PHOENIX — As more schools resume in-person learning districts are taking extra steps to help slow the spread of coronavirus on and off-campus.
It has been nearly six months since ABC15 rode along with the Creighton School District's nutrition team, handing out meals and homework to families in surrounding neighborhoods.
Those buses stopped temporarily but recently resumed their routes to make sure students remote learning, and their families, have access to food.
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"The pandemic doesn't stop hunger and in fact, it probably has made it worse in some situations," said Erin Bronner, Director of Child Nutrition and Wellness for the district. She says that ongoing work on the front lines makes her staff even more susceptible to contracting, or even spreading, COVID-19.
"They want to know as much as they possibly can to not only keep themselves safe, but keep our community safe when they're coming to get the meals," said Bronner.
Creighton is now the first district in the nation to be "COVID SMART" certified. The training, endorsed by infection control experts, uses online modules to help employees better understand how to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"It's simple, it's easy to use, it's comprehensive," said Scott Jensen, president and cofounder of Direct Education Worldwide.
COVID SMART is one of several workplace training programs now on the market.
Healthy Verify was used in the Avondale, Fowler, and Tolleson Elementary School Districts.
For Bronner it is one more safeguard as Creighton students prepare to resume in-person learning once the health metrics established by Maricopa County public health have been met. As of now, the district's target date is still October 13, assuming data continues trending in the right direction.
"We're just trying to stay ahead of the pandemic as much as we possibly can," said Bronner.
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