Peninsula schools superintendent addresses COVID plan, staffing, need for substitutes
Peninsula School District Superintendent Krestin Bahr gave families an update Wednesday about the district’s plan for its schools in the coming weeks of the pandemic.
“As I’m sure you know, we are experiencing high absence rates among staff and students,” Bahr said in a video message to the Peninsula community posted online. “I know staffing shortages are tough on everybody and I am so grateful to everyone who has pitched in to support our staff and students during this challenging time.”
She said the district is preparing for staff absences to continue to be high for the next few weeks.
“I want you to know that my priority is keeping our schools safely open,” Bahr said. “We will continue to plan in case remote learning is temporarily needed for a class or for a school, but it is my sincere belief that we will not go full remote across our district. We will remain open in Peninsula schools.”
She said challenges with remote learning include a lack of student engagement, internet access, childcare and “the mental toll it takes on our children.”
Bahr is “in alignment,” she told families, with the governor, state health officials, the state superintendent and other leaders in the United States who support keeping schools open.
Safety protocols in schools have worked and are making them “the safest place for kids in this community,” she said.
The district’s website said Thursday that it had 309 confirmed cases originating outside school facilities in the past 14 days and three cases originating inside school facilities in that time.
COVID-19 cases are surging across the country. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department reported that local case rates and hospitalizations tripled in recent weeks.
“Through the end of January, we will prioritize coverage at schools with the goal of providing enough substitutes for student safety and classroom coverage,” Bahr said. “And we will do everything in our power to meet the challenges of the next few weeks so that we can remain open to keep our schools open for in-person learning.”
The district needs substitutes, the superintendent said.
“This is an all-hands-on-deck moment,” Bahr said. “I also want to invite you and want to say, if you have friends or even retired colleagues or yourself, who might be interested in substituting, please reach out to us. Reach out to your building leadership. Ask those friends and colleagues to contact our human resources right away, because we need you.”
This story was originally published January 14, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
