantine policies will remain in place for younger students until a COVID-19 vaccine is approved for children aged 5 to 11. School Board Chair Rosalind Osgood emphasized, “I’m not comfortable with unvaccinated individuals going unmasked, just as I wasn’t at the start.”
Parents also had differing opinions. Sarah DeMauro, from Moms for Liberty, noted, “I have one child at a charter school without masks and another where masks are required. I haven’t noticed any difference all year.”
The Broward school board faced fines from the state for defying Governor Ron DeSantis’ ban on mask mandates. The fines equated to the salaries of board members who supported the mandates. The Biden administration contributed $421,000 to the school district to help cover these penalties.
Cast director: Brian McCulley
Cast actor: Mitchell Hoog, Krista Allen, Eric Roberts, Eliza Roberts, Robert Picardo, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Debra Wilson, Michael Welch, Frances Lee McCain, Amber Lynn Ashley
Original name: After Masks