Dear Parents and Guardians,

Yesterday the Iowa Department of Education announced that as of July 1, all Covid-19 restrictions on schools are being lifted.  This means that school can begin on time and that many of the fears that we have had about restrictions will not, as likely, be seen.  Of course, along with all Iowa organizations, we are still under restrictions from the Iowa Department of Health.

Some of the issues raised in our survey are still important but now we have an understanding of how they will be handled by the Department of Education.  The restrictions placed on schools for health reasons are still very important, but the primary decision-making will be on a local level by the school board.  This will include school closings.  Of course, the governor can step in at any time for an emergency, but currently the decisions on how to respond to Covid-19 will rest with our board. 

Dr. Pedati, the director of the Iowa Department of Health, spoke to the school leaders of Iowa yesterday by “Zoom”.  She noted that school children are the least likely to get, or to spread, Covid-19.  She noted that, by far, the most important thing that we can do is to keep sick people out of this building.  This is already in our policy but we do need to all join together in making this a firmer reality in the 2020-21 school year. 

Without going into further detail about specifics covered in our survey (due June 30), know that the news is good.  The Director of Education in Iowa was smiling when she said, “We are going back to school!”  We at ACA have been waiting for this word and are happy to pass it on.  Keep ACA in your prayers.  For all the good and all the bad, we remain the best non-church ministry in Iowa!!  I may be biased.

Thanks,

S. Robinson