FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

CONTACT: press@iowademocrats.org

Attack on Iowa Schools: Reynolds Threatens Local School Districts At the Expense of Students, Teachers, and Families

This morning, in the governor’s latest public health disaster, Reynolds plowed over local district control as she gave new ultimatums to schools moving towards online learning

DES MOINES — In her latest attack on Iowa students and teachers, Governor Reynolds threatened local school districts moving towards remote learning by giving them a new ultimatum: schools that don’t comply with her politically motivated tactics may lose licensing or be disciplined.

While Reynolds doubles down on in-person learning demands, she still doesn’t have answers to the pressing questions on every teacher and parent’s mind. Instead, Reynolds took another page out of Trump’s book and scathingly attempted to dismiss a question from the media about the fear that a teacher or a child may become sick as a “scare tactic.”

“Governor Reynolds is playing politics with our schools by overriding and threatening school districts at the expense of students and teachers,” said Iowa Democratic Party spokesperson Samantha Kennedy. “Let’s be clear: Iowa schools that choose remote learning options are making the best decisions based on public health guidance to safely get kids back to school. Reynolds’ shameful scare tactics towards our public education system make it evident she cares more about falling in line with President Trump and her own ego than the safety of children and families.”

Take a look at Governor Reynolds’ latest disaster and chaotic mishandling of public health: 

DMR: Iowa governor says students won’t receive credit if school districts defy 50% mandate on in-person classes

“‘Schools that choose not to return to school for at least 50% in-person instruction are not defying me, they are defying the law,’ Reynolds said Tuesday during a press conference.

“’If schools move to primarily remote learning without approval, according again to the law, those days do not count toward instructional time.’

“Reynolds said school administrators could also face licensure discipline for violating the order. She did not say that districts could lose out on state funding.

“‘I’m hoping that that doesn’t happen at all,’ she said. ‘We’re going to continue to do the outreach and to work with them and see if we can’t get them to comply.’”

Iowa Starting Line: Reynolds: Concern Over Sick Kids, Teachers Is ‘Scare Tactics’

“While downplaying Iowa’s rising COVID-19 numbers and rebuking school districts who oppose in-person school reopening orders, Gov. Kim Reynolds today accused the media of implementing “scare tactics” in their coverage of how the virus is playing out across the state. […]

“‘This is part of the problem. The scare tactics that’s being laid out by the media. I’ve walked through the numbers,’ Reynolds said after an Iowa reporter mentioned he’d listened to several school board meetings where teachers and families have expressed fear that a teacher might die or a child may become sick with the virus.”

WOWT: Reynolds: Schools in Iowa not allowed to count unapproved remote-learning days

“Gov. Kim Reynolds had scathing words Tuesday for schools prepared to defy the state’s order that 50% of classes be conducted in person once Iowa students head back to school.

“Those schools considering abandoning the state’s 50% rule for reopening using Iowa Department of Public Health guidance would be defying the very guidance that they themselves requested, she said. […]

“Reynolds said the state would work with the small number of schools — less than five, she said — to bring them into compliance with the law. But if they fail to do so, she said, their days won’t count and will have to be made up — and administrators may also be subject to discipline, she said.”

KCRG: Reynolds: Iowa schools that don’t return to in-person learning are violating state law

“This comes after Rolling Green Elementary in Urbandale recently said it would go forward with online-only classes, and more than 250 educators at the University of Iowa are calling for online-only instruction.”