Dear TUHSD Parents and Families,

As I previously shared with you, our District has been carefully monitoring the public health metrics made available by both Maricopa County and the Arizona Department of Health Services. These metrics have guided our decision making from the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beginning Monday, November 30, TUHSD will return to virtual learning. We remain mindful of our responsibility to keep our entire community safe - from students to teachers to staff and their respective families. Please know that we do not take this decision lightly and that we are continuing to focus on delivering quality instruction in the virtual environment. Additionally, Tempe Elementary and Kyrene have made decisions to return to virtual instruction as a result of their metrics, which we share. The level of collaboration with our sister districts has always been a priority, especially in situations like this one.


Report courtesy of Maricopa County Department of Public Health. Dashboard available here.

Additional factors we have taken into consideration include:

• TUHSD students in quarantine | While our positive case count has remained low, we have seen an increase in reports in the last two weeks and, as of today, approximately 915 students and staff have been isolated or quarantined due to possible exposure on campus.
• Substitute shortage | A growing number of staff are experiencing COVID-like symptoms due to flu, colds or other viruses. Staff are required to remain home with ANY symptoms, and we are having extreme difficulty securing substitute teachers for those classrooms. Soon, we will not have enough personnel to cover classes. Moving to contingency reduces the risk of teachers being out sick.
• Off-campus behaviors | So many of our families have been diligent about practicing good safety habits both on and off campus. However, we have seen multiple cases of students sent to school with symptoms or while awaiting COVID test results. These incidents put staff and other students at risk in addition to causing preventable school quarantines.
• Projection models | Current models predict exponential growth of COVID-19 cases over the next several weeks, projecting as many as 250,000 positive daily U.S. cases with 3,000-5,000 deaths per day. Higher community spread translates into higher positive COVID cases on campuses, higher counts of quarantine, and greater risk for everyone.

We know you will have questions, and as plans develop and are shared, we will do our best to answer them. This includes planning for athletics & extra curricular activities. Here are a few that we can currently address:

• How long will we stay in virtual mode? Our decisions are always guided by the public health metrics. We will continue to monitor the metrics, no matter what instruction mode we are offering, and bring students back to campus when the metrics indicate it is safe to do so again.
• What does this mean for my student who is currently in hybrid mode? Your student will shift to virtual instruction. Additional information on bell schedules and other specifics will be circulated next week. 
• What does this mean for my student who is already in virtual mode? There will not be a substantial change for students who are already in virtual mode. They will see all of their classmates joining class from home. Additional information on bell schedules and other specifics will be circulated next week. 
• What does this mean for my special needs or high-risk student? On-site support services will be made available for students who fall into priority categories, in compliance with the original Executive Order from Governor Doug Ducey. Please see here for more information about on-site support services and the students that qualify.

We understand that this is a difficult time for so many of our families. As a reminder, there are resources online to assist you and your families, including a list of social emotional wellness resources (available here). Please make sure to utilize them, and reach out to the support teams at your school site for additional information and resources. 

Thank you for your continued support,

Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent

 

Estimados padres y familias de TUHSD:

Como dije anteriormente, nuestro Distrito ha estado monitoreando cuidadosamente las métricas de salud pública disponibles tanto por el Condado de Maricopa como por el Departamento de Servicios de Salud de Arizona. Estas métricas han guiado nuestra toma de decisiones desde el comienzo de la pandemia de COVID-19.

A partir del lunes 30 de noviembre, TUHSD volverá al aprendizaje virtual. Seguimos conscientes de nuestra responsabilidad de mantener segura a toda nuestra comunidad, desde los estudiantes hasta los maestros, el personal y sus respectivas familias. Tenga en cuenta que no tomamos esta decisión a la ligera y que continuamos enfocándonos en brindar instrucción de calidad en el entorno virtual. Además, la Primaria Tempe y Kyrene han tomado decisiones para regresar a la instrucción virtual como resultado de sus métricas, que compartimos. El nivel de colaboración con nuestros distritos hermanos siempre ha sido una prioridad, especialmente en situaciones como esta.


Informe cortesía del Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Maricopa.

Los factores adicionales que hemos tenido en cuenta incluyen:
Estudiantes de TUHSD en cuarentena | Si bien nuestro recuento de casos positivos se ha mantenido bajo, hemos visto un aumento en los informes en las últimas dos semanas y, a la fecha, casi 915 estudiantes y personal han sido aislados o puestos en cuarentena debido a una posible exposición en el campus.

