Despite court decision, Florida officials are now withholding some funding from two counties with tough school mask mandates

Florida officials are now withholding some funding from two counties with tough school mask mandates — despite a court decision against the state’s ban on such restrictions and a move by the U.S. Education Department to investigate states with these bans.

Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran announced late Monday that the Florida Department of Education has withheld the monthly salaries of school board members in Alachua and Broward counties who voted to impose mask mandates that only provide for a medical exemption from a doctor. The state actually withholds the equivalent in funding of the members’ salaries.