Arizona schools chief urges more COVID-19 transparency from educators
Sep 29, 2020, 11:08 AM
(AP Photo)
PHOENIX – Arizona’s top schools official Kathy Hoffman said there should be more communication and transparency about the coronavirus cases on campuses to help ease community fears.
The superintendent of public instruction wrote Tuesday, “Having detailed communications protocols in place – and making them publicly available – can help provide some level of certainty in these very uncertain times.”
The letter, posted to Facebook, also noted there was genuine fear about COVID-19 present in the community and that transparency was a key to maintaining trust “with our educators, students and families.”
With the genuine fear about #COVID19 present in our communities, transparency is key to maintaining trust with our…
Posted by Superintendent Kathy Hoffman on Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Hoffman said she had heard from many people who were alarmed to learn “through the grapevine” of positive cases in their schools.
She added, “While we can’t control every rumor that goes through a school, we – as school leaders – should prioritize consistent and transparent communication.”
Hoffman pointed to the state’s Roadmap for Reopening as a resource for school leaders to refer to for future use.