Absences due to illness stressing Northwestern District resources
The Northwestern Local Schools District will return to remote learning for the three days leading up to Thanksgiving break - Monday, Nov. 22-Wednesday, Nov. 24.
Personnel across the district have been pulling together to combat illness and lack of substitutes, said Northwestern Superintendent Jeffrey Layton.
He is hoping reinstating remote learning for the three days leading up to Thanksgiving break will give the district an opportunity to reset.
Because of COVID-19 and other reasons for being unable to come to school, there are far more absences that can't be covered, he said. "We're really struggling."
"We just need people to get healthy," Layton said, and then "continue to clean to the nth degree," hoping for the situation to take a turn for the better after Thanksgiving break.
The district already has taken action to increase the substitute pool, from increasing wages to hiring "everyday subs," one for each building. Even so, "everybody is covering for each other," he said, doing double duty.
Using the state's lowered requirements for substitute teachers - no four-year degree needed - Northwestern is seeking to assemble a pool of retirees, parents and other community members to help out in the district as substitutes.
"We're starting to get a little bit of interest," he said.
In other matters, Layton commended the food service department, headed by Wendi Mole, for its extra effort, especially at the elementary school level. Through October the staff of five was reduced by absences to just two. Volunteers from across the district, including Julie McCumber, associate superintendent of curriculum and personnel, and board member Laura Woodring, pitched in where needed.
"That's what we've been doing all year," said Layton, in many areas, including the transportation department, in which drivers are "doing each other's routes and doubling up on kids."
As is true on a national, state and local level, "we are without the luxury of having substitutes, for the most part," Layton said.
In other business:
The board abolished the position of part-time dishwasher at the elementary school. There are no dishwashers at the middle school or high school, where cooks incorporate that function into their duties. At the elementary school the dishwasher will become a cook, also taking on dishwashing duties, and be given a salary increase.
The board approved the position of assistant treasurer, and interviews are being conducted.
The next board meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Northwestern High School library, 7373 Elyria Road, West Salem.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Northwestern hoping three days remote will get staff healthy
