Hunter
09/15/21
Area school districts didn’t waste time after a federal judge issued a temporary injunction against Iowa’s ban on mask mandates.
The Iowa City Community School District unanimously approved the reinstatement of the mask mandate effective immediately. The requirement applies to sporting events as well, whether they’re indoors or outdoors. Students actively participating are exempt, but coaches and non-playing students are not.
Superintendent Matt Degner said the decision is based on the CDC’s strong recommendation on masks and aligns with local public health experts in his letter to district parents.
The Cedar Rapids Community School District also reinstated its mask mandate. Effective today, students teachers and staff will be required to wear masks, but they will only be recommended for educational activities before or after school.
Private school Willowwind School in Iowa City became the first in eastern Iowa to mandate masks yesterday, but the school says they’ve had 100 percent compliance with mask wearing since the first day of the school year.
Meanwhile, the Clear Creek-Amana Community School District voted 5-1 to wait to make a decision on a mask mandate after considering over 100 e-mails and public comment during their board meeting Tuesday. KCRG TV reports that about 45 students and staff have been out with COVID-19 symptoms. Board president Jennifer Mooney said, “We care about our kids but we also value our families and our community greatly and we are just trying to do the best job we absolutely can to keep everybody safe and healthy.”
The board says they’ll make a decision on masks if the restraining order becomes an injunction.