NEW PALESTINE — The plan was to fully open all six school buildings for in-person instruction this week. However, because of a staffing shortage in the schools and in the transportation department, Southern Hancock has switched all the schools to virtual learning.
Officials hope to get students back into the classroom as soon as Monday, Dec. 7.
The district announced the schedule change late Saturday night.
“We were about 10 substitutes short across the corporation from being able to be back in class,” said Wes Anderson, Southern Hancock’s community relations director.
In addition, a number of bus drivers are out as well because of COVID-19. The absences were going to make it difficult to get students to school to hold in-person classes, Anderson said.
New Palestine High School already had planned to hold virtual classes this week because it has five cases of COVID-19. This comes after several weeks of virtual learning at the high school.
Superintendent Lisa Lantrip said leaders will monitor the district’s COVID-19 situation as the week goes on.
“We encourage all families to have a secondary plan in place for a potential extension of the virtual learning period,” Lantrip said.
Officials acknowledge that schools might not be able to fully reopen as planned next week.
“As the county cases go up, more people in our area are getting sick, and that means our subs are getting sick and it’s the length of time people are out that is hurting us,” Anderson said. “We’re talking about people being gone in 10- to 14-day chunks.”
District officials warned last week that a lack of staffing could force the schools to turn to virtual learning. They have put out a call for people willing to work as substitute teachers, bus drivers, assistants and other hourly employees.
Anyone interested in becoming a substitute or transportation driver can reach out to district officials and sign up through the district website, newpal.k12.in.us under “Employment.”
