Hi, all,
TL;DR: Please join me in donating to the legal fund to allow schools to require masks here.
(Drop a line to ICProtectKidsCommunity@gmail.com when you donate. For every $10 you donate up to $1000, I'll give another dollar -- and I'll try to recruit some other folks beyond that to continue the match (lmk if you're interested in matching as well).
Fran is a parent. She took a risk in starting this lawsuit for all of us, and she needs our help so the costs don't fall all on her. There is a hearing set for September 9 at 1:30 asking for an injunction against enforcement of the state law. This would mean that within 3 days after that, school districts could be allowed to require masks.
As you may have seen at the Iowa City Community School District meeting on 8/24, they did not issue a mask requirement and are not likely to do so, though they continue to explore their options. They do care. But they are boxed in by a law that was so well crafted there doesn't appear to be a path forward for the school.
It looks like parents may have more "standing" (i.e., the right to bring a law suit) than school districts. Fran is bringing that law suit on behalf of all of us.
In other news: The ACLU has also filed a law suit, and the Department of Education is investigating the state. ALL of these methods will be necessary to get to a place where school districts can require masks and we can stop the rapid increase of COVID cases among Iowa students.