Florida’s Education commissioner Richard Corcoran issued a mandate Monday that all Florida K-12 schools must be open 5 days a week starting in the fall. The state school districts are now tasked with creating a reopening plan that meets this mandate, which they will submit to the Florida Dept of Education.

This came as a curve ball for local school districts, particularly as the state grapples with record-setting numbers of new coronavirus cases.

The Lee County School board met this/Wednesday afternoon to present a proposed reopening plan. Lee County schools had planned to reopen August 10. Superintendent Greg Adkins said that the district will make a final decision on July 20 as to whether that date will still be workable.

The Collier County school district said in a statement that it will continue to work alongside the Department of Health-Collier to develop a plan under the guidance of the Executive Order that provides parents with options. They appreciate the continued guidance of public health experts and local health experts, they say, as to the safe return all students to Collier County schools.