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TUSD unveils preliminary re-entry plan for students

Return to be staggered by grade level
Posted at 6:55 PM, Jan 20, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-20 20:55:19-05

TUCSON, Ariz. — Southern Arizona's largest school district has laid out a preliminary plan for bringing students back into classrooms.

Tucson Unified Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Trujillo said Wednesday the district is planning a staggered approach to re-entry based on grade level.

He said six grades will be top priority.

"We are preliminary looking at Kindergarten through third grade, sixth grade because of its importance as the beginning of a middle school career, and twelfth grade to give a semblance of a final senior year experience to the seniors of this district," Dr. Trujillo said.

This plan has not yet been approved by the district's governing board so there's no guarantee the plan will move forward or that the details will stay the same.

Dr. Trujillo said the district is planning to begin hybrid sometime between the week after rodeo break and spring break. He said all governing board members are in favor of students returning to classrooms during this semester.

The district's goal is to have all schools reopened by August of 2021.

Something that may help in that endeavor is another $30 million in CARES act money that could be coming to the district.

During Wendesday's briefing, Dr. Trujillo said between the new CARES act funding and a lower than expected 100 day drop the district is in a good financial position to start the 21-22 school year.