The district held an introductory call with the team Aug. 4.
PUSD spokeswoman Danielle Airey said the team has experts from epidemiology and research, public health, medical practitioners specializing nursing, pediatrics and child psychology.
Maricopa County Public Health Medical Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Scott also attended the meeting.
Topics of discussion included the benchmarks released Aug. 6, the current state of the community, the significance of positivity rates and other aspects of the data ADHS is tracking.
The team will continue to meet virtually during the coming weeks to provide the district with feedback, answer questions and help PUSD get a sense of the metrics.
The next meeting will be Aug. 17.
Ms. Airey said the team has a mix of expertise spanning epidemiology and research, public health and medical practitioners.
“The team is an engaging group that is very eager to continue conversations with us as we sift through the benchmarks from ADHS,” she said.
Benchmarks are classified into minimal, moderate, and substantial transmission categories as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and align with the Arizona Department of Education’s Roadmap for Reopening Schools.
ADHS recommends Maricopa County public health benchmarks fall within the moderate or minimal spread category in all three benchmarks for two weeks in order to re-open schools for in-person instruction. A moderate level could allow for a hybrid model and minimal level could allow for a full opening.
The county health department may modify a specific benchmark.
ADHS specifically recommends the following benchmarks be met prior to offering any in-person learning:
There must be a two-week decline in the number of cases or two weeks with new case rates below 100 per 100,000;
Two weeks with less than 7% positivity;
Two weeks with hospital visits due to COVID-like illness below 10%.
Currently, the only benchmark met is the two week decline in the number of cases or two weeks with new case rates below 100 per 100,000.
Districts throughout the Valley are attempting to determine when and how to bring back students for in-person learning, despite a recent statewide parent survey that found many were uncomfortable starting up classes.
To learn more about the required benchmarks and the current status, visit the PUSD website.
Philip Haldiman can be reached at 623-876-3697, phaldiman@newszap.com, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman.
Meet Philip Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.
Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater.
Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.
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