Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. 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. 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. 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. The move followed the governors decision in April to rescindthe order mandating masks in schools. Quarantine requirements for close contacts are set by the Maricopa County Public Health Department. Cooper said there are separate constitutional requirements that legislation deal with only a single subject. We are entering fall season when we know people are going to be indoors and we are starting to see rising number of cases in university systems," Dr. Jackson said. 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. This latest announcement comes on the heels of another controversial act undertaken by SUSD. If they do mandate masks, we will be pulling our children out of SUSD, Santiago said before the meeting. Both Kyrene and Tempe Union announced they will keep theirs in place as well. Other Republicans who voted for the bill did not openly challenge the effectiveness of masks, properly worn, in preventing the spread of disease. 2023 Experience Scottsdale All rights reserved, Top 10 Signature Scottsdale Spouse Programs, Canadian Meetings FAM - Attendee Registration, Keeping Scottsdales tourism industry strong, Increasing International Flight Service a Win for Scottsdale, Scottsdales Culinary Scene Earns National Acclaim, Kickstarting Scottsdale Tourisms Recovery, Limited Service and Moderate Hotel Strategy Session, Scottsdale Experiential Development Applicationcottsdale, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Maricopa County Department of Public Health, Arizona Department of Health Services maintains a list of such sites, city of Scottsdale has information on additional sites throughout the city. Maricopa County is expected to vote on whether to extend their mandate on Oct. 7. Be Nice. You have permission to edit this article. Relying on individual decisions to keep the spread of COVID-19 in check has not gone well so far, Hart-Wells said. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. or anything. International travelers can use the CDC Travel Assessmentto prepare for travel. 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. "Last night our governing board members voted unanimously to require masks throughout the district. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. Chance of rain 100%.. Cloudy. Threats of harming another The district required masks for students learning in person last year, but Solem said that many parents based their decision to send their kids to Scottsdale Unified this year on the expectation that masks would be optional. 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. Doug Ducey June 30. But others have questioned the true impact the mask mandates had. 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. Ducey press aide C.J. ], https://twitter.com/MichelleUgenti/status/1418748330964779012. While we have seen encouraging progress, and more and more people have received the vaccine, COVID remains a concern. Other Valley municipalities like Gilbert have since allowed their mandates to lapse in favor of a countywide mask mandate issued by Maricopa County in June. American Diabetes Association Alert Day Are You At Risk? Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, said the main reason restrictions were imposed was to avoid overwhelming the states health care system with COVID-19 patients. Share with Us. SCOTTSDALE, AZ Scottsdale Unified students will have to don face masks at school, beginning Aug. 20. Those strategies include hand washing, extra cleaning and keeping kids home if they are ill. I think that those are very appropriate and responsible things to do, Solem said. or anything. It didn't see numbers like that last year, when students were required to wear masks, Menzel said, although he admitted that the more contagious delta variant played a factor in the spread. That's almost 10 percent of the district's student population. 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. They feel like a promise has been broken.. Check back for updates. Low near 40F. 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 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.''. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Rain. Keep it Clean. Rain. The district cut off those parents, who called in to make their comments since the meeting was closed to the public and only viewable via YouTube. Round-the-clock cleaning and sanitation protocols and social distancing markers are just a few of the steps our airports are taking to keep travelers safe. Periods of rain early. From my position, there are no biomedical indicators that would suggest that now is a good time to reduce mitigation efforts, he said, adding: I think from the current position where were at, roughly at least half of our population is still either not vaccinated or has never had COVID-19, so they remain at risk of COVID-19 infection, and we know that the incidents of bad outcomes is still high.. Periods of rain early. I wish more places would lift the mask mandate.". Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. 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.''. The recent legislation simply makes that a requirement for all districts, Menzel told the Progress. #LeaveOurKidsAlone[. Students are not required to wear masks while waiting at a bus stop or after they disembark, and drivers are not required to wear masks if not students are on the bus.. Students who choose to ride the bus, along with SUSD bus drivers, will be required to wear masks while on the bus. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience possible. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Earlier this month, the Arizona legislature banned mask mandates within its K-12 budget. SUSD parent Amanda Wray tweeted a screenshot of SUSDs district-wide email announcing the mask mandate on Friday. That says that were at the very minimum stabilized; I think well have to keep watching it to see if that becomes a solid upward trend, he added. Until we have suppressed community spread by vaccinating more individuals, including children under 12, universal masking will continue to be a critical tool in limiting the spread of the virus in our schools.. Learn more. Thats why Experience Scottsdale is committed to providing you with accurate information about the health and safety measures in place within our community. We'd love to hear eyewitness Chance of rain 100%. