For Immediate Release October 16, 2020
Contact: Director of Communications & Community Engagement Veronica Sanchez
Cartwright Elementary School District to Continue Distance Learning until January 2021
Our motto is “One Team, Una Familia!” and that means we treat our staff, students and parents like they are family members, we care immensely about their well-being and their overall safety. This has been our goal as we navigated school closures in the spring and began a rigorous distance learning curriculum this fall. Last night, our Governing Board Members voted to continue distance teaching and learning until January 2021, and reevaluate the metrics data at the January 14, 2021 Governing Board Meeting. Their decision came about after analyzing data from the Maricopa County Health Department as well as input from both parent and staff surveys.
The reality is that our neighborhoods continue to be among the hardest hit by COVID-19 in Maricopa County and it is imperative that we do our part to slow the community spread of the virus. Although there has been some improvement when it comes to the virus, according to both state and county health data, CESD remains in the moderate risk category. In order to reopen schools for in-person learning, our school district needs to move from moderate spread to minimal spread.
We promise to continue to provide much-needed supplies and food to our families during this process. Our Food Services Department is bringing food to families who need it daily, our IT department is making hot spots available for those who need them to continue learning at home and we are providing continuous professional development to our educators and our parents so they can support students at home, and we are continuously introducing new and engaging learning opportunities!
Our COVID-19 Task Force and subcommittee teams are strategically planning to resume on-site learning and although we don’t know how this virus will act during the Winter Break and the Flu season, we promise to make the right adjustments for the betterment of your family. We know that many of you want your child to return to class but many of you also want to continue distance learning until it is deemed safe. If you are struggling with distance learning, please call your school and they will assist you.
"Our principals and teachers want their student scholars to return to their classrooms,” said Superintendent Dr. LeeAnn Aguilar-Lawlor. “They miss them, we all do, but, the safety of our school district community has to remain the priority. I want to say thank you to our Governing Board for their dedication, diligence and leadership during these difficult times, and especially our families for their support of virtual learning. We are forever grateful!"
As always, we will continue to communicate with you via email, social media, our website and robocalls with the latest information and we will get through this as a family.
“One Team, Una Familia!”