Scottsdale Unified required masks right up to the end of the school year. person will not be tolerated. In the wake of the decision, crowds have flooded back to Old Town Scottsdale, where social media posts show maskless throngs of young people have filled many clubs in the area to pre-pandemic levels. Periods of rain early. Despite that, some did get sick, forcing the closure of the store. They wanted to flex their muscles and so they made sure that that was put into the budget reconciliation bill and now districts and parents are going to have to live with it.. There will be no mask mandates, said Ducey. Today was the date that Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Randall Warner in August determined was the effective date for the ban. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Share with Us. "The challenged provisions have nothing to do with budget reconciliation,'' she said, which are supposed to be provisions designed to put into effect the changes made in spending bills. Keep it Clean. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. "We are 28 school days from the end of the 2020-2021 school year, and while we know there are people who would like us to remove the mask requirement now, SUSD's 15 ZIP codes remain in the substantial transmission category and the number of cases has been slowly increasing over the past few weeks," SUSD's statement reads. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism He added, It has been successful in tamping down the spike in the infection rate, while keeping much of the business economy open in phase one. The measure prohibiting mask mandates at schools was added to the annual spending plan late in the legislative session to win the votes of a handful of Republican lawmakers who said they wouldnt support the $12,8 billion spending plan absent that provision. Chance of rain 100%. Whats Open? "Our tracking of COVID-19 cases on our campuses since the new school year began shows that the mask requirement that went into effect August 20 has been a successful part of our layered mitigation strategies to reduce virus transmission at our schools, keep students learning in person. It is irresponsible ofthe stategovernmenttostand in the way of local leaders making decisions that protect the health and safety of their students and staff. or anything. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism He said the district will continue to implement other mitigation measures and stay in communication with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health. "SUSD has been committed to taking steps to provide in-person learning opportunities while working to mitigate potential spread of COVID-19 on our campuses. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Don't Threaten. The case before Cooper involved a challenge filed by a coalition of educators, school board members, child welfare advocates to the way the ban on mandates was passed by the Legislature. Now theyre saying, actually weve given you the choice for 10 days but now we think we know best so were now going to force the mandate even though we said we would allow you to choose, Solem said. Be Proactive. racist or sexually-oriented language. Cooper said there are separate constitutional requirements that legislation deal with only a single subject. that is degrading to another person. Currently, only those students 5 and older are eligible to be vaccinated against COVID. If there ever was a better argument for school choice the Democrats are making it now! The new ban comes at a time when vaccination rates are flagging and when the more contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 has been spreading across Arizona and the rest of the country. Rep. Diego Rodriguez, D-Phoenix, said Chaplik is wrong in arguing that mask mandates are an example of government overreach. However, Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel sent a letter to parents on May 14 notifying them that district had planned to make masks optional next school year. or anything. If you are in need of a COVID-19 test while in Scottsdale, most pharmacies and grocery stores offer free testing; the Arizona Department of Health Services maintains a list of such sites. High 61F. Maricopa County is expected to vote on whether to extend their mandate on Oct. 7. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. "The issue here is notwhatthe legislature decided buthowit decided what it did,'' she wrote. Ensuring a healthy and safe school environment for students and staff remains our goal, Menzel said. "Whether the legislature complied with the requirements of (the Arizona Constitution) and whether a provision is reasonably related to 'budget reconciliation' are questions property before the court.''. SCOTTSDALE, AZ Scottsdale Unified students will have to don face masks at school, beginning Aug. 20. The original order was set to expire on July 20 before Lane extended it through Aug. 20. Our seven-day trailing average has increased a little bit, said Dr. Joshua LaBaer, executive director of Arizona State Universitys Biodesign Institute. So far, the district has seen 95 positive cases on its campuses. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. The city of Scottsdale has information on additional sites throughout the city. It was the district's intention to continue a mask-optional policy, but the district was always clear that its plans could change based on circumstances, said Superintendent Scott Menzel. State Senator Michelle Ugenti-Rita (R-Scottsdale) responded to parents concerned over SUSDs decision to break state law with a mask mandate. Never miss an issue. Your health is the highest priority at Scottdale-area airports, from the moment you land until you depart for home. Don't knowingly lie about anyone "Unless the laws challenged in this case are declared unconstitutional and enjoined, a great many children in Arizona will get COVID-19, they will get sick, they will suffer from long COVID, they will be hospitalized, and they may die,'' Roopali Desai told Cooper. All Inclusive! As we work toward that and as we are encouraged by the current trends, we are not there yet. Hawaii, Oregon, New Mexico, Illinois, Washington and Washington DC have kept most mask requirements in place, though some of those rules are likely to expire within the next several weeks. But others have questioned the true impact the mask mandates had. Sign up for free today. "It's just a behavior we have to change and try and stay safe.". You have permission to edit this article. Never miss an issue. Consider the bill to prohibit what has incorrectly been called "critical race theory'' having to do with how teachers can deal with issues of race, sex or ethnicity. Sign up for free today. racist or sexually-oriented language. Why is @ScottsdaleUSD insistent on pushing the socialist agenda of the @JoeBiden administration wrote Ugenti-Rita. that is degrading to another person. Ugenti-Rita accused SUSD of siding with the Biden Administration and socialism by imposing an unauthorized mask mandate. "We were really disappointed by this decision. Positivity also jumped from 3.11 to 5.7 percent. "The Legislature is given a lot of discretion, a lot of wiggle room.''