Area Schools Cancel Classes Due To Illness, Staffing Shortages

By Gordon HopkinsA combination of illness and ongoing staffing shortages has forced some area schools to cancel classes unexpectedly last week.Tri County Public Schools opted to shutter elementary school classes Tuesday and Wednesday, January 18 and 19.On Tuesday, Randy Schlueter, Superintendent of Tri County, told FJN, “In the secondary there are six students who are out because of COVID issues. Seven other students are out for various other illnesses that are diagnosed by their parents. Those could be cold and/or flu illness or untested COVID. The elementary school had 12 COVID related cases. The other 25 students were ill with symptoms of cold, flu and COVID but none were tested. The biggest issue facing the elementary was staff with certified teachers in the classroom. The district did not have enough substitute teachers to fill all of the spots. Partly because of daycares closing that affected staff members’ children.”Later that same day, officials at Beatrice Public schools announced school would be closed on Thursday and Friday, January 20 and 21. Similar reasons as Tri County were cited: illnesses and staffing shortages.Other Nebraska Schools are also having to cancel classes due to the same difficulties. Lincoln Public Schools is canceling classes on Fridays, beginning January 21, for three weeks. Hastings Public Schools canceled classes for Monday, January 24.Fairbury Public Schools has not had to cancel any classes at this time but did do so last November, extending the Thanksgiving break to a full week.FPS Superintendent Stephen Grizzle told FJN, “At this time we are ‘hanging tough’ with illnesses within. We are better than we were before Thanksgiving. Our staff continues to do a great job of being flexible, helping out wherever needed. I am hopeful we will be able to endure this crest of cases and hope to soon see the downward trend. Spring is coming!”

Orville Weichel

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