The Park Hill school district’s exploding problem of positive COVID-19 cases is causing a crisis in staffing.
District officials told board members at a meeting last Thursday, Nov. 12, that principals and even staff from the administration building are filling in for teachers.
“I’m asked almost daily if we’re able to continue to staff our schools,” Dr. Bill Redinger, assistant superintendent for human resources told the board in revealing what the district has been doing. “The idea of staffing has become a really interesting thing to describe.”
Redinger said some teachers are substitute teaching during their planning hours and principals are trying to fill in where they can. Redinger said the district has spared no resources including pulling people out of the administration building. Redinger said they spend a significant amount of time each morning just trying to figure it out.
“Certified staff from this building, instructional coaches and others are going out and teaching classes across the district. It’s really a puzzle we’re putting together everyday,” Redinger said. “Our teachers are stepping up to do extra work. The question becomes is it sustainable? That’s the challenge we have to answer that question each day.”
One reason folks from other areas are filling in is because of shortage of substitute teaching resources. Most days the district is hovering around a 70 percent fill rate and on some days it dips to close to 60 percent. Last week the district hired an additional 20 substitute teachers. Dr. Linda Kaiser, director of human resources, said they’re working at capacity.
“They’re all working as much as they can,” Kaiser said. “They’re working everyday if they’re willing and able.”
Kaiser said the previous week that 82 staff members were quarantined which resulted in five positive cases. In the two days after the data was analyzed five more positive cases developed.
“We’re seeing about 10 teachers a day leaving,” Kaiser said.
Redinger said it’s hard to answer the question of what level will the district have to reach before a shutdown is inevitable. Redinger also said other school districts are having the same issues.
Some Park Hill teachers are also worried about the toll it’s taking on teachers who are being pulled from online learning to teach in person because of shortages. Fourth grade teacher Lyndsay Beaver wrote to the board and said she’s afraid with students choosing to return to in-person learning will also shift resources away from students who remain online.
“As an online teacher I can attest its taken six weeks to get the students into a fully online routine where I can truly see their understanding, fill in the gaps and create a classroom environment that is built around communication and relationships with students and families,” Beaver wrote. “I worry that my 16 to 17 kids will have to transition to a new online teacher that will have to spend another six weeks getting them into a new routine.”
Park Hill NEA president Dr. Jill Owens addressed the board in person and touched on the substitute teacher shortage. Owens said the district is on the verge of a crisis if it doesn’t protect its staff.
“The recent shortage of available quality substitutes has created a crisis in our district in the last two weeks,” Owens said. “This crisis proves our district cannot properly function without its teachers.”
One teacher, kindergarten instructor and parent, Lindsey Pickett, expressed anger that schools are even open.
“I appreciate your efforts to keep us informed but don’t disparage our intelligence and state that safety of anyone involved here is the number one priority,” Pickett said. “If that was the case there would not be in-person students at all. That is clearly the safest scenario.”