Balsz School District has continued to monitor all news and activity regarding Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). In alignment with Governor Doug Ducey’s declaration of a public health emergency for the State of Arizona, Balsz has been proactively planning for all possible scenarios for our schools.

There is no known connection, at this time, between the individuals with the virus and the Balsz School District.

Any updates will be posted here and on our social media, and families will be notified via phone call, text, and/or email.

June 4, 2020

Balsz District Families:

We miss you and hope you are doing well! We wanted to remind you that meals continue to be served:

Mondays from 7:00 am-1:00 pm at Brunson Lee Elementary,
1350 N. 48th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008

Wednesdays from 10:00 am-1:00 pm. at Crockett Elementary
501 N. 36th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85008

Each child will receive 7 days’ worth of meals. We will continue to offer meals through July 31.
Stay safe and stay healthy!

May 13, 2020

Balsz District Families,

Due to laptop collection, Tuesday, May 12th was our last official day of remote learning, and our teachers were sad to see you go!

Our office staff have been reaching out to families to schedule laptop collection. Laptops will only be collected if your child is not returning to the district, is in 8th grade, or if the device is broken and needs repair. If you need to return devices and have not heard from them, please contact the front office of your child’s school to schedule a time to drop off devices.

Balsz District will be sending out Summer Learning Packets in June. These are designed to help your children “gear up” for the next grade level.

Food distribution will continue through June 30^th as it currently is.

Please reach out to your school’s office with any additional questions.

Thank you so much for all you have done to support your children during this difficult time.

April 30, 2020

Balsz District Families:

We wanted to make everyone aware that we are slightly adjusting the time for food distribution at Tillman Middle School from:

7:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.  

You may pick up seven (7) days of breakfasts and lunches on one day per week through June 30th.

• Mondays only: Brunson-Lee, 1350 N. 48th St. from 7:00 -1:00pm
• Tuesdays only: Tillman Middle School, 4309 E. Belleview Rd., from 7:00am-12:00pm
• Wednesdays only: Crockett, 501 N. 36th St., from 10:00am -1:00pm

If you missed those days, go to www.balsz.org> department>, child nutrition services>Family Voice

Also, due to the Memorial Day Holiday on Monday, May 25, we will serve meals at Brunson-Lee on Thursday, May 28 instead.

April 15, 2020

Starting Monday, April 20, Balsz School District meal distribution days will change due to increased safety concerns for our community.
As a reminder, please do NOT get out of your car. Open the trunk of your car and we will place the food items inside.

You may pick up seven (7) days of breakfasts and lunches on one day per week.
•Mondays only: Brunson-Lee, 1350 N. 48th St. from 7:00 -1:00pm
•Tuesdays only: Tillman Middle School, 4309 E. Belleview Rd., from 7:00am-1:00pm
•Wednesdays only: Crockett, 501 N. 36th St., from 10:00am -1:00pm
•If you missed those days, go to www.balsz.org-> Department->, Child Nutrition Services->Family Voice or click here: https://docs.google.com/a/balsz.org/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdlGfXKLMuXtZx26dZW7H6d7hF6fD9LAGfFu3Ehfy2W8cdx0A/viewform?c=0&w=1

We will continue to serve children ages 1-18 years old even if you walk up! We ask that if you are able, please wear a mask and gloves, and please maintain a safe distance (at least 6 feet). You may want to consider bringing a bag or two so you are able to carry the food home. 

April 2, 2020

Balsz District Families:

Friday, April 3 is a regularly scheduled “Recess Day” for students and teachers which means your child’s teacher will not be online for instruction.

We WILL continue to serve breakfast and lunch at Brunson-Lee and Tillman as we have been from 7am-1pm.

Please continue to practice safe and healthy measures so we can stop the spread of this virus!

Teachers and students will resume on Monday, April 6. Breakfast and lunch will also be available at Crockett starting April 6.

Have a great and safe 3 day weekend!

April 1, 2020

Balsz District Families:
We are pleased to inform you that starting Monday, April 6 we will have a third location for breakfast and lunch distribution!
FREE breakfast and lunch; both served together from 7 am to 1 pm, Monday - Friday

Tillman Middle School: 4309 E. Belleview St.
(Parking lot on corner of 44th St. and Belleview St.)

OR

Brunson-Lee Elementary: 1350 N. 48th St.
Parking lot outside of school

OR

Crockett Elementary: 501 N 36^th St.
Parking lot outside of school

• Free meals to all children 18 and younger
• No paperwork required
• Children must be present to receive a meal
• Adult meals will not be available
• Meals are grab-and-go style and should be consumed offsite

Please ensure the safety of our staff and you by remaining in your cars or maintaining a 6 foot distance!

