Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey issued Executive Order 2021-10 late Monday, April 19, which rescinded his Executive Order 2020-51 from July that had mandated kindergarten to 12th-grade schools in Arizona require students, staff and visitors to wear face masks to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Ducey’s order leaves the decision about masks and other precautions up to local school districts.
On Tuesday, April 20, Sedona-Oak Creek School District Superintendent Dennis Dearden sent a letter to families stating in part, “The governor’s statement does not immediately change mitigation plans that schools have implemented in order to offer in-person instruction as safely as possible during the 2020-2021 school year.
“Ducey’s order simply places the decision-making authority regarding COVID-19 safety strategies requirements in the hands of local school boards.
“Arizona State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Hoffman and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, whose guidance we have followed for over a year, continue to recommend the wearing of masks as part of the plan for safe school operations.
“The physical health, mental well-being, and safety of your children and their dedicated teachers and staff are our highest priority …. At this time, we will continue to implement our board-approved COVID-19 mitigation plan, which includes the wearing of masks by all students, staff and visitors in our schools through the end of the school year.”
Dearden states that SOCSD administration and the Governing Board will review all its COVID-19-related planning during the summer and will work on an updated plan for the 2021-22 school year.
Christopher Fox Graham
Larson Newspapers
