AZ Gov. Says Schools Focused Too Much On Masks Instead Of Math

PHOENIX, AZ — In his annual State of the State address, Gov. Doug Ducey was quick to point out perceived failings in response to the pandemic at the federal and local levels but failed to mention the ongoing spike in cases in Arizona or any ways the state government planned to help stop it.

“There’s been too much attention put on masks and not nearly enough placed on math,” Ducey said of Arizona schools during the pandemic.

Many Phoenix-area schools continue to require masks, even after some had initially planned to make them optional in 2022. But the rapid spread of the omicron variant had some school districts like Kyrene School District, backtracking. When classes resumed after winter break at Scottsdale Unified School District, masks became optional for students. A very vocal group of parents had long protested Scottsdale Unified's previous requirement for students to wear masks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend universal indoor masking for students, staff and teachers at K-12 schools.

The Pima County Board of Supervisors reinstated a county-wide mask requirement in December in response to rising COVID-19 cases and deaths in the county.

Ducey got big cheers from his fellow Republicans Monday afternoon when mentioning a continued effort to expand school choice in Arizona.

“Let’s expand school choice in any way we can,” Ducey said. “Send me the bills and I’ll sign them.”

He described school choice as vital for parents when some public schools closed their buildings last years in efforts to help stop the spread of COVID-19 but parents wanted or needed their children to continue attending in-person. Experts generally agree that in-person learning is what's best for K-12 students.

“Arizona schools are open and they will remain open,” Ducey said.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Ducey did not mention any COVID-19 safety strategies when it comes to keeping schools open, as the state Legislature has all but done away with its own safety measures with the start of the new session on Monday.

Masks are no longer required for Arizona's House of Representatives or the state Senate and there are no social distancing requirements, the Arizona Mirror reported.

This loosening of COVID-19 mitigation requirements at the state Capitol come as cases are spiking through the state. Just last week, on Jan. 4 a new record was set for the day when the most positive COVID-19 tests were taken in Arizona, at 17,916. The record for last year's peak was exactly a year prior, when 12,455 positive samples were collected.

Ducey did mention that around 100 percent of Arizonans 65 and older had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Current guidance from the CDC and the Arizona Department of Health Services says that people in that age group should be receiving their third booster dose at this point. Only 62 percent of Maricopa County's population had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as of Monday, according to the state health department, which is lower than the state average of around 66 percent.

Ducey has been adamantly opposed to vaccination requirements imposed by federal and local governments, and his administration has challenged them in court.

One of the biggest wins for the governor over the past year, in his eyes, came in the form of income tax cuts with the passage of the lowest flat tax rate in the nation. The governor promised to continue cutting taxes this year and to get rid of programs that he said waste taxpayer money.

Ducey also promised to work with Arizona's fellow border states in an effort to secure the border with Mexico, where he said the federal government has failed. He said that any member of Arizona's congressional delegation who "actually cares about the safety of our communities" should refuse to vote "yes" on any federal legislation until President Biden agrees to some border control conditions.

Those conditions include building a physical barrier with virtual surveillance and reimbursing border communities impacted by current "open border" policies.

Ducey also mentioned his dedication to keeping Arizona the, "No. 1 pro-second amendment state in the nation."

He added that there would be a "continued focus on health of citizens and support for our hospitals and dedicated health care workers," but failed to detail exactly what that would mean.