After extending a two-week pre-holiday virtual education with a post-Thanksgiving one-week decision through this Friday, the West Liberty School District's COVID-19 decision team will make another decision on Wednesday, Dec. 2, with the possibility of staying away from classrooms for another week, through Friday, Dec. 11.
Superintendent Dr. Diego Giraldo said the team - which includes administrators, school nurses, school board members and the all-important Muscatine County Health Department, will make a decision on whether students get back to the classroom on Monday, Dec, 7 or a week later, Dec. 14.
The district has been given authorization from the Iowa State Board of Education to extend their virtual education endeavors through Dec. 11. Dr. Giraldo said there was a lot of discussion and a split leadership group when the team made the decision to extend virtual education for a third week.
The district was using a hybrid education model previously for grades one through 12, students going to the classroom one week and getting virtual education on the opposite week.
Other students were provided a 100 percent virtually education model since the start of the school year in mid-September. Preschool and kindergarten students attending the Early Learning Center were attending classes in the school until an outbreak among teachers, staff and students in November forced the district to make a change that started Tuesday, Nov. 10 as in increase in positive cases in the county grew to 21.4 percent.
The superintendent said even parents are divided over the issue - noting while many want to return to the classroom for education and extra curricular activities like sports, others are on the side of additional caution. At this time, there are no practices for any sport and the school is scrambling to reschedule events that may have taken place in early December.
He said classrooms have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected during the break from the four school buildings and said breakfast and lunch meal programs are continuing. He also said there is technology help available and any parents or students struggling with programs should contact their school administration directly.
School updates are posted on the district's website and an update can also be found on page 4 of this week's Index/