TEMPE, AZ — An ‘Open our Schools’ billboard has gone up off Interstate 10 calling on Tempe Union High School District to move back to in-person learning.
ABC15 has been told that parents are seeing the billboard that is off I-10 at the Elliot Road exit that says that the district is "failing our kids!"
The Tempe Union High School District is still in remote learning as they are following public health metrics that the state and county health departments have created.
A spokesperson for the district tells ABC15 that the billboard seems to be a divisive distraction.
“As you know, metrics have been rising and rising for the past few months since before the holidays, at certain points even making the state a #1 hotspot world-wide. At this point, we do believe that we will be able to bring students back safely, most likely four days a week, after spring break. Bringing students back is what we have been working on and planning for throughout the pandemic.”
FULL STATEMENT:
"The District has been following the public health metrics that are issued weekly by the Arizona Department of Health Services, and the Maricopa County Department of Public Health. As you know, metrics have been rising and rising for the past few months since before the holidays, at certain points even making the state a #1 hotspot world-wide. At this point, we do believe that we will be able to bring students back safely, most likely four days a week, after spring break. Bringing students back is what we have been working on and planning for throughout the pandemic. We certainly value input from our families, parents and other stakeholders. But ultimately, this billboard seems to seek to be a divisive distraction. We remain 100% focused on getting our students back to school, safely."
