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Public school districts are monitoring West Valley surges in COVID-19 spread â while hoping to get as many teachers as possible vaccinated.
One West Valley district pushed reopening classrooms until March 15, to give teachers and staff time to get vaccinations.
While educators are in the 1B group that is eligible for coronavirus vaccinations, many are finding difficulty in landing appointments. This is part of a county-wide trend of demand exceeding the vaccine supply.
Agua Fria Unified High School District is partnering with Abrazo West Campus to host an educator point of distribution (POD). âThe first vaccine event will be held Jan. 29 and 30,â said Tamee Gressett, a district administrator. âThe second vaccine event will be held Feb. 19-20.â
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 121, highest in the country, according to CDC data released Monday, Jan. 4.
As of Dec. 31, Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear and Tolleson were all above 700 cases per 100,000 in the last seven days, with Litchfield Park over 600 new cases per 100,000 in the last seven days.
While previous guidance from public health officials was to close classrooms and have online teaching, officials are now urging districts to teach students in classrooms.
The guidance is somewhat conflicting.
For public schools in the West Valley, the Maricopa County school metrics shows an overall risk level of âsubstantialâ and ârecommended learning scenario is: virtual with onsite support.â
But most classrooms will be closed, as 2021 begins with online learning for most public school students.
âLitchfield Elementary School Districtâs data from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health has skyrocketed. Our kindergarten through eighth grade students will remain in distance learning until further notice,â according to an LESD website pre-break post. âWe will continue to monitor the metrics and will send you another update on Jan. 15.â
At the other LESD, Littleton Elementary School District, âAll students will remain in full-time dynamic distance learning through Jan. 15.â
At Buckeye Elementary School District, âfamilies should plan for continued virtual instruction the week of Jan. 4,â according to a pre-winter break post at the district website.