The Florida Education Association, the largest teachers union in the state representing 137,000 educators, has sued the State of Florida and multiple officials, including Governor Ron DeSantis, over the state’s mandate that schools open in the fall with in classroom instruction five days each week for all students, reports NBC News.
The lawsuit states that DeSantis’ edict violates state law to keep public schools “safe and secure” by unnecessarily exposing students and staff to the coronavirus.
The lawsuit names DeSantis, state Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, the state Education Department and the State Board of Education as defendants.
Florida has been experiencing a spike in cases and deaths, topping 10,000 new daily cases reported for seven straight days and an increasing seven day running average for fatalities from COVID.
“Gov. DeSantis needs a reality check, and we are attempting to provide one,” Florida Education Association President Fedrick Ingram said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. “The governor needs to accept the reality of the situation here in Florida, where the virus is surging out of control.”