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KYRENE HOPEFULS
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Wednesday, September 9, 2020
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TU hybrid learning provokes questions, concerns BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
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OVID-19 metrics in ZIP codes – especially some feeding Mountain Pointe and Tempe High – continue to drive Tempe Union’s cautious approach to partially reopening classrooms. And that caution sparked concerns among some Governing Board members last week over whether hybrid learning might be delayed beyond Oct. 13. At the board’s Sept. 2 meeting, officials did not indicate an overarching schedule for hybrid learning, where groups of students alternate on campus different days of the week. Tempe Union is still studying options that open classrooms one, two, three or four days
a week, depending on three COVID-19 benchmarks that Maricopa County health officials suggest districts should follow in determining their reopening plans. Some board members also expressed concern over how well hybrid learning will even work, suggesting teachers may be asked to do too much as they toggle between teaching students in classrooms and others at home. Those concerns mirrored the frustration and anxiety expressed in many of the 17 emails from parents and teachers that were read at the meeting, where some board members pressed Superintendent Dr. Kevin Mendivil on whether opening some of Tempe Union’s seven campuses now is an option. But Mendivil said Tempe Union will adhere to what one of his aides called a “one district,
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one family” approach. “In the discussions with the principals,” Mendivil said, “they are very adamant and want to be united.” “We are a family of schools and it just pits schools one school against the other” he said, if only some schools allowed students in classrooms for a few days a week while others stayed fully online. Some of Tempe Union’s neighbors, notably Mesa Public Schools and Gilbert Public Schools have adopted a hybrid model where students can come to class two days a week. Student bodies in both those districts are divided alphabetically by the first letter of their last name to reduce the number on campus
see SCHOOLS page 18
Foothills HOA social media proposal creates controversy BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
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In his five months since birth, Arthur Zahn has spent more time in the hospital than in his parents’ Ahwatukee home as his tiny body battles a rare disease. Read about his and his parents’ struggle on page 21. (Courtesy of the Zahn Family.)
proposed policy that would involve monitoring Foothills HOA residents’ comments about their board and the Foothills Association is emerging as a potential issue as the board enters its election season. While the policy has been shelved until after the Oct. 21 election for four seats on the seven-member board, one of the candidates already has questioned why it was even proposed. While the policy would give the board authority to remove posts from any of the HOA’s social media platforms, it also would impact posts on “social media platforms owned and managed by others that may influence Association activities.” “In order to protect the reputation of the community and its members, as well as property values within the community, it is expected that owners and residents will refrain from using social media to post vulgar, inflammatory, harassing or negative comments regarding the Association or its directors, community man-
see FOOTHILLS page 6