With growing concerns over the COVID-19, or novel Coronavirus, pandemic, I’ve decided Des Moines Public Schools will cancel all programs, activities and classes for a period of at least 17 days, effective at 6:00 PM on Friday, March 13, with the goal of resuming school on Monday, March 30.

This is an extraordinary step for our school district, but this is an extraordinary time for our community, our country and the world. By taking this step, our goal is to implement preventive measures – from social distancing to additional cleaning at our schools – as well as give us more time to assess the spread of Coronavirus in Iowa and the impact it may have on our school district.

My hope and goal is to resume classes on March 30, but this is a very dynamic situation and we will adjust accordingly if it is in the best interest of our students, staff and families If we hope to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, then we need to act sooner, not later. This is a difficult decision – and with 33,000 students and 5,000 employees – it is one that has a ripple effect across the city, but I have no doubt that it is the right decision for the health and well-being of our school district and community.

While classes were not scheduled during much of this period, because of Spring Break, there were numerous programs and activities taking place during this time. The following outlines the changes that result from closure, additional preventive steps DMPS is taking, and food service that will be offered for students during the canceled school days.

We understand that this will create an inconvenience, and in cases, a hardship for many in our community and we do not take that lightly. We are doing what we can to both respond proactively and effectively to the pandemic while connecting our families with necessary services.

Dr. Thomas Ahart
Superintendent

CHANGES DUE TO CLOSURE
The following changes are being implemented:

Metro Kids care will not be offered.
All athletic practices and competitions are canceled.
All performing arts practices and events are canceled.
All parent/teacher conferences are canceled.
Programs housed at DMPS schools, such as the Boys and Girls Club, will not be open.
All school-sponsored Spring Break trips, no matter the destination, are canceled.
Classes scheduled for March 26-27 are canceled.
Rental of DMPS space by outside organizations is canceled.
The Welcome Center, which enrolls and registers students, will be closed.
Teachers and staff, with the exception of designated operations staff, will not be allowed into school buildings.
ADDITIONAL PREVENTIVE STEPS
DMPS is also taking the following steps in response to Coronavirus:

The district has convened a core leadership team to meet daily to be updated on COVID-19, engage or interact with Polk County Public Health, Iowa Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control for the latest guidance, and plan for the system of supports for students and staff and families.
During this time, DMPS operations staff will do deep cleaning of all school buildings, above and beyond the additional cleaning that has already been in place.
Of the district’s school nurses, 12 work on a part-time basis; they will be full-time for the foreseeable future.
FOOD SERVICE

Nearly three-fourths of DMPS students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. DMPS will provide the following on March 26-27 (the two canceled schools days): DMPS will offer grab-and-go meals from all middle school sites on March 26 and 27, between 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM.

DMPS will be sending regular communications to families and staff during this period with reminders and updates related to this announcement. In addition, information will be available at dmschools.org/coronavirus.