Hey folks. Gotta say...I’m mighty disturbed today. Mrs. Witgen has been verging on tears a couple of times. This is bad. Mighty bad. Criminally bad. Murderously bad. “Go dig your own graves and shut up and smile while you do it” bad.
Governor Reynolds, AKA “The Terminator”, AKA “The Kim Reaper”, punted months ago on what schools should do to prepare for the 2020-21 school year. Schools were supposed to develop 3 plans (1 full in-person instruction, 1 full virtual, and 1 hybrid model). And beyond that, they’ve been left to their own devices to figure out just what the hell they’re supposed to do in August. Do they require masks? How do you handle lunch? How do you social distance in a school environment? What about busing? And so on. No particular guidance from the state, no statewide mandates for anything, no nothing.
Schools knuckled down and administrators and teachers have spent months trying to come up with plans. And with the start of the school year mere weeks away, and new COVID-19 cases rocketing upward in the state, many schools have been eyeing going virtual at the start of the school year. Indeed several of the largest school districts in Iowa had already declared that is what they would do.
But Republicans are nothing if not consistent in their love of “local control” right up until “local control” does something they don’t like, in which case they immediately do a 180 pivot.
So it is with Reynolds. Today she announced that students MUST return to school at least 50 percent of the time in person. This is based on a new law, conveniently signed by her after being passed by our Republican-led legislature at the end of June. Funny how that happened, huh?
The only way a school can get out of this requirement is if the Gov. issues a proclamation or if the district gets permission after consulting with both the state Dept. of Health and Dept. of Ed. Which of course are run by Reynolds appointees. The exception is that PARENTS on an individual basis can choose to keep their kids home for virtual learning. Teachers? Pah, who cares about you guys? Get your asses in the classroom, losers. You’re expendable. No exemption for you.
Which reminds me: Reynolds in her announcement also loosened requirements for substitute teachers, paraeducators, and certain other education related specialists. Which tells me she’s expecting a lot of subs are going to be needed. Reynolds already knows shes going to be filling body bags by sending teachers and students back to school in August, and apparently doesn’t care.
It’s passing strange how Gov. Reynolds doesn’t like mandating that people wear masks or stay at home, but has no problem with telling teachers they have to put their lives at risk. One hopes that she will demonstrate that this situation is safe by personally visiting some classrooms and spending a few days face-to-face with students, especially here in Polk County where cases are rocketing right along.
In case it’s not apparent, yes, I’m angry. No, scratch that. I’m bloody furious. Because I know, I KNOW, based on her behavior earlier in the pandemic that she will drag her feet and institute measures only slowly and piecemeal. She’ll grudgingly allow one district or building to close after they’ve got a full outbreak on their hands, but keep all the districts around it in session. I can see it now. And it’s going to cost lives...maybe mine, maybe my coworkers, maybe my students. Frankly, if she was in the room with me right now I really don’t know that I could refrain from spitting in her face and flat out calling her a murderer. “Pro-life” my ass. Let’s look at some headlines before I keep ranting…
- 879 new cases today and 5 deaths. That’s a record 1 day total for the state so far. Should I mention that our CUMULATIVE total of cases didn’t top 879 cases until April 6th? That’s right, we went through the entire month of March, and almost the first full week of April, before we hit that kind of number IN TOTAL. But sure, let’s talk about sending kids to school.
- The City of Des Moines is considering asking Gov. Reynolds for the authority to enforce a mandatory mask mandate. Some council members want to proceed with one regardless of whether Gov. Reynolds says yea or nay.
- Back before the Primary, the Iowa Secretary of State mailed ballot request forms to all registered voters in order to encourage voters to vote by mail during the pandemic. During the primary, a huge number of votes were submitted by mail, and the primary had a record turnout. Voters actually voting seems to panic Republicans, so of course the legislature immediately moved to quash this independence on the part of the SOS and stop him from being able to just willy-nilly... (checks notes)... make it easier and more convenient for Iowa citizen to exercise their right to vote. So now the SOS has to get permission from the Legislative Board before doing something so hideously….democratic. Well, they have since realized they’ve shot themselves in the foot with this move, as several of Iowa’s most populous counties declared they would send out ballot request forms to voters within their borders. Why is this a problem for Republicans? Because the state’s most populous counties vote Democratic, that’s why. Which is undoubtedly why the Legislative Panel today granted the SOS permission to yes, indeed, send out ballot request forms to all voters statewide.
- Half (8 out of 16 officers) of Hiawatha’s police department has tested COVID-positive. Sounds like a great time to send kids to school, for sure. Sorry, do I seem bitter?
- The Center for Public Integrity has released a White House Task Force report that was never publicly released that recommends that a mask mandate be issued for 47 of Iowa’s counties where coronavirus is spreading rapidly. The document also recommends that 5 counties comprising what the report refers to as the “red zone,” where cases are exceeding 100 per 100,000 population — Sioux, Osceola, Webster, Franklin and Clarke counties — not only institute a mask mandate but also close gyms and bars, limit gatherings to no more than 10 people, and recommend that people limit their restaurant business to takeout food or dining outdoors only. In the “yellow zone” areas which is comprised of the other 42 counties recommended for a mask mandate, the report recommends closing bars, limiting gyms to 25% capacity and limiting gatherings to no more than 25. Anyone taking bets on whether Gov. Reynolds takes even one of these steps?
Anyway, that’s enough for tonight or I’m going to OD myself on sarcasm and bitterness. The wife and I are literally talking to someone this weekend to set up some of our funeral arrangements in advance in case the worst happens, as both of us have risk factors that put us at some higher risk and we don’t want our families to deal with that burden in the event we both end up...well, you know. Or if one dies and the other is in the hospital or trying to quarantine.
“Back to school” shouldn’t involve making wills or wondering how many of your coworkers and students are going to survive the semester unscathed.
Iowa reports highest one-day total with 879 positive COVID-19 cases; 5 additional deaths
Coronavirus in Iowa: Updated COVID-19 maps and charts track cases and data in Iowa and across the U.S.
Gov. Kim Reynolds: Iowa schools must conduct at least half of instruction in-person
A mask mandate in Des Moines would be a challenge to enforce, city officials agree
Legislative Panel Approves Sending Ballot Request Forms to All Iowa Voters
Half of Hiawatha Police Department tested positive for COVID-19, chief says
Mandate masks in wide swath of Iowa, unpublished White House report recommended
Edit: fixed some typos