Dunkerton Community School District recently issued the following announcement.
On Wednesday, August 11, the Dunkerton School Board approved a Return to School Plan with the following language:
Face masks on school busses
Passengers on school busses will be required to wear face masks. The CDC issued an Order effective February 1, 2021, imposing a requirement for persons to wear masks while on public transportation conveyances, indicates that “passengers and drivers must wear a mask on school buses, including on buses operated by public and private school systems, subject to the exclusions and exemptions in the CDC’s Order.” The Iowa Department of Education affirmed this guidance.
This issue has been confusing because there is a state law that forbids requiring masks in district property. The recommendation was made based on information from an Iowa Department of Education webinar. However, as of Thursday, this statement to districts, as well as all other COVID-19 related guidance for schools, is no longer posted on the Iowa Department of Education website.
Therefore, given the contradictory nature of this matter and lack of follow up guidance from the Iowa Department of Education, this section of the Dunkerton Return to School Plan will not be strictly enforced until written legal counsel can be obtained by the district or the Board changes the policy.
Original source can be found here.
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