With COVID Cases Skyrocketing, TUSD Pulls Plug on Return to In-Class Instruction Until 2021

In an announcement on Facebook, TUSD Board member Adelita Grijalva told parents that because of rising COVID-19 cases, the district would not be launching hybrid in-classroom instruction starting next Thursday, Nov. 12. Instead, classes will be put off until until January 2021.

The board had voted 3-2 to have students return to schools for in-classroom instruction late last month.

UPDATED: Here's the letter to parents from TUSD Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo:

11/6/20

Greetings Tucson Unified Family,

As your Superintendent there is no responsibility I take more seriously and no priority more important than ensuring the health, safety, and security of our students and employees. This commitment is the core value inherent in any decision I make. Throughout this pandemic your Governing Board and I have committed to honoring the expertise of the Pima County Health Department by utilizing their data to guide our decision making regarding the re-opening of our schools, programs, and extra-curricular activities. It is in this spirit that I have made the difficult decision to not open the Tucson Unified School District for Hybrid Learning starting Thursday November 12^th. In my briefings this week with the Pima County Health Department leadership team, I was informed that our county will be in a state of widespread community transmission of COVID-19 at the time of our planned opening.   I encourage you to view her 11/4/20 community update message here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aaDMT9ECWM

Out of an abundance of caution, our leadership team has made a commitment to only initiate “hybrid” instruction when Pima County is in a state of moderate transmission or better.   Please note that our remote instructional model will remain unchanged.  Your child or children should continue to log on to their regularly scheduled remote classes at their regularly scheduled times. School bell schedules for remote instruction will remain the same.

We will continue to have On Campus Learning Spaces open for at-risks students, as well as any families that would like their children to be on campus. Our On-Campus Learning Spaces will continue to feature access to remote instruction and basic campus services for students that attend.   

If you are a family that chose Hybrid Learning, your student will be prioritized when Hybrid Learning begins in the Spring.

I thank you for your continued patience, support, and trust in the Tucson Unified School District and look forward to continuing to provide you with updates as soon as information becomes available. Be safe and be healthy.

More details to come.