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Sunday, March 22, 2020
Virus throws Mesa schools into unchartered waters
INSIDE
This Week
TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF
NEWS ......................... 6 Mesa businesses struggle in virus’ wake.
M
esa Public Schools Governing Board turned to state officials last week to help it get clarity in delivering education to thousands of students amid growing concerns sparked by the coronavirus pandemic. The district immediately addressed the critical need of food insecurity among many of its 60,000 students by setting up sites at dozens of schools to hand out lunches and
breakfasts. Information on those sites is at mpsaz.org/research/maps locate/map. District officials had hoped to keep schools open, but late March 14 reversed course and canceled all classes and programs through March 27 – less than a day before Gov. Doug Ducey and state Superintendent of Schools Kathy Hoffman closed all Arizona schools until that date. There were unconfirmed reports at press time that Ducey and Hoffman would make another announcement today, March 22.
His sweeping executive order Thursday that limited restaurants to take out/delivery in six counties, including Maricopa, made no mention of schools. In the meantime, thousands of parents in Mesa and throughout Arizona who still had jobs were left scrambling for daycare. The MPS Governing Board at a special meeting March 17 approved a series of recommendations to state officials that covered
see SCHOOLS page 4
Virus reshaping election campaigns in Mesa
COMMUNITY ....... 14 Mesa dance company has all the right moves.
BUSINESS .............
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High school athletes sideline by closures. COMMUNITY ................ 14 BUSINESS ....................... 18 OPINION ......................... 21 SPORTS ........................... 25 PUZZLES/D’ATRI ........... 24 CLASSIFIED .................... 25
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BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
S
ome candidates for public office are facing the difficult choice between endangering their health by collecting signatures during the COVID-19 outbreak or missing out on qualifying for the Primary Election ballot. Not everyone finds themselves in this paradox. Some candidates – such as Mesa Vice Mayor Mark Freeman, west Mesa Councilman Francisco Heredia and District 2 challenger Julie Spilsbury – said they already have enough signatures to hit the April 6 deadline for petitions. “If I was out collecting signatures, it would be very difficult, very concerning,’’ Freeman said. Other candidates, however, are not as fortunate. Danny Ray, who is challenging Freeman in north Mesa’s District 1, said his campaign was delayed by having the flu and losing his voice. Ray already has revised his initial aspira-
feeling better now and he has been out collecting signatures at a gun show and door to door. But he said the process is more difficult than ever during the outbreak. He said one senior citizen he has known for years refused to open her door to sign one of his petitions, citing virus Libby Golf and other Save Our Schools supporters were in full protective gear as the concerns. Even Ray’s sister quesadvocacy group sought petition signatures March 15 at a Mesa strip mall for its effort to get an initiative limiting school vouchers. (Chris Mortenson/Tribune Contributor) tioned her father’s judgment in helping him coltions by dropping plans to take on Mayor John lect signatures amid a global pandemic. Giles a second time, saying that he is comfort“I’m hoping so,’’ Ray said, when asked if he able with voting for another conservative can- will eventually qualify for the ballot. “I didn’t didate, Verl Farnsworth, in the mayoral race. see this pandemic coming.’’ Ray, a construction contractor who ran unsee ELECTIONS page 9 successfully against Giles in 2014, said he’s
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