Tuscaloosa City Schools chief tells parents to prepare for possible online classes

Tuscaloosa City Schools could return to online classes if staffing shortages caused by COVID-19 continue to worsen.

"While we aim to keep our schools open for in-person learning, we do ask all parents to prepare for a possible virtual delivery or school closure for short periods of time," Superintendent Mike Daria said in a Tuesday email message to parents.

Daria said that the system has already had to move one school to virtual classes for a day because of a COVID-related staffing shortage.

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"It is entirely possible that we may have to decide to move a classroom, grade level, an entire school, or the school system to a virtual model (or closure) for a brief period of time. Unfortunately, we may not be able to provide a lot of notice in such cases. Should this be the case, we will get communication to you as quickly as possible," Daria said.

Late Tuesday, a social media post from Tuscaloosa City Schools said that four schools would be closed Wednesday because of staffing shortages: Paul W. Bryant High, Westlawn Middle, Eastwood Middle and Southview Elementary.

As of Tuesday according to the system's tracker, TCS had 316 students, or 2.9%, who have tested positive for COVID-19, along with 33 employees, or 3.6%. Daria said that as long as the two-week student positive average is above 1%, the system will continue to require that masks be worn at school.

He asked that parents keep their children at home if they don't feel well or if their student is waiting on the results of a COVID-19 test.

Daria said that Tuesday's student attendance rate was 83.7%.

He praised the 1,439 faculty and staff members who he said work "tirelessly ... to make sure our students are taught in caring classrooms, provided meals on a daily basis, and get to and from school each day.

"The teachers of the TCS are covering classes for colleagues who have to be out. We have our central office certified staff members serving in classrooms. Our bus drivers are covering multiple routes. Our custodians are making sure our schools are clean and disinfected. This list goes on with example after example of TCS faculty and staff going above and beyond to make sure education continues."

Daria added that anyone who is interested in becoming a substitute teacher should call Kelly Services at 205-759-3535.

"The more substitutes we have, the greater our chances of keeping schools going during this challenging time," he said.

Meanwhile, six schools in the Tuscaloosa County School System closed Tuesday because of staff shortages.

"... if staffing levels at one school drop to a point where we cannot operate that school for a day, we will temporarily close that individual school, instead of having a system-wide closure. If your student's school is affected by a closure, you will be contacted directly," said a message from the superintendent's office on the Tuscaloosa County School System website.

Reach Ken Roberts at ken.roberts@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Online classes might be needed, says Tuscaloosa City Schools' chief