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News and resources regarding COVID-19

Students, Staff to Wear Masks in SC Schools; Regents' Cuts

Iowa has added 247 new cases of the coronavirus since yesterday,  reported 43,144 cases of the novel coronavirus, and 839 deaths. In Northwest Iowa, Woodbury County has tallied 3,576 cases and 47 deaths.

The Sioux City Community Schools will be back in session on August 25th.  Teachers, parents and students have been wondering about facemask requirements as the coronavirus continues to spread.  Superintendent Dr. Paul Gausman says today masks will be required most of the time, with a few exceptions.

“Students need to eat and you can’t have a mask on while you are eating, and there will be times to allow for that.  But I do want people to be prepared for the fact that if nothing changes until then, wearing of masks will be the rule, not the exception.”

Speaking today on the Siouxland Public Media’s The Exchange, Gausman student who can’t or won’t wear masks can learn virtually at home.  He says a little more than 20 percent of families have already signed up for that option.  

The district’s Return to Learn plan for the school will be finalized on August 10. 

The Iowa Board of Regents has approved about 65-million dollars in budget cuts to the state’s three public universities in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. 

The University of Iowa, Iowa State, and the University of Northern Iowa are expecting most of their revenue losses to come from lower enrollment this fall and tuition freezes. State lawmakers also cut 8-million dollars from the regents budget. 

ISU President Wendy Wintersteen says she expects to eliminate about 100 faculty positions, plus some student jobs and undergrad research opportunities.

The board also approved salary cuts for the three university presidents.

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