[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE STATE IS AGAIN A HOT SPOT FOR COVID-19.

WE'LL FIND OUT WHY, AND ALSO GET AN UPDATE ON VACCINATION ROLL-OUTS.

ON CRONKITE NEWS HOW ONE COMPANY IS CHANGING THE LIVES OF THOSE WITH DISABILITIES AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, HOW TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO SHAKES SPEAR.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELL TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA CONTINUES TO BE A NATIONAL HOT SPOT FOR NEW CASES OF THE COVID-19.

THE STATE IS SECOND IN THE COUNTRY FOR COVID-19 CASES.

TODAY'S NUMBERS SHOW OVER 5,000 NEW CASES.

THAT'S BELOW THE WEEKLY AVERAGE, BUT MONDAY'S NUMBERS TEND TO LAG.

HOSPITAL BED CAPACITY IS AT A RECORD HIGH WITH RECORD NUMBERS FOR ICU AND IN PATIENT BEDS IN USE.

93% OF ICU BEDS IN THE STATE ARE NOW OCCUPIED WITH OTHER 60% OF THOSE BEDS TREATING COVID-19 CASES.

>>> LAST WEEK, THERE WERE MORE THAN 18,000 COVID DEATHS IN JUST THE PAST WEEK.

THAT WORKS OUT TO SOMEONE BYING FROM COVID-19 EVER 33 SECONDS IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND THE VACCINE ROLLOUT HAS BEEN SLOWED FROM A GLITCH.

THE GLITCH RESULTED IN A FAILURE TO MAKE APPOINTS FOR THOUSANDS OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS THAT MADE APPOINTMENTS FOR THE VACCINE.

ONLY 4.2 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED THUS FAR IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT THE HEAD OF OPERATION WARP SPEED PUTS THE BLAME ON THE STATES.

>> WE ARE AVAILABLE AND READY TO HELP THE STATES AS THEY ASK SPECIFICALLY FOR HELP.

WE WILL GO AND HELP THEM THERE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S POSSIBLE FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE ABLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD SEND VACCINES TO THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION.

>> ALL OF THIS AS FALLOUT CONTINUES OVER THE PRESIDENT'S PHONE CALL TO GEORGIA'S SECRETARY OF STATE, IN WHICH THE PRESIDENT THREATENED THAT UNLESS ENOUGH VOTES ARE FOUND TO CHANGE THE RESULTS GEORGIA ELECTION OFFICIALS COULD FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES.

>> YOU SEE, YOU KNOW, THREATS MADE, THREATENING IN ESTESSENCE A CRIME.

IT'S DISGUSTING AND QUITE HONESTLY, IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING, ALL OF THE MEMBERS CONGRESS WHO HAVE SAID THEY ARE GOING TO OBJECT TO THE ELECTION RESULTS, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN DO THAT.

>> OF NOTE, ARIZONA REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR KELLI WARD THINGS THE PRESIDENT DID NOTHING WRONG IN MAKING THE CALL AND INSTEAD THANKED THE PRESIDENT FOR QUOTE, CARING ABOUT ELECTION INTEGRITY.

>>> AS WE MENTIONED CASES OF COVID-19 IN ARIZONA WILL HITTING RECORD LEVELS, BUT VACCINATIONS ARE NOT ROLLING OUT AS QUICKLY AS PLANNED.

WE GOT AN UPDATE FROM WILL HUMBLE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.

>> WE'RE UP THERE WITH A HANDFUL OF STATES WITH THE MOST CASES ABOVE 100,000.

THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING REALLY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE MONTH OF DECEMBER, AND WE TALKED AT THE END OF NOVEMBER ABOUT THE RESULTS OF A MODELING PEOPLE THAT PREDICTED EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY.

SO IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT WE'RE UP THERE IN TERMS OF THE WORST OF THE STATES IN CASES PER CAPITA.

>> AND NOT ONE MASK VIOLATION IN ARIZONA'S BIGGEST CITIES HERE.

