As I noted in the January 4th blog and call, the district has seen an increase in COVID cases, which is consistent with the State and rest of the world at this point. We have been asked when or/if we will be moving to remote as a result? Our answer to that is we will find every way can to remain in person. While keeping track of student positive cases and quarantine is extremely important the real issue we are facing is staffing in our buildings. At this point the most likely reason we would have to move to an eLearning situation would be due to a lack of staff available to teach and insure a safe learning environment. We, like all school districts, are short on substitutes in all areas but most important at this moment are substitutes in our classrooms whether for a teacher or aide. Currently, when we exhaust our sub list we utilize internal staff to fill open positions due to quarantine. In many cases our staff members are taken away from their normal position and placed in a classroom so that we have educators in our classrooms. As such, staff are giving up their normal duties or are giving up their plan/free time so that we can remain in session. So, as a plea for help, if you or someone you know has an interest in subbing even if for only one day a week please consider doing so. If you are interested in subbing or becoming Para Pro certified and would like more information on how to become certified please check out the following links: Teacher Sub or Para Pro Cert. If interested you can call any of the school buildings and talk with an administrator and they too can help guide you in the right direction.
Earlier this week we also shared that the national shortage on testing supplies is negatively impacting our district. Currently, we are days away from running out of those testing kits. We have contacted the Sangamon county Health, IDPH and the State distributor of those supplies in hopes that we will receive a shipment soon. If we are unable to retain those test kits, we are currently working out details on how we will continue the Test to Stay program with health officials. This is a serious concern for us as at any given time we may have 50 to 100 students in the program rather than being quarantined at home. The overwhelming majority of students and staff in the Test to Stay program never test positive and are able to remain in school as a result. We will keep you up to date on this situation as we learn more from health officials.
Also in our last message we discussed the court hearing involving nearly 150 school districts, including PORTA. Mr. Devore. on behalf of the plaintiffs. made motions to certify the class action and a temporary restraining order (TRO) at the hearing held Wednesday, January 5th. The court took the motion to certify the class under advisement. If the court grants the class certification, it would mean that any order in this case (such as a TRO) would apply to all students in the district, not merely the named plaintiffs.
The TRO hearing lasted until the end of the court day, but was not completed. No ruling was issued and the hearing will be continued on another date. The court has not yet set a date to continue the hearing, but indicated it will likely be later in the month of January, at the earliest. I will let you know as soon as the date to continue the hearing is set.
Earlier this week we also shared that the national shortage on testing supplies is negatively impacting our district. Currently, we are days away from running out of those testing kits. We have contacted the Sangamon county Health, IDPH and the State distributor of those supplies in hopes that we will receive a shipment soon. If we are unable to retain those test kits, we are currently working out details on how we will continue the Test to Stay program with health officials. This is a serious concern for us as at any given time we may have 50 to 100 students in the program rather than being quarantined at home. The overwhelming majority of students and staff in the Test to Stay program never test positive and are able to remain in school as a result. We will keep you up to date on this situation as we learn more from health officials.
Also in our last message we discussed the court hearing involving nearly 150 school districts, including PORTA. Mr. Devore. on behalf of the plaintiffs. made motions to certify the class action and a temporary restraining order (TRO) at the hearing held Wednesday, January 5th. The court took the motion to certify the class under advisement. If the court grants the class certification, it would mean that any order in this case (such as a TRO) would apply to all students in the district, not merely the named plaintiffs.
The TRO hearing lasted until the end of the court day, but was not completed. No ruling was issued and the hearing will be continued on another date. The court has not yet set a date to continue the hearing, but indicated it will likely be later in the month of January, at the earliest. I will let you know as soon as the date to continue the hearing is set.