Most Tucson K-12 students will be starting their second semester completely online, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spiral out of control across Pima County.
Amphi, Vail and Tanque Verde became the latest Tucson school districts to announce closing in-person classes for remote learning next semester, citing the steep rise in COVID cases throughout the county and the challenges that creates.
“We have learned that we have reached a tipping point where hybrid may no longer be the best option,” Superintendent Todd Jaeger wrote in a letter to families on Dec. 12.
The Pima County Health Department told schools on Dec. 11 to consider suspending in-person instruction as the coronavirus moves into substantial community spread.
The three Arizona Department of Health Services metrics measuring the severity of the virus moved into substantial spread last week — number of cases per 100,000; the COVID-19 test positivity rate; and COVID-like symptoms seen in hospitals.
Local health officials expect that to continue this week, moving those metrics into the red this Thursday, the last day before winter break.
Amphitheater will continue hybrid teaching this week and will move to the “Remote by Necessity” model when school resumes for the second semester on Jan. 4.
The Vail School District governing board voted Monday evening to temporarily transition to remote learning for a three-week period following winter break, until Jan. 25, in part due to large numbers of staff and students in quarantine, making it almost untenable to run schools in person.
On Dec. 14 alone, there were 21 classrooms in some form of quarantine in the Vail School District.
Tanque Verde School District, on Tucson’s east side, discontinued their in-person instruction on Monday, after a special board meeting over the weekend.
Like most local school districts, Tanque Verde will continue to offer limited in-person services for students who need it.
Tanque Verde School District, on Tucson’s east side, discontinued their in-person instruction Monday, after a special board meeting over the weekend.
Like most local school districts, Tanque Verde will continue to offer limited in-person services for students who need it.
Tanque Verde also cited a rapidly growing number of staff who were unavailable to support in-person instruction due to being in quarantine, mostly from close contact with positive cases. That’s a problem all school districts here are reporting.
Both Flowing Wells and Sahuarita school districts announced last Friday they would be returning to remote-only on Jan. 4.
Sunnyside, Tucson’s second-largest school district, stopped hybrid in-person learning after the Thanksgiving break.
And TUSD, the third-largest school district in the state, has stayed remote-only throughout the pandemic. It announced last week that it will stay remote into the second semester.
Vail Superintendent John Carruth is recommending a temporary transition to remote learning for a three-week period after winter break, until Jan. 25. The governing board is set to discuss the issue at a special meeting Monday afternoon.
Marana Unified had not made any announcement as of Monday evening about closing hybrid.
Although every school district previously said they were committed to following the county health department guidance, Marana Unified especially has had a vocal and consistent push from some parents to open schools.
Catalina Foothills plans to stay open with their current hybrid model.
“We want to keep our schools open,” said spokeswoman Julie Farbarik. “The COVID case numbers in CFSD are still very low, and our layered mitigation strategies are keeping schools relatively safe for students and staff.”
Transmission rates inside Tucson-area schools has been about 3% despite growing transmission throughout the community and a rising number of cases in schools — more than 1,000 cases since August.
Many local districts, including Amphi, Sunnyside and Flowing Wells, set a tentative date of Jan. 19 to return to hybrid classes. But those plans are dependent on the severity of COVID-19 at that time.
“Health experts believe that it is possible for the metrics to support hybrid learning again in this timeframe,” Jaeger said. “This date is not written in stone. As always, we will follow the recommendations of the experts.”
Photos: Back-to-school in Tucson during the pandemic
"Mustang Stampede"
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Maddy Jacobs, 7, middle, reaches for her remote learning tool kit from her teacher, Kris Green, as her friend, Carly Kupinski, 6, watches during a "Mustang Stampede" at Manzanita Elementary School for the first day of school on August 17, 2020.
First Day of School, John B. Wright Elementary
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Augusta Iranzi, center, attends his teachers online class while monitors Jasmine Phillip, left, and Nadifo Yusuf, watch students inside a classroom at John B. Wright Elementary School, 4311 E. Linden St., in Tucson, Ariz. on August 17, 2020. About 10 students came to school for online instruction under the guidance of classroom monitors.
"Mustang Stampede"
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Lily Baser, 8, identifies herself for easy remote learning tool kit pickup during a "Mustang Stampede" at Manzanita Elementary School for the first day of school on August 17, 2020.
"Mustang Stampede"
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Krista Westmoreland, left, a third grade teacher, shows the remote learning tool kit of a student to Anna Ames, music teacher, during the "Mustang Stampede" at Manzanita Elementary School for the first day of school on August 17, 2020.
"Mustang Stampede"
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Maya Brown, 9, rides in style for her remote learning tool kit pickup during a "Mustang Stampede" at Manzanita Elementary School for the first day of school on August 17, 2020.
"Mustang Stampede"
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Multiage teachers Kris Green left, and April Pollow greet and cheer on their students during a "Mustang Stampede" at Manzanita Elementary School for the first day of school on August 17, 2020.
"Mustang Stampede"
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Maddy Jacobs, 7, left, waves to her teacher as she stands in the sunroof with her friend, Carly Kupinski, 6, during a "Mustang Stampede" to pickup their remote learning tool kit at Manzanita Elementary School for the first day of school on August 17, 2020.
"Mustang Stampede"
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For the first day of school teachers at Manzanita Elementary School greeted their students during a "Mustang Stampede" and handed out remote learning tool kits on August 17, 2020.
"Mustang Stampede"
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Kim Boling, principal at Manzanita Elementary School, greets her students and parents with a mustang during the "Mustang Stampede" for the first day of school on August 17, 2020.
First Day of School, John B. Wright Elementary
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Yarani Martinez gives a monitor a thumbs up to inform the monitor that his online class is working after classes began at John B. Wright Elementary School, 4311 E. Linden St., in Tucson, Ariz. on August 17, 2020. About 10 students came to school for online instruction under the guidance of classroom monitors.
First Day of School, John B. Wright Elementary
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Alice Flores, right, watches as her grandson Jesus Silva is escorted to the cafeteria before classes began at John B. Wright Elementary School, 4311 E. Linden St., in Tucson, Ariz. on August 17, 2020. About 10 students came to school for online instruction under the guidance of classroom monitors.
First Day of School, John B. Wright Elementary
Updated
Augusta Iranzi follows the directions on the floor while being escorted to a classroom at John B. Wright Elementary School, 4311 E. Linden St., in Tucson, Ariz. on August 17, 2020. About 10 students came to school for online instruction under the guidance of classroom monitors.
