Return to Learn at Scottsdale Unified School District

The Scottsdale Unified School District decided on Wednesday to implement a “hybrid” phased-in return to classes for students and staff in the upcoming weeks.

The Governing Board of the SUSD voted 5-0 late Wednesday to move forward with plans to implement a phased-in return to in-person learning. The votes took place after the district analyzed the results from a survey they sent out to parents and administration. The survey, which had a 66 percent response rate, yielded a 50-50 response of returning to school or staying online. Based off of the data from the survey, the district is choosing to pursue a non-traditional form of hybrid learning. The final plan the board decided on allows students to return to in-person learning if they decide to; those who do not want to return to in-person learning can continue to do Enhanced Distanced Learning. Those who choose to do Enhanced Distanced Learning will continue to take classes virtually for the rest of the semester.

The district will be sending out forms to parents today so they can make a final decision on what type of learning their child will receive for the rest of the semester. Children will start returning to in person classes in phases, broken down by grade level, starting at the youngest and working up to the high school seniors.

Board Member Sandy Kravetz questioned why students within the different buildings (elementary, middle school and high school) could not all return at once. Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel said it would not be possible because of the complicated scheduling within the middle and high school for both students and staff. Dr.Menzel said, “our teachers at the middle school and high school don’t just teach one grade level, it’s not like a first-grade teacher.” Menzel later said that there are many moving parts within the middle and high school schedules that add complexities to this approach. “It is going to take more time in order to put that in motion and finalize those pieces in order to meet the needs of both, students who choose to stay in Enhanced Distanced Learning and those who choose full return.”

Board Vice President Patty Beckman said that other school districts have implemented precautions to keep their student and staff safe, “It was interesting to see. For instance, at the high school level and middle school level, the bell schedule is completely different. The arrows in the halls, the temporary handwashing stations.” The board said there will be many different safety precautions implemented in the schools, including, sanitizing stations, arrows in the hallways to direct traffic in the same direction and distribution of cleaning supplies to teachers. Masks are mandatory at all times and the school says they will be strict on students consistently using hand sanitizer and washing their hands.

The board said that for the schools to remain open, the city of Scottsdale will have to continue to meet Arizona Department of Health Services metrics, specifically is the green category. Dr.Menzel said, “As we watch how this plays out, we want to make sure that when we open we stay open. We do not want to have to shut down quickly.” To be within the green category, there will have to be limited community transmission of the virus and no evidence of large-scale communal exposure.