The J.O. Combs Unified School District in San Tan Valley has canceled all classes on Monday since one-sixth of its employees will be absent. The absences are in reaction to the district’s plan to start in-person classes before the state health officials recommend them in the area.
Monday was suppose to be the district's first day of in-person learning. A new start date is unknown since the district isn't sure how long these staff absences will last.
The news was disappointing to Laura Brewer, a mother of three young kids, including one kindergarten student. The announcement was made Friday afternoon after Brewer had taken her kindergartner shopping for new clothes and school supplies.
"I kind of felt, 'What are we to do?'" Brewer said.
The lack of an in-person class option has been difficult for Brewer's family. Her 5-year-old son, who’s in a special education program, is having a hard time meeting his individualized education plan through virtual classes. Brewer tries to help her son as much as she can, but she also has a 3-year-old daughter and 15-month-old toddler to take care of. She was looking forward to him getting the assistance he needs at school.
"I know that he would much rather be in-person," Brewer said. "He would do better in-person and the regression that we are seeing would probably stop and he could start moving forward."
Cheri Puckett is a mother of two high school students and a health care worker. Her daughters were looking forward to returning to school and seeing their friends, she said.
"We're still distancing and I feel like their attitudes have definitely with being so non-social,' Puckett said. "It's really sad to see my kids like this."
Puckett said she feels some teachers have abandoned the kids they said they were advocating for during the 2018 Red for Ed movement.
David Nelson, president of the local teachers’ union, said he and other educators aren’t happy about classes being canceled, but felt this issue is serious.
"We strongly feel that because we have not met the metrics that the risk factor is too high for many of our staff and their loved ones and we feel that it is in the best interest to reconsider this until those conditions are met," he said.
They don’t think the district has an adequate supply of sanitation and personal protective equipment.
A district spokeswoman said the superintendent continues to meet with the union to discuss concerns.
"The district is sensitive to the feedback from our staff, as well as our families, and is working hard to find solutions to the polarizing and challenging issues currently facing school districts throughout the state," the district's spokeswoman said.
