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COVID-19 cloud hangs over the next school year BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
Grand Canyon Education Arizona State University
P. 31 | S P O RT S
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erhaps the most significant announcement Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman will ever make could come this week as she rolls out guidelines for reopening schools this August. But those guidelines, which Hoffman has promised by the end of May, will only be the beginning of a difficult task for Kyrene, Tempe Union and other districts as they prepare for a murky future only about eight weeks away. It isn’t as it is reopening something that district officials are just beginning to focus on
Phoenix not opening pools, libraries as Council ducks issue
now that report cards have been mailed and virtual graduations concluded. “I can tell you that this weighs heavy in our life and we talk about this every single day,” Kyrene Superintendent Dr. Jan Vesely said in an interview earlier this month. Even as Tempe Union Superintendent Dr. Kevin Mendivil told the Governing Board that “we are in full force with plans for the start of the new 2020-21 school year,” he gave a clear indication of how murky that start it. “What we do know,” Mendivil said, “is that we will need to be prepared in the event we have to plan for a true hybrid-learning experience for our students and teachers where part
Happy ending
of their instruction is with their teacher – a brick-and-mortar kind of a setting – and a portion done remotely. “We also need to be prepared in the event it is necessary for the district office to close schools again in the fall sometime should there be a concern of a second COVID-19 outbreak.” While President Trump has said schools should reopen and Gov. Doug Ducey last week said the “evidence for the last four or five weeks say it is responsible and prudent to plan ahead” for their reopening, administrators see a myriad of complex – and expensive – issues
see SCHOOLS page 4
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
A
hwatukee families expecting to swim at Pecos Pool, seniors longing for the return of programs at Pecos Center and anyone looking forward to visiting Ironwood Library are in for a disappointing June. None of those facilities appear likely to open before early July even as Gov. Doug Ducey has lifted most restrictions on businesses and county and state parks last weekend were bursting with visitors. After city staff last week asked for direction on when they could reopen pools, libraries, senior centers and other facilities, Mayor Kate Gallego said the city needs more time to
see OPEN page 12
Ahwatukee dance instructor had a traumatic experience after he was car-jacked by a man he was trying to help. But the whole incident ultimately ended happily thanks to a Chandler dance community’s generosity. For details, see page 9. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer)