ISEA opposes governor's latest 'Return to Learn' guidance
Gov. Kim Reynolds announced guidance Thursday for schools as districts finalize plans to return to class amid the coronavirus pandemic, maintaining that students need to be back in the classroom.
The governor reiterated her desire to see students back in the classroom this fall, saying their social and emotional needs need to be considered along with their physical health.
“We need to keep our next generation learning, growing and preparing for a bright future,” Reynolds said.
The governor said if a county has a 14-day positivity rate of less than 15%, schools should continue in-person learning. If it's 15 to 20%, with 10% absenteeism among students, districts can ask the state for permission to learn remotely.
Schools can also ask the state for permission if the positivity rate is above 20%.
This came after the Governor referenced Surgeon General Jerome Adams' recommendation of a less than 10% threshold. Reynolds said 93 of Iowa’s counties meet the less-than 10% positivity threshold the Surgeon General recommends for students to return to the classroom.
“You know, there's a lot of criteria we're taking into the decision,” Reynolds said. “This is a fluid situation and it's gonna continue to change and we're gonna have to be adaptable.”
The Iowa State Education Association opposes the new guidelines.
“We agree with the set of 0-to-6% of individuals with the virus, anything above that is just incredibly unreasonable,” ISEA President Mike Beranek said.
Beranek said the governor did not consult the ISEA before issuing the guidelines. She did acknowledge teacher concerns.
“I hear the apprehension from some teachers and I understand it,” Reynolds said.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Caitlin Pedati noted that young children are less likely to become infected with COVID-19 and less likely to transmit it. She also said a safe return to class is dependent on the community taking precautions to control the virus. Cloth face coverings should be used, as well as social distancing and hand washing. She said students who are sick should stay home.
She stressed that state agencies, school districts and county health departments will need to be flexible.
"We might need to adjust guidelines in the future as science changes," Pedati said.
Pedati also laid out the process schools should go through when exposure to the virus happens.
Sen. Herman Quirmbach, Ranking Member of the Senate Education Committee, shared his reaction to the governor’s plan.
"Gov. Reynolds’ effort to force schools to open in person is putting Iowa school children at unacceptable risk. Just weeks from schools opening, the Governor’s belated announcements today do too little to protect our kids," Quirmbach said. "Gov. Reynolds is continuing to ignore the advice of health care experts to adopt a statewide mask mandate and other mitigation efforts. Her rhetoric about requiring schools to reopen despite the health care risks is eerily similar to her tragic efforts to keep meatpacking plants open at all costs."
Reynolds also said she would return to hosting news conferences twice per week. The news conferences will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m.