. Chaplik went on to tell colleagues to look at whats happening elsewhere to disprove the claims that masks help prevent the spread of the virus. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. She said her employees wear masks. Rep. Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert, echoed that sentiment. Periods of rain early. In addition to the mandate ban, Cooper also voided a host of other laws approved by the Legislature that ranged from requirements for anti-fraud measures for ballots and prohibitions against cities and town from requiring face coverings or imposing curfews to banning proof of vaccination to attend universities or community colleges and limits on teaching what lawmakers have incorrectly referred to as "critical race theory.''. SUSD Governing Board President Jann-Michael Greenburg has long been critical of the governors decision last year to punt the mask decision to individual school districts, arguing those decisions are best left to public health officials. Governor Doug Ducey rescinded local mask mandates in March, but masks will still be required in schools and City of Scottsdale buildings and facilities, including the citys libraries. "It's the duty and authority of only the legislative branch to organize itself and make laws,'' he continued. WebStay up to date with boosters, as eligible. mask mandates Photo Courtesy of YouTube Oct 3, 2021 0 Parents and others jammed the meeting room for Scottsdale Unified Governing Boards meeting Sept. 28, The move followed the governors decision in April to rescindthe order mandating masks in schools. Her family plans to look for a private or charter school that doesn't require masks. SCOTTSDALE, AZ Scottsdale Unified School District joined others in the state in continuing with its mask mandate, in spite of Gov. The judge also brushed aside claims by the state that the issue of how legislation is crafted is a "non-justiciable political question'' beyond the reach of the courts. Board member Zach Lindsay voted against the mandate. Be Proactive. Scottsdale Area Pets Who Need A Home: Meet Gumdrop, George, Lotus & More, Scottsdale Jobs: See Who's Hiring In The Area, Shop The Scottsdale Farmers Market Like A Pro, Info Here. "Unfortunately, today's decision is the result of a rogue judge interfering with the authority and processes of another branch of government.''. SUSD claimed that this order not only applied to public school transportation but private schools as well. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Never miss an issue. Chance of rain 100%.. Cloudy. Scottsdale was one of the first cities in the state to adopt a mandate in June after Governor Doug Ducey issued an order allowing them to put their own mask requirements in place. And it comes as the more contagious Delta variant of the virus looms as a threat. Ducey first gave local municipalities the power to issue mask mandates last June. School board member Libby Hart-Wells, who called for the special Tuesday night meeting to vote on a mask requirement, said she believes the entire Scottsdale Unified community wants the same thing: for kids to continue attending school in person. racist or sexually-oriented language. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, SUSD is prohibited by Arizona law (A.R.S. Briana Santiago has three children attending Scottsdale Unified schools, one each in sixth grade, third grade and kindergarten. Students will be able to attend school. Rep. Randall Friese, D-Tucson, who is a physician, said masks are part of the very basic, important tools, along with hand washing and social distancing, to curb the spread. Afirst-term Scottsdale legislator convinced colleagues last week to let businesses ignore mask mandates to stem the spread of COVID by arguing that they werent needed decades ago to stop the spread of AIDS. Ben Hoster said. Its about the individual rights of these business owners as Americans, Chaplik argued. The mandates reversal comes as COVID-19 case numbers which had been on the decline could again be on the rise. Share with Us. In a blistering opinion Monday, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper voided the ban on mask and vaccine mandates along with a number of other measures Republicans had tacked onto the state budget bill with no hearings in the waning days of the session. What makes all that illegal, Desai argued, is that tucking those changes into "reconciliation'' bills or bills simply labeled "budget procedures'' does not meet the constitutional requirement that the public be informed of what is included. A crowd of parents and concerned citizens gathered on the sidewalk outside of the district's Mohave Annex Tuesday evening, waving American flags and holding signs that shared messages such as, "masks = fake science," and "I do not coparent with SUSD's governing board.". Nothing prevents parents from making their own child wear a mask in school. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Don't knowingly lie about anyone You have permission to edit this article. Students started off last school year virtually. But then it was inserted into a reconciliation bill along with other items on the wish lists of various other legislators to cobble together the necessary Republican votes. Scottsdale lawmaker: Masks werent needed for AIDS, By Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services. Travel Requirements
