Iowa Freedom Riders seek clarifications to the Iowa City Community School District’s responses to demands
Rachel Schilke, News Reporter
July 2, 2020
After reviewing the Iowa City Community School District’s response to demands for a more inclusive academic environment, the Iowa Freedom Riders called upon the district’s board to specify what actions it will take to prevent discriminatory practices on school campuses and to ensure accountability. The Iowa ...
Iowa City Community School District Board discusses four models for returning to school
Natalie Dunlap, News Reporter
July 1, 2020
The Iowa City Community School District Board discussed four different models it’s considering the implementation of in the upcoming school year in a virtual meeting Tuesday, including on-site, all-remote, and hybrid models of instruction. The board will release more information about the ret...
Teachers and leaders within Iowa City schools address racial injustice in lower education
Mary Hartel, News Reporter
June 14, 2020
As demonstrations continue to advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement at both the local and national levels, lower education is one of many institutions where community members are calling for acknowledgement of systemic racism. Monique Cottman, a sixth-grade teacher in the Iowa City Commu...
Iowa City schools allow anyone under 18 to receive free meals amid COVID-19 cancellation
Will Fineman, News Reporter
April 29, 2020
The Iowa City Community School District is allowing any person under the age of 18 years old to receive free meals from its schools, which are distributing food to students amid community spread of the novel coronavirus. To benefit from this program, a student or child does not have to be liste...
Iowa City schools go virtual in first week of online instruction
Hannah Rovner, News Reporter
April 29, 2020
Students in the Iowa City Community School District resumed their courses virtually this week, relying on computers, voluntary learning systems, and mobile hotspots instead of the traditional backpacks and textbooks. Amid community spread of COVID-19, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced April 17 th...
Experiences slip away from Iowa City area high-school students as COVID-19 brings academic year to abrupt end
Eleanor Hildebrandt, News Reporter
April 27, 2020
When Jessica Moonjely prepared for her final tennis season at Iowa City West High School, she was ready to create more memories with the team that had played a primary role in her high-school career. The season didn’t go as planned, however. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Ed...
Iowa City School District changes distance education after announcement of extended school closures
Naomi Hofferber, Arts & Culture Reporter
April 17, 2020
In response to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Friday announcement that all Iowa schools will be closed for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year, the Iowa City Community School District is shifting their online programming. The district is moving from voluntary to required learning opportunities for high s...
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds closes K-12 schools for the rest of the academic year
Sarah Watson, Managing Editor
April 17, 2020
All K-12 schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, announced Friday to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus. Schools were previously scheduled to reopen May 1. The Iowa Department of Education will also waive instruction time requirements for the 2019-20 s...
Final semesters derailed: Iowa City’s High School seniors prepare for life after high school
Lauren White, News Reporter
April 12, 2020
The high-school career of many local seniors ended abruptly amid community spread of the novel coronavirus and suspension of in-person learning for the month of April. Without prom, graduation, and some of the life-after-high-school prep they’d receive in their last semesters, many Iowa City high-...
Iowa Youth Writing Project aims to inspire K-12 students digitally as schools are closed
Mary Hartel, News Reporter
April 8, 2020
The Iowa Youth Writing Project is tackling a number of new tactics in an effort to maintain continuity and breed creativity among K-12 students in Iowa as schools close to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus. The University of Iowa affiliate program’s in-person services used to inclu...
Parents help kids learn from home as school closures are extended
Kelsey Harrell, News Reporter
April 2, 2020
Sharon DeGraw pulled her children — a fourth grader at Regina Elementary School and a seventh grader at Southeast Junior High School — out of school a few days before spring break began March 16. She wanted to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus and anticipated schools closing. “It’s the f...
Iowa covers unemployment costs related to coronavirus, State Hygienic Lab to add second shift as 23rd coronavirus case confirmed
Sarah Watson, Managing Editor
March 16, 2020
In a press conference Monday, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced updates to testing, K-12 schools, and unemployment coverage after confirming Iowa's 23rd case of the coronavirus, a resident in Dallas County. The spread of the novel coronavirus has hit industries in Iowa and nationwide hard as stock markets...