IS -- IS ENFORCEMENT -- ARE PEOPLE WEARING MASKS PROPERLY?

OR ARE WE STILL HAVING PUSHBACK FROM FOLKS SAYING, IT JUST DOESN'T WORK?

>> THERE IS A LOT OF PUSHBACK.

SOME IS IDEALOGICAL, SOME HAVE OBJECTIVES TO LIBERTY, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND SOME PEOPLE PUT IT BEHIND THEIR NOSE AND THEY DON'T FIX IT.

THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS GOING ON.

MASKS DON'T TOTALLY STOP TRANSMISSION OF THE VIRUS, BUT IT IS A LAYER OF PROTECTION.

SO THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE ABSOLUTISTS THAT SAY MASKS DON'T WORK.

BUT MASKS HELP A LOT.

IT CUTS TRANSMISSION BY TWO-THIRDS, SO IS DISTANCING.

IF YOU CAN STAY 2 TO 3 METERS AWAY FROM SOMEBODY, THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

SO THEN WE CAN REALLY LOWER THE TRANSMISSION.

BUT NO ONE HAS EVER SAID THAT MASKS ARE PERFECT.

THE N95S THAT THE NURSES USE ARE REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO USE.

THEY ARE NOT PERFECT, BUT THEY DO HELP SLOW THE SPREAD.

>> AND AS FAR AS THE SPREAD IS CONCERNED, HOSPITAL CAPACITY, ICU BEDS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

OVER 60% OF THE BEDS ARE COVID PATIENTS.

IS IT GOING TO GET WORSE AND IF IT IS, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET BETTER?

>> IT IS GOING TO GET WORSE UNTIL AT LEAST MID-JANUARY.

YESTERDAY WE HAD 17,000 NEW CASES.

AND ABOUT 7% OF THOSE PEOPLE WILL END UP NEEDING TO BE HOSPITALIZED DURING THE WEEK.

ABOUT 7% OF PEOPLE WHO GET COVID-19 END UP NEEDING TO BE HOSPITALIZED.

AND OUR HOSPITAL SYMPTOMS ARE ALREADY SATURATED, AND THE DILEMMA WE HAVE IS WE HAVE THIS CONTINUING NUMBER OF CASES COMING INTO HOSPITALS, AND THERE IS NO PLACE TO PUT THEM.

SO HOSPITALS HAVE TO DO TRIAGE ACTUALLY.

IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY IN THE GENERAL WARD, DO YOU GIVE THEM ONE OF THE ICU BEDS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE?

AND DO YOU DO EARLY DISCHARGES?

AND WITH WHO?

THOSE ARE THE REAL-LIFE DECISIONS THAT CLINICIANS WILL BE MAKING THROUGHOUT ALL OF JANUARY.

SO WITHOUT ANY NEW INTERVENTIONS AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN EXPECT ANY, I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT MID-JANUARY BEFORE THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM GETS RELIEF.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT A FLU SEASON?

IT FEELS LIKE THE FLU SEASON HASN'T EVEN KICKED IN YET.

>> WELL, WE HAVE LUCKED OUT SO FAR THAT INFLUENZA SEASON HASN'T REALLY KICKED IN.

AND I THINK THE COVID INTERVENTIONS HAVE A REAL IMPACT IN SLOWING THE SPREAD OF INFLUENZA ASWELL.

AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT THEIR INFLUENZA VACCINES THIS YEAR, PROBABLY MORE THAN NORMAL, AND THE FACT THAT THE MASKS WORK FOR BOTH, I THINK, IS HELPING US, BUT SADLY NOT ENOUGH TO PEOPLE UP WITHIN THE STANDARD OF CARE IN THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS.

>> AND NBNEWS REPORTS THAT ARIZONA IS THE FIFTH WORST STATE PER CAPITA.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

>> I EXPECT THAT TO IMPROVE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

THERE WAS A GREAT ARTICLE THAT SAID THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAD BUILT A COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENTS WITH THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS, AND IT WAS DEFECTIVE, AND A LOT OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS NEVER GOT THEIR NOTICES.

