CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. - Citrus County parents have until Friday to decide whether they will let their kids return to the traditional school plan or a virtual school plan, but the bigger question many are posing is the use of masks in schools.

Citrus County School District Public Information Officer Lindsay Blair said, “We are strongly encouraging the use of masks." However, parents and board members are questioning why masks are a recommendation and not a requirement. 

School board member Douglas Dodd added, “There’s so much confusion on the mask wearing.”

At Tuesday night’s school board meeting, Tito Rubio with the Citrus County Department of Health said the district will be following the CDC guideline which states the use of a mask is recommended and not mandated, something parents feel strongly about. 

Citrus County parent Elizabeth Sandifer told Spectrum Bay News 9, “If masks are optional then I believe we’re making their health optional as well. It just isn’t the best and when I go on the CDC guidelines - even just this morning I read that they actually recommend when we can’t or if we cannot do social distancing that masks are recommended.”

Sandifer has two kids in the school system and said she's torn because while her kids want to go back to school, she fears the lack of the ability to social distance in the classrooms and spreading the virus if masks are not worn. But not all parents feel the same. 

James Holder has a high school senior and he’s not making it a requirement in his household.

“He’s going to do the actual school and I do know that he has masks to wear. Whether he choses to wear them all the time, I’ll let that be his decision,” Holder said.

The school board added that they want everyone to feel comfortable and have asked teachers to declutter their classrooms to have as much space as possible for social distancing.