Schools may deal with ‘functional closure,’ according to superintendent
Staffing expected to be a problem, superintendent states
As teachers and principals review health protocols in advance of next week’s belated school opening, staff are expecting Omicron-triggered absences leading to possible closures, according to the School District #43 superintendent.
“We expect there will be staffing challenges within the school district . . . including potential increases in absences due to COVID-19 infections,” superintendent Patricia Grantland wrote. “There is a possibility that at some point we will experience a ‘functional closure’ – a situation where there is insufficient staff to provide instruction and appropriate supervision at a particular school or schools resulting in a temporary, and hopefully short-term, closure.”
Staff are currently examining how students can keep learning amid such a closure, according to Grantland.
“I recognize that, once again, this may mean inconvenience and sacrifice for your family, but I thank you in advance for your understanding and continued support,” she wrote.
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Parents can expect another update later this week, according to Grantland.
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