Central Iowa school districts are scrambling to decide whether to implement COVID-19 mitigation efforts as variants of the virus continue to spread. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevent lists most Iowa counties as having substantial or high COVID-19 transmission rates. Iowa school districts cannot put mask mandates in place because Iowa law bans them from requiring masks.On Tuesday, the Des Moines School Board will decide whether to offer an online option for elementary school students.Des Moines Public Schools’ virtual campus alternative to in-person learning, launched last school year, will only be available for middle and high school students.If approved, enrollment for online elementary school would begin Monday.The Ankeny School Board meets Tuesday to review its plans for operating under pre-pandemic procedures.Ankeny’s current plan includes in-person learning and optional mask use, though mitigation practices will continue in the district.The Johnston Community School District held a board meeting Monday to discuss students’ return to school.The school district does not plan to offer hybrid or online options.Lunch and playground measures will go back to normal, but individual schools have the option to make different plans.Johnston superintendent Laura Kacer told the school board Monday that she is aware the state of COVID-19 in Iowa is variable and will continue to change."The data that I am sharing with you tonight is what we know right now,” Kacer said during the meeting. “The other thing we learned firsthand is that things change in a pandemic and we have to be ready to pivot, and we're ready to do that."Kacer said data shared at Monday’s meeting may differ from what the school district shares on Aug. 16.Southeast Polk’s school board is scheduled to meet Thursday.Urbandale and Waukee will meet Monday, with West Des Moines’ school board scheduled to meet the following day.