WASHINGTON â Education officials rebuffed Gov. Doug Duceyâs decision this week to lift the mask mandate for state schools, with many districts planning to ignore what they called an âirresponsibleâ decision in a state where COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
âAs soon as the governor released it, right away our locals went and met with superintendents, met with governing boards ⦠almost within a couple of hours, it was, âOf course weâre going to keep the mask mandate, â said Marisol Garcia, vice president of the Arizona Education Association.
Arizona Schools Superintendent Kathy Hoffman was more critical, calling Duceyâs move another in âa long line of decisions that have resulted in Arizonaâs embarrassing response to a virus that has claimed over 17,000 lives and impacted thousands more.â
Education officials rebuffed Gov. Doug Ducey's decision this week to lift the mask mandate for state schools, with many districts planning to ignore what they called an "irresponsible" decision in a state where COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
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The state Department of Education is sitting on millions of federal relief dollars that should help schools struggling with budget shortfalls caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a key lawmaker said Monday, fueling the debate over school funding.
The request from state Rep. Michelle Udall, House Education Committee chairperson, comes as several school districts are signaling they have to lay off teachers in order to make their budgets balance for the coming year.
At the same time, lawmakers at the state Capitol are working on budget plans but are likely weeks away from providing any clear picture of how much funding Arizona s public schools will have for next year.