Florida’s annual three-day Back-to-School Tax-Free Holiday began on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, despite the still-surging coronavirus pandemic. Here’s what merchants and parents had to say.
DAYTONA BEACH — Amber Birkland was one of the shoppers at the Super Walmart in Ormond Beach taking advantage of the annual three-day Florida Back-to-School Tax-Free Holiday that began on Friday.
She was happy to save money on purchases of school supplies. She was not so thrilled about the prospect of in-person classes starting soon while the coronavirus pandemic is still raging.
"I’m definitely worried," said Birkland, a second-grade teacher at Old Kings Elementary School in Flagler Beach. "I think it would be best to start virtually. It’s hard enough normally to keep the kids separate."
Birkland said she and her husband are still undecided whether to send their two oldest boys back to school. One will be a senior at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach. The other is starting the seventh grade at Hinson Middle School.
Back-to-school shoppers in Volusia and Flagler counties on Friday expressed mixed feelings regarding sending kids back to physical classrooms.
"We’re excited. We’re ready to go back," said Osteen resident Marybeth Brosky while shopping for back-to-school clothes and supplies at Tanger Outlets Mall in Daytona Beach. She was accompanied by her children: Abigail, 12, Kenton, 11, and Samson, 9.
Brosky is a third-grade math and science teacher at Burns Science & Technology Charter School in Oak Hill where her children are students.
"I think if everybody is careful and follows all the rules and all the directions, we’ll be great," she said.
Brosky said she shops at Tanger every year during the Back-to-School Tax-Free Holiday because many stores also offer discount sales.
"There’s a lot less people today than there would be normally," she said. "It’s definitely because of the pandemic. People are being careful."
Port Orange resident Kathi Zomorodian went to Tanger Outlets on Friday to buy uniform scrub tops and face masks. She is preparing to return to work as a school health technician at Port Orange Elementary School.
"You can never have too many," she said holding up her shopping bag from the Uniform Destination store at Tanger.
Volusia County Schools are currently set to have students return to physical campuses for the new school year on Aug. 31. The Flagler County School District begins in-person classes on Aug. 24.
"I’m very nervous about it," said Zomorodian. "I don’t know how long we’ll be open. Hopefully (the coronavirus) doesn’t spread like it has been in other states."
Kevin Kasch, owner of the Destination Fun store at Tanger, said he is hoping to do good business this weekend despite the pandemic. His store sells backpacks, T-shirts and Melissa & Doug learning supplies.
"I’m hoping it’s not going to affect us," he said of the COVID-19 outbreak. "The Tax-Free Holiday is normally a good weekend for us. Hopefully, they’ll come out safely, wearing masks and staying six feet apart."
Port Orange resident Jen Noble has a 17-year-old son who is set to begin his senior year at Spruce Creek High School.
"My son is eager and ready to go back," Noble said. Nevertheless, she said she does not plan to venture out to stores this weekend even with the Tax-Free Holiday going on.
"I don’t feel comfortable mall shopping in this COVID-19 era so I use only online resources to shop for clothes," she said.
Kim Schwab-Short is a Port Orange resident who moderates two Facebook groups for parents of Volusia County public school students. She has two children set to attend classes in person at Creekside Middle School and Mainland High School.
"I have mixed feelings about not offering brick-and-mortar to any of our students because I believe that we have children at greater risk of other things by keeping them at home," she said. "In the Facebook groups, I’m seeing more teachers wanting to stay home and start remote and a mix from families. But overall I think the feelings are 50/50."
Stephanie Yearling didn’t have any mixed feelings as she shopped for school supplies at the Super Walmart in Ormond Beach with her 12-year-old son Anthony on Friday.
"I’ve been ready since March," the Palm Coast resident said. Yearling is a preschool teacher for the St. Johns County School District.
"I feel the St. Johns and Flagler County school districts have been doing everything they can to make everyone feel safe," she said.
Anthony Yearling echoed his mom’s sentiments. He is set to become a seventh-grader at Buddy Taylor Middle School in Palm Coast.
"I’m just excited to go back to school," he said.
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The Link LonkAugust 08, 2020 at 05:05PM
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Back-to-School sales tax holiday kicks off in Daytona amid coronavirus concerns - Daytona Beach News-Journal
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