5 Scottsdale schools closed Monday due to lack of teacher availability

PHOENIX — Five schools in the Scottsdale Unified School District will be closed Monday, Superintendent Scott Menzel said in an email to parents Sunday night.

Arcadia High School, Chaparral High School, Desert Mountain High School, Cocopah Middle School and Mountainside Middle School will be closed for one day.

Menzel said that the district does not have enough teachers or substitutes to cover the teacher absences. None are because of a coronavirus outbreak.

“Please note that although tomorrow’s closures are not the result of any known COVID outbreaks in our schools, this decision is consistent with our commitment to individually evaluate each school’s ability to remain open,” Menzel wrote.

“Should further closures be required, the District will strive to provide timely communication to affected families. All other SUSD schools will be open tomorrow, as planned.”

Classes at these five schools on Monday will not take place remotely. The missed day of instruction will likely be made up at the end of the school year.

Menzel requested all students and staff in the district who traveled over Thanksgiving weekend or participated in a large gathering without social distancing to self-quarantine.

“It is likely that many of our students and staff who chose to travel for the holiday have been exposed to COVID and may or may not be symptomatic when we return to school tomorrow,” he said. “It is for this reason that I again ask every family that chose to travel during the Thanksgiving holiday or to host, attend or participate in a large gathering where social distancing did not take place, such as a sporting event, to please keep your children home and have them participate in remote learning for the next two weeks.”

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