OTHERS WERE SENT TO OTHER LOCATIONS FOR THEIR VACCINE.

SO THAT COMPUTER GLITCH HAS BEEN FIXED , AND THAT'S WHY TWO OF THE FIVE SITES WERE VIRTUALLY EMPTY.

SO THAT HAS BEEN FIXED.

I THINK WE CAN EXPECT THAT TO IMPROVE.

AND THEN WE'RE ON TO CATEGORY 1B PHASE.

AND I'M HOPEFUL THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS READY TO EXECUTE A GOOD PLAN FOR THOSE FOLKS OVER 75.

>> AND AS FAR AS PRIORITIZATION IS CONCERNED, ARE WE HANDLING THAT CORRECTLY?

THERE WERE GLITCHES, BUT ONCE THEY GET OUT THERE, ARE THEY GETTING TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE?

>> SO FAR IT IS HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

AND THAT'S HOW WE CAN KEEP STAFFING UP WITHIN THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO GO TO WORK, SO I'M OKAY WITH HEALTHCARE WORKERS BEING IN 1A.

1B, I HOPE THE COUNTIES AND STATES FOCUS ON PEOPLE 75 YEARS AND UP AS PART OF THE 1B CATEGORY.

AND THERE ARE 1 MILLION PEOPLE IN CATEGORY 1B.

AND YOU ADD ALL OF THEM UP, AND IT'S A MILLION.

OBVIOUSLY THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE A MILLION VACCINES AVAILABLE IN JANUARY, SO YOU HAVE TO PRIORITIZE.

AND I'M HOPING THEY SEE THE WISDOM OF VACCINATING THOSE 75 AND UP FIRST.

>> LET'S HOPE THAT RAMPS UP.

WILL HUMBLE, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>>> UP NEXT, WHAT EDUCATORS WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM STATE LAWMAKERS THIS YEAR.

>>> THE STATE LEGISLATURE RETURNS TO WORK NEXT WEEK, WHICH MEANS IT IS TIME FOR A LOOK OF WHAT LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING FOR.

WE SPOKE WITH SOME EXPERTS ON THE ISSUE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

JOE, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION, IT'S COMING UP HERE.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

>> WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE CURRENT CRISIS THAT WE'RE IN.

AND LOOK FOR SUPPORT COMING IN THROUGH FLEXIBILITY AND SOME OF THE EXISTING STATUTES, AND ALSO ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO MAKE SURE WE CAN SUSTAINABLY OPEN OUR SCHOOLS TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EDUCATORS WITH BEING SUPPORTED FOR THE AMAZING WORK THEY ARE DOING EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WHETHER THEY ARE IN PERSON, A HYBRID FORMAT OR TEACHING ONLINE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO MOVE TOWARDS SUPPORTING US DIRECTLY TO MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS ARE SAFE.

>> CHRIS, AS FAR AS THE SCHOOL BOARDS ARE CONCERNED , PRIORITY FOR THE SESSION?

>> OUR NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT DISTRICTS ARE DOING.

SO NUMBER 1 PRIORITY IS GOING TO BE CONVINCING THEM TO REINVEST SOME OF THE SURPLUS THAT HAS BEEN CREATED BY SOME ARTIFACTS IN LOWER RE-- REIMBURSEMENT, AND ALSO LOOKING AT SOME OF THE WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER MORE UNNECESSARY ELEMENTS OF STATE LAW IN TERMS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACCOUNTABILITY, CHARTER ACCOUNTABILITY, TEACHER EVALUATION, THINGS THAT ADD WORK, BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY THINK WILL ADD VALUE IN THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT, AND REALLY SAVING ADMINISTRATOR'S AND TEACHERS TIME, TO TEACH CHILDREN AND CUT DOWN ON THE OVERHEAD ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.

>> AND SARAH, LAWMAKERS HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LOT OF THINGS, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THEM DO?

