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(Des Moines, IA) -- Kids in the Des Moines area are headed back to school this week. Today is the first day of class for kids in Grimes, Johnston, Altoona, Ankeny, Indianola, Carlisle, and Southeast Polk. Classes start Tuesday in Waukee, Urbandale, and Norwalk. Wednesday marks the start of school for Des Moines, West Des Moines, and Ames.
All Des Moines metro school districts except for Johnston have offered online learning for elementary students. That's because the coronavirus vaccine is not available to kids under 12-years-old. All school districts are recommending face masks indoors but masks aren't required, though most school districts are requiring masks on buses. Most school districts have also upgraded their air filtration systems, added more hand sanitizing stations, and replaced drinking fountains with bottle refill fountains in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus.