Mask requirements changes possible at Cedar Rapids Community School District following federal appeals court decision

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – Following a complicated federal appeals court decision issued this week, the Cedar Rapids Community School District stated it is “anticipating” modifications to its masking policy, according to the district.

It was decided this week by a federal appeals court that an injunction against the state’s statute prohibiting mask requirements in schools should only apply to those districts participating in a complaint over the law should be limited to those districts. Cedar Rapids does not fall under one of those categories.

However, according to the court’s decision, schools that do not enforce mask rules to protect employees or students who have medical problems that make them vulnerable to COVID-19 complications may be in violation of federal law.

A message to the district’s employees said that the district may learn of cases in which masks are necessary again, and that the district would follow any additional regulations established by the federal government.

“We are anticipating there will be a process communicated that districts need to consider for serving children with special needs or compromised health circumstances,” Bush wrote. “We are already anticipating what we will need to do as a district to support those circumstances. Potentially each environment and/or individual student’s circumstances will have to be considered.”

The district said that it is working with legal counsel to adopt what is allowed while still sticking to the law’s requirements.