DES MOINES, IOWA (March 15, 2020) — School boards received important clarity tonight from Governor Kim Reynolds that school closures must occur for four weeks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) calls on school boards to take seriously the health emergency, moving to school closures as quickly as possible.
IASB supports the decision not to force an immediate shut-down statewide. While schools must move quickly, they are allowed to take needed steps locally to ensure family and community preparedness as well.
We advise school boards to work immediately with local health and community agencies to ensure the health and safety of students and to communicate with parents to accomplish the closures.
IASB also supports Gov Reynolds’s commitment to ensure policy supports for child-care and meals for low-income students. Additional commitments will be needed to assist schools in resolving other issues caused by the school closures. IASB pledges its support to assist schools and state policy makers in addressing those issues.
IASB is a nonprofit organization representing Iowa’s 327 public school districts, nine area education agencies and 15 community colleges.