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. 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. Chance of rain 100%. If they work, how are people still catching COVID? he asked. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Be Proactive. Its about the individual rights of these business owners as Americans, Chaplik argued. At least one other lawmaker took notice. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Low near 40F. Chance of rain 100%. that is degrading to another person. 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. Humble said the mask mandate ban had been in the works for days and condemned state Department of Health Services Director Cara Christ for keeping silent. From campus-style resorts to a lush Sonoran Desert landscape thats ripe for exploration, Scottsdale is the ideal choice if youre looking for a getaway that allows you room to roam. LaBaer called Duceys decision premature. Chaplik argued that the mandates are an overreaction and that society has managed to survive other viral outbreaks without masks. 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. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, cannot be spread by air. Threats of harming another He said that decision left districts in a no-win situation where it had to deal with angry parents who were fighting us every step of the way on this on both sides people who wanted masks all the time, people who wanted social distancing all the time, people who wanted the schools to remain closed, and then people on the other side who just didnt want any of that.. The measure prohibits a county, city, town, school district governing board or charter school governing body from requiring students or staff use face coverings during school hours and on school property.. Be Nice. person will not be tolerated. 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. Students will be able to attend school. There hasnt been any enforcement to speak of so when it comes to bars, restaurants and nightclubsI dont think there is going to be an explosive impact, he said. 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. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Low near 40F. A department spokesman said Scottsdale Police took an education first approach. Duceys executive order did not impact schools. Share with Us. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Be Proactive. Dr. Stephanie Jackson, senior vice president at HonorHealth, says the removal of this mandate may reverse the progress we have made to stop the spread of COVID-19 here in Maricopa County. High 61F. High 61F. Be Truthful. SUSD will still continue to encourage those who have not been vaccinated to wear a mask while on district property, but ultimately, the decision is up to each individual and family.. According to Todays News-Herald Havasu News, Cobb and the rest of that districts delegation had lobbied Lake Havasu officials to lift their mask requirement as early as last September, although it is unclear if they had also joined parents pressing the school board to lifting its mandate, which expired at the end of the school year. Several parents attempted to share their feelings about the mask mandate during the public comment portion of a public hearing that the school board held prior to the discussion and vote on the mask requirement. However, Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel sent a letter to parents on May 14 notifying "Extending the mask requirement until after Fall Break affords the opportunity to see what impact that time away from school has on school cases and to make appropriate decisions based on the facts at that time. Keep it Clean. Her family plans to look for a private or charter school that doesn't require masks. The COVID-19 vaccine is widely available in the community. 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. Don't knowingly lie about anyone You have permission to edit this article. person will not be tolerated. But Osborne, who provided the crucial -- and required -- 31st vote for the measure, said she had to side with her colleagues. And that could result in difficulty in getting approval of future controversial measures. Whats Open? Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Share with Us. Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, had a slightly different take. The bill doesnt say masks dont work," he said. TUCSON, AZ Face masks will no longer be required in public places in Pima County, after Feb. 28. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. SCOTTSDALE, AZ Scottsdale Unified School District joined others in the state in continuing with its mask mandate, in spite of Gov. There is still work to be done as we prepare to move to phase two.. When considering only those age 18 and older, that number in Arizona rose to 62.2 percent, according to an analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. or anything. LaBaer said that means there is still a need to practice mitigation, including mask wearing and avoiding crowds. 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. One of the most polarizing issues in Scottsdale Unified and most other school districts likely wont be going away any time soon after a judge ruled the ban on mask mandates and a slew of other measures passed by Republican legislators unconstitutional. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Never miss an issue. 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. Threats of harming another The legislation prohibited schools from requiring masks during school hours or on any school property. I have had friends die of COVID, Osborne said. But data released last week show case numbers are on the rise within SUSD boundaries, and the county upgraded the area from moderate to substantial transmission. 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. Now, theyre saying no, school districts cant be making that decision at all; it is the health officials, Greenburg said. Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community However, unvaccinated people will still be required to wear masks indoors, the governor wrote. Solem trusted that the district would follow through on what she said were multiple promises it made over the summer to ensure that masks would be optional. The Legislature appealed to the state Supreme Court but lost on a request for an immediate stay oof Cooper's ruling. Anyone who is in favor of in-person school should support masking, she said, and most people agree that in-person schooling is best for students. