Temporary Move To All Online Classes Possible For Bettendorf

With the positivity rate rising in Scott County, school districts are monitoring numbers, along with student and staff absenteeism, to decide if they should remain open with the hybrid model or apply to move to fully online classes for a period of time.

The 14-day running COVID-19 positivity rate has reached 22.4% for Scott Country.  When school began in August, the rate was 6%.

In Bettendorf, a memo laid out the details and plan.

As a District, we are committed to implementing and adhering to mask-wearing, social distancing, hand washing, and rigorous sanitizing protocols to keep our students and staff as healthy and safe as possible.  While adherence to these mitigation strategies is consistent, we are beginning to experience a shortage of guest staff, which makes staffing classrooms difficult.  Building Principals are working closely with our Human Resources office to secure coverage for unfilled absences.  At times, we may need to combine classrooms and/or have other certified staff reassigned temporarily to cover staffing shortfalls.  When classrooms are combined, we continue to maintain social distancing standards.

Before school opened in Iowa, the Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Department of Public Health released the Return to Learn guidance.  Part of that guidance included that when a county is >20% positivity rate or in a "Substantial Uncontrolled Zone", schools may consider applying to the Department of Education for a waiver for temporary continuous/remote learning for an entire school building or district for up to 14 days.

The memo to parents/guardians goes on to state:

Our ultimate goal is to remain open and operate in a hybrid learning model.  We will continue to monitor staff and student absenteeism, quarantine numbers, and the number of positive cases on a daily basis.  If we find, as a District, that we are unable to hold classes due to high absenteeism of staff and/or students, we will work with the Board of Education and the Department of Education to consider the need to apply for a waiver to move into 100% remote learning for 14 school days.

Read the full release from Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Michelle Morse here.