LOS ANGELES — California is making it easier for school districts to hire teachers and other employees amid staffing shortages brought on by the latest surge in coronavirus cases.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that he has signed an executive order to allow schools more flexibility in staffing decisions like giving additional hours to substitute teachers and rehiring recent retirees for short stints.
“Schools nationwide returning from winter break are experiencing short-term staffing shortages that are putting a strain on operations,” Governor Newsom said in a news release. “We’re working closely with local education officials to cut red tape to allow qualified substitute teachers to help maintain safe learning environments. We are grateful for the thousands of dedicated teachers, classified staff and administrators who have worked tirelessly to provide safe learning environments for all of California’s students.”
The order expires at the end of March.
The fast-spreading omicron variant of COVID-19 is sidelining school personnel statewide a week after some 6 million K-12 students returned to classrooms following winter break.
"We need to keep our children safe"
The governor's executive order was a step forward to alleviate an unprecedented staffing crisis in schools across the state. But many say that solutions are needed now.
Parents and educators say they're frustrated with a lack of leadership and alternatives
Timothy Ferry's 15-year-old daughter was breathing in disbelief when she scanned the auditorium with her phone at Rosemont High School in Sacramento. It was full of students whose teachers had called out.
"I saw kids cluttered together. Some of them closer than a foot and disorganized. And nobody is learning anything, and it's just an unhealthy environment," Timothy Ferry said.
Like many districts across the state, Sacramento City Unified School District officials are experiencing a staffing crisis.
"Combining some classes in large, well-ventilated spaces like an auditorium or multi-purpose room is only done when there is absolutely no alternative to preserve our commitment to providing in-person instruction," said district spokesperson Al Goldberg.
Recently, Sacramento City Unified School District reported 586 staff absences on Friday, a 21.2% callout rate. A collective total of 1,589 positive cases have been identified by the district in the past week — 1,282 of which are students.
"Our plan is to keep our classrooms open -- keep our schools open. We know that they're safe havens for so many of our families and community members," said Victoria Flores, director of Student Support and Health Services.
But some like parent Stephanie Chandler don't feel comfortable sending her child back to school. Chandler kept her sophomore son home for a week. She said a third of his Bella Vista High School campus in the San Juan Unified School District is in isolation or quarantine.
"I want them to return to school. I want my son in school every single day, but for this brief period of time, we need to keep our children safe," Chandler said.
San Juan Unified is not offering virtual learning because the waiver that let schools engage in it expired and wasn't renewed, according to district spokesperson Raj Rai. As far as independent learning, there's a waitlist.
"We are offering a short-term independent study option for TK-12 students that are quarantining due to exposure to COVID-19 or are isolating due to being COVID positive that families can access through their school sites. There is no limit to the number of students that can access the short-term option," said district spokesperson Raj Rai in a statement.
Some parents and educators feel it’s a little too late as the short-term crunch has already impacted their students.
A full statement from San Juan Unified is available below.
Due to the statewide staffing shortage, it has been challenging to fully staff our long-term independent study program to meet student interest. We currently have waitlists for our long-term independent study program at several of our elementary grade levels but have been able to get secondary students interested in long-term independent study placed. As we are able to hire additional teachers, more room will be available to enroll students into independent study and move students off of the waitlist.
We are offering a short-term independent study option for TK-12 students that are quarantining due to exposure to COVID-19 or are isolating due to being COVID positive that families can access through their school sites. There is no limit to the number of students that can access the short-term option.
Distance learning is not an option this school year, as the waiver that allowed California schools to engage in distance learning expired and was not renewed by state lawmakers.
San Juan Unified is committed to doing everything possible to ensure a healthy and safe environment for students. We have invested heavily in health and safety measures including cleaning, the availability of PPE and one of the most accessible COVID-19 testing programs in the region. To continue keeping our schools safe and open, we do need the help of our students and families:
- It is important that students stay home from school if they are feeling ill. We ask families to please check their students every morning for symptoms and keep them home if they are not feeling well. Students who are sent to school with symptoms will be sent home.
- Follow the guidance of our health experts and wear face coverings when in public settings. Face coverings are required when indoors on our campus and are highly encouraged to be worn outdoors.
- For those that are eligible to be vaccinated or receive a vaccine booster for COVID-19 please do so. The vaccine is available to anyone five years of age and older.
- Take advantage of COVID-19 testing. San Juan Unified offers testing for students at each of its schools and at central testing sites. More information is available at www.sanjuan.edu/covidtest.
- If parents or community members have a bachelor’s degree or above and would be available to serve as a guest teacher, please visit www.sanjuan.edu/guestteacher.
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