Embry Health and Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health also provide free testing. that is degrading to another person. Keep it Clean. The city's Mayor Jim Lane issued a proclamation rescinding the city's face covering order, which went into effect in June. All Inclusive! I strongly encourage every Arizonan who is eligible for the vaccine to get it so they can protect themselves and our whole state., https://twitter.com/dougducey/status/1418617995824222210. Low near 40F. "Together these requirements promote transparency and the public's access to information about legislative action,'' she wrote. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. A department spokesman said Scottsdale Police took an education first approach. That data which does not measure vaccinations within school district boundaries shows 62.3 percent of eligible Scottsdale residents and 57.3 percent of the citys total population are fully vaccinated. HonorHealth says hospitalizations now are at a manageable level in part because of masking up, and they hope residents will keep it up. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Its worth remembering that a quarter of the people who died in Arizona were not 65-plus and over; in fact, they were middle-aged and younger, he said. Scottsdale Unified School District and Kyrene Elementary School District will no longer require facial coverings for students and staff in the next school semester. I plan on dropping a termination date, at this time, and continuing with the periodic review of the mandated mask requirement with the County and the State, Lane said in a statement. Threats of harming another Be Truthful. The bill doesnt say masks dont work," he said. Pre-departure testing is no longer required, but non-U.S. citizens visiting the U.S. must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they meet criteria for an exception. Stay up to date on the latest in Arizona by signing up to get FREE news delivered to your inbox. Parents and others jammed the meeting room for Scottsdale Unified Governing Boards meeting Sept. 28, the day after a judge threw out the states ban on mask mandates. Instead, they said the legislation is a matter of individual rights. "We had certainly hoped to be in a different position with the pandemic by this point in time, but our community continues to struggle with it. What is illegal, she said, was piling them into just four separate so-called "budget reconciliation'' bills, each with what she said are broad, generic titles that fail to inform voters of the changes they enact. Which states have mask mandates?CaliforniaHawaiiIllinoisNevadaNew MexicoNew YorkOregonWashington And K6-12 the vaccination rates are pretty poor still and Pfizer is so far the only one that can go below age 16., As a new school year begins, though, there are still risks with this virus and particularly because of Delta its a lot easier to catch it, he continued. On a 31-28 party-line vote, the House approved legislation that says business owners need not enforce any state, city, town or county requirement for people to wear a mask. Humble said that people who need to worry about that variant which some experts said appears to trigger more serious cases of COVID-19 infection and most hospitalizations are those who have not been vaccinated. On March 25, 2021, Arizonas governor allowed all businesses to resume normal operations, including hotels, restaurants, bars and attractions. Don't Threaten. Mask mandate was rarely enforced in Scottsdale, By Wayne Schutsky, Progress Managing Editor. The Legislature appealed to the state Supreme Court but lost on a request for an immediate stay oof Cooper's ruling. Scottsdale became one of the first cities in the state to act on that authority when former Mayor Jim Lane issued a mandate on June 18. While the mask mandate and vaccine bans dont have specific penalties for government entities that disobey it, state Attorney General Mark Brnovich has told Tucson it could lose out in $120 million in state share revenue if it tries to enforce a vaccine mandate for city employees. That was good for 29th place among states and the District of Columbia. The Biden administration has promised to fund districts in other states that have been financially penalized for imposing mask mandates but has not made much of Arizonas ban beyond some initial threats weeks ago. This latest announcement comes on the heels of another controversial act undertaken by SUSD. Threats of harming another The district counters in its statement to parents and staff that most of the district's ZIP codes are in the 'substantial' transmission category. Lane told the Progress he will review the need for the mask requirement on a week-to-week basis. Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) announced it will require masks on buses a direct violation of state law prohibiting school-enforced mask mandates. In her free time, she works on her books and podcasts. Share with Us. Three medical professionals Dr. Cadey Harrel, family physician in Tucson and the Arizona State Lead for the Committee to Protect Health Care; Dr. Ricardo Correa, an endocrinologist in Phoenix; and Dr. Elizabeth Jacobs, professor of epidemiology held a press conference last week to condemn the ban on mask mandates. Nationally, the overall full vaccination rate is 43.7 percent and those who have received one shot comprise 51 percent of the nation's eligible population. Scottsdale extends mask mandate indefinitely, By Wayne Schutsky, Progress Managing Editor. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Put distance between yourself and other people, at least 6 feet. It's also illegal, she said, because it forces a legislator "to make a Hobson's choice between accepting the entire bill, including measures she opposes, or voting 'no' on the entire measure, including measures she supports.''. person will not be tolerated. Last week, the district sent home 150 symptomatic students. In fact, its reprehensible.. Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, had a slightly different take. Low near 40F. Be Proactive. Corinne Murdock is a contributing reporter for AZ Free News. In a statement issued on Monday, Scottsdale Mayor While both the Maricopa County and Scottsdale mandates require individuals to wear masks in most public spaces, the orders differ in enforcement. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. California's indoor mask mandate is set to expire Feb. 15, Gov. accounts, the history behind an article. We'd love to hear eyewitness You have permission to edit this article. American Diabetes Association Alert Day Are You At Risk? Scottsdale Area Pets Who Need A Home: Meet Gumdrop, George, Lotus & More, Scottsdale Jobs: See Who's Hiring In The Area, Shop The Scottsdale Farmers Market Like A Pro, Info Here. What is clear and Cooper could void is has been practice of lawmakers to pile various issues into various end-of-session "reconciliation'' bills for years. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. You matter to us. The violators are given a verbal warning and an opportunity to comply with the law. SUSD will be complying with this federal requirement. Share with Us. Scottsdale Unified required masks right up to the end of the school year. racist or sexually-oriented language. Rep. Bret Roberts, R-Maricopa, expressed similar beliefs. 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