Escasez de sustitutos | Un número creciente de empleados experimenta síntomas similares a los de COVID debido a la gripe, resfriados u otros virus. Se requiere que el personal permanezca en casa con CUALQUIER síntoma, y ​​estamos teniendo dificultades extremas para conseguir maestros sustitutos para esas aulas. Pronto, no tendremos suficiente personal para cubrir las clases. Pasar a la contingencia reduce el riesgo de que los profesores se enfermen.

Comportamientos fuera del campus | Muchas de nuestras familias han sido diligentes en la práctica de buenos hábitos de seguridad tanto dentro como fuera del campus. Sin embargo, hemos visto varios casos de estudiantes enviados a la escuela con síntomas o mientras esperaban los resultados de la prueba COVID. Estos incidentes ponen en riesgo al personal y a otros estudiantes, además de causar cuarentenas escolares prevenibles.

Modelos de proyección | Los modelos actuales predicen un crecimiento exponencial de los casos de COVID-19 durante las próximas semanas, proyectando hasta 250,000 casos positivos diarios en los EE. UU. Con 3,000-5,000 muertes por día. Una mayor propagación en la comunidad se traduce en casos de COVID positivos más altos en los campus, recuentos más altos de cuarentena y mayor riesgo para todos.

Sabemos que tendrá preguntas y, a medida que los planes se desarrollen y se compartan, haremos todo lo posible para responderlas. Esto incluye la planificación de actividades deportivas y extracurriculares. Aquí hay algunos que podemos abordar actualmente:

¿Cuánto tiempo permaneceremos en modo virtual? Nuestras decisiones siempre se guían por las métricas de salud pública. Continuaremos monitoreando las métricas, sin importar el modo de instrucción que estemos ofreciendo, y llevaremos a los estudiantes de regreso al campus cuando las métricas indiquen que es seguro hacerlo nuevamente.

¿Qué significa esto para mi estudiante que se encuentra actualmente en modo híbrido? Su estudiante cambiará a la instrucción virtual. La próxima semana se distribuirá información adicional sobre los horarios de las campanas y otros detalles.

¿Qué significa esto para mi alumno que ya está en modo virtual? No habrá un cambio sustancial para los estudiantes que ya están en modo virtual. Verán a todos sus compañeros unirse a clase desde casa. La próxima semana se distribuirá información adicional sobre los horarios de las campanas y otros detalles.

¿Qué significa esto para mi estudiante con necesidades especiales o de alto riesgo? Los servicios de apoyo en el lugar estarán disponibles para los estudiantes que caen en categorías prioritarias, de conformidad con la Orden Ejecutiva original del Gobernador Doug Ducey. Consulte aquí para obtener más información sobre los servicios de apoyo en el lugar y los estudiantes que califican.

Entendemos que este es un momento difícil para muchas de nuestras familias. Como recordatorio, hay recursos en línea para ayudarlo a usted y a sus familias, incluida una lista de recursos de bienestar social y emocional (disponible aquí). Asegúrese de utilizarlos y comuníquese con los equipos de apoyo de su escuela para obtener información y recursos adicionales.

Gracias por su continuo apoyo,

Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendente

November 20, 2020

Dear TUHSD Parents and Families,

As I previously shared with you, our District has been carefully monitoring the public health metrics made available by both Maricopa County and the Arizona Department of Health Services. These metrics have guided our decision making from the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beginning Monday, November 30, TUHSD will return to virtual learning. We remain mindful of our responsibility to keep our entire community safe - from students to teachers to staff and their respective families. Please know that we do not take this decision lightly and that we are continuing to focus on delivering quality instruction in the virtual environment. Additionally, Tempe Elementary and Kyrene have made decisions to return to virtual instruction as a result of their metrics, which we share. The level of collaboration with our sister districts has always been a priority, especially in situations like this one.

Report courtesy of Maricopa County Department of Public Health. Dashboard available here.

Additional factors we have taken into consideration include:

• TUHSD students in quarantine | While our positive case count has remained low, we have seen an increase in reports in the last two weeks and, as of today, nearly 600 students and staff have been isolated or quarantined due to possible exposure on campus.
• Substitute shortage | A growing number of staff are experiencing COVID-like symptoms due to flu, colds or other viruses. Staff are required to remain home with ANY symptoms, and we are having extreme difficulty securing substitute teachers for those classrooms. Soon, we will not have enough personnel to cover classes. Moving to contingency reduces the risk of teachers being out sick.
• Off-campus behaviors | So many of our families have been diligent about practicing good safety habits both on and off campus. However, we have seen multiple cases of students sent to school with symptoms or while awaiting COVID test results. These incidents put staff and other students at risk in addition to causing preventable school quarantines.
• Projection models | Current models predict exponential growth of COVID-19 cases over the next several weeks, projecting as many as 250,000 positive daily U.S. cases with 3,000-5,000 deaths per day. Higher community spread translates into higher positive COVID cases on campuses, higher counts of quarantine, and greater risk for everyone.

