District administrator cites recent covid numbers
By Robert Cloud
Older students in Waupaca will continue to spend three days each week in virtual learning and two days in the classroom.
On Sept. 23, District Administrator Ron Saari announced in an email to parents that Waupaca students in grades 7-12 will remain on the A/B schedule.
Under the A/B schedule, half the students learn at school on Mondays and Tuesdays and at home on Thursdays and Fridays.
The schedule is reversed for the other half of the students.
All students remain home on Wednesdays.
When making the announcement last week, Saari noted Waupaca County had reported 174 positive COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days.
He also noted five staff and students had tested positive for the coronavirus.
“In collaboration with our county health official, medical adviser and administrative team, we believe with the recent data trends, we need to remain in our A/B day schedule for grades 7-12,” Saari said.
Noting recent spikes in the number of COVID-19 cases in surrounding counties, Saari said the district was delaying its move to allow grades 7-12 to return to the classroom full time.
In a weekly update Sept. 23 on WIN-TV, Saari said the district finds it more difficult to maintain social distancing when all students are in the school buildings.
“We will continue to monitor and review COVID information and data before reaching another decision on Oct. 7,” Saari said.
Staff shortages
The Waupaca School District has 184 full-time teachers.
“Last year, Waupaca had 77 substitute teachers. This year, the district has 15 substitute teachers.
“There’s only seven of them that we could call on a moment’s notice and they will come any day, any time and sub any where,” Saari said.
The other eight substitute teachers will only work on specific days or in specific buildings.
Saari noted some teachers who were quarantined due to possible COVID-19 symptoms or positive test results may still be able to teach remotely.
“But they will still need an education assistant to be the adult in the classroom,” Saari said.
Waupaca schools have 67 aides, but only nine substitutes for the aides.
Only three of the aide substitutes are available every day and for every building.
To ensure an adequate number of teachers, the district will pull staff from other positions, such as Title I teachers, instructional coaches or librarians.
“We may have to close a building due to not having enough staff to stay open,” Saari said.
In addition to the five students and staff who tested positive, Saari said another 48 were quarantined pending test results.
“The previous staff and students that were quarantined pending test results have all returned (to school),” Saari said. “At this time, we have five staff with tests pending. Overall, we are still doing well and staying healthy.”
Employment opportunities
Information on how to become a substitute teacher or substitute aide can be found on the school district’s website at www.waupaca.k12.wi.us. Then click Our District in the top navigation bar and Employment Opportunities in the drