The district believes that student learning is the heart of its core mission. While traditional in-person teaching continues to provide the greatest learning opportunity to all students, there may be rare and unusual circumstances that prevent the school community from convening in traditional in-person settings. At times of a public emergency declared by federal, state or local officials, the district will seek guidance and recommendations from federal, state and local agencies to assist in determining the safety of convening traditional in-person learning.
During a declared public emergency, the school board delegates to the Superintendent the authority to determine whether to close school buildings to traditional in-person learning if the Superintendent determines in-person learning would hinder the health and safety of the school community. The district will instead utilize remote or hybrid learning opportunities permitted by law.
Following guidance and recommendations from federal, state, and local agencies when reasonably possible, the administration will create regulations related to district operations during a public emergency, including, but not limited to, student, employee and visitor safety and security; the use and safeguarding of district property; public meetings and events, and when applicable, measures to prevent or slow the spread of infectious disease.
These measures will be enforced for the period of time of the public emergency, or until the superintendent, in consultation with federal, state and local agencies determine it is appropriate for the safety measures to end.
Legal Reference: Senate File 2310
Iowa Code ch. 279.8
Date Board Adopted: 7/20/2020
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/21/2022
During a public health emergency, the district will seek guidance and recommendations from federal, state and local agencies that monitor and respond to the emergency. The district will follow any mandatory closures or other mandatory measures imposed by such agencies.
The superintendent, in conjunction with relevant government agencies and/or athletic and activity associations, will determine under what circumstances the district will restrict or cancel in-person learning, student events or activities including sporting events, extracurricular clubs or meetings for students, and the use of district facilities by outside organizations.
The district will promote and follow other recommended measures and guidance from federal, state and local agencies to the extent reasonably practicable under the circumstances. These measures may include, but are not limited to the following:
On-line learning, hybrid models of learning, or modified in-person learning may occur dependent on the circumstances and in accordance with applicable law.
Due to the increased cost to the district of providing additional cleaning and disinfecting measures and in order to preserve cleaning supplies for school use during the time of a public health emergency, the superintendent has discretion to require, as a condition of using district facilities, non-school groups to provide the school district with EPA-approved cleaning and disinfecting supplies to properly clean and disinfect the space used after each event. The district may also require non-school groups to reimburse the district the actual cost of school personnel time needed to clean and disinfect school facilities after the event.
Date Board Adopted: 7/20/2020
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/21/2022