PHOENIX — On Sunday, Governor Doug Ducey and Superintendent Kathy Hoffman announced a statewide closure of Arizona schools from Monday, March 16, 2020 through Friday, March 27, 2020. Just prior to their announcement, the Arizona Education Association demanded that students stay home until a more detailed plan surrounding the coronavirus outbreak was developed.
The union also demanded that Ducey take quick action and convene a Special Session of the Legislature.
AEA letter to @dougducey calling for students to stay home until state has plan to ensure safe and healthy schools and calling on him to convene special session to address #COVIDー19 crisis. pic.twitter.com/XwVDLv70SQ
— AZ Education Assoc. ????✏️ (@ArizonaEA) March 15, 2020
Shane Wikfors with the Office of Maricopa County School Superintendent tweeted:
It is my understanding that the closure of all Arizona public schools is driven more by staffing issues than public health and safety.
— Shane Wikfors (@ShaneWikfors) March 16, 2020
According to a Sunday press release, the Governor’s Office and the Department of Education are working to implement directives to minimize the impact of the closure for Arizona kids, including access to healthcare and nutritional meals, as well as sanitary precautions schools can take upon reopening of schools.
The Governor’s Office and the Department of Education have issued directives for the schools:
● School administrators should make every effort to provide continued education learning opportunities through online resources or materials that can be sent home.
● School administrators should develop a plan to continue breakfast and lunch services for Arizona students.
● As demand rises on healthcare professionals and first responders, schools should expand child care programs currently available to ensure minimal disruption to these critical jobs as a result of the school closure.
● When school resumes, school administrators should develop and implement precautions to ensure schools are a safe learning environment, including social distancing measures, regular intervals for administrators to wash and sanitize their hands, and guidance on how to properly and frequently sanitize election equipment and common surfaces.
Efforts to minimize the impact of these closures include:
● Working to ensure that any student who receives free and reduced-price meals will continue to be able to access those meals. The State is working with USDA to allow schools to begin summer food service operations and provide boxed meals as needed.
● Educating parents on recommendations from public health officials for kids who are not at school to remain at home to the greatest extent possible. For families for whom that’s not an option, the State is coordinating with partners in the non-profit, faith-based and education communities to make available childcare options to families who need it.
● Working together to make sure dedicated school employees don’t see any disruption to their pay, and consulting with school district and legislative partners to determine the extent of any potential makeup days.
● Engaging federal partners to secure a waiver related to the statewide testing that provides flexibility for Arizona.
● Engaging with our federal partners in the event that we need to secure a waiver related to statewide testing that provides flexibility and makes sense for Arizona.
Does this mean that the @ArizonaEA is suspending all social activities as well, such as signature collection for their tax hike? Or is that exempt from their “stay home” call? @jeremyduda @lilyalta @AZChamber https://t.co/RMsiDtMwz3
— Free Enterprise Club (@azfec) March 15, 2020
We’re joining together to keep Arizona’s kids, families, and school communities safe and healthy. Arizona is united, and we’ll get through this. @Supt_Hoffman @azedschools #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/B5PbYldejp
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) March 15, 2020