(Des Moines) At her press conference on Tuesday, Governor Kim Reynolds said in 88 of Iowa’s 99 counties the rolling 14 day average positivity rate is above 15-percent. A 15-percent positivity rate is a guidance that allows schools to move temporarily online with a waiver approved by the Department of Education. Governor Reynolds said while the Department has seen an increase in waiver requests, less than 6 percent have been submitted since November 1st.
Ann Lebo, Director of the Iowa Department of Education, said since November 1st they have approved 24 requests and they are in the process of reviewing and approving three more.
Lebo said schools do not have to wait until they reach both student absenteeism of 10-percent and a county positivity rate of above 15-percent to apply for a waiver.
Lebo said schools have put a lot of work into health and safety measures and mitigation strategies that have helped them manage conditions in their school environment. She said because each situation is unique, school districts and non-public schools have a lot of flexibility to manage conditions in their schools and can always submit of waiver request at any time.
Governor Reynolds commended Iowa schools for doing everything that they can to keep students and staff safe while making sure learning continues.
