Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, today (Tuesday) responded to reports some schools will defy her proclamation that districts begin the school year with in-person instruction. During a news conference late this (Tuesday) morning, Reynolds said those school districts (Waukee and Urbandale) may think they are defying her, but that’s not the case.

The Waukee School Board and the district’s superintendent issued a written statement Monday night. It included what was described as “a reminder” to Governor Reynolds and other state officials that state law gives local school officials the power to establish rules for the governance of their own districts. Waukee Superintendent Brad Buck served as former Republican Governor Terry Branstad’s state education director for nearly two years. Earlier this summer, the Urbandale School District had permission to continue operating its year-round elementary school online, but state officials notified the district students would have to return to the classroom this Friday. Urbandale’s school board voted Monday night to continue online classes at the elementary school until at least August 25th. The board will meet again on August 10th to discuss its “Return to Learn” plans for all students in the Urbandale district.

Governor Kim Reynolds announced last week state education officials will only grant waivers from in-person instruction to school districts in communities where at least 15 percent of residents have tested positive for Covid-19 AND at least 10 percent of students are absent. The statement from Waukee school officials said they will not follow that guidance, but instead will follow other “sources of expertise which indicate more reasonable” standards that should trigger temporary suspension of in-person classes and a shift to distance learning.

She said the vast majority of Iowa schools have plans in place to meet the 50% in-person instruction requirement. Only a few schools have requested waivers to return by remote learning. Reynolds said they are actively working with those districts.