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. There were two main camps at a rally in Scottsdale Wednesday: people against wearing masks and people against being told to wear masks. HonorHealth says hospitalizations now are at a manageable level in part because of masking up, and they hope residents will keep it up. The vote came over the objections of several lawmakers who said the measure ignores evidence of how masks, properly worn, help curb the spread of the disease that has so far killed half a million Americans, including more than 16,000 in Arizona. Sign up for free today. Cooper did not find that any of these provisions by themselves is illegal. The K-5 kids none of them will be vaccinated, Humble said. Rain. accounts, the history behind an article. Solem believes that the district already has plenty of good mitigation strategies in place, without a mask requirement. Students as young as kindergarteners were eligible to participate in this screening. "Both state that school districts should continue to implement mitigation strategies as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). accounts, the history behind an article. Students started off last school year virtually. Police Search For Murder Suspect + Students Ill, Pesticide Contact, Local Dive With 'Killer Pizza' + Ukraine Refugees Reflect On Move, Tesla Crashes & Catches Fire Twice In Scottsdale + New Memorial, Social Security Seminar on March 8th and 9th at Eagles Community Center. COVID-19 Testing We'd love to hear eyewitness Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. While the city of Scottsdale decided to end its mask mandate, Maricopa County's is still in place, causing much confusion and worry. We will continue to exercise caution. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. New Mayor David Ortega wasted little 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. racist or sexually-oriented language. Many continue to follow public health recommendations, though the protocols may vary by business. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. You matter to us. 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. High 61F. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Doug Ducey has rescinded local mask mandates, data from Scottsdale Police shows there was little enforcement of those mandates anyway even before his decision. @ScottsdaleUSD sat on this announcement as long as they could. Maintain at least 6 feet of space between yourself and others when visiting local businesses. SCOTTSDALE, AZ Scottsdale Unified School District joined others in the state in continuing with its mask mandate, in spite of Gov. I would think that based on these arguments these states would have dead people piled up all over their state because no one else would be living because no one has masks on, Chaplik continued. Scottsdale Unified required masks right up to the end of the school year. Arizona legislators should be more concerned about protecting public health and safety, not scoring political points and appeasing their base by making bad decisions, he said. Roberts said hes heard a figure that something like 90% of the state is covered by some local mask mandate. Scottsdale became one of the first cities in the state to act on that authority Rates are lower for other cities that feed into SUSD, including Tempe, where 48.7 percent of eligible residents are fully vaccinated slightly higher than Phoenixs 45.4 percent, according to data released last week by the county. person will not be tolerated. Chance of rain 100%.. Cloudy. The issue came to a head at an SUSD school board meeting on May 18 when a group of unruly attendees including some Scottsdale parents as well as outside groups like the conservative Patriot Party of Arizona and Purple for Parents refused to wear masks, prompting the board to suspend the meeting. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The all-Republican LD 23 delegation, which covers much of the rest of the city, voted for the measure. 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.". 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. The mask debate is picking up again, this time in Scottsdale. Ducey didnt respond to news of SUSDs mask mandate. racist or sexually-oriented language. The city of Scottsdale has dropped its mask mandate, but Maricopa County's is still in place, resulting in two valley hospital systems to come out and say they oppose Scottsdale's decision. Mask mandates are a textbook example of the government ensuring one of its fundamental purposes, which is guarding the public health and safety, Rodriguez said. Be Truthful. Periods of rain early. 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. I think in the end, were going to have another event in the next 50 to 100 years, or even sooner depending on these variants, and if the answer is that the state government is going to just do nothing about it, and local government officials cant do anything about it like school districts, I think itll just make the situation much worse, Greenburg said. Dr. Efrim Lim, a virologist at ASU, said several variants have emerged in Arizona. Don't knowingly lie about anyone "We were really disappointed by this decision. Rep. Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert, echoed that sentiment. 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. These States Have COVID-19 Mask MandatesAlabama. Gov. Alaska. