Teacher can’t wait to see students return, but only when safe

Jennifer Zamenski was at Costco again in hopes of buying disinfectant wipes and spray for her kindergarten classroom.

Gov. Doug Ducey delayed opening until Aug. 17 due to a surge in coronavirus cases. Zamenski worries even that’s too soon.

Zamenski was my son Sawyer’s kindergarten teacher at Broadmor Elementary School in Tempe. She’s been teaching for 22 years.

“Teachers’ hearts are hurting because we’re not able to see our kids,” Zamenski said. “We all want to get back to normal.”

But it won’t be normal.

The other day, at Target, Zamenski bought each student a 24-pack of Crayons and 10-pack of markers since they can’t share from communal bins. Same goes for pencils, erasers, glue sticks, hand sanitizer and art supplies.

In her classroom there are extra tables. Instead of six students at each table, there will be four, with plastic dividers between them.

Parents won’t be allowed past the gates. On buses, kids will sit one per seat, so it’ll take multiple trips to get everyone to school.

Students will receive two masks and a water bottle. Water fountains will be taped off. Their classroom will smell like disinfectant.

They’ll eat in the cafeteria and gym, spaced six feet apart. They won’t work or play together.

They’ll sound out words from behind masks.

Zamenski is worried about the skyrocketing number of cases in Arizona, which ups the likelihood it will find its way into classrooms.

The number of cases was tiny in comparison in March when Ducey ordered schools closed. “Why is it OK to start now?” Zamenski said.

Classes could be taught online, as they were then.

“Is it optimal? No, it’s not,” Zamenski said. But it would be safe.

“I’d rather have every single one of my kids and our staff safe rather than lose one of them,” Zamenski said. “It would be devastating.”