School District Denies Athletic Director's COVID Claim

Tuesday, August 18, 2020 | 0

As Florida teachers return to school this month amid the pandemic, a high school athletic director's plight serves as a cautionary tale, his wife said.

The school district in Leon County, home of the state capital, has denied Mike Eto's workers' compensation claim after he said he contracted COVID-19 while in a workout room with a student who tested positive.

"Mike will be out of work for at least another month, using his own leave, or not paid, I assume," Allison Eto told the Tallahassee newspaper. "It could be longer if the pulmonologist says his lungs are damaged. Most families can't afford this."

The school district said the claim presented no evidence that the illness is work-related. Florida does not have a presumption law designed to make it easier for essential workers to obtain comp benefits if sickened from the coronavirus.

"We have no idea what our medical bills will be, but (the district) won't assist with them if they won't even pay his leave," Allison Eto said. "He didn't choose to open gym for groups of boys." 

Schools are set to reopen around Florida Aug. 24 and Aug. 31, and many school employees returned to the classroom this week to prepare. In Leon County, 52% of students have opted to return to brick-and-mortar schools while 47% have chosen online learning.

The state reported 6,352 new COVID cases on Saturday, down from a peak of more than 15,000 in mid-July, but still well above the levels seen in April and May, according to news reports.