Polk County Judge Jeffrey Farrell recently denied the Des Moines Public Schools' (DMPS) request for a temporary injunction against the decision by Gov. Kim Reynolds requiring schools to hold at least 50% of classes in-person, but the DMPS lawsuit against Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education continues and DMPS intends to act as if the injunction had been granted.

Despite the judge denying a temporary injunction, DMPS Superintendent Thomas Ahart issued a statement saying that the school intends to ignore the state's directive and continue all instruction virtually, according to coverage by the Des Moines Register.

However, Reynolds acknowledged that the court's decision means the directive to conduct 50% of instruction in-person remains in force.

“The court's decision today recognizes that we are correctly interpreting Iowa law, and I remain committed to working with Des Moines Public Schools on their return-to-learn plan so that it meets the educational and health needs of Iowa's children,” Reynolds said, according to the Des Moines Register.