Mesa Public Schools, the state’s largest school district, announced Thursday that students will be able to attend in-person classes for the full week starting on Monday. The district is taking this step now that COVID-19 datafrom the Maricopa County health department shows the positivity rate in the district’s boundaries was under 6% for two consecutive weeks.
The county recommends the district continue hybrid classes with some students in physical buildings and some students distance learning.
The district started the schools with all students learning remotely and began allowing interested students to attend in-person classes for two days a week starting Sept. 14.
As they transition to a full school week in person, students and staff will continue to follow health and safety protocols such as daily home health screenings, mandatory face masks, proper hygiene and physical distancing as much as possible, said Superintendent Andi Fourlis in a Thursday statement.
Remote learning will continue to be an option for families who have made that choice, Fourlis said.
The district has also released its own COVID-19 data dashboard. It shows there are currently 28 active COVID-19 cases among students and staff in the district.
The district is continuing to offer free COVID-19 testing and flu vaccinations this Saturday at Hughes Elementary and next Saturday at Webster Elementary from 9 a.m. to noon. No appointment or pre-registration is needed. Test results will be available within 48 hours.
