​BULLHEAD CITY/MOHAVE VALLEY—Officials with the Bullhead City Elementary and Colorado River Union High School Districts have announced schools will be placed on shortened schedules Thursday as the state begins participating in the #RedForEd walkouts.

Memos, emails and/or auto-dial phone calls are going out to parents at the four elementary, two junior high and three high schools in the joint districts, advising them when each campus will be released, said district spokesman Lance Ross.

Any parents who did not receive notification should contact their schools to verify that phone and email information is current, he said.

Furthermore, Ross said, district officials and school staff—including liaisons from the #RedforEd movement—have collaborated regarding the dilemma of promoting the campaign for increased school funding while remaining sensitive to the needs of local families.

On April 26, a large percentage of teachers across Arizona will begin a “walk-out” in demonstration of their commitment to stand for increased funding at the State level. However, the local collaboration is encouraging teachers to assemble together near each campus on Thursday morning prior to school and “walk-in” together in a demonstration of solidarity rather than “walk out”.

​“The walk-in will allow staff, parents and community members to wear red shirts, assemble immediately off-campus prior to school and stand shoulder-to-shoulder as they ‘walk-in’ to their respective schools for another day of learning while still supporting the #RedForEd movement,” said BCESD & CRUHSD Superintendent Riley Frei.

​Frei noted that, as a preventive measure, the districts have preemptively shortened Thursday’s schedule. There will be some daily schedule changes due to reduced staffing and/or substitute teachers at some campuses.

​The largest planned walk-in is expected Thursday morning before school starts at Mohave High School in Bullhead City.  RedForEd supporters will gather across the street at the City Square Shopping Center (formerly K-Mart Center). At about 7:30 a.m., teachers, administrators, boosters and others will walk across Highway 95 to the high school campus to teach students. No class time will be impacted. Similar walk-ins are expected to occur at other BCESD and CRUHSD campuses before school.

​Student transportation, school breakfast and lunch programs will continue to be offered Thursday.

​School and district administration also recognize that some teachers may use their personal or paid time off (PTO) days to participate in the statewide walk-out.  “Flex Friday” intervention and enrichment classes at Mohave and River Valley High Schools are expected to be in session the following day.

​Additonal updates—if necessart—will be posted on the districts’ website (www.coloradoriverschools.org), Facebook page (@crsk12az) and sent via auto-dial and/or email.