Additionally, on www.balsz.org/familyhub, we have a section with resources about nutrition and recipes, food banks and community centers, and Internet/device deals.

March 30, 2020

Balsz District Families and Staff:

Today, Governor Ducey announced the closure of all schools for the remainder of the school year. https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2020/03/governor-ducey-superintendent-hoffman-announce-extension-school-closures

The Balsz School District will continue to provide online learning opportunities for our students. Please go here: balsz.org/familyhub  for more information about connecting with your teacher and learning.  
We will continue to update our website with information, including resources for families at: www.balsz.org

For now, we will continue to serve breakfast and lunch at both Brunson-Lee and Tillman, from 7:00a.m.-1:00p.m. Monday-Friday.

Brunson-Lee is located at 1350 N. 48^th St                  Tillman Middle School is located at 4309 E. Belleview.

Please ensure that you remain in your car and ensure 6 feet or more of distance if you walk up. We want to keep our employees and you safe and healthy.

Let’s do our part as Balsz District to stop the spread of this virus:

• Clean your hands often
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with others
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

March 27, 2020

There is a new statewide hotline that residents can call with questions related to COVID-19. It is available in both English and Spanish, and can be reached by dialing 2-1-1 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The hotline will provide information on:

• how to prepare for and prevent the spread of COVID-19;
• testing for COVID-19 as it becomes available;
• who is at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19;
• what to do if you get sick; and
• where to find the most up-to-date and accurate information (e.g., the CDC).

You can also visit https://arizonatogether.org/ for additional resources for families from the state of Arizona and DES.

March 25, 2020

Balsz District Families:

We are pleased to inform you that starting Monday, March 30 we will have a second location for breakfast and lunch distribution!

FREE breakfast and lunch 
Both served together from 7 am to 1 pm, Monday - Friday

Tillman Middle School - 4309 E. Belleview St.
            (Parking lot on corner of 44th St. and Belleview St.)
OR
Brunson-Lee Elementary - 1350 N. 48^th St.
 

Check our website for more information www.balsz.org

March 20, 2020

Arizona Governor Ducey just announced that schools will remain closed for an additional two weeks through April 10.
https://www.abc15.com/news/state/gov-doug-ducey-arizona-public-school-closure-extended-for-2-weeks

Balsz School District will continue to keep you updated via our website www.balsz.org and our social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter).

Breakfast and lunch will continue to be served next week Monday, March 23-Friday, March 27 at Tillman Middle School from 7am-1pm.

Balsz Teachers will continue to meet with students via online. Please visit balsz.org/familyhub for information on this and resources to help families!

Please remember, we are all in this together! Let’s do our part to stop the spread of this virus:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Put distance between yourself and other people (at least 6 feet or more).
• Avoid groups
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Always wash immediately after removing gloves and after contact with an ill person.
• Hand sanitizer: If soap and water are not readily available and hands are not visibly dirty, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. However, if hands are visibly dirty, always wash hands with soap and water.
• Additional key times to clean hands include:
• After blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After using the restroom
• Before eating or preparing food
• After contact with animals or pets
• Before and after providing routine care for another person who needs assistance (e.g. a child)
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Balsz School District hopes you are all being safe and stay healthy during these challenging times.

March 18, 2020

CONNECT WITH BALSZ TEACHERS- Beginning Thursday, March 19th

Balsz School District is committed to ensuring our students and families connect with their exceptional teachers during this time of school closure. Phase 1 of teaching and learning virtually will begin on Thursday, March 18, 2020. Each school day, Balsz Teachers will hold “virtual” office hours. We will use the platform Google Classroom, and the feature, Google Hangouts Meet. Please visit https://www.balsz.org/ later this evening for more information.

March 16, 2020

FREE Breakfast and Lunch starting Tuesday, March 17th!

-Breakfast & Lunch served together 7am to 1pm
-Tillman Middle School, 4309 E. Belleview St. (off of 44th St.)
-Free meals to all children 18 and younger
-No paperwork required
-Children must be present to receive a meal
-Adult meals will not be available
-Meals are grab-and-go style and should be consumed offsite.

March 16, 2020

Balsz Students, Staff, Families, and Community:

All Balsz District Schools are closed per the Governor’s directive until March 27, 2020. Balsz District is currently working on food distribution plans. We will begin breakfast and lunch distribution starting Tuesday, March 17. Please be sure to check our website at www.balsz.org for updates about when and where food distribution will be. We will also send out a phone blast with that information as well.

We will continue to update our website and social media pages to ensure communication with our Balsz Community during this time, as well as, phone communications. Be sure to contact your school office to update information so we can communicate with you:

Brunson-Lee 602.629.6900
Crockett: 602.629.6600
Griffith: 602.629.6700
OELC: 602.629.6800
Tillman: 602.629.6500
District Office: 602.629.6400

Check us out here: www.balsz.org
Facebook page: Balsz School District
Instagram: @BalszSD
Twitter: @BalszSD

Please be sure to practice social distancing and good hygiene all the time:

SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES

• Avoid in-person meetings. Use online conferencing, email or the phone when possible, even when people are in the same building. Unavoidable in-person meetings should be short, in a large meeting room where people can sit at least three feet from each other; avoid shaking hands.
• Eliminate unnecessary travel and cancel or postpone nonessential meetings, gatherings, workshops and training sessions.
• Do not congregate in work rooms, pantries, copier rooms or other areas where people socialize.
• Keep six feet apart when possible.
• Bring lunch and eat at your desk or away from others (avoid lunchrooms and crowded restaurants).
• Avoid public transportation (walk, cycle, drive a car) or go early or late to avoid rush-hour crowding on public transportation.
• Limit recreational or other leisure classes, meetings, activities, etc., where close contact with others is likely.

PROPER HYGIENCE PRACTICES

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
• Throw used tissues in the trash.
• Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Stay home if you’re sick. Report your absence via Aesop as usual. Please be sure to notify your supervisor.
• If you become sick while at work, please report your absence via Aesop and notify your supervisor before leaving.

March 14, 2020

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate these uncharted times pertaining to COVID-19. Your safety and health is important to us. Please know that we have already taken action to ensure a clean environment. All Balsz District Schools, the district office, and the transportation/technology areas were disinfected on March 14, 2020. This disinfectant spray was applied in and out of classrooms and offices and to high touch areas.

As of the date of this letter, per the Arizona Department of Health Services, the Arizona level of Community COVID-19 spread is minimal and there are no known cases of COVID-19 in our district. We are implementing the social distancing guidelines to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

We are working on plans for food distribution and will share that information soon. Please continue to check back here or on our website.

March 13, 2020

Dear Balsz District Staff, Students, and Families,

Thank you for your continued support and patience as our District works collaboratively with local, state, and school leadership including Arizona health officials to make informed decisions on behalf of our community related to Coronavirus/COVID-19.

Yesterday, Balsz School District sent out communication to staff and families regarding the status of our schools and district.  We recently learned that Phoenix Union High School District is closing their schools for a week, and other neighboring districts are closing their schools. In consultation with our governing board, for the safety of our students, and for the consistency of our families, many of whom attend Phoenix Union, Balsz School District has decided at this time that it is necessary to CLOSE schools for students for at least one week, March 16-20, 2020.  Please be aware that school closures may last well beyond one week.

For all Balsz District Staff, the week of March 16-20 will be a work week as we prepare for a possible long-term closure.  We will update staff daily, as this could change. Of course, if employees are sick or unable to come in, employees are to follow normal absence reporting procedures.

Within the next few days, Balsz School District will release comprehensive plans for staff, students, and families, which will include details about possible access to online learning, available resources, and expectations for staff throughout the closure. We urge you to continue to monitor our website, social media pages, emails, texts, and phone calls for up to date information.  

Thank you for your continued support, understanding, and trust during these challenging times. 

Sincerely,
Dr. Jeffrey J. Smith

March 12th Update #2:

Greetings Balsz School District Students and Families:

We received information today from Governor Doug Ducey, Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman, and Director of Arizona Department of Health Services, Dr. Cara Christ who advised school leaders regarding COVID-19 or Coronavirus.

At this time, they recommend that schools remain OPEN due to minimal transmission of the virus. As such, we will be open on Monday, March 16.

As we have previously been sharing, the recommended guidelines are:        

• If your child has a fever, is sick, or showing any respiratory illness symptoms,please keep your child home AND report your child’s absence to the school.
• Teach your child to cough into his/her elbow or a tissue. Make sure you throw the tissue out after using it.
• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (sing the ABC or Happy Birthday song) or use a 60% alcohol-based sanitizer.
• Keep your hands away from your face.
• Avoid close contact with sick people

Our teachers and staff will continue to teach students the same guidelines when they are at school.

Should anything change, we will update you accordingly. We will continue to work with the Department of Health Services to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

We look forward to seeing you on Monday, March 16. 

March 12th Update:

Dear Balsz District Students and Families:

The Balsz School District is coordinating with local public health agencies including the Maricopa County Department of Public Health as we monitor the global outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
We are following the health department’s lead with regard to quarantines, closures or other necessary health measures.