Information from the Arizona Governor’s Office and Department of Education contributed to this report.
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and Superintendent Kathy Hoffman today announced a two-week extension of school closures through Friday, April 10. Going forward, Governor Ducey and Superintendent Hoffman will continue to provide updates and guidance about the need for continued school closures beyond that date.
The previous return date was announced last Sunday as March 30. The closures mean spring competition will be delayed until after April 10, if the Arizona Interscholastic Association decides to not cancel the rest of the spring-sport competitions.
Salpointe Catholic has announced it will have only online instruction through April 20.
Seth Polansky, the AIA’s Sports Information Coordinator, released a statement that all “AIA member schools not partake in interscholastic competition until further notified.”
“The spring sports championships are still not cancelled at this point,” he wrote. “However, discussions for the administration of any postseason tournaments will not take place until after schools are back in session.
“The AIA will continue to monitor the communications from the governor’s office and make decisions accordingly. In the meantime, we want all of our student-athletes, coaches and teachers to stay safe and follow all health department advisories.”
View Governor Ducey and Superintendent Hoffman’s open letter to Arizona families, educators, school leaders, and education community members
“Our goal is to get kids safely back in the classroom as soon as possible while providing parents and educators certainty so they can plan and make decisions,” said Governor Ducey. “I’m grateful to Superintendent Hoffman for her continued partnership and leadership. We are unified in our efforts to address COVID-19, and will continue to keep parents and educators informed.”
“Our number one priority is the health and safety of all Arizonans, especially our kids,” said Superintendent Hoffman. “Our office continues to work closely with school administrators and partners to provide parents, families, and schools resources and flexibility to mitigate the impact of school closure. This will continue to be our top priority.”
Additional information about meals for kids, childcare, special education considerations, learning resources for families and educators and more can be found at azed.gov.
In their letter, Governor Ducey and Superintendent Hoffman requested that schools We are continuing to adhere to the following measures:
- School administrators should make every effort to provide continued education learning opportunities through online resources or materials that can be sent home.
- School administrators should work with the Arizona Department of Education to provide breakfast and lunch services for Arizona students.
- As demand rises on healthcare professionals and first responders, schools should consider expanding child care programs currently available to ensure minimal disruption to these critical jobs as a result of the school closure.
- When school resumes, school administrators should develop and implement precautions to ensure schools are a safe learning environment, including social distancing measures, regular intervals for administrators to wash and sanitize their hands, and guidance on how to properly and frequently sanitize election equipment and common surfaces.
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