Appeals court reinstates Gov. Ron DeSantis' ban on school mask mandates

Florida can keep withholding school board members' salaries for mandating masks.

In a victory for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, an appeals court ruled Friday to keep the state's ban on student mask mandates in place, at least until it issues a final ruling on the legality of the ban. The ban on mask requirements -- issued by the Florida Department of Health in August after DeSantis directed it to "protect parents' freedom to choose whether their children wear masks" -- had been suspended Wednesday by a judge in Tallahassee. Judge John C. Cooper had ruled that the state could not keep punishing school districts that require masks while the appeals court works toward a final ruling. Friday's order overrides Cooper, giving the Florida Board of Education the green light to continue withholding the salaries of school board members in districts that require face coverings for students. The state has imposed that punishment on two districts and has announced investigations into several others. "Just like last year in the school re-opening litigation, the First District Court of Appeal has reinstated Florida’s ability to protect the freedom for parents to make the best decisions for their children while they make their own ruling on the appeal," Taryn Fenske, communications director for DeSantis, said in a statement to ABC News. "We look forward to winning the appeal and will continue to fight for parents’ rights."