Community rallying to keep class online to protect students and staff
SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Teachers, parents, staff members, and allies rallied in San Luis to urge state and federal officials to delay the start date of in-person education.
According to, Gadsden Elementary School District (GESD), parents are given the choice to send their students back to school or use an online education platform.
But the biggest concern GESD teachers have is spreading the virus inside the classroom.
Raymond Aguilera is the district's Superintendent.
“It's extremely important that the whole state get together for the safety of everyone involved. One child is too many one teacher too many we've already had that in the state. So he's got to go to zero,” Aguilera explained.
The community came out to voice their concerns on the safety of students and staff.
Lizette Esparza is the principal at San Luis Middle School.
“For teachers, we aren't giving them the option we are giving them the option do they want to teach from home or do they want to come to their classroom if they come back to their classroom, we have the CDC guidelines and we're definitely gonna follow those safety precautions," she said.
Those out here believe, educators and kids are in danger of going back into the classroom. But that doesn’t mean the learning stops.
“Students are gonna be learning. Our teachers are go-getters they're working very hard, you know principals and district administration and board members we're supporting the teachers, so they definitely have a plan in place to where students are going to come back in and they're going to be learning to the state standards, whether it's online or in-person,” Esparza said.
Superintendent Aguilera tells me, students who do not have the resources to learn from home will not be left behind.
“For those parents at home that may not have resources we will be providing desks, for all kids, and the parents obviously had to come and pick them up, and then we'll get them back after this whole thing is done, but we are also going to provide computers for kids. If necessary, we may have to bring some of these kids in. In spite of our efforts to get them educated anyway.”
Governor Ducey and Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman will meet together on Friday to go over more on the reopening of schools in the state of Arizona.
