By Brad Brooks

(Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Education said it has awarded its first funding to a Florida school district that had state funds withheld because it mandated that students wear masks, going against the governor’s ban on such mandates.

According to the Alachua County School Board and the department, they have reimbursed nearly $148,000 of the August state withheld funds.

Jackie Johnson, the director of communications in Gainesville’s school district, stated that the August withholding of funding by the state was equal to the salaries for four members of the board who voted in favor of COVID safety protocols and masks.

Johnson stated that Friday’s withholding of funding by the state was the same as last week. The state has informed the district that it will continue withholding funds on a monthly schedule as long as they are not complying with the governor’s mask ban.

Johnson stated that the salaries of school board members were not affected. Johnson stated that the funds the district gets from the federal governments will go back to the general fund.

In July, Ron DeSantis, Republican Governor of Florida issued an executive order prohibiting school mask mandates. DeSantis stated that parents have the right to decide whether their children are wearing masks.

Florida is just one of many states in the United States where Republican governors tried to stop local governments or school districts from mandating that masks be worn. This has led to a heated debate over COVID-19 and other COVID-19 safeguards.

Alachua and Broward County, in the metropolitan Miami area, voted against DeSantis’ prohibition on mandates.

Secretary Miguel Cardona, the Secretary of Education said that they should thank districts for their use of proven strategies to keep schools open. He also stated in writing that he would not be punishing those who used them.