Arizona Schools Will Open In 2020 To A 'New Normal'

PHOENIX — Gov. Doug Ducey was eager for Arizona to “play ball” on Thursday at a COVID-19 news conference. One of the key takeaways from the hour-long conference was that Arizona schools will resume for the 2020-2021 school year.

“Schools will resume at the start of the school year, we’re planning ahead, Superintendent Hoffman will release guidance for schools on Monday, June 1. This guidance has been informed, of course, by school leaders, teachers, parents and public health experts from the state of Arizona Department of Health Services,” said Ducey.

Executive order to support schools.

The Governor described COVID-19 as a “curve ball” thrown at the “hard-working teachers, principals and Superintendents” of Arizona in March. He stated that after discussions with Arizona’s educators “flexibility” will be key to the education system’s reemergence and that guidance will be tailored to meet the needs of specific school districts and the COVID-19 situation in Arizona.

Duecy continued to say that there would be an “executive order to support our schools,” and that a program that will allow increased capacity for school-based childcare will be implemented.

Dr. Cara Christ, Director of Arizona Department of Health Services was also present at the conference and answered questions. Christ explained that schools will reopen to a “new normal” with “safety changes” like physical distancing, not mixing at lunch, not organizing big assemblies, using hand sanitizers and disinfecting protocols.

She also mentioned that they were working with educators on opportunities to reduce class size and to offer virtual classes or other solutions for at-risk teachers and students.

Organized youth sports and day camps can resume.

“I said that things would be getting back to normal when somebody could say ‘play ball’ or ‘batter-up.’ I was hoping that ‘play ball’ was for the Arizona Diamondbacks, but in the meantime, it can be for Little League,” said Ducey.

Duecy noted that while youth summer leagues, summer schools and day camps have the OK to resume, they must do so “safely and responsibly.”

According to Christ, this will probably bring changes to the way families interact with youth sports. Limitations on the number of spectators, physical distancing and equipment disinfecting procedures are some guidance expected in the official release on June 1.

Watch the full news conference at azdhs.gov.