We know you will have questions, and as plans develop and are shared, we will do our best to answer them. This includes planning for athletics & extra curricular activities. Here are a few that we can currently address:

• How long will we stay in virtual mode? Our decisions are always guided by the public health metrics. We will continue to monitor the metrics, no matter what instruction mode we are offering, and bring students back to campus when the metrics indicate it is safe to do so again.
• What does this mean for my student who is currently in hybrid mode? Your student will shift to virtual instruction. Additional information on bell schedules and other specifics will be circulated next week. 
• What does this mean for my student who is already in virtual mode? There will not be a substantial change for students who are already in virtual mode. They will see all of their classmates joining class from home. Additional information on bell schedules and other specifics will be circulated next week. 
• What does this mean for my special needs or high-risk student? On-site support services will be made available for students who fall into priority categories, in compliance with the original Executive Order from Governor Doug Ducey. Please see here for more information about on-site support services and the students that qualify.

We understand that this is a difficult time for so many of our families. As a reminder, there are resources online to assist you and your families, including a list of social-emotional wellness resources (available here). Please make sure to utilize them, and reach out to the support teams at your school site for additional information and resources. 

Thank you for your continued support,

Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil

Superintendent

---

Para Español:

Estimados padres y familias de TUHSD:

Como dije anteriormente, nuestro Distrito ha estado monitoreando cuidadosamente las métricas de salud pública disponibles tanto por el Condado de Maricopa como por el Departamento de Servicios de Salud de Arizona. Estas métricas han guiado nuestra toma de decisiones desde el comienzo de la pandemia de COVID-19.

A partir del lunes 30 de noviembre, TUHSD volverá al aprendizaje virtual. Seguimos conscientes de nuestra responsabilidad de mantener segura a toda nuestra comunidad, desde los estudiantes hasta los maestros, el personal y sus respectivas familias. Tenga en cuenta que no tomamos esta decisión a la ligera y que continuamos enfocándonos en brindar instrucción de calidad en el entorno virtual. Además, la Primaria Tempe y Kyrene han tomado decisiones para regresar a la instrucción virtual como resultado de sus métricas, que compartimos. El nivel de colaboración con nuestros distritos hermanos siempre ha sido una prioridad, especialmente en situaciones como esta.

Informe cortesía del Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Maricopa. Tablero disponible aquí.

Los factores adicionales que hemos tenido en cuenta incluyen:

Estudiantes de TUHSD en cuarentena | Si bien nuestro recuento de casos positivos se ha mantenido bajo, hemos visto un aumento en los informes en las últimas dos semanas y, a la fecha, casi 600 estudiantes y personal han sido aislados o puestos en cuarentena debido a una posible exposición en el campus.

Escasez de sustitutos | Un número creciente de empleados experimenta síntomas similares a los de COVID debido a la gripe, resfriados u otros virus. Se requiere que el personal permanezca en casa con CUALQUIER síntoma, y ​​estamos teniendo dificultades extremas para conseguir maestros sustitutos para esas aulas. Pronto, no tendremos suficiente personal para cubrir las clases. Pasar a la contingencia reduce el riesgo de que los profesores se enfermen.

Comportamientos fuera del campus | Muchas de nuestras familias han sido diligentes en la práctica de buenos hábitos de seguridad tanto dentro como fuera del campus. Sin embargo, hemos visto varios casos de estudiantes enviados a la escuela con síntomas o mientras esperaban los resultados de la prueba COVID. Estos incidentes ponen en riesgo al personal y a otros estudiantes, además de causar cuarentenas escolares prevenibles.

Modelos de proyección | Los modelos actuales predicen un crecimiento exponencial de los casos de COVID-19 durante las próximas semanas, proyectando hasta 250,000 casos positivos diarios en los EE. UU. Con 3,000-5,000 muertes por día. Una mayor propagación en la comunidad se traduce en casos de COVID positivos más altos en los campus, recuentos más altos de cuarentena y mayor riesgo para todos.

