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DMPS Vs. Iowa

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DMPS VS. STATE OF IOWA

How Return to Learn became a legal battel and where the district stands now

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As the summer came to an end, school districts in Iowa had to decide how their students would return to learning for the 2020-2021 school year during a global pandemic. Districts had to make a decision that worked for their students, families, and staff as well as balance the guidelines set by the state. DMPS took time trying to come up with the safest way to go back to school.

“First we started with learning about COVID-19: how does it spread? What are the best ways to limit spread? Who is vulnerable to the virus? We then assessed, following known best practice for in-person settings, how many students could we safely serve at one time in each of our classrooms and each of our schools. We then tried to create a schedule that would provide for as much in-person time as we could, while keeping our physical spaces sanitized, and be able to transition into fully virtual when conditions required it,” Superintendent, Thomas Ahart said.

Coming up with a plan hasn't been easy for DMPS, being the state's largest district. They are likely to be affected heavily with the virus.

“I think our concerns on each side of this issue are more real for us than any other district in the state. For example, if our densely packed schools are hit hard by COVID then it will impact a large number quickly,” Social Science teacher, Jake Hoversten.

After the pandemic hit during the second semester of the 2020 school year, schools all around the world had to close and some transitioned to virtual learning. This transition has been hard for teachers and students to adjust to. So, to start getting ready for the 2020-21 school year with the pandemic still rising with cases, DMPS created the “Return to Learn” plan to help provide the best way to educate their students while keeping them safe and healthy. To try to achieve this goal, DMPS came up with a plan where students had the option of going to school all virtual for the first semester or choose hybrid, which is when students attend school in-person one or two times a week. DMPS made this plan over the summer but since making these plans there have been many COVID-19 cases. So, DMPS has had to make the difficult decision of going all virtual for the first semester of the 2020-21 school year. Because the cases in Iowa grow more and more each week.

In July DMPS stated getting the Return to learn plan ready by making sure they followed state laws and were making sure to they were following safety guidelines. According to the Des Moines Register, DMPS submitted a return to learn plan on July 21. The Return to learn detailed a plan to give students a choice allows schools in the district to hold class online between going fully virtual or doing a hybrid while DMPS is in the lawsuit against Kim model, which would bring students to campus Reynolds and the Department of Education. one day a week. But on August 17 DMPS voted According to the Washington post, Ahart in a to start school virtually because of the virus, statement said he was disappointed with the rulsince they made changes to their return to learn ing and how it forces him to send students and plan the district had to request approval from staff back to classrooms without well thought the Iowa Department of Education before out safety precautions or risk losing state being able to hold classes only virtually. On funding if DMPS doesn't follow state rules. July 17 Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation On Sept. 15 after being denied holding classes that allows schools to switch to more than 50 online well the lawsuit is going on, DMPS percent virtual learning if approved by the Iowa said they plan to still hold classes 100 percent Department of education. The state requires virtually. According to local 5 news On Sept. most of the schools to hold classes in-person 16 Reynolds stressed that DMPS will face the despite coronavirus spreading across Iowa. Ac- biggest challenges being the largest district in cording to Iowa Public Radio, Reynolds stated the state and that they also will have the biggest that if schools don’t follow the law for reopen- consequences for further inaction. I think our ing schools then they will need to make up time concerns on each side of this issue are more at the end of the year and that administrators real for us than any other district in the state. could face discipline from their licensing board. On Sept. 21, DMPS held a board meeting

When asked what he thought about Kim in which they had a vote. They voted 6-1 to Reynolds proclamation Ahart said, he was fine approve a new return to school plan. The new with allowing for mostly in-person classes as plan that was approved was a hybrid model. long as the decision to hold in-person classes is They decided that all the students at DMPS will made at the local level so that the characteristics all return to school by November. PreK starting of particular communities can be taken in to Oct. 12, K-5 starting Oct. 19, 6-8 Oct. 26 and account in determining the best plan for each finally 9-12 returning Oct. 10. This plan was district. made by the DMPS board and with the help of

Des Moines asked for approval to go online medical experts, DMPS is hoping to safely bring so that they could protect their students and their students back to in-person learning even staff from COVID-19 but were denied by the with the cases in Polk County constantly rising. Department of Education. The Department of What does DMPS and the State want the Education stated that they denied DMPS be- outcome to be? cause their priority is to let parents choose what Both the State and district want their stuis best for their child. Reynolds and the state dents to return to school safely and make sure are concerned that students may lose ground that they make a plan that is clear and throughacademically when taking classes online. On out August 25th DMPS filed a petition in the Dis- “I recognize that the interruption to our trict Court to respond to the state's rejection of regular school schedule and calendar has cretheir Return to learn plan. DMPS wants to fight ated challenges for our students, staff, and their against the state's decision and wants to over- families. I am attempting to provide as much ride the State’s control over local school state clarity to everyone as soon as possible. Unforlaws. The DMPS Superintendent Thomas Ahart tunately, we are in a very different place relative stated that the Petition that DMPS filed today to COVID-19 than I was hoping we would be in Polk County District Court is about local last March and with the rules we must follow control and who is best positioned to make de- changing frequently and unpredictably, I have cisions to promote the health and safety of our not been able to provide as much clarity and students and staff, their families and the broader assurance as I would like. I appreciate the grace community while pursuing our core mission. being demonstrated by our community and look So, should schools have control over the state's forward to making it through to the point where local laws? According to The Gazette “every COVID-19 is under control in our community school board is balancing its own local factors. and we can bring our entire DMPS family back It’s impossible for government bureaucrats in to in-person learning” Ahart said. Des Moines to come up with a model or matrix that’s suitable for every corner of the state”. Story/S.Selema

On Tuesday Sept.9, Jeffrey Farrell, a Polk County judge, denied Des Moines Public Schools’ request for temporary injunction that East High Scroll /3

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