Multiple Arizona districts to reopen classrooms this week amid walkout

PHOENIX – As the Arizona teacher walkout stretched into five days on Wednesday, multiple school districts across the state announced they would reopen their schools this week and resume normal operations.

Lawmakers continued to debate a $10.4 billion budget bill that included a 20 percent pay raise for state educators over the next two years and put millions of dollars into school funding.

The walkouts were expected to stretch into Thursday, as organizers of the Red For Ed movement pledged to not return to classes until lawmakers could pass the budget.

But several school districts across the state said they would reopen some or all of its schools this week, despite the walkout.

Two Scottsdale Unified School District schools — Ingleside Middle School and Pima Elementary School — would reopen on Thursday, but the rest would remain closed.

The Florence Unified School District joined the choir of districts in announcing that its schools would be open on Thursday.

The Madison School District announced that a majority of its schools would remain closed, save for Madison Park, on Thursday. The district originally announced that all of its schools would reopen.

Several high school districts, including Tolleson Union and Buckeye Union announced that they would reopen their schools on Thursday.

These were the latest school districts to announce that they would resume operations in the midst of a multi-day walkout by state educators and support staff to call for better pay and more funding for classrooms.

The Litchfield Elementary School District originally said it would open its schools Wednesday, but later announced that it would be forced to close on that day due to a lack of adequate staffing.

“We realize this is inconvenient for our families. Arizona’s education community is grappling with these unprecedented times, and we are doing our best given the information we have,” the district announced late Tuesday.

“As we navigate this rocky terrain, we will remain focused on respect for individual opinions and choices​, as well as trying to make decisions that are best for students.”

Most public schools around the state have been closed since the walkout began last Thursday, but a few have reopened.

The Laveen Elementary School District announced Monday that all schools would return to a regular, full-day schedule Tuesday.

The Casa Grande Elementary and Casa Grande Union High School districts reopened their campuses Friday.

In southern Arizona, Amphitheater Public Schools and the Marana Unified School District said they will both be back in business Thursday. The Tanque Verde Unified School District said it would resume operations on Wednesday as an early-release day.

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