Sabemos que tendrá preguntas y, a medida que los planes se desarrollen y se compartan, haremos todo lo posible para responderlas. Esto incluye la planificación de actividades deportivas y extracurriculares. Aquí hay algunos que podemos abordar actualmente:

¿Cuánto tiempo permaneceremos en modo virtual? Nuestras decisiones siempre se guían por las métricas de salud pública. Continuaremos monitoreando las métricas, sin importar el modo de instrucción que estemos ofreciendo, y llevaremos a los estudiantes de regreso al campus cuando las métricas indiquen que es seguro hacerlo nuevamente.

¿Qué significa esto para mi estudiante que se encuentra actualmente en modo híbrido? Su estudiante cambiará a la instrucción virtual. La próxima semana se distribuirá información adicional sobre los horarios de las campanas y otros detalles.

¿Qué significa esto para mi alumno que ya está en modo virtual? No habrá un cambio sustancial para los estudiantes que ya están en modo virtual. Verán a todos sus compañeros unirse a clase desde casa. La próxima semana se distribuirá información adicional sobre los horarios de las campanas y otros detalles.

¿Qué significa esto para mi estudiante con necesidades especiales o de alto riesgo? Los servicios de apoyo en el lugar estarán disponibles para los estudiantes que caen en categorías prioritarias, de conformidad con la Orden Ejecutiva original del Gobernador Doug Ducey. Consulte aquí para obtener más información sobre los servicios de apoyo en el lugar y los estudiantes que califican.

Entendemos que este es un momento difícil para muchas de nuestras familias. Como recordatorio, hay recursos en línea para ayudarlo a usted y a sus familias, incluida una lista de recursos de bienestar social y emocional (disponible aquí). Asegúrese de utilizarlos y comuníquese con los equipos de apoyo de su escuela para obtener información y recursos adicionales.

 

Gracias por su continuo apoyo,

Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil

Superintendente

---

Dear TUHSD Parents & Families,

Based on concerns we are receiving from families and others in our community, I would like to reassure you that we are committed to our current model of hybrid learning. Throughout this pandemic, we have ensured that our decision making is guided by the public health metrics made available by both Maricopa County and the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Although many of our surrounding communities are facing situations where they are “in the red” with the latest round of updates, we are fortunate that the areas where our students reside are still considered “yellow”, and safe to continue with the hybrid learning model that we have implemented. We will continue to be guided by these metrics, and although cases are on the rise in Arizona overall and two benchmarks have gradually increased for TUHSD, we consider ourselves fortunate that we have not yet had to consider a return to fully remote learning.

Recently, the State updated their guidelines which will allow us to continue in hybrid until we have hit “red” in all three tracked metrics, for two consecutive weeks. While we can’t be certain what the future holds, we are committed to continuing in our current model until the metrics dictate otherwise, and continuing to ask our families and community to be mindful of the safety measures that we have in place that protect us all.

TUHSD remains committed to implementing and following the safety measures in our Health Mitigation Plan to protect students and staff from exposure to COVID-19. We feel that the adherence to this plan is what has kept our community “yellow”. Our protocols include reminding students and staff to stay home when they are sick and mandating wearing face masks. Physical distancing rules are in place and high-touch surface areas are disinfected regularly. We also encourage frequent hand washing and hand sanitizer is readily available to students and staff.

Last month, in an effort to be transparent with our community, we launched a TUHSD COVID-19 dashboard (available here), which lists current, active COVID-19 cases by school. The dashboard is updated on a rolling basis as information becomes available. We hope that this has been an informative resource for you. It is also worth noting that the overwhelming majority of our current, active cases are a result of off-campus exposure, which indicates that the protocols in our Health Mitigation Plan have been successful in keeping our students and staff safe during this time.

In addition to the COVID-19 dashboard, we have a wide variety of resources available to you at this time, including a video outlining safety protocols (available here), a list of frequently asked questions (available here), and a list of social-emotional wellness resources (available here).

Next Wednesday, November 18, our Governing Board will hear an important COVID-19 update from our administrative team. The meeting will be live-streamed on our YouTube channel starting at 7 PM.  I hope you are able to join us.

Thank you for your continued support,
Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent

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Dear TUHSD Parents & Families,

Last week, we began our hybrid learning model. The input we’ve received from our students and teachers has been overwhelmingly positive, and we continue to look for unique ways to refine this model and engage our students during this time.

