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School Bells Will be Ringing and Resources are All Around

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It’s important to remember, as the school year begins, that support is available to families that may need it.

The 2020-2021 school year presented a great many obstacles for administrators, teachers, students and families. As with most everything we all experienced over the last year, school looked quite different than any other time. But, as is always the case here in our beautiful community, everyone rose above the challenges to give our children the best in difficult times. I would like to personally extend a heartfelt thank you to Prescott’s teachers, administrators, staff, parents and students for their dedication and perseverance during the last school year.

Now, as we all begin to come out of the pandemic and move forward to better times, students will be returning to school this academic year with things looking a bit more normal. I’ve said time and again that the resiliency and togetherness of this community is something that I take great pride in and students having the opportunity to return to some normalcy feels like a wonderful reward for all they’ve had to endure in recent memory.

It’s important to remember, as the school year begins, that support is available to families that may need it. The Family Resource Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by appointment, and provides school supplies, coats, shoes and more for those in need. They also provide resources for families suffering from homelessness, those enrolled in the Indian Education Program and supplies for teachers through the “Teachers Closet.” And organizations like the Launch Pad Teen Center provide a safe space for Prescott’s youth. The help and support that are available to our citizens is truly something to be proud of and a great reminder that even in dark corners there is light and help to be found.

In addition to resources for families and students, there are a multitude of local organizations that are available for those in the community that may need help in other areas. The Yavapai Justice and Mental Health Coalition has developed a website with a wealth of resources for members of the community that are in need of assistance. You can visit https://justicementalhealth.com/ to find a complete resource guide. Additionally, organizations like Prescott Area Shelter Services, Agape House of Prescott and the Coalition for Compassion and Justice provide resources and support for our citizens in need. Yavapai County and Prescott continue to do an incredible job of providing for the community and meet the needs of people experiencing a need for support.

As we put summer in the rear view and move into the fall months, we are all looking forward to the positive things to come. I wish all of our students and families a wonderful school year and am anxious to see what it holds for our community. QCBN

By Greg Mengarelli

Greg Mengarelli is the mayor of Prescott.

Governor Ducey Issues Executive Order Requiring Schools To Offer In-Person Learning

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Order Sets March 15 Deadline To Get Students “Back In The Classroom”.

Following discussions with public school leaders, and in accordance with new guidance from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Governor Doug Ducey today issued a new Executive Order returning schools to in-person, teacher-led instruction.

According to metrics developed by the CDC, 12 of Arizona’s 15 counties are in phases where all schools are safe to open, including in the state’s two largest counties, Maricopa and Pima.

“Arizona’s students need to be back in the classroom. More than half of Arizona’s schools are open and offering in-person options. More schools need to follow their lead, and pave the way for equitable education options for every Arizona student,” said Governor Ducey. “The CDC and numerous health officials have said time and time again that schools are safe and kids can go back to the classroom. We prioritized teachers in our vaccine distribution, and many have already received their second dose. The science is clear: it’s time all kids have the option to return to school so they can get back on track and we can close the achievement gap.”

Under the order, schools are to return to in-person learning by March 15, or after Spring Break. An exception is made for middle and high schools located in counties with “high” transmission of COVID-19, as defined by the CDC ⁠— which currently includes just three Arizona counties: Coconino, Yavapai, and Pinal. However, CDC is clear that there is a safe pathway for all schools to open at any transmission level, and to stay open if they implement proper mitigation strategies. A student may continue participating in virtual instruction if their parent or guardian chooses so.

The Governor’s order is being enthusiastically welcomed by champions of education in the Arizona state legislature.

“Arizona’s kids and families have undergone a tremendous amount of stress throughout the pandemic,” said Senator Paul Boyer of Glendale, Chairman of the Arizona Senate Education Committee.“I’m glad to see more students going back to the classroom, and today’s guidance from the Arizona Department of Health Services will help ensure families that are ready to send their kids back can do so.”

This sentiment is echoed by Mesa resident Representative Michelle Udall, Chairman of the House Education Committee.

“The data is clear — kids can go back to school,” she said. “Many students have fallen behind, especially those in low income communities. The Governor’s order will protect students’ needs, while following CDC guidance.”

Today’s order updates school reopening benchmarks developed and announced in August 2020, with the metrics recently developed by the CDC. The metrics define “low”, “moderate”, “substantial” and “high” transmission levels with operational strategies for schools to reopen at all transmission levels. The Arizona Department of Health Services released the latest county-by-county information based on the CDC metrics.

National Public Health Experts Agree

A recent report from the Journal of the American Medical Association note that schools are safe for students and faculty:

“As many schools have reopened for in-person instruction in some parts of the US as well as internationally, school-related cases of COVID-19 have been reported, but there has been little evidence that schools have contributed meaningfully to increased community transmission…

“In the fall of 2020, 11 school districts in North Carolina with more than 90,000 students and staff were open for in-person education for 9 weeks. During this time, within-school transmissions were very rare (32 infections acquired in schools; 773 community-acquired infections) and there were no cases of student-to-staff transmission.”

Prominent health officials also have consistently stated that students can go back to the classroom.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director, said on February 3:

“There is increasing data to suggest that schools can safely reopen and that safe reopening does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated. Vaccinations of teachers is not a prerequisite for safely reopening schools.”

“I want to be very clear about schools, which is: Yes, ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) has put teachers in the 1b category, the category of essential workers,” she said. “But I also want to be clear that there is increasing data to suggest that schools can safely reopen and that that safe reopening does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated in order to reopen safely.”

Arizona included teachers in the 1B priority group for vaccination, meaning many have already received their second dose.

On January 28, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci said:

“It’s less likely for a child to get infected in the school setting than if they were just in the community.”

In November 2020, former CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield said:

“The truth is, for kids K-12, one of the safest places they can be from our perspective is to remain in school.”

The Arizona Department of Health Services’ web dashboard will be updated to reflect these new criteria, and will still share all relevant data. According to the CDC’s benchmarks, grades kindergarten through sixth should be open for hybrid learning, no matter the infection rate in the community. For middle and high school, the CDC also recommends hybrid in all Arizona counties. Under these criteria, schools must offer in-person learning.

View the updated CDC guidance HERE.

View the Governor’s Executive Order HERE.

Gov. Ducey Begins Federal CARES Act Funds Distribution To Schools

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The Governor’s Office announced on Thursday that the process has begun to distribute $370 million in federal CARES Act funds to public and charter schools in the state.

The Enrollment Stabilization Grant (ESG) Program, a form of COVID relief funding, has allocated a total of $716 million toward Arizona K-12 schools.

The program was first announced as part of the Arizona: Open for Learning Plan. The plan is meant to improve school budget stability, increase funding for students utilizing virtual options and to cover the cost of in-person learning.

Schools will have the flexibility to use funds from the ESG program to ensure the safety of students and staff have safe in-person and virtual learning experiences. Every eligible district or charter that applied will receive funding.

The Governor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting will verify whether schools met criteria including, “providing in-person support services for students in need during school hours, conducting benchmark testing and completing financial reporting before funding is released.”

Gov. Doug Ducey said in the statement: 

“Our office has been working with school leaders, educators and families to ensure schools and students have the support they need. Schools are facing additional costs to maintain health and safety in the classroom and to make sure students learning online stay engaged. Today’s funding will help schools meet the needs of kids while keeping our communities safe.”  

Additionally, the ESG plan will have other resources made available to schools including public health support and access to meals.