Teachers threaten sickout as some schools in Peoria remain open for in-person learning options Classes cancelled due to staffing absences As COVID cases continue to spike across the state, the concern of in-person learning comes into question and teachers in the Peoria Unified School District are planning a 'sick out' to voice their concerns. PEORIA, Ariz. - Whether it is safe for students and teachers to be in the classroom right now, amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in Arizona and elsewhere, has been a testy topic. In Arizona, there is no statewide mandate on how schools should handle this latest surge, so it is up to each district to decide the path forward, with some bypassing county guidelines and some sticking to them.