North Iowa Reporter

The spread of COVID-19 virus has disrupted the order of the day, with people forced to change their regular routine to accommodate the government policies. 

North Iowa district schools are faced with a dilemma regarding the school year, with three options tabled.

According to the Globe Gazette, Dave Versteeg, the Mason City Community Schools Superintendent, presented three choices to Gov. Kim Reynolds.

After consideration, Reynolds issued a statement saying that all schools will remain closed until April 30. Also, schools will have to either cancel the rest of the school year with a plan to make up for the affected school days or provide continuous learning opportunities.

However, Ann Lebo, the Department of Education Director, said that schools that adopt distance learning would have to be taken through an expedited application process by her department before approval.

The applications will need to be submitted within 24 hours. However, non-government schools will not be required to apply for this process but should submit their preference to the Department of Education.

Superintendent Dave Versteeg shared his thoughts on the entire process.

"We have to turn the application in on April 6, get OK'd by April 10 and be ready to go on April 13," he said. "Those are some unreal expectations."

According to him, remote education will have to be implemented within Mason City from April 13, and he has ruled out the no continuous learning option.

The process would start as a voluntary learning program where grades or credits given, and move on to be mandatory in the future where students are required to attend.

"How do we make the 'unplugged version' equitable?" he said. "That's how challenging this is."

With enough tablets for every child in grades 3-12, the only challenge the district is facing is how to get these gadgets safely to the students.