KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College,
and Maricopa Community Colleges

Copyright © 2025 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Mesa Public Schools, AZ's Largest School District, Getting Ready To Bring Back Students

Andi Fourlis
Tim Hacker/Mesa Public Schools
/
handout | contributor
Mesa Public Schools Superintendent Andi Fourlis says she had hoped to hear what metrics districts should use to guide their reopening, but appreciates the governor listening to education leaders.

Mesa Public Schools, the state's largest school district, is getting ready to welcome back students in a limited capacity now that Maricopa County has met the three recommended public health metrics. If the metrics continue heading the right direction, it’ll start modified in-person learning on Monday, Sept. 14, said Superintendent Andi Fourlis in a Thursday statement.

What this means is students will be able to come to school on some days, and learn from home on others. An effort will be made to keep families/households together during their assigned in-person days, the district said on its website. 

On Wednesdays, all students will participate in self-guided remote learning, and teachers will use their time for small group work, office hours, and participating in professional learning communities and teacher planning.

On remote days, students will participate in teacher-led instruction through the Canvas learning management system, using district-adopted curriculum and supplemental resources.

The district will confirm or adjust the start date after it reviews new COVID-19 data for the state and county released on Sept. 10. Fourlis is concerned that the holiday weekends and more businesses reopening could set back some progress. 

“We are continuing to remind our community, please, please, we’ve got to get our schools open, we’ve got to behave responsibly,” Fourlis said. 

In addition, the district wants to open on-site support centers at each of its schools on Sept. 14 even if it doesn’t meet the public health benchmarks next week.

So far, two-thirds of families have told the district that they are planning to send their students back to school, and one-third want to continue online learning, Fourlis said. 

For those that are coming back on campus, school might be a little different. 

Face masks will be required for kindergarten through 12th grade students. Exemptions will be made for preschoolers and those with conditions that do not allow them to wear masks for a prolonged period. The district is planning to build breaks into the school day to allow students to step outside and take off their masks while still staying distanced. 

Lunch will be served in classrooms and some lunchrooms depending on the size of the schools. Students are expected to be physically distanced, even during recess, but Fourlis said staff are thinking of creative solutions to keep it fun. 

“Duck, Duck, Goose is going to look a little bit different, she said. “Kids are going to be 6 feet apart and they will not be physically touching each other's heads.”

If the trends increase after the district reopens its schools, Fourlis says it wouldn’t shut down all sites like it did this spring, unless there’s another executive order or there’s COVID spread at all 82. Schools would be closed individually if directed by state health officials.

Rocio Hernandez was a senior field correspondent at KJZZ from 2020 to 2022.