Bills’ collapse angers senator
Pandemics not new to town
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An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
COMMUNITY......... 14 Gilbert vet makes masks to serve country.
BUSINESS.................. 17 Gilbert remodeling business a family affair.
OPINION.....................21 Separating myth from reality about police..
COMMUNITY....................................... 14 BUSINESS..............................................17
OPINION......................................21 PUZZLE....................................... 23 CLASSIFIED..........................................24
FREE ($1 OUTSIDE OF GILBERT) | GilbertSunNews.com
Sunday, June 7, 2020
Gilbert schools weigh reopening ‘roadmap’ BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
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loth masks, smaller class sizes and daily health screenings are some of the state’s recommendations for schools as they develop plans for reopening in the fall. State Superintendent Kathy Hoffman last Monday released a blueprint that anticipates four different scenarios for the fall – all students are attending school; some students are in the classroom and others are doing remote learning; all students are doing distance learning; and all students intermittently doing in-person and distance learning. The 35-page “Roadmap for Reopening
Schools” is based on input from over 100 statewide stakeholders, including students, school districts, teachers and public health officials. “This is not a one-size-fits all,” Hoffman said. “This is meant to be flexible and adaptable to help our school leaders think through all different types of scenarios and work within their own communities to create plans that are best for their unique needs.” The report’s recommendations include using physical barriers like sneeze guards, space-seating students on buses, staggering student arrival and drop-off times and closing communal areas like cafeterias and playgrounds unless they can be cleaned and disinfected between staggered uses.
Upbeat regional economic forecast carries caveats
When it’s not possible to ensure individuals are 6 feet apart, the report advised the use of cloth masks, hand washing and sanitization. And, gone might be field trips, student assemblies and spirit nights to be replaced by virtual activities under the recommendations. Sporting events also are discouraged, instead schools should consider other options to allow for sports activities in ways that minimizes the risk of COVID-19 transmission, the report said. The report also recommends holding virtual group events and meetings and limiting nonessential visitors and volunteers from campuses.
see SCHOOLS page 6
Peaceful protests
BY PAUL MARYNIAK GSN Executive Editor
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rizona and the East Valley will recover from the pandemic-fueled recession and become global economic giants over the next 10 years if business and political leaders invest in infrastructure and education – and strap on their seatbelts for lightning-fast change. That was the gist of three presentations last week to the PHX East Valley Partnership, an influential group of business, education and community leaders. Holding their annual meeting virtually for the first time to observe social distancing, they heard sobering but upbeat forecasts from Arizona State University President Michael Crow, Greater Phoenix Economic Council President/CEO Chris Camacho and Dennis Hoffman of ASU’s
see REBUILD page 3
While Phoenix and Scottsdale police had their hands full at times with mass protests that erupted into violence, Gilbert last week saw several much smaller groups gather for peaceful demonstrations in different parts of the town, inncluding this one at Baseline and Gilbert roads. A riot last weekend in Scottsdale brought a cautious response here. For details: page 18. (Pablo Robles/GSN)