Cave Creek school to resume in-person classes Wednesday

PHOENIX – A Phoenix-area school intends to be open for in-person learning Wednesday, a day after originally planned because of staff shortages.

Cactus Shadows High School said in a social media post that students attending the Cave Creek Unified School District campus would be inside classrooms “with all available teachers and substitutes.”

A Monday post from Principal Tony Vining went on to explain that students whose classes didn’t have instructors would be sent to a supervised “safe area” where they could complete assignments using school WiFi.

In-class learning was scheduled to begin Tuesday, but Vining announced in a Friday post that staff projections showed they would have to continue distance learning-only instead.

With the resumption of in-person, parents were told Monday to make sure their children came to school with a mask, a tech device and learning supplies.

About two dozen parents and students held a rally at the school Tuesday in support of classrooms reopening.

“I am happy that they are making a transition and progress towards [complete reopening],” said Blair Roberts, whose two sons will be in class when the bell finally rings for the first time this semester.

Roberts said her ninth and 11th grader will be in classrooms that will simultaneously be taught online and in person.

“To me it’s a little confusing because other schools that are online and in person, they’ve created one day for in person and they’ve created another day for online,” Roberts said.

Jennifer Clouse, whose daughter is starting her senior year, brought school supplies to the rally.

“We’re thankful that our teachers are coming back. It’s been a long time,” she said.

Clouse said she isn’t a fan of distance learning.

“Computer learning is not the way to go,” she said.

Freshman Samantha Prosser said she missed everything about being in school.

“I never thought I’d say that but being in online learning has really taught me to appreciate in-person learning and I’m very excited to be going back.”

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.

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