Dr. Robert Kobylski, Superintendent, Davenport Community School, released the updated Return to Learn plan on the afternoon of July 24, 2020. While the Davenport Community School had earlier planned to adopt online learning for the upcoming semester on August 24, 2020, changes were made after the announcement by the Governor of Iowa, Kim Lawrence. He declared, 50% of the learning must take place in the classroom.
Dr. Kobylski stated that the school district had an on-site model in the background. However, with this latest turn of events, he said that the school district has to develop the model post-haste before the commencement of the new semester.
Kobylski thus confirmed, “Fifty percent they will be in the classroom with their teacher, half the density of a class.” He added that the students would follow a 10-day cycle where one half will attend classes online for five days, followed by the other five days in the classroom with the teachers.
Kobylski also emphasized the role of the parents and guardians, stating that it would indeed be the parents’ responsibility to gauge the body temperature of their children before sending them to school.
Some of the key aspects of the latest Return to Learn plan include;
- Half of the students would attend the class in person, the other half online.
- Students to wear masks on the allotted school bus and can only take their mask off beyond the six feet social distancing mark.
- School staff to always wear a face mask or shield.
- Students are to return to school on August 24, 2020.
Kobylski also said that the Davenport Community School would apply for a waiver seeking complete online learning, and will be presenting it along with the updated plan to the governor on July 27, 2020. However, sources from the Governor of Iowa’s office claimed that the waiver request would not be considered until August 1, this year.
