Hello, all,

As you have likely heard by now, Mayor Teague last night issued a proclamation requiring masks in Iowa City. He explicitly listed public schools and the University of Iowa as examples of places where this requirement will apply. 

As you've probably also heard, the governor has already said that the proclamation is against state law. Mayor Teague indicated that it was written specifically to not contradict the state law (i.e., to require masks not in particular spaces like businesses or schools, for example, but in all spaces).

I wrote to the mayor immediately to thank him for saving lives, preventing hospitalizations, and avoiding illness. I let him know that many of us who signed this petition for masks in schools would support him in whatever comes next -- but please write to him and the rest of the city council yourselves if you live in Iowa City, because they will get pushback from vocal opponents and need to hear from us. Their email addresses and phone numbers are here.

Several people have asked on Facebook (in the groups Safe at School Sit In; Iowa Educators for a Safe Return to School; Science for Safe Schools; and Mental Health, Special Education, and Disability Advocacy (this last is a PTO in ICCSD)) what this means for ICCSD schools in other towns. The answer is that I don't know. My hope is that this will encourage ICCSD to issue a district-wide requirement in order to ensure consistency across the district, or that Mayor Teague's leadership will encourage other mayors to follow suit.

If you've got ideas about what this group should do next and want to help plan those actions, contact us at icprotectkidscommunity@gmail.com.

Although the city was not the explicit audience for our petition, and I don't have confirmation that Mayor Teague was aware of it, several knowledgeable people have told me they think he was, and that knowing there was community support may have helped the City Council make this decision -- thank you, all, for your concern and activism to protect kids and save lives.