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From Uptown to Downtown, covering Chandler like the sun.
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
COMMUNITY .........
24
Chandler boy, 10, becomes recycling champ.
BUSINESS .................... 27
Apartment complex mega-deals..
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January 9, 2022
CUSD teachers head calls virus situation 'a mess' BY KEN SAIN Arizonan Staff Writer
T
he head of the Chandler Education Association is calling the COVID-19 situation at district schools a mess after of�icials announced they would allow some affected students to return to classrooms faster. Katie Nash, the president of CEA, said it’s disappointing because Chandler Uni�ied School District of�icials did not even consult with her group before announcing the changes last week.
“It’s disappointing to not be asked about any of this,” she said. “‘Hey, Katie, are teachers going to be for this?’ No! They’re so frustrated.” CUSD sent out an email to parents earlier last week announcing some changes to its COVID protocols just as the number of cases are rising to levels not seen since January 2021. As the new semester began in all three districts serving northern Chander last week, Chandler Uni�ied left intact its optional facemask policy while Kyrene abruptly re-imposed a mask mandate two days before the Jan. 3 resumption of class-
Educator cites CUSD ‘blind spots’ in threat prevention
es. Tempe Union announced before winter break that it would not relax its mandatory mask policy. The adjustments by all three districts also involved modifying quarantine protocols that allow students to return more quickly to class. The changes are mostly exceptions that match the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Maricopa County Public Health Department. Unvaccinated, non-symptomatic students
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Ready, set, action!
BY PAUL MARYNIAK Arizonan Executive Editor
SPORTS .......................
32
High school players, coaches relish tourneys' return. NEWS ................................................. 3 COMMUNITY ............................. 24 BUSINESS .......................................27 OPINION ....................................... 30 SPORTS .......................................... 32 GET OUT ........................................ 35 CLASSIFIEDS ................................ 38
A
Chandler educator and advocate for improving mental health services for young people told Chandler Uni�ied Superintendent Frank Narducci that the district has no uni�ied plan for preventing or handling school-shooting threats. In the letter, Katey McPherson urged Narducci to work with his aides to develop a multi-layered strategy that includes educating students and expanding mental health services for them, developing a cohesive plan that all schools would follow in the event of a threat and training staff on how to implement that training in the event of an emergency. Stating that the district follows “the Chandler Way” in which
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Mitesh Patel, is ready and set for five days of action as the sixth Chandler International Film Festival is set to begin in downtown Chandler. Patel, president and director of the festival, has big plans that won’t be as affected by pandemic-driven protocols as the event was last year. For details, see page 35. (David Minton/Arizonan Staff Photographer)
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