The Camp Unified Verde School District Governing Board updated its Return to Learn plan to reflect the current regulatory environment at its Aug. 10 meeting.
Because COVID-19 restrictions for schools have eased since Gov. Doug Ducey rescinded 25 pandemic-related executive orders July 2, CVUSD needed to update and approve its Return to Learn guidelines for staff and students.
At this time, all students are participating in in-class instruction with the exception of any children with extenuating circumstances that cannot attend class in person. These children are participating in the Camp Verde Online, Arizona Online Instruction distance learning platform. Interim Superintendent Steve Hicks said there are 69 students enrolled attending Camp Verde Online on campus while there are 18 students with extenuating circumstances that are studying from home.
For in-person students, the new guidelines ask parents, students and staff not to go to school if they are exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms. On campus, the school will be promoting physical distancing as much as possible. Buses will be disinfected between routes and at the end of the day, health signage will be displayed, surfaces will be cleaned between classes, hand sanitizer dispensers will be in each room and students will be taught hand washing routines. Playground equipment will be open but regularly sanitized, extra restroom cleaning will continue and athletics will continue while following Arizona Interscholastic Association guidelines.
Because Ducey recently signed a law as part of the annual budget prohibiting schools from requiring face coverings for students or staff, schools can no longer require anyone to wear masks on campus. However, board member Helen Freeman said the district may want to consider strongly recommending students wear masks. She also noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Jan. 29 order mandating face coverings on indoor areas of public transportation is still in effect and may apply to school buses.
“I’m not saying that we should [require masks on buses], I’m just saying that because schoolbuses are a public transportation form, and that is covered under federal law,” she said.
Overall, the board was hesitant to take a firm stance on strongly recommending masks at this time.
“I know that there’s been differences on this. It’s become a real political issue in the sense that it’s one side or another side, and for me as a school board member, I believe that we have to look at it in terms of what we’re working toward and what we would really like to see within our school and how we can be more supportive and understanding of the differences and what we’re going to look for as things change,” board member Thomasene Cardona said.
Board member Carol German said she would also like time before recommending masks. The board also considered including more information about what the CDC guidelines currently are.
Some, including board president Tim Roth and board member Carol German, thought that a link to the CDC website would be sufficient while others, such as Freeman, said she believes the district has an obligation to provide that information to the public firsthand.
In the end, German made a motion to approve the updated Return to Learn plan with the addition of a link to the CDC website. The motion was passed 4-1 with Freeman dissenting.
To read the entirety of the new Return to Learn plan, visitcampverdeschools.net.