>> I WOULD ECHO WHAT JOE AND CHRIS HAVE MENTIONED WITH FLEXIBILITY IN THE BUDGET.

THE WAY THE BUDGET IS MANIFESTED IN THE CLASSROOM WITH TECHNOLOGY OR LACK THEREOF.

WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF TEACHERS OUT, AND THE LACK OF SUBSTITUTES AND THE TEACHER SHORTAGE DOES EFFECT THE EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS.

THERE ARE SUBSTITUTES IN THE CLASSROOM THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY FULLY QUALIFIED TO BE TAKING A LONG-TERM SUB JOB, SO THOSE EFFECTS ARE DEFINITELY PLAYING A PART INTO THIS, AND ON TOP OF IT, WE -- WE JUST REALLY NEED SUPPORT, AND I THINK IF WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND SHARE THE PRACTICALITY OF THEIR DECISION, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

>> JOE PROP 208, THE IMPACT ON HOW THE LEGISLATURE PROCEEDS WITH EDUCATION FUNDING?

>> REQUEST THAT PROP PASSING, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING A NEW REVENUE STREAM INTO THE CLASSROOM CLASSROOM -- DIRECTLY.

WE CRAFTED THE BILL BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WAS UPON US.

WE WERE ALREADY IN A FUNDING CRISIS.

WE DESPERATELY NEED THESE DOLLARS.

EVERYBODY THAT INTERAFFECTS WITH STUDENTS ON A DAILY BASIS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE SCHOOLS HAVE THE FUNDING THEY NEED TO CONFRONT ALL OF THE ASSOCIATED COSTS ARE BATTLING THIS VIRUS, SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IS IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY AND FULLY THIS COMING SCHOOL YEAR.

>> AND CHRIS, BROADBAND ACCESS.

HOW DO YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON THIS?

>> BROADBAND IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT NO ONE THINKS ABOUT UNTIL THEY REALLY NEED IT, AND WE REALLY NEED IT NOW.

AND THE PROBLEM IS IT TAKES TIME TO GET IN PLACE, AND IT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN PUT IN PLACE ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS.

SO WHAT LAWMAKERS NEED TO DO, IS REALLY FOCUS ON EVERYBODY'S AREA OF INFLUENCE.

SO THE STATE'S AREA OF INFLUENCE IS PARTNERING WITH DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, SOME PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PROVIDERS TO LOWER THE COST OF HIGH-SPEED INTERNET, AS WELL AS ENCOURAGING PROVIDERS TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE OUT TO RURAL ARIZONA.

WE HAVE TO TREAT BROADBAND INTERNET AS A PUBLIC GOOD, AND NOT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD IT SHOULD HAVE.

WHEN WE PUT SCHOOL ONLINE, ALL OF A SUDDEN BROADBAND BECOMEINGS A PUBLIC NECESSITY.

>> SARAH, ARE THERE WAYS TO BETTER FACILITY REMOTE LEARNING?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, PIGGYBACKING ON WHAT CHRIS WAS SAYING, WHAT I REALLY FOUND WAS AN AMAZING RESOURCE THROUGH VIRTUAL LEARNING AND IT WAS COLLABORATION, AND INNOVATION.

WHEN WE'RE MORE OPEN TO CREATE AND BE INNOVATIVE.

AND IF THE LEGISLATURE WOULD GET A GROUP OF TEACHERS TOGETHER, THEY WOULD BE AMAZED AT THE IDEAS THEY HAVE, AND THE SIMPLE BARE BONES OF HAVING BROADBAND IS WHERE WE NEED TO START.

>> AND JOE, I KNOW THE SUPERINTENDENT WANTS IN-PERSON LEARNING SUSPENSION TO BE EXTENDED.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

BECAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS ARE SAYING THAT KIDS ARE MISSING OUT.

>> I THINK BOTH ARE TRUE.

