K-12 Education

Masks will continue to be optional in Iowa’s non-public and private schools after legal experts determined a restraining order issued last week on a law banning mask mandates applies only to public schools.

A king and queen will not be crowned at Linn-Mar High School’s homecoming this year or in the future as the school pivots to a more inclusive way to recognize seniors.

As president of Iowa’s largest teacher’s union, Mike Beranek, 61, has been at the tip of the spear in advocating for safe school settings, fair working conditions and compensation for his 34,000 members and adequate state funding to meet the needs of nearly 500,000 students educated in a system that traditionally has been highly regarded nationwide.

Since students 12+ have the option to be vaccinated against COVID-19, school board decides to leave masks optional for grades 7-12.

87 percent of voters say ‘yes’ to improvements

While Eastern Iowa’s two largest school districts — Cedar Rapids and Iowa City — reinstated a mask mandate this week for all students, staff and visitors, other area districts are waiting for a decision from their school board or have decided to forgo a mask mandate for now.

Students, staff and visitors in Iowa City schools will be required to wear masks on school grounds a day after a federal judge cleared the way at least temporarily for local officials to require masks in schools.

Also, Iowa City schools Superintendent Matt Degner said he “anticipates” the district implementing a mask requirement for all students and staff Tuesday during a 6 p.m. school board meeting.