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August 16, 2021

Return to Learn Updates

Our core purpose within the Ankeny Community School District is to prepare every learner for a lifetime of personal success. In this pursuit, we also have a responsibility to do all we can to keep every learner safe.  In response to the current state of the pandemic, where we are seeing a significant rise in childhood cases of COVID-19 related to the Delta variant, additional measures are likely helpful to do all we can to keep our students safe. 

Additionally, we believe our community is an essential partner in this work to prepare every learner for that lifetime of personal success. As we’ve been engaging with the community over the past several weeks, some themes have arisen regarding additional mitigation measures for our PreK-5 population. 

As a result, we are proposing some changes to the Return to Learn addendum that will be reviewed at the Tuesday, August 17 Ankeny Board of Education meeting. Please view the current proposed addendum here. Proposed changes include: 

  • School bus drivers, monitors, and passengers are required to wear masks as defined by an Order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  • The district will work with the Polk County Health Department and the Iowa Department of Public Health to have take-home testing kits available in nurses’ offices pending availability from state and local health authorities. At this time, these agencies are experiencing a backlog of available tests. These tests are optional and the results will be sent directly to you/your family.
  • PreK-5 Specific Information
    • Visitors and volunteers will not be allowed during the academic day in Pre-K through 5th grade buildings if the Level of Community Transmission for Polk County is “Substantial” or “High” according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. 
    • School-wide assemblies will not be held if the Level of Community Transmission for Polk County is “Substantial” or “High”.
    • Polk County community transmission data from the CDC will be posted on the district and school websites each Friday.
    • Students will sit with their class in assigned seats during lunch, physically distanced to the extent possible. Classes will be distanced from one another.

In addition to these proposed edits to the Return to Learn Addendum, the district will also offer the following:

  • Remote learning: 
    • K-5: The remote learning option provided through Edgenuity will now be available to all students in grades K-5; not just those with underlying health conditions. The registration link will be re-opened through Wednesday, August 18, 2021. Elementary families received a registration link via email earlier today with these instructions. Please contact your building principal with any questions regarding the remote learning environment.
    • 6-12: As a reminder, if you have concerns about your child’s health and wellbeing in the coming school year and would like to discuss ways we can support your child, please contact your building principal. 
  • Vaccinations: While vaccinations are not required, we will continue to work with our partners in the health care community to offer pop-up clinics throughout the year in response to parent interest.  As a reminder, the first of this year’s pop-up clinics (available to eligible staff and students 12-years-of-age or older) will be offered by Hy-Vee and will take place at Northview Middle School on Friday, August 20th from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.  We encourage all members of our school community to speak with their health care providers to make the choice that is best for themselves and their families.  Additional information about vaccination in Iowa can be found here: https://vaccinate.iowa.gov/. 
  • Making the Best Decision for Your Family: Public health officials have made available a number of resources to help you and your family navigate the constantly-changing landscape around COVID-19.  

We understand this is a lot of information. Our Return to Learn FAQ page has been updated with these proposed changes. Please view current answers and submit any new questions here.