New Mexico’s largest school district announced its startup date Friday after the state Public Education Department earlier in the week said all schools were expected to reopen classrooms after spring break.
The district’s board of education was briefed about the reopening plan but did not vote on it.
Mask wearing will be required and social distancing will be expected, interim Superintendent Scott Elder said.
“The reality is that full re-entry will create situations in classes where we are unable to keep people 6 feet apart, but we’re assured that is OK,” Elder said. “But the goal is to maintain social distancing … to the greatest extent possible.”
APS officials said they were trying to arrange extensions for teachers in high-risk groups to allow them to wait to return to in-person instruction until two weeks after being full vaccinated.