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A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 21 SepteMber 2020
Des Moines says no to governor's demand for classroom return

By SCOTT McFETRIDGE proceeded with its plan quit rather than risk being parent Jason Hahn told cause they would exceed
Associated Press to distribute thousands of infected by the virus. school board members at her actions.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — laptops to students and The positivity rate in Polk a recent online meeting Although Des Moines' law-
Students in Iowa's largest launched a completely County, where most of Des that he was worried they suit hasn't been resolved, a
school system are facing online course offering on Moines is located, reached could be wrong, since the judge ruled that the state
the possibility that this most Sept. 8. 12% earlier in September district lost the first round in has power over school dis-
unusual school year could tricts, even if its rationale is
stretch into next summer, based on flawed coronavi-
and the district could be rus benchmarks. In a sepa-
hit with crippling bills be- rate lawsuit, another judge
cause of a dispute with the sided with the state and
governor over the safety of against Iowa City schools
returning to classrooms dur- and a teachers union, say-
ing the coronavirus pan- ing the governor has broad
demic. emergency powers that
Des Moines school officials local school boards don't
have repeatedly refused to have.
abide by Republican Gov. The union, the Iowa State
Kim Reynolds' order requir- Education Association, op-
ing the state's 327 school posed the governor's ac-
districts to hold at least tion, but a teacher walkout
half their classes in-person is unlikely because state
rather than online. For Des law prohibits public em-
Moines, it's a question of ployees from striking.
trying to keep its more than The state first issued its re-
33,000 students and 5,000 quirements to school dis-
staffers from contracting tricts in July, and at a news
the disease. But after the conference Wednesday,
school board last week the governor expressed
again voted to violate exasperation at what she
Reynolds' order, the gover- called Des Moines' "slow
nor called the action "un- walk to compliance."
acceptable" and began Asked how the state would
the process for punishing respond, Education De-
the district. partment Director Ann
Reynolds has dismissed Lebo wouldn't be specific
Des Moines' officials' con- but said the agency would
cerns, noting that nearly In this Sept. 7, 2020, file photo, Des Moines Public School students and supporters march from begin a process to punish
all other Iowa districts Roosevelt High School to the Governor's Mansion at Terrace Hill to protest the cancellation of fall the district for not comply-
and winter extracurriculars, in Des Moines, Iowa.
have reopened their class- Associated Press ing.
rooms despite some virus "We were very hopeful to
outbreaks and the occa- work with the district to
sional need to quarantine District officials have said but recently dropped to its lawsuit. The longer the find a solution," Lebo said.
students, saying, "Where they're deeply troubled to about 7%. district continues with only "At this point it seems they
there's a will, there's a way." be out of compliance with "Except for our state De- online learning, the deeper are well into a plan that is
School districts across the state standards, but they partment of Public Health, the financial risk, he said. out of compliance and will
country have struggled believe the governor has every other health expert "The end result of continu- continue to do so, so we
with the decision of wheth- put them in a no-win situ- we talk to doesn't under- ing to operate without an will have to initiate that pro-
er to return to classrooms ation by ordering students stand why we're even hav- approved plan will likely be cess on our end."
despite the risk of corona- to spend at least half their ing to have this fight be- a district that loses accredi- The school board will dis-
virus infections or shift to time in classroom. Reyn- cause they recognize it isn't tation and that is bankrupt," cuss the issue again Mon-
online learning, and the olds' order does allow waiv- safe for us to reopen our Hahn said. "This scenario day night and will consider
choice is especially stark for ers allowing online-only schools," said Des Moines would be catastrophic for a plan still being developed
Iowa's capital city. instruction, but only for dis- Superintendent Tom Ahart. the community, the district that would include a part-
Des Moines has had one of tricts where more than 15% "It feels like operating in an and the students." time return to classrooms.
the nation's highest rates of people test positive for alternate reality." Reynolds is the only Mid- Middle school Spanish
of people testing positive the virus, which is triple the If they find the district is out west governor to issue a teacher Trisha Peckosh,
for COVID-19, and school 5% positivity rate that the of compliance, state offi- statewide order requiring who has children in the
board members ask how Centers for Disease Control cials could take a variety of in-person instruction, with district, said it's hard to see
it would be possible to en- and Prevention and other actions, including requiring all other states in the region how the district and state
force social distancing rules health experts say would the district to keep students leaving decisions to local will resolve the dispute. It's
in their crowded classrooms be appropriate for resum- in classes until the end of school districts. true that students would
and packed school buses. ing in-person classes. June — nearly a month lat- Reynolds, a strong sup- learn better if they were in
The school board delayed The district notes that 31% er than usual. A district of- porter of President Donald classroom, but Des Moines
the start of school by a of its staff members have ficial said each additional Trump who has demanded is right to worry about the
week as the district sought health concerns that put day would cost about $1.5 on Twitter that "SCHOOLS safety of students and staff,
a court injunction to block them at higher risk from million, draining the district's MUST OPEN IN THE FALL," she said.
the governor's order, ar- COVID-19 and 10% are reserves within days. also has refused to issue a "Everybody is in such a hard
guing that she had over- older than 60. If forced to District officials have as- statewide mask require- position," she said. "Every
stepped her authority. A resume classes, officials sured students that they ment and told at least 10 time you come up with a
judge initially sided with the contend that many teach- will get credit for the online cities that they can't en- solution that could work,
governor, but the district ers and bus drivers would classes they're taking, but force local mandates be- there's a roadblock."q