Superintendent offers reasons Mt. Pleasant hasn’t moved online

MT. PLEASANT - In a letter to district families, Mt. Pleasant Community School District Superintendent John Henriksen said the Board of Education would be reviewing the district's return-to-learn plan in light of rising concern about the coronavirus pandemic.

In the letter, Henriksen addressed why the district has yet to move to a remote learning model even as Henry County surpasses and remains above a 20 percent positivity rate.

'I would offer that since the July 30 release of that Department of Education guidance, we've gained a lot of knowledge and experience about how to serve kids during a pandemic. We've learned that remote learning, even under the best circumstances, presents significant challenges for staff and students,” Henriksen wrote.

The superintendent noted the challenges presented by remote learning are 'even more consequential” for families and students 'with limited resources.”

In the letter, Henriksen said district schools will ask students and staff to wear masks in place of or in addition to face shields beginning Monday. The letter notes the change falls in line with the governor's Nov. 16 proclamation which would allow students to remain in school 'as long as all parties were wearing masks and remain asymptomatic.”

The letter notes the use of only a face shield or a neck gaiter does not meet the standards of the Iowa Department of Public Health's safety threshold.

'The Mt. Pleasant Community School District board of directors … will be reviewing our return-to-learn plan as we move forward in service to our students and community,” Henriksen wrote.