TUHSD remains committed to implementing and following the safety measures in our Health Mitigation Plan to protect students and staff from exposure to COVID-19. This includes reminding students and staff to stay home when they are sick and mandating wearing face masks. Physical distancing rules are in place and high-touch surface areas are disinfected regularly. We also encourage frequent hand washing and hand sanitizer is readily available to students and staff.

In an effort to be transparent with our community, we have launched a TUHSD COVID-19 dashboard (available here), which lists current, active COVID-19 cases by school. This dashboard will be updated weekly moving forward.

It is important to remember that COVID-19 is widely circulating in our area, and we ask that you continue to be vigilant and monitor for symptoms consistent with COVID-19. If your child is experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms consistent with COVID-19, believe they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or you think they should be tested for COVID-19, please keep your child at home and see your healthcare provider and/or get tested with a PCR test (nose swab). You can visit Maricopa County Department of Public Health or call the AZ COVID-19 hotline at 844-542-8201 for more information about testing options and availability in your area.

In addition to the COVID-19 dashboard, we have a wide variety of resources available to you at this time, including a video outlining safety protocols (available here), a list of frequently asked questions (available here), and a list of social-emotional wellness resources (available here).

The issues surrounding social-emotional wellness, especially during this pandemic, remain of critical importance to TUHSD. Our Governing Board is holding a study session tonight on this important topic. The session will be live-streamed on our YouTube channel starting at 5 PM - I hope you can join us.

Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent

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Dear TUHSD Parents & Families,

We are moving closer to Tuesday, October 13 and I know our teachers and administrators share my excitement in having our students return to campus. Teachers are back in their classrooms today, and working to learn the safety protocols associated with this return to in-person learning. We have all been preparing for months for this moment and we look forward to starting this new phase.

As previously announced, we will begin our hybrid learning model on October 13. This means that students will be divided into two groups - A and B. Students from “A” group will attend in-person on Monday & Tuesday. Students from “B” group will attend in-person on Thursday & Friday. Students will learn in a virtual setting on the days they are not on campus, in addition to Wednesdays’, which will be virtual and asynchronous for all, in order to allow for cleaning in between the cohort groups.

Parents who wish for their students to remain in virtual instruction mode have that option. If you haven’t already done so, please fill out the Learning Choice Survey that was circulated last week. This survey is the opportunity for you to indicate your preference between hybrid or fully virtual learning. Links to the survey are available in both English and Spanish. We ask that you respond to the survey by 5 PM today.

A video outlining safety protocols can be found here. Please familiarize yourself with this video, and encourage your student to watch. Videos will also be made available with site-specific safety information. Please keep an eye on communications from your school principal or administrators for those links.

On Thursday, September 24, we will hold a virtual Governing Board study session on the topic of Athletics. I know this is a topic that is of interest to many, and I hope you can tune in to our YouTube channel and join us. The meeting will be streamed live beginning at 4 PM.

As I have previously shared, we are closely monitoring the metrics and data that are made available through both Arizona’s Department of Health Services, and Maricopa County’s Department of Public Health. We will continue to do so, and the data will continue to guide our decision-making process. 

With a week and a half left in the first quarter, I know many of you are looking forward to Fall Break. If you have travel plans, be sure to review the U.S. State Department’s list of travel advisories. And whether you are traveling or not, I hope that you and your family have a restful and restorative Fall Break.

Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent

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Dear TUHSD Parents & Families:

As I shared in my last communication, our teachers, administrators, and staff are looking forward to seeing your students on-campus again beginning the week of Tuesday, October 13. We know the past five months have been very difficult for everyone and that it is important to remain hopeful as we embrace the next phase of this “new normal.”

Preparations are well underway to ready our campuses to receive students. Here are a few of the next steps:

• All teachers and staff report to their respective schools on Monday, September 21
• Teachers prepare their classrooms for students - identifying how they want to set up their individual classrooms to maximize blended learning instruction, positioning cameras, and the other underlying work of readying their spaces
• Briefings and other training for returning employees to fully understand the safety plan for their school site, as well as the TUHSD Health Mitigation Plan - DOCX
• Prepare students to learn new behaviors to help mitigate the spread of the virus through social distancing, face coverings, and regular hand washing

On October 13, we will start in a hybrid two days per week learning model. Students will be divided into cohorts by the last name, and attend school in-person on either Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday. The other three days of the week will see learning conducted virtually. Wednesdays are also a deep cleaning day, to ensure that our campuses are fully cleaned in between each cohort of students. More information on a specific cohort assignment will be sent by your student’s school site.

