MUSD changes mind, keeps doors closed after ‘lack of progress’

After telling students and parents classes would resume Thursday, Maricopa Unified School District now says “lack of progress at the Legislature” will keep doors closed “until further notice.”

The Arizona Education Association announced before noon on Wednesday that it is “strongly opposed” to the K-12 Education Bill in the House and Senate.

“While this bill moves the needle, it still does not go far enough,” AEA President Joe Thomas said. “It does not restore the more than $1 billion taken from our students and it leaves out school support staff like counselors, bus drivers, librarians, and many more who are vital to the success of our students.”

After MUSD announced its re-opening, some district teachers chatted on social media about not coming into work.

MUSD apologized for the confusion.

“We will continue serving meals at our cafeterias for our students who depend on us for breakfast and lunch,” the official announcement stated. “Our top priority is student safety and we appreciate your understanding during this difficult time.”

Thomas said lawmakers brokered the education bill “behind closed doors as a partisan deal, without input from us. We were not able to change the minds of lawmakers, so the next step will be to change the faces of our lawmakers.”

“I truly think teachers deserve a higher pay and that we students deserve a proper education – at least a better one than what we’re receiving,” Mariocopa High School senior Kenya Gay said. “Teachers really don’t get enough credit or recognition for what they do. The walkout is not really affecting me personally because I don’t do sports or extra stuff, but I do know that it’s troubling some students who – especially – have tests coming, but teachers have been accommodating by having meetings at Starbucks and stuff. I just hope the teachers get the pay raise and that we get the proper funding we deserve.”