Schools drop face-covering requirements after Reynolds signs new law that bans mask mandates
Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a new law early Thursday morning that says Iowa school districts cannot require students or staff to wear masks and Iowa cities and counties cannot impose mask mandates.
Schools cannot impose mask mandates
School boards and superintendents can no longer require employees, students or other people to wear facial coverings on the property of a public school or accredited private school. Exceptions include when facial coverings are necessary for "an extracurricular or instructional purpose" or required by existing portions of Iowa law governing ear and eye protection.
Iowa State Education Association President Mike Beranek said in a statement Wednesday night that he was "deeply disappointed" in the vote, citing CDC recommendations that unvaccinated people should continue to wear masks.
"It is a shame our elected leaders feel the need to end this historically difficult year on such an uninformed note," he said.
The CDC has also recommended schools keep mask-wearing and social distancing in place through the end of the school year. Children under 12 are still not cleared to receive any of the COVID-19 vaccines.
More:Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signs law banning mask mandates in schools, cities and counties
Some Des Moines metro schools drop mask requirements
The change was felt immediately in Iowa schools.
Des Moines Public Schools said the district will comply with the law. A statement from the district said that masks "are still the best method available to protect the unvaccinated."
"A bill signed into law shortly after midnight by Gov. Kim Reynolds supersedes CDC recommendations and Polk County Health Department guidance that schools continue to require masks until the end of the school year for the health and safety of unvaccinated students and staff," DMPS said in a post on Twitter. "Due to the size of our district, limited space in our buildings and the number of students still unvaccinated, DMPS continues to strongly encourage masks while indoors."
Masks are still required on school buses, which require mask usage on public transportation. They are optional during athletic events on school property.
"Our students and staff have been doing an amazing job of protecting one another's health, and so it's disappointing that we don't have the support to continue masking through the end of the year," DMPS Superintendent Tom Ahart told the Des Moines Register on Thursday.
The Ankeny Community School District announced Thursday morning that because of the law the district will allow students, staff and others to make their own decision about mask usage in its buildings.
"We continue to strongly recommend that face coverings be worn, in alignment with the guidance from the CDC that individuals who have not been vaccinated continue to wear masks indoors," the district said in an online statement. "Additionally, it is still vitally important that any students or staff members who are feeling ill stay home."
In a message to Johnston Community School District staff and families Thursday morning, the district said face masks are now optional, effective immediately.
Other central Iowa school districts who said Thursday morning that they're dropping face-covering requirements: Bondurant-Farrar, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines.
"As a district, we are still encouraging anyone who has not been vaccinated to wear a mask," a statement on the West Des Moines' district's website said. "The majority of our students do not yet have access to the vaccine or will not be fully vaccinated. We believe this is a critical step in our fight against the virus."
More:Here's who's lifting mask mandates in Iowa after the CDC's new COVID-19 guidance
Some central Iowa districts had already dropped mandates
In Story County, two districts — Ballard and Roland-Story — had already made masks optional earlier this week after the CDC relaxed its guidance last week for people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Gilbert and Nevada districts had taken up discussion about adjusting their policies, but both decided to keep their mask mandates in place.
Nevada acknowledged Thursday morning Reynolds’ signature of the law and added a line on the district website that parents, students, staff and members of the public are allowed to make their own decisions about masks.
Gilbert administrators told staff and families in a message posted online that “While we were hoping to conclude our school year following the same mitigation that we have had much success with, we must comply with the new decision.”
“As we finish the 2020-2021 school year, we hope that our staff, our students, and our community continue to give grace, show understanding and acceptance of others’ choices and be humble through this change,” Gilbert administrators added.
The Ames district posted a similar message for its families Thursday morning: “While we believe masks are still an essential part of our mitigation efforts to keep our staff and students safe, we can not require that they be worn. Due to a federal mandate, masks continue to be required when your child rides a school bus.”
“We urge students and families to show compassion towards each other no matter whether they elect to follow CDC-based guidance or this new state regulation,” the district added.
Ames’ school board did not directly discuss masks at a meeting earlier this week, but the district’s emergency management coordinator had recommended that the district keep its mandate for students and staff in place through the end of the school year, even if the Ames City Council were to undo its local mandate.
The Iowa City school district had intended to require masks through the end of the school year. But Thursday morning, Superintendent Matt Degner sent a message to families and employees that said: "While face coverings are no longer required, we strongly encourage families to have their students wear a face covering, especially if they have not received the COVID-19 vaccination."
More:What is safe to do once you've been fully vaccinated against COVID-19?
Iowa cities, counties cannot adopt mask mandates
Cities and counties are prohibited from adopting policies that require private establishments like businesses to put facial covering policies in place that are more stringent than state policies. Cities and counties may still require masks on public property.
Reynolds never imposed a statewide mask mandate. In November she imposed a limited mask requirement. That was lifted in early February.
Des Moines dropped its mask mandate last week because of the new CDC guidance. Mayor Frank Cownie thanked residents who cooperated during the nine-month period.
"I want to thank our residents, business owners and visitors for understanding the importance of this authorization and for adhering to the rules," Cownie said last week. "Your diligence helped keep us safe and healthy."
Polk County never issued a countywide mask requirement.