WE DO OUR BEST WORK WHEN WE'RE INSIDE THE CLASSROOM, WHEN WE HAVE A FULL ARRAY OF EX-ELECTIVES, WE HAVE LOW-CLASS SIZES, AND WELL-PAID EDUCATORS, BUT WE'RE IN A CRISIS, AND WE NEED TO LOOK THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF THE POLICIES.

TEACHERS ARE SEEING WHICH DISTRICTS ARE KEEPING THEM SAFE AND WHICH ARE PUTTING THEM AT RISK, AND CONTRACTS WILL BE GOING OUT FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, AND TEACHERS WILL KNOW WHO LISTENED TO SCIENCE AND WHO DIDN'T.

WITH THE VETERAN TEACHERS LEAVING SOME OF THESE IN PARTICULAR EAST VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THAT SEEM TO BE ADDRESSING THE CRISIS DIFFERENTLY.

SO WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN FOR OUR STUDENTS AND NOT SACRIFICING THE SAFETY OF OUR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES IN THE PROCESS.

WE HAVE THIS NEW VARIANT OF THE COVID-19 THAT HAS BEEN FOUND IN TWO NEIGHBORING STATES, AND AS THIS VIRUS CONTINUES TO MUTATE, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE FLEXIBLE AND MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT PUTTING OUR FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS AT RISK.

>> CHRIS, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE IDEA OF TRACKING STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND -- AND THOSE.

SO HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS ACCOUNTABLEILITYACCOUNTABILITY, IF EVERYTHING IS SUCH A JUMBLE WITH COVID?

>> WELL, IT'S A CHALLENGE.

OUR TESTING SYSTEM WHICH IS WHAT WE USE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IS DESIGNED TO HAVE STUDENTS ASSEMBLED IN ONE PLACE AND DELIVER AN ASSESSMENT, AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE POSSIBLE IF WE CAN'T GET THIS PANDEMIC UNDER CONTROL.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE A TEST ADMINISTERED SO WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT.

THE PROBLEM IS, THE TEST WE ADMINISTER EVERY YEAR ISN'T DESIGNED TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH A STUDENT HAS OR HAS NOT LEARNED.

IT'S DESIGNED TO TELL YOU WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE MASTERED A CERTAIN SET OF STANDARDS, WHICH THEY CAN LEARN IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

SO THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE IS I THINK THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD LOOK AT THIS ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM, AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW STUDENTS PERFORM RELATIVE TO THEMSELVES, THEN THAT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF TEST THAN WE HAVE TODAY, AND IF THAT'S WHAT WE WANT, WE SHOULD LOOK AT DOING THAT.

I THINK FOR THE NEAR TERM, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO GET AN ASSESSMENT TOGETHER.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT UNLESS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TELLS US WE DON'T HAVE TO.

BUT THE QUALITY OF INFORMATION AGSATION YOU ARE GOING TO GET, WE THINK IT IS NOT WORST THE COST JUST TO GET INFORMATION ON PAPER.

THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO GET IT AFTER THE PANDEMIC HAS SUBSIDED.

>> AND WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM FELLOW TEACHERS, FROM PARENTS, FROM STUDENTS.

>> THERE'S A MIXED BAG, I THINK, OF A LOT OF EMOTIONS, BUT WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO WITH MY COLLEAGUES SPECIFICALLY, IS THAT WE CAN ONLY DO OUR BEST WHEN WE FEEL SAFE, AND THAT GOES THE SAME FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND A LOT OF US IN-PERSON RIGHT NOW ARE NOT FEELING SAFE, AND WE FEEL LIKE WE COULD DO OUR BEST WORK FOR OUR STUDENTS AND AS EDUCATORS, VIRTUAL RIGHT NOW UNTIL THE -- UNTIL THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT -- UNTIL OUR METRICS ARE BACK IN THE GREEN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CONGRATULATIONS ON TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

GOOD CONVERSATION.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, TEDZ.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I AM TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS OF ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, HOW ONE LOCAL COMPANY IS BUILDING SPECIALIZED WHEELCHAIRS, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, APPLYING SHAKESPEARE TO CURRENT EVENTS.