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services encouraged mask wearing anytime social distancing is challenging, but no official mandate at the state level has been in place.American Samoa. Effective Feb. Arizona. On Nov. Arkansas. California. Colorado. Connecticut. Delaware. District of Columbia. More items 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. "The issue here is notwhatthe legislature decided buthowit decided what it did,'' she wrote. We look forward to welcoming you whenever youre ready to travel! Charity Miller, who lives in Scottsdale, but whose children don't attend district schools, said that she took part in the protest Tuesday night because she thinks that wearing masks is dangerous for all children, not just her own. Hoffman within hours released a statement that said: New data from Arizona schools shows what public health experts have been telling our Governorfor months: universal masking keeps students learning inperson. Heidi Vega, spokeswoman for the Arizona School Boards Association, said, As far as the ban on masks, we think the biggest thing to emphasize is that now with variants causing concerns, it will be on the Legislature to deal with the debate over masks. Ditto, Desai said, of provisions she is challenging that were tucked into various measures, like one that bars colleges and universities from imposing vaccine requirements as a condition to attend classes, prohibits the establishment of a "vaccine passport,'' and bars the teaching of anything in public schools "that presents any form of blame or judgment on the basis of race, ethnicity or sex.''. You have permission to edit this article. that is degrading to another person. Use the 'Report' link on Yet no masks were required.. Chance of rain 100%. In Scottsdale, new cases per 100,000 residents and positive new test results were up recently in three of the citys 10 ZIP codes, according to Maricopa County. See my statement on the updated CDC guidance: https://t.co/YubNffZpq5 Doug Ducey (@dougducey) July 27, 2021 Osborne also said there are other mandates on business that are accepted, like having sprinklers and fire extinguishers. Noting there are about 610,000 children under 12 in Arizona who are not eligible for a vaccine, Harrell said the Legislatures decision puts them in harms way., And thats unacceptable, she said. As AZ Free News reportedon Thursday, SUSD offered to send students an emotional health and wellness screening that asked for personal information, medical history or information, mental health history or information, quality of home and interpersonal relationship information, student biometric information, gun or ammunition ownership, and any relatives illegal, antisocial, or self-incriminating behaviors. The bill gives business owners the right to make a decision.. The violators are given a verbal warning and an opportunity to comply with the law. Share with Us. "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. Keep it Clean. Her older two children wore masks while attending district schools last year, and they don't want to go back, she said. To date, these mitigation strategies have allowed us to welcome back 85% of our students for in-person learning.". Gavin Newsom announced on Twitter Monday, citing declining infection and hospitalization rates across the state for his decision. SUSD will be complying with this federal requirement. All Inclusive! The Republican-dominated Legislature banned mask mandates on all school campuses, effectively ending the long-running debate over whether Scottsdale Unified should require masks next year. In fact, its reprehensible.. On March 25, 2021, Arizonas governor allowed all businesses to resume normal operations, including hotels, restaurants, bars and attractions. He said the same is true in places like Mississippi and Georgia. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Corporate media seeks stories that serve its own interests. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, The largest spike was in 85259, which had 82 new cases per 100,000 from March 21 to March 27, up from 43 the week prior. We have a proven solution with the vaccine. and reduce the number of students having to quarantine," the district said. It is spread through exchange of bodily fluids, normally sexual transmission or sores from open wounds and also can be spread through sharing infected needles. They know its harmful they being (state health) director Cara Christ and Governor Ducey. Rep. Joanne Osborne, R-Goodyear, who owns the jewelry store with the family name, told colleagues this is a difficult decision. Behavior in public affects everyonewhen you wear a mask, if the other people are not wearing masks, youre certainly at higher risk of getting infected than if both parties are wearing masks, he said. "Together these requirements promote transparency and the public's access to information about legislative action,'' she wrote. Never miss an issue. But our health officials again this year took no action, so I think its a bad policy.. Though Ducey took away the power to impose mask mandates, Scottsdales will remain in effect in city buildings and facilities for the foreseeable future, according to a statement issued by the city. Arizona does not allow mask mandates, vaccine mandates, vaccine passports or discrimination in schools based on who is or isnt vaccinated. accounts, the history behind an article. This bill is simply about not making 16-year-old waiters and waitresses police officers enforcing a criminal mask statute, 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. In his pleadings with Arizonans to get vaccinated, he stated that the vaccines made mandates unnecessary. Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) announced it will require masks on buses a direct violation of state law prohibiting school-enforced mask mandates. Mask mandate was rarely enforced in Scottsdale, By Wayne Schutsky, Progress Managing Editor. They cited the CDC orderrequiring masks on public transportation. Be Proactive. Districts and school boards are now powerless to implement any mask measures without the legislature say so even if the CDC recommends. Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane issued an emergency proclamation requiring individuals age 6 or older to wear face coverings in public. Kids cant manage to keep a mask clean, she said. Please contact individual businesses directly if you would like to know more. Use the 'Report' link on Folks, this is getting away from us, Hart-Wells said. At the end of a lengthy school board meeting, Tuesday's public hearing was on an instructional model that would make it possible for quarantined or sick students to learn from home without being counted absent. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Board member Zach Lindsay voted against the mandate. Solem is one of the ambassadors for the Facebook Group SUSD Can, an advocacy group of Scottsdale Unified parents that formed last year. Scottsdale Unified officials cited the ruling in announcing that "SUSD will continue to require masks for students and staff while indoors on our campuses and other