Phoenix Union keeps school online in January, targets February return
Dec 11, 2020, 4:00 PM
Dr. Chad Geston, Phoenix Union High School District superintendent (Facebook Photo/Phoenix Union High School District)
(Facebook Photo/Phoenix Union High School District)
PHOENIX — Students in the Phoenix Union High School District will remain in a virtual instruction method when school resumes in January as coronavirus metrics surge, according to a press release Friday.
“We have been preparing to bring back in-person learning for the third quarter … but unfortunately, the spread of COVID in our community is hitting dangerous levels once again,” Dr. Chad Geston, district superintendent, said in a video. “Because we are committed to your health and safety, we can not bring back in-person learning in January.”
The district, which has been in distance learning since classes started in August, set Feb. 16, 2021, as a target date for in-person instruction to start. But that’s only if the spread of the coronavirus has significantly decreased and benchmarks for reopening are met.
Parents at that time may request in-person learning or keep the student at home in a virtual model, according to the release.
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Arizona’s COVID-19 dashboard on Thursday listed Maricopa County in the substantial spread range for the second straight week in coronavirus cases per 100,000 individuals and percent positivity. The hospital visits for COVID-like illnesses remains in the moderate stage, however, it is rising closer to substantial.
The Arizona Department of Health Services’ guidelines for schools currently recommends hybrid instruction, but the option of learning methods are left up to each district.
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The district in a previous release said spread of the coronavirus needs to be in the minimal category to launch in-person learning.
If the benchmarks for a return are not met in mid-January, the school district will push the target back to March, which is the start of the fourth quarter, according to the release.
When school resumes following the Dec. 18-Jan. 3 holiday break, students can expect to have at least three 90-minute classes per day with both synchronous and asynchronous assignments, lessons and practice, according to the release.
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