The Hayden-Winkelman Unified School District announced last week that it will continue distance learning online through the end of the first semester, Jan. 28, 2021. Along with it, the district canceled the winter sports season, including basketball and wrestling, at both the junior and senior high schools.
“The cancelation was due to the concern for the safety of the players and their families as COVID-19 numbers continue to rise,” said HWUSD Superintendent Jeff Gregorich in a press release.
The district will revisit returning to on-campus learning in January. It’s assumed a decision on the spring sports season will made shortly thereafter.
The AIA announced this week that a recommendation to postpone the start of the winter sports season throughout the state may be forthcoming. Schools in the Copper Corridor have been allowed to start practice under the matrix provided by the Arizona Interscholastic Association, however, no competition is allowed to commence until COVID-19 numbers decrease in Pinal County and elsewhere. Schools in Maricopa County have not been permitted to start practice and with the potential push back looming, those schools likely won’t begin until January, at the earliest.