Students won’t return to their familiar classrooms this school year, but they and their teachers will continue exploring what Iowa Department of Education director Ann Lebo has called “a new learning landscape.”
Gov Kim Reynolds announced at her daily press briefing Friday that Iowa school buildings will not reopen this school year. School districts are required to provide continuous learning opportunities for their students through the end of the regular school year. All spring sports are also cancelled.
Reynolds called on Lebo to speak. Lebo said the Department of Education knows the challenges closing school creates, but also knows the decision is “necessary to ensure the health and safety of those we serve.”
Each school district will be required to submit a “Return to Learn” plan by July 1. The plan will address plans for summer school and/or enrichment along with other steps “to address the disruption to learning as a result of COVID-19.”
Reynolds has waived the late start date for the 2020-21 school year and will allow local districts to decide when they’ll open for new year.
During the Q & A, Lebo said she doesn’t know the percentage of Iowa students participating in the current continuous learning options. She said transitioning to distance learning has been “a valuable learning experience,” and that districts may change their approach in the weeks ahead.
She acknowledged that all districts will have “significant disruptions” to address when school starts again.
Also during the Q & A, Lebo said it has always been a local decision whether to promote children to the next grade or hold them back. That will continue to be the case.
About this year’s high school seniors Lebo said, “For the class of 2020, the senior year of high school has been very different from what other senior classes have experienced. Unlike most high school seniors, the Class of 2020 likely won’t go to prom, have a senior skip day, or even a graduation ceremony. But despite all of this, they remain focused on the future.”
“As we find our way forward, robust engaging options for learning outside of brick and mortar will become an integral part of our educational framework, complementing face-to-face learning, and preparing students for the increasingly digital world they live in.”
Reynolds was asked if given the extended school closing, Iowans should expect to see businesses remain closed after April 30 as well.
Reynold answered she hasn’t made a decision yet and that she and the Iowa Department of Public Health will continue to look at metrics. When businesses are reopened it will likely be in a phases. She said in her prepared remarks that early discussions with her department directors yielded a phased in plan that aligns with what President Trump outlined Thursday.
There was also continued discussion of outbreaks in the Columbus Junction and Waterloo Tyson meat packing plants. The IDPH will finish testing of all Columbus Junction employees today and is working on contact tracing. The Waterloo plant is getting 2,700 tests from the state.
Reynolds said she has talked with plant managers in Waterloo, and that they’ve relaxed their attendance policy to make it easier for employees to miss work. Information about COVID-19 and the attendance policy has been provided in several languages.
The Iowa office of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is involved at both plants, Reynolds said, and employees can take specific concerns about the company’s provisions for their health to OSHA.
One journalist asked Reynolds if she has talked with any employees to learn about precautions in the plants. She has not, but has talked with plant managers and human resource directors.
In closing the briefing, Reynolds said, “I know this has been a tough week and this has been a tough road with some really tough decisions that are impacting Iowans and families and businesses all across the state. But there have been a lot of positive signs as well.
“This team is not only working hard to make sure we’re taking care of vulnerable Iowans, not overwhelming the healthcare system, and making sure that we flatten curve, but we’re also every day looking at ways we can open back up this economy and let Iowans get out there and do what they do so well.
“Hang in there. If you hang with us for two more weeks and be responsible…and do your part, we’ll do our part and get Iowa opened up again.”
As of April 16 at 10 am there have been 2,332 confirmed cases of COVID-19 spread across 82 counties. Four Iowans died during the reporting period, bringing the total number of deaths in Iowa to 64. Complete information is available at coronavirus.iowa.gov