We appreciate everyone who took the time to answer our Parent Needs Survey and we have factored this feedback into our planning and will make every effort to get as many students safely and socially distanced in classrooms as possible. The results of the survey will be posted on the Health & Safety section of our website this week.

All families in our District have choices - as many students who want to learn in-person, on-campus in a blended learning environment will be able to do so. And students/families who do not feel comfortable returning to campus have the choice to remain in a virtual instruction model through the end of the 1st semester. Additional information on the remaining virtual will be disseminated directly to you by your student’s school site.

I cannot stress enough how much we appreciate our students, families, and larger TUHSD community. Your feedback and input during our planning process has been vital, and knowing that we will be welcoming our students back to campus in just a few weeks is a tremendous relief to us all.

Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent

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Dear TUHSD Parents & Families:

At the Governing Board Meeting this past Wednesday, information was shared regarding current health metrics for TUHSD which included zip codes within our boundaries as well as zip codes for our open-enrolled TUHSD families. 

I am pleased that we continue to see a favorable trend in the metrics provided by our public health agencies. Like our sister districts Kyrene and Tempe Elementary, Tempe Union will begin instruction on October 13. I will share additional information next week, and please be on the lookout for specific information from your school site in the coming weeks as well.

Information was also shared during the Board meeting regarding examples of best practices for hybrid learning. TUHSD is considering the best model for our high schools while we prepare to bring students back to in-person instruction. Again, additional details will be forthcoming.

We launched the Parent Needs survey this past Tuesday to solicit input from families on their desire to have their students return to school. We are reviewing preliminary results as the survey deadline draws to a close this evening, and will use the information to determine how we bring students back in a hybrid learning environment.

Thank you again for your input during this process. I know our teachers, staff, and administrators are all looking forward to welcoming students back to campus.

Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent

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Dear TUHSD Parents & Families:

Beginning next week, there will be some minor changes to our instructional model for students. We have received much feedback from both students and parents regarding the prolonged screen time currently required due to synchronous instruction. As a result, we are planning on adapting our instructional model to include asynchronous learning time, which will be independent learning time with students completing assignments and other work away from their virtual classes.  Teachers were informed this morning.

Every Wednesday will be an asynchronous learning day for all content areas. This will reduce screen time for students and allow teachers to have additional planning time for their week and address other student needs.

Wednesday, September 2nd, will be our first asynchronous day. Teachers began circulating information and further instructions to their students today.  This is what this means for their classes. In general, students will be required to log in to each class and submit attendance on the Google Form, as well as complete any assigned work or activities that may be posted in Schoology for the day.

We hope these changes will assist your students in a more seamless transition as we look to move into a hybrid instructional setting in the coming weeks.

Thank you,

Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil, Superintendent
Ms. Kim Hilgers, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning

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Dear TUHSD Parents & Families:

Earlier this week, our Governing Board held a study session on our District’s Health Mitigation Plan - DOCX. The plan was covered in detail and several options for safely returning to school were presented. If you were unable to join us, you can find the audio recording here.

In light of the study session, and updated metrics from our public health agencies released this week, I want to take this opportunity to highlight a few important items.

Based on the current available metrics, we are planning steps to safely reopen school for our students.  In order to do so, we need to understand our community’s comfort level with returning to campus so that we can appropriately plan for the number of students that may be on campus at any given time.

A Parent Needs Survey will be circulated via email on Tuesday, September 1. We ask that you respond to this survey by Wednesday, September 9. The survey responses will assist us in planning a safe, hybrid approach to reopening our schools by understanding how many of our families will continue with virtual instruction or return to hybrid in-person instruction at school.

It is important to remember that the metrics provided by our state and county public health agencies are what is driving our reopening. At this time, the metrics are continuing to trend downwards. There were three scenarios presented at the study session this week - please click here for a PDF of the presentation.

Depending upon the metrics made available in the coming weeks, we anticipate that we would open in either a Scenario 2A (Slide 71) or a Scenario 2B (Slide 71) Hybrid Model sometime in later September. New information is released by the state/county each Thursday, and we will continue to evaluate that data and plan accordingly.  We will also be reviewing the zip codes of our TUHSD families that are open-enrolled.

Finally, and most importantly, the other required component to reopening is a quality health mitigation plan. It is imperative that everyone involved with the education of our students - parents and families, teachers and staff, and students themselves - understand this plan and take it seriously. Once we reopen, following these safety protocols will be essential for us to remain open. Again, the District’s Health Mitigation Plan can be found here.

