Hunter
08/04/21
The Iowa City Community School Board met in special session Tuesday to discuss how to keep employees and kids safe as the Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to surge in the state.
The Gazette reports that a five-page document was presented to the board, outlining mitigation measures depending on whether the transmission rate in Johnson County is rated low, moderate, substantial or high by the US Centers for Disease Control’s COVID-19 tracker.
It was announced that students must wear masks on school buses, but due to state law, cannot be forced to wear masks in school buildings. Officials are, however, strongly encouraging students to wear masks and get the coronavirus vaccine if they’re eligible.
The district will also focus on hand-washing and sanitizing, deep cleaning, disinfection, physical distancing, and urging employees and students to stay home when they’re sick.
Other mitigation measures such as keeping classrooms together for the whole day, limiting visitors, and suspending field trips might be implemented if the transmission rate becomes high.
Currently, Johnson County is rated “moderate.”
It was also announced that the deadline to enroll in the district’s virtual academy has been extended through next Monday, August 9th.