Lang
7/14/20
Classes in the Iowa City Community School District will begin off-campus for the 2020-21 school year.
That decision came after a unanimous vote by the school board Tuesday night. The board spent the meeting weighing the pros and cons of in-person classes, online learning from home, or a combination of the two. The group ultimately decided that keeping students at home to start the school year was the best way to keep students and staff safe from COVID-19.
After the meeting, school board member Paul Roesler wrote on his Facebook page that the decision was the toughest he has made so far as a member of the board, and he would struggle with the decision knowing how it will “negatively impact some kids and families.”
Some parents argued that it has been difficult to work a full-time job as well as help their children learn during the day after the district went to on-line learning at the end of the previous school year. But most online comments seemed to agree with the school board’s decision.
Under the plan approved Tuesday night, student lunches and breakfasts would be provided on a grab-and-go basis. Some students with special needs would still be allowed on-campus, including English as a Second Language students.
More details will soon be available on the district’s web site: iowacityschools.org.