Superintendent Hoffman Renews Her Call for Greater Action from the Governor and State Legislature to Combat COVID 19

After announcing a new tracking tool where people can access to ascertain what instructional delivery model school districts and charter schools are currently adopting during the pandemic (please click here to access,) Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman renewed her call for greater action from Governor Ducey and the State Legislature to combat COVID 19.

Hoffman posted on social media:

I am disappointed that our state and country failed to take a proactive approach to curb the winter spike of COVID-19. In that wake, educators, students, and families shoulder the disproportionate burden to overcome teaching + learning challenges during COVID-19.
As schools return to distance learning – many for the second or third time, our educators, students, and families need additional support for childcare, internet service, family leave, housing, and more.

I urge our Governor and lawmakers to consider these issues immediately. While a vaccine may be on our horizon, its wide availability is months away, and Arizonans are suffering right now.

When asked what specific steps the Superintendent would like the Governor and State Legislature to adopt, Arizona  Department of Education Communications Director Richie Taylor relayed:

“The Superintendent feels that schools have largely done a good job at mitigating the spread of the virus in classrooms. But with the virus again surging and no end in sight, she feels the state needs to take stronger action to suppress community spread to ensure safety at schools so in-person learning is possible. She has called for a series of actions over the last several weeks including a statewide mask mandate, quarantine protocols for travelers coming in from out of state, a pause on winter sports, and expanded flexibility for restaurants to offer outdoor dining…”

Many of Superintendent Hoffman’s suggestions have also been conveyed by some of Arizona’s leading Mayors over the last several weeks.

Some have also been recommended by columnists like AZ Central’s Laurie Roberts in a December 1, 2020 editorial.

Arizona Health Care leaders, according to reporting by Stephanie Innes of AZ Central, have also cited the need for greater immediate action for the next 30 days including:

• “Stop indoor dining.
• Prohibit gatherings of more than 25 people.
• Encourage and support enforcement for local ordinances.
• Reassess previously approved gatherings and permits.
• Post restrictions in an easily identifiable location on municipality websites.
• Stop group athletic activities, including club sports.
• The same requirements businesses had to follow to reopen should be used by the state to close businesses whose metrics worsen beyond acceptable levels.
• Curfew after 10 p.m.” (Tucson adopted one for three weeks on December 1, 2020.)

With so many people calling for greater action to mitigate the spread of the virus as it surges during the holiday season, Governor Ducey and the State Legislature would be wise to adopt measures that stem the rising tide of cases and help the people get through the crisis.

Waiting for Congress and the new Administration to act may not be a viable strategy right now.

It is time for Mr. Ducey and the Legislators to get to work now.