Thank you for your patience during this time. We know that these have been difficult times for our TUHSD family, and we are all looking forward to safely reopening our schools in the very near future.

Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent

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August 25, 2020

Dear TUHSD Parents & Guardians:

As we begin the fourth week of school, I wanted to thank you for your dedication and perseverance. We know that this experience has not been an easy one, as your students began the school year in a virtual learning environment. While we have all had challenges over the past few weeks, there have also been many stories of resilience and creativity. Our teachers and staff have been thrilled to see their students return, albeit virtually for now. I know that our TUHSD family will continue to rise to the occasion during these difficult times.

This Wednesday at 5 PM, our TUHSD Governing Board will convene for a special study session. They will be reviewing and discussing our Health Mitigation Plan - DOCX, as well as the benchmarks and planning for returning to hybrid in-person instruction.

Both the Arizona Department of Health Services and Maricopa County’s Department of Public Health have published data concerning the return to school. We are evaluating these data dashboards daily and more information will be presented during the study session regarding the impact of this information on re-opening our schools.

I am very encouraged that the data is trending in the right direction. If the data continues to trend downward, we would look to reopen our schools with caution and in a hybrid manner - with some students at school and some at home virtually. There are two components for reopening safely - a quality, detailed health mitigation plan; and meeting the benchmarks outlined by our public health agencies. Both are equally important for a successful reopening according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

As planning is underway for this re-opening, I want to reassure you that the safety of our students is always a top priority. As you will see on Wednesday night, the safety of both students and employees has been top of mind during all of our planning efforts.

If you have some time on Wednesday, I hope you can join us for the session. The meeting will be live-streamed on our TUHSD YouTube channel and the PowerPoint presentation will be available on the district website the following day.

Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent

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August 13, 2020

TUHSD Families:

On Monday, August 17, our campuses will welcome students in need of on-site support services (services that cannot be provided virtually). These support services are part of Governor Ducey’s most recent Executive Order for schools and are for students who have a critical need for a specific service or resource. There will be limited space available on each campus due to the importance of optimizing the use of available staff and limited resources, as well as the critical health mitigation protocols that need to be implemented and maintained for safety.

Our students with the highest need were identified by school sites and prioritized with a weighted system. Ten priority categories were identified as follows: SpEd Level C/D students (self-contained programs); McKinney Vento students (homeless students); Students without access to WiFi or other technology at home; Title I and students eligible for free and/or reduced lunches; SEL (Social Emotional) High Concern students; ELL (English Language Learners) students; Foster care students; SpEd Level B students (Resource); SpEd Level A students (Itinerant services); Parent Request.

We understand there will be evolving student needs, and our administrators and school site teams are listening to parents and families in order to continually meet the needs of our students and families.

Prioritization Criteria

• SpEd Level C/D
• McKinney Vento
• No WiFi/Tech
• Title I
• Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) High Concern
• ELL
• Foster 
• SpEd Level B
• SpEd Level A
• Parent Request

Parents/guardians will be required to acknowledge the COVID-19 Parental Acknowledgement and Disclosure Form by signing the form on or before the student's first day of attendance on campus. This form will be circulated by your school site administrators.

Specific locations have been identified at each school site to provide a safe space for TUHSD students to have remote access to classes and receive in-person support services as needed. Transportation and school meals will be provided.  On-site service locations will be monitored by a TUHSD staff member (not necessarily a certified teacher), and instruction will continue virtually between students and their teachers.

Social distancing and appropriate safety guidelines will be observed in these on-site spaces at all times. Rooms will be limited to 10-15 students only, with assigned classrooms, specific entry and exit routes, temperature checks, and signage, and cleaning protocols in place. Additional safety details can be found in the TUHSD’s Health Mitigation Plan, which is available here - DOCX.

Follow up notifications and additional information will be sent by school sites to families who have been identified as being eligible for on-site services.

If your child does not fall into one of these priority categories, and you would like to request on-site services, please contact your academic counselor.

As a reminder, TUHSD’s first quarter is scheduled through Friday, October 2. We will remain in virtual instruction mode until our community has met the metrics for reopening as outlined by the Arizona Department of Health Services. The fall break is slated for the following week, with students and teachers beginning the second quarter of instruction on Tuesday, October 13.

Thank you,
Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent

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August 6, 2020

Dear TUHSD Parents and Families:

As we bring our first week of school to a close, I wanted to reach out to you with additional information and resources for you and your student.

