Are classrooms in pandemic as safe as Gov. Reynolds claims?

The debate between in-person instruction and virtual instruction in Iowa schools during the pandemic has been contentious as Gov. Kim Reynolds pushes for legislation requiring schools to offer a 100-percent in-person learning option for families.

Reynolds reiterated her stance in a Jan. 7 virtual news conference with the Iowa Capitol Press Association.

“We have so many examples across the state of school districts that have been in (session) the entire time, and they have done it in a safe and responsible manner,” Reynolds said.

“And they have excellent data where they can demonstrate that the spread is not happening in the classroom. ... By and large, the majority is happening outside the classroom.”

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