Over Morning Coffee

On March 16, a bomb dropped on Iowa when Gov. Kim Reynolds recommended all schools close for four weeks. It wasn’t a surprise as we’d been expecting it in light of the dire COVID-19 warnings at the time. Yet, when it actually happened and schools closed, we were stunned. Close the schools for a month? Lock the doors? Inconceivable! Even so, superintendents immediately suspended classes. On April 17, the governor extended the shutdown order for the remainder of the academic year.

The situation was surreal. It was traumatic for children who left school on Friday afternoon not suspecting they would never return to their classes and activities. Likewise, teachers were shocked to hear they would not be returning to their classrooms. Learning materials, projects and even personal items were left behind. Parents, already stressed by a multitude of COVID-related problems, suddenly found themselves grappling with childcare and dealing with overwrought children. It was a heartbreaking situation for all.

Few expected the virus to last through the summer, yet here we are. It’s time to return to the classroom, but the specter of COVID still hovers over us. Reopening school has become highly controversial and created a quagmire that is frustrating students, parents, teachers and school administrators. Some claim reopening is too dangerous for students, staff and the community. Others feel schools can safely reopen by following guidelines and using adequate precautions.

This spring, the Iowa Department of Education required all public and private schools to submit three “Return to Learn” scenarios: in-person, virtual and a hybrid of the two. The local districts and school boards would decide which scenario worked best for them and submit final plans by July 1.

Then, in mid-July, Reynolds issued a proclamation ordering all state agencies and districts to “prepare to safely welcome back teachers and students in-person this fall.” She further proclaimed that Iowa schools “take all efforts” to resume face-to-face learning and offer over 50 percent of core subjects in the classroom. The governor’s directive angered schools that already had plans in place for online learning instead of in-person classes.

The Iowa State Education Association immediately protested the governor’s mandate. Spokespersons for the ISEA said her plan caused “extreme frustration,” and called it “an outlandish notion.” Opponents held local protests and a drive-in rally at the State Capitol, demanding the governor rescind the in-person directive. They also acquired 39,000 signatures on an online petition.

The governor has not changed her mind, saying Senate File 2310, as well as the Iowa Code, direct that “in-person instruction would be the presumed method of instruction.” Last week, she allowed for 14 days online instruction before returning to in-person learning. This time could only be extended with permission with the governor. “Online learning is an essential component of teaching kids, but it cannot make up for the critical role schools play in social and emotional development,” Reynolds said.

Both the CDC and American Pediatric Association have given a green light to go ahead and get the kids back in school this fall. The CDC says “[schools] play a critical role in supporting the whole child, not just their academic achievement.” The CDC website lists several steps schools need to take to protect the wellbeing of students, teachers, support staff, families and the community. The APA also encourages having students physically present in school, saying “… there are major health, social, and educational risks to keeping children at home.”

Whether or not students will be in the classroom this fall shouldn’t even be a question – but it is. We’d all like to see kids back in school. But, can it be done safely? Hand washing, social distancing and a sanitary environment are crucial. Among other recommendations, the CDC endorses masks for students (age-appropriate), but Gov. Reynolds created a firestorm when she did not mandate the wearing of masks in school. Neither did she prohibit the wearing of masks. Instead, she left that decision for each district as they consider the risk for their students and community.

After months of confusion, discussion and hard work, our schools are getting ready to open this month. Districts are taking all precautions to safely offer in-person classes, and they will also have online options available. Teachers are preparing to teach in-person, online and do a combination of both. We are in unchartered waters. Flexibility is key as the COVID situation changes. The schools will be open, but whether or not a child attends in person or online is a decision each family must make on their own. Whatever decisions families make, we must respect them and move forward into the 2020-2021 school year. A psychological bomb dropped on Iowa’s kids last spring, and it’s time to bring some normalcy back into our children’s lives.

Bonnie Ewoldt, of rural Milford, is a retired teacher, news junkie and freelance writer. Her opinion pieces have appeared online and in newspapers across Iowa and neighboring states. Visit her blog at http://www.bonniesblogbox.wordpress.com.