Peoria, Gilbert join growing list of districts closing schools for walkouts

PHOENIX – Peoria Unified and Gilbert Public Schools on Monday joined the growing list of Arizona school districts that have announced closures in anticipation of a statewide teacher walkout.

Pendergast Elementary, Tempe Union High School, Litchfield Elementary and Florence Unified also notified parents Monday that schools will close when the work stoppage begins Thursday.

Last week, educators voted in favor a walkout in an attempt to pressure lawmakers into increasing teacher pay and other funding for schools.

Last Friday, the day after the results of the teachers’ vote was revealed, districts across the state started announcing closures.

The Alhambra Elementary School District was the first to say it would close schools when the walkout begins, and the Paradise Valley Unified School District soon followed suit.

Mesa Public Schools, the state’s largest district with approximately 64,000 students, announced that its schools would close for as long as the walkout lasts. Chandler Unified and Deer Valley Unified are among the other Valley districts that have planned closures.

Some of the districts planning closures have said instructional time missed will be made up at the end of the year.

The Arizona Parent Teacher Association is advising parents to know their school districts’ contingency plans.

“Each individual district has a plan on how they’re going to be managing these walkouts, so I highly recommend you maintain contact with your schools and with your district,” Arizona PTA President Beth Simek told parents in a Facebook video on Friday.

“Nearly every school district has a Facebook page or a Twitter page,” she added. “Follow them on social media, because they’re going to be updating it regularly with what it is that’s going on.”

Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas said the Arizona Department of Education is putting together a guide for school districts on how they can prepare for the walkout.

Tucson Unified, the largest district in Southern Arizona, said it is planning to keep its schools open.

Some districts, including Avondale Elementary, expected to remain open but with “early release” schedules in effect at the outset of the walkouts.

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