SD68 continues to monitor student absences, however it's the availability of teachers in the district which will determine if schools remain open. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

CLASS BACK IN SESSION

Nanaimo-Ladysmith schools juggling staff resources to avoid ‘functional closures’

Jan 14, 2022 | 6:19 AM

NANAIMO — A main contributing factor on whether on not schools will close amid the fifth wave of COVID-19, is related to teacher illness, not students.

The bulk of students returned to schools Monday, Jan. 10 after an extended winter break due in large part to spread of the Omicron variant.

Scott Saywell, superintendent of School District 68, told NanaimoNewsNOW their main focus is maintaining adequate teacher levels to keep schools operating and avoid what they’re calling a “functional closure”

“Much like we’ve seen with airlines and many businesses around the province is just our inability to operate because we have too many staff members out,” Saywell said. “While we have support staff who can come in and casual staff…if we had 30 per cent absenteeism for our staff, it would be hard to keep all of our schools open and running.

The matter boils down to health and safety of students and having enough teachers to maintain basic school operations.

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Saywell said the juggling act may involve counsellors or other staff pinch hitting in the classroom on a short-term basis, or even seeing the school principal or vice-principal monitor students.

More widespread absences among teachers would involve the District reallocating teachers teaching on call (TTOC’s) from schools with enough staff to schools who might otherwise close for the day or week.

“We don’t have as many [TTOC’s] as we would like, particularly going through this period of time, but we’re doing ok so we’re cautiously optimistic with the numbers…to enable the school district to keep running.”

In the first full week back, SD68 saw a higher than normal absentee rate among its student population.

Only three to five per cent were due to illness, according to data collected from parents when they contacted schools.

Many were anxious, according to Saywell, about the current learning landscape and elected to hold their children back at the start.

“Some were absent at the beginning of the week and as they’ve witnessed what’s happening in schools, they’ve sent them (Thursday, Jan. 13) and we’re hoping they’ll be there (Friday, Jan. 14).”

School District 68 does not have a “magic number” on when a school may close if too many children are sick.

The responsibility of such a decision sits with Island Health, in consultation with district officials.

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alex@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley