Return to Laveen

Information for the 2021-22 school year related to the pandemic and Laveen’s return to in-person learning; including public health benchmarks, positive cases within the district, and updates; can be found on our 2021 Back to School page.

Throughout summer 2020 , and into the fall 2020 semester, Laveen has been monitoring public health data and following guidelines prescribed through Executive Orders of the Governor. View the timeline of important reopening milestones at our Return to Laveen Timeline page.

May 14, 2021 District Updates Face Mask Procedures Based on New CDC Guidance

The District will continue current face mask procedures through the last day of school on May 19, 2021.

On May 20, 2021, based on CDC guidance released on May 13, 2021, the following changes will be made to our face mask procedures:

When Outside School Buildings or Vehicles
- Face masks will be optional for all staff and students
When Inside School Buildings or Vehicles
- Face masks will be optional for fully-vaccinated staff
- Face masks will be required for non-fully-vaccinated staff
- Face masks will continue to be required for students (note: the District will update student face mask procedures as 12 years old and up become fully vaccinated)

The District will continue to update our school community as new guidance is released.

April 19, 2021 Masks continue to be required in Laveen schools

Today, Governor Doug Ducey issued Executive Order 2021-10, which rescinded a section of Executive Order 2020-51 that directed schools to require masks as an Emergency Measure.

Today’s action has no impact on Laveen’s schools or our mitigation strategies. School districts may continue to institute and enforce policies to mitigate against COVID-19 spread, including the use of masks. Additionally, our district policies requiring face coverings in schools remain in effect for the rest of the school year.

While the vast majority of our staff members have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, none of our students are yet eligible for any of the available COVID-19 vaccines. For this reason, masking remains one of our key strategies in keeping our students healthy and in school.

Throughout the pandemic, we have seen firsthand that face coverings are a highly effective method in preventing the spread of COVID-19 on our campuses. Masking is one of the top mitigation strategies for safe in-person learning as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.

Masks will continue to be required on school campuses, on school buses, and during school-associated activities by all students, faculty, staff, contractors, and visitors.

March 25, 2021: Masks continue to be required in Laveen schools

Governor Doug Ducey issued Executive Order 2021-06 easing COVID-19 restrictions, including county and city implemented mask mandates, on businesses.

This order has no impact on Laveen’s schools or our mitigation strategies. The Arizona Department of Health Services’ Emergency Measure 2020-04 and our district policies requiring face coverings in schools remain in effect for the remainder of the school year.

Throughout the pandemic, we have seen face coverings be a highly effective method in preventing the spread of COVID-19 on our campuses. Masking is one of the top mitigation strategies for safe in-person learning as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.

Masks will continue to be required on school campuses, on school buses and during school-associated activities by all students, faculty, staff, contractors, and visitors.

February 12, 2021: District Sets School-Based Metrics for Return to Online/Virtual Learning

With assistance from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, we have set both school and classroom data metrics that will be used in deciding if a school or classroom needs to transition back to virtual learning.

A school will transition to virtual learning for fourteen (14) calendar days if two percent (2%) of the on-campus population has an active COVID-19 infection

A classroom will transition to virtual learning for fourteen (14) calendar days if one of the following is met:

the classroom teacher tests positive for COVID-19; or
the classroom has three (3) active student cases; or
the COVID-19 Response Team determines it is in the best interest of students and staff

In addition to our new metrics, we have created the COVID-19 Response Team (CRT), which is responsible for investigating all positive cases and, as each case is unique, has the final decision-making authority for any transition to virtual learning. The CRT is comprised of administrators, teachers, health associates, school nurses and, if needed, will consult with public health officials.

January 21, 2020 Governing Board approves return to hybrid learning

Laveen’s Governing Board voted to return to hybrid learning on March 1 or when community metrics fall within the moderate risk category (<100 cases per 100,000 people and less than 10% positivity) for two consecutive weeks, whichever comes first.

Read the letter from the Superintendent

January 7, 2021 Governing Board Participates in Study Session Providing Overview on Health Metrics and Laveen’s Response

Laveen’s Governing Board received an overview on community health metrics, school-based metrics, and Laveen’s response to COVID-19. Watch the study session on the board’s YouTube Channel.

November 23, 2020: Laveen to Transition to Virtual Learning November 30

Laveen’s Governing Board voted to transition to virtual learning on November 30, 2020. We expect this to continue until winter break which begins on December 18.

