With several school districts starting the second semester on Monday, January 4, Kathy Hoffman, caretaker of public education, is asking Governor Ducey to set up a two-week period of distance education across the country to join quarantine protocols, with reference to rising COVID numbers and the current tensions on our healthcare system.
This is also because the AZDHS standards recommend virtual learning for all Arizona provinces.
Several districts in Arizona have decided to start the second semester remotely. However, districts such as Peoria Unified, Dysart Unified, Gilbert Public Schools, Chandler Unified, Higley Unified and Queen Creek Unified decided to continue learning.
ABC15 has been monitoring developments regarding potential “diseases” in districts such as Gilbert Public Schools and Chandler Unified as educators express their concern about personal education.
In response to Hoffman’s request, CJ Karamargin said with Governor Doug Ducey’s office:
“The Ducey government will not consider this request or issue this kind of mandate. It is a local decision, the online option is already available, and the governor has repeatedly made his preference clear: children have already lost a lot of learning, and he wants to have schools open safely. ‘
In a recent interview with Danielle Lerner of ABC15, Hoffman said she supports personal learning if it can be done safely.
“I think you can have a situation where a school can have zero cases, teachers, students, zero cases, and if everyone wears a mask, which is required, then I think it’s a very low-risk environment. , “she said. “I do think you can be so grainy in your decision-making by looking school after school.”
On Saturday, Superintendent Hoffman took to Twitter to address her concerns.
This week, @azedschools will provide additional information to school districts and charter schools to assist public health officials in distributing vaccines.
– Kathy Hoffman (@Supt_Hoffman) 2 January 2021
I look forward to a safe return of our teachers and students to the classroom. But now we must do everything possible to help our health workers and keep our teachers and students safe.
– Kathy Hoffman (@Supt_Hoffman) 2 January 2021
After this two-week quarantine period, it is essential for school leaders to use local health data and work closely with local health officials to decide the appropriate teaching model for their communities.
– Kathy Hoffman (@Supt_Hoffman) 2 January 2021