Iowa Parents Upset Over School District’s ‘No Quarantine’ COVID Policy
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Many parents in Ankeny, Iowa, are feeling frustrated after receiving a letter on July 28th stating that the Ankeny Community School District will no longer enforce quarantining for students who have been in contact with individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19.
The letter, signed by Erick Pruitt, the district superintendent who started in July, explained, "Our local health authorities have informed us that it is not necessary for the district to enforce quarantines at this time. We will continue to work closely with the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Polk County Health Department to ensure that our actions align with their guidance. We acknowledge that this guidance is subject to change. For the most recent updates, please refer to the Iowa Department of Public Health."
Ankeny is the sixth-largest school district in Iowa, with over 12,000 students and 2,285 employees, according to the district’s website.
LaKeshia Richmond, a mother of three children from Ankeny, chose remote learning for her kids last year. She expressed her disappointment, saying, "We were looking forward to returning to school this year. Once again, our family is facing unexpected challenges related to the pandemic and schools."
When IowaWatch reached out to Pruitt for comment, they did not receive a response by the time of publication.
The Polk County Department of Public Health clarified that they did not advise the school regarding the contents of the letter but mentioned that they adhere to the laws and guidance of the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH).
Nola Aigner Davis from the Polk County Health Department explained that quarantine only applies to children who have had contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. However, if a child tests positive themselves, they must stay home.
"There is a sick child policy within the district, so if a child tests positive, they must stay at home," Aigner Davis clarified.
While schools are required to offer in-person learning this fall, districts have the option to implement hybrid and virtual learning models as well. Without mandated mitigation strategies in Iowa, online learning may be the only viable option for medically vulnerable children.
Ashley Lappe, a parent from Ankeny, shared her concerns, saying, "My 8-year-old daughter was born prematurely and required oxygen for six months. She was diagnosed with chronic lung disease as an infant." Lappe’s daughter has remained healthy and was looking forward to returning to school this fall. Last year, Lappe chose the hybrid learning option, which worked well for her family. However, she is now unsure about what to do if the school does not offer hybrid or online learning again this year. "I don’t want to send my daughter to school only to find out the hard way that she is medically fragile and gets COVID," Lappe expressed.
On May 14, 2021, Kelly Garcia, the director of the Iowa public health department, issued COVID-19 guidance to public schools. The letter provided new medical recommendations stating that children who have been in close contact with a COVID-19 positive person do not need to quarantine. It is important to note that Garcia is not a medical doctor.
Dr. Megan Srinivas, an infectious disease doctor from Fort Dodge, criticized this guidance, stating, "This recommendation lacks scientific foundation. I fail to understand how this guidance was decided upon, as it contradicts the advice provided by the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and medical professionals." Srinivas emphasized the known risks of COVID-19 in children, including the potential for serious illness and long-term health implications, as well as the fact that asymptomatic children can still transmit the virus.
In July, the CDC released a scientific brief titled "Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in K-12 Schools." Recognizing that children can be asymptomatic carriers, the CDC encourages proactive screening testing in schools to quickly identify cases. The brief also emphasizes the implementation of mitigation strategies, including isolation and quarantine, to ensure the well-being of students.
Pruitt’s letter primarily focused on face masks, noting that the Ankeny district cannot mandate their usage. A law signed by Governor Reynolds in May prohibits mask mandates in schools, cities, and counties, with some exceptions for educational and extracurricular activities. It is worth mentioning that Garcia’s directive on quarantines does not have legal backing.
In order to ensure that the rights of disabled or medically fragile children were not violated, IowaWatch reached out to the Iowa Board of Education, a panel consisting of ten members responsible for overseeing and supporting the state’s education system. Their aim was to determine if they had reviewed the school guidance provided by the governor and Garcia, which did not mandate quarantine, mask-wearing, or proactive screening. It is crucial that these children have equal access to education, as guaranteed by the Americans With Disability Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA).
However, despite attempts to contact them in late July, the education board did not respond to IowaWatch. Similarly, there was no response from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office or the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) at the time this article was published.
It is important to highlight that this article was produced by the Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism-IowaWatch, a non-profit online news website that collaborates with various news organizations to create informative and investigative reports. For more articles like this, you can visit their website at www.IowaWatch.org.
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