Although there were many reports of a smooth and successful transition to virtual learning, we know that some of you are still facing technology challenges. There are a myriad of resources available to you via your specific school site. Please be sure to look at your school’s website, especially the “Student” or “Parent” pages, to find information and contact information to assist you during this time.

Last night, the Tempe Union High School District Governing Board voted 5-0 on a resolution to keep students in virtual mode for the duration of the first quarter, or until the metrics for reopening provided by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) can be met. The full resolution passed by the Governing Board is available to view here.

Health metrics are scheduled to be released by ADHS tomorrow, Friday, August 7. Once released, they are expected to provide additional guidance on the safe reopening of schools.

What this means in practical terms is that we will continue to monitor the health and safety of our wider TUHSD community, and look to these metrics to help guide us in our decision making. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have looked to public health experts and information to assist us in safe decision-making, and we will continue to do that. While we all hope to bring our students, teachers, and staff back to our school sites, we are also mindful of our responsibility to keep our community safe.

As a reminder, TUHSD’s first quarter is scheduled through Friday, October 2. Fall break is slated for the following week, with students and teachers beginning the second quarter of instruction on Monday, October 13. The full student calendar for the 2020-2021 school year is available here.

Kevin J. Mendivil

Superintendent

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July 17, 2020

TUHSD Students and Families:

We appreciate so many of you taking the time to submit questions and attend our Virtual Stakeholder Forum earlier this week. If you were unable to attend and would like to view or re-watch the program, it is available here on our YouTube Channel. Over 700 questions were submitted by parents, teachers and staff. While we were unable to answer all of them, we are continuing to update our FAQs on a regular basis. Information provided during the Forum has now been added to our FAQs and is available here.

The most common question after the conclusion of Tuesday’s Forum was - what happens if Governor Ducey moves forward to re-open schools on August 17th and I’m not comfortable with sending my student back yet? After internal discussion and continued planning, we have re-structured our In-Person model to accommodate this need.

If your student starts the school year in the In-Person remote/virtual mode (currently August 3 through August 17, but subject to change based on Governor Ducey’s Executive Orders) and you are not comfortable with sending your student back on the date ultimately identified by Governor Ducey as our physical return to school sites, you will have the option to keep your student in remote/virtual learning mode through the first semester or until you, as a family, are comfortable with the physical return to school for your son or daughter.

If you have pre-registered for the Tempe Union Online model, and would like to withdraw and switch to In-Person learning based on this new information, please click here and submit your information by Wednesday, July 22 at 5 PM.

Additional information on virtual freshman orientation and many other topics will be coming to you soon from your school principal/administration. As a reminder, our Return to School website continues to be updated on a rolling basis as information becomes available and is the best resource for our families looking for updated information.

On behalf of TUHSD administration and school leadership, we look forward to a very exciting and engaging year ahead. While we know that these are unusual times, we appreciate your input and engagement in order to make this a successful year for our TUHSD community.

Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil

Superintendent

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July 6, 2020

TUHSD Families:

As mentioned in communication last week, we will be holding a virtual forum on Tuesday, July 14 at 6 PM to answer questions about safely reopening the new school year for everyone. This event will be streamed live on our YouTube channel and we encourage you to join us virtually. Questions can be submitted in advance by using this link.

Our current options for the school year are outlined here. Our current FAQ's are available here, and will be updated on a rolling basis as information becomes available. Our Return to School webpage continues to serve as a clearinghouse for information and updates on the school year, and our Health & Safety page offers updated guidelines and information in regards to safety and parent communications. We hope you'll bookmark these pages and utilize them often.

Please save the date and plan to join us virtually on Tuesday, June 14.

Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent

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June 30, 2020

TUHSD Families:

In light of Governor’s Ducey announcement and subsequent Executive Order yesterday, we want to reassure you that we continue to assess and plan for a safe, productive 20/21 school year for our students, teachers and staff.

There are still many unknowns about how the Governor’s order will affect the details of our current planning efforts. One thing that we know for certain is that in-person instruction will be delayed until at least August 17, 2020.

As a reminder, right now, TUHSD is offering two choices:

1. In-Person Model
1. Five days a week, in-person
2. No need to pre-register or take any additional steps at this time
2. Online Model
1. Full-time online instruction
2. Pre-register here no later than Monday, July 13

Planning is still ongoing for the virtual Town Hall for parents. Additional information will be released as soon as it becomes available. We are also in the process of updating and supplementing our Return to School webpage and FAQ’s to accurately reflect the questions we have been receiving.

Dr. Kevin J. Mendivil
Superintendent

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