MUSD superintendent to recommend extension of Winter Break

The superintendent of Maricopa Unified School District will recommend an extension of Winter Break due to the rising number of coronavirus cases in Pinal County and Maricopa.

Dr. Tracey Lopeman will propose to the district governing board the addition of four days to the holiday break, according to an agenda posted for Wednesday’s meeting. Students are scheduled to resume classes on Tuesday, Jan. 5.; with an extension, they would resume on Monday, Jan. 11.

RELATED: Middle school sends all students back to online for semester

In recent weeks, MUSD has closed the Maricopa High, Maricopa Wells Middle and Pima Butte Elementary schools and sent their students online for the rest of the semester because of staff shortages due to quarantines. Several other school sites have been shifted for specific periods to distance learning after isolated cases and outbreaks.

Lopeman will also recommend a Jan. 6 meeting to update the board with the latest COVID-19 data and other factors before children resume classes.

A progress update on plans for construction of a second high school is also on the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting.

District administration will recommend the governing board approve a motion to request and obtain $3.7 million of state School Facilities Board funding to purchase land and $22.4 million to build the school on the northeast corner of Farrell and Murphy roads.

At a special meeting on Tuesday night, the governing board is expected to meet in executive session to discuss and consider Lopeman’s evaluation. If Lopeman advises the board that she wants the discussion to occur in open session, it will be done.