A New Year begins with school districts struggling with a divisive question: to close classrooms or not to close?
Arizonaâs COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population soared to 112, the highest in the country, according to CDC data released Tuesday, Jan. 5. Arizonaâs rate was nearly double the national average.
And, as of Dec. 31, Glendale and Peoria ZIP codes were all above 500 cases per 100,000 in the last seven days, indicating a âsubstantialâ level of COVID-19 risk.
While previous guidance from public health officials was to close classrooms and have online teaching in communities with substantial spread, officials now urge districts to have students in classrooms.
Many public school classrooms in Glendale will be closed to start 2021, as most districts are in online-only mode after a post-Thanksgiving spike in COVID-19 cases in communities.
But Peoria Unified School District classrooms at Glendale and Peoria high schools and elementary schools will be open Jan. 4.
The Peoria Unified School District Governing Board voted to keep classrooms open after winter break âregardless of benchmark data.â
Guidance from the county indicates PUSD, with two consecutive weeks of âsubstantialâ data as of Dec. 24, has a recommended learning scenario of âvirtual with onsite support.â
Maricopa County spokesman Ron Coleman noted the guidelines are flexible.