ICCSD parents concerned about lack of masks, district looking into legal options for requiring them

Parents are concerned about the safety of the children as the district moves into the third week of school without the need for masks.

As the Iowa City Community School District closes its third week of the 2021-22 school year, parents are raising concerns about the lack of a mask requirement for students.

Iowa lawmakers passed law in May banning the school district from mandating masks, but the district is still encouraging the wearing of masks.

During the first week of school, the district received feedback from parents telling them to ignore Reynolds’ law, said Shawn Eyestone, president of the school committee.

“There are people who have asked us to give mask mandates despite state law,” said Eyestone. “I think the county and the board and our legal counsel have had pretty good conversations about what else we can and can’t do.”

Although Eyestone said the district had “had a good week,” he added that there was nervousness and anxiety before the school year started.

“Our district continues to support the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation for universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and school visitors regardless of vaccination status, and we applaud the efforts of the City of Iowa City to make masking mandatory for all Individuals in the Iowa City Community, ”Superintendent Matt Degner said in a statement to families.

Eyestone said elementary school parents were most concerned about the masking this fall, as children under the age of 12 cannot yet be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“I think there would be a much larger number who would certainly be interested in a mask mandate, I think elementary school age,” he said. “Parents are rightly most concerned that this age group of children cannot be vaccinated.

The district legal aid is currently examining how they can circumvent the state law, Degner said.

“Over the course of this week’s events, the district has worked with legal counsel and is discussing potential legal avenues to further protect our students, employees and families,” Degner wrote. “We have asked the United States Department of Education, the Department of Justice, and the Civil Rights Office for additional assistance and guidance as we try to comply with both state and federal laws.”

Iowa City Assistant City Attorney Eric Goers said the district is committed to protecting the welfare of its students and employees.

“I understand that they are doing everything they can to achieve what they believe is in the best interests of their students and staff,” said Goers.

The district has concerns about a possible COVID-19 outbreak, particularly due to the Delta variant, Eyestone said.

“I think there is always that worry. We are not blind to what is happening in other states and even locally as the Delta variant has certainly changed the playing field a little, ”said Eyestone.

In elementary school, Eyestone said the frequency of wearing masks was higher than that of older students.

“We’re definitely pushing it down from the administrative team and I think quite a number of the staff are trying to model this for the students,” said Eyestone.