Each school will be operating a Learning Lab for students who need a safe place to participate in their virtual learning during the day. Families must pre-register and students must be accepted prior to participating. Please visit our Learning Lab page for more details and to pre-register. Kids Club is also operating a fee-based childcare program at select sites for students participating in the Learning Labs.

Child Nutrition Services will continue to provide free meals to all children under the age of 18. Meals will be distributed curbside at all schools with the exception of EFGA. Three meals and a snack will be provided at the same time. Distribution windows are 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday – Friday. Meals will also be distributed at three bus stop locations in the community between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. These locations are: 53rd Ave. & Glass Ln., 39th Ave. & Maldonado Rd., and 35th Ave. & Estes Way. Students participating in learning labs will receive free meals on-site. There is no registration necessary to receive free meals.

Our offices will remain open during this time. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school during regular business hours.

We will continue to monitor the public health benchmarks regarding a return to our hybrid model of instruction.

November 20, 2020: Board to Consider Return to Virtual Learning Beginning November 30

Last week, Laveen’s Governing Board approved the return to virtual learning once both metrics were in the Substantial Risk category for two consecutive weeks. However, in recent days we have seen COVID-19 cases across the county, and state, reach levels reminiscent of the summer’s COVID-19 peak.

Instead of waiting for next week’s data, which our partners in public health have indicated will be equally troublesome, the Laveen School District is considering reverting back to virtual learning beginning November 30. The Governing Board will discuss this matter in a special meeting Monday, November 23 at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will be available for viewing on the board’s YouTube channel.

If approved, all on-site students will bring Chromebooks and other instructional materials home with them on November 24 before the Thanksgiving break.

Free meals for children and childcare resources will be made available should schools revert to virtual learning. If your child is currently attending school on-site, and you believe you will need to utilize our learning labs, please pre-register at this link. This will help us prepare for adequate staffing should we revert to virtual learning on November 30. Kids Club aftercare will also be made available to learning lab participants at select sites. Additional information on these resources is forthcoming.

November 13, 2020: District Announces Criteria for Return to Virtual Learning

Laveen has been closely monitoring school and community-level health data throughout the pandemic. Over the last few weeks, the Cases per 100,000 People has risen into the Substantial Risk level and the Percent Positivity, while still at the moderate level, is inching into the Substantial Risk level as well.

Despite these increases in the Laveen community, we are very fortunate that positive cases have not dramatically increased in our schools. We are also seeing little evidence of person-to-person spread on campus. We attribute this success to the mitigation strategies we have implemented.

At the November 12 Governing Board meeting, the Board approved criteria for moving back to virtual learning based on levels of community spread: if the community health benchmarks, provided by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health for the Laveen Elementary School District, show that Cases per 100K and Percent Positivity are both in the Substantial category for two consecutive weeks, the District will move back to virtual learning for all students.

For example: if the Cases per 100K People and Percent Positivity are in the Substantial category on both November 19 and 26, the District will transition to virtual learning on November 30.

Should we start to see a noticeable increase in cases on our campuses, we will not hesitate to enact quarantines at the school or district levels.

October 14, 2020: Laveen Shares COVID-19 Case Dashboard, Community Testing Resources

The safety and well being of Laveen students and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic is our top priority. We continue to base decisions regarding the safety of on-site learning on public health data as shared by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health. We believe that our families should also have access to this very important data and have developed this dashboard to provide weekly information related to COVID-19 cases in our schools and broader community.

View the Dashboard

We are also sharing resources from local partners related to community-based testing.

Testing Clinics

September 25, 2020: Laveen Meets Health Benchmarks for Providing Hybrid Model of Instruction;
Board Approves Hybrid On-Site Learning to Begin October 12

On Sept. 24, the Laveen Governing Board voted to implement the District’s hybrid instructional model, allowing some students to return to on-site, in-person learning on October 12. This decision was made based on Laveen’s community public health data meeting the Arizona Department of Health Services’ criteria for providing a hybrid instructional model.

This means that, starting October 12, students will attend school based on whichever of the four schooling options families selected during the week of September 4-11. The four schooling options are:

Full-Year Online Learning (Laveen Online Academy): Students will attend school online through May 2021.
Flexible Distance Learning (Distance Learning with Transition to On-Site): Students will attend school online for at least the second quarter (Oct. 12 – Dec. 17) with the option to continue online learning, or return in person, in quarters three and four.
Daily On-Site Learning (Full-Day, Every-Day at School): Students will return to campus for full-time, on-site learning.
Estrella Foothills Global Academy (Grades K-6): Students will return to campus for full-time, on-site learning. Class sizes are capped at 18 students.

Additionally, in order to ensure staff is appropriately trained for the return of students, the Board approved making September 30, October 1, and October 2 half days of instruction.

Families who selected the on-site, in-person schooling option should review the Family Handbook for important information on the return to campus.

Letter	Carta
Family Handbook for On-Site Instruction	Manual Familiar Instruccion en el sitio

September 4, 2020: Laveen Shares Local Health Benchmark Data

As we look forward to safely reopening our schools for in-person, on-site instruction, we are following guidance provided by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and the Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH). Both agencies recommend that school districts meet three benchmarks for two consecutive weeks before offering the option of on-site instruction. On September 3, MCDPH released data that shows Laveen trending towards meeting the public health benchmarks. We will monitor the data for another few weeks to ensure the trend continues. We are hopeful that we can safely begin the on-site instruction option after Fall Break (October 12).

Read the Letter from the Superintendent Espanol

View Laveen’s Benchmark Data

Four Schooling Options Approved by Governing Board

Laveen’s Governing Board approved the recommendations provided by the district’s Reopening of Schools Task Force for the 2020-21 school year on June 23, 2020. These recommendations were based on results from the recent parent and teacher surveys. The following schooling options were approved, giving parents a choice on the program that best suits their child. View the presentation or watch the June 23 board meeting to hear more about the options presented.

Full-Year Online Learning Option (online learning through May 2021)

Families will commit to this option for the entire 2020-21 school year. Students would attend school every day from home through a robust online platform taught by Laveen teachers who excel in the use of technology. All instruction would take place online with virtual lessons and interactive class sessions. Each student will be provided a district-issued Chromebook. Availability of this option is based on sufficient enrollment numbers in the program.

Students participating in online learning will need access to a student technology device and the Internet. The district will provide each student with a Chromebook to use for the duration of their participation in online learning. Additionally, community internet providers, Cox Communications and T-Mobile, have partnered with school districts to offer free or reduced rate home internet service in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Flexible Distance Learning Option (Distance Learning with Transition to On-Site)

Students will attend school every day from home through an online platform taught by Laveen teachers using virtual lessons and interactive class sessions. Each student will be provided a district-issued Chromebook. Families selecting this option will have the opportunity to transition to the Daily On-Site Learning option at the end of each quarter. Students enrolled in this plan remain enrolled at their home school.

Daily On-Site Learning Option (Full-Day, Every-Day at School)

Students will attend their home school every day, in-person. We anticipate that class sizes may be smaller depending on the level of participation in the online and distance learning options. Schools would implement as much of the CDC guidance as possible (e.g., hand washing, limited sharing of supplies, health screenings, and face coverings). Space will be maximized between desks. Qualifying families who wish to utilize bus transportation will be required to register. More about On-Site Learning.

Safety Measures when Students are on Campus

Estrella Foothills Global Academy Option (Grades K-6, capped class sizes)

In addition to the above options, we opened our newest school, Estrella Foothills Global Academy (EFGA) in August. EFGA will have two classrooms for every grade level in Grades K-6. Class sizes will be capped at 18 students. EFGA will implement as much of the CDC guidance as possible (e.g., hand washing, limited sharing of supplies, health screenings, and face coverings). Space will be maximized between desks. Parents will be responsible for transporting their children to and from school as busing will not be provided at this time. Registration for EFGA will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Families who have already registered at EFGA will receive priority enrollment.

Note: The Laveen School District will continue to monitor the COVID-19 outbreak and collaborate with local, state, and federal agencies to ensure the safety of students and staff, which may result in changes to the options for schooling.

Selecting a Schooling Option

Once data trends towards Laveen meeting public health benchmarks, teachers will contact families to commit to one of the four options.

Families wishing to move to Estrella Foothills Global Academy, for full on-site learning, from another Laveen school will need to complete a new registration.

Enrolling in a Laveen School

Families enrolling their child in a Laveen school for the first time will be asked to select their preference at the time of registration.

Utilizing Bus Transportation

The Laveen School District provides bus transportation to students in Grades Kindergarten-8 who live within a school’s designated transportation zone. These zones are generally one mile outside of the school’s walking zone, but also encompass specific neighborhoods in which a large number of students attend a particular school. Transportation is also provided to special education students with an Individualized Education Plan in which bus service is indicated.

In order to create timely and efficient bus routes we ask families who plan to utilize bus transportation to register for bus service.

Questions?

Submit your question to one of these email addresses:

return_staff_questions@laveeneld.org

return_parent_questions@laveeneld.org