Hunter
09/04/20
A judge says she will rule next week on a suit asking for a temporary injunction against Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ mandate that schools hold classes at least 50% on campus, with exceptions granted on coronavirus metrics her administration announced in late July.
A hearing took place Thursday afternoon, with the attorney for the teacher’s union arguing that the mandate puts school districts in a dangerous and precarious position and fails to keep students and faculty safe in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The mandate stipulates that infection rates in the county the school district is located in would have to be at least 15% and absentee rates would have to be at least 10% before they could request a waiver for up to two weeks at a time. The Iowa City Community School District, who joined in the suit, says those numbers are way too high.
The state argued that granting an injunction would invalidate Governor Reynolds’ emergency proclamation, and the mandate stipulates that districts cannot take action to move to remote-only learning unless the governor authorizes it.
Sixth Judicial District Judge Mary Chicchelly asked both parties for affidavits of their case, with Christy Hickman, the attorney for the union, asking the judge to consider additional affidavits from members of the teachers union and medical experts about the coronavirus.
Chicchelly said barring unforeseen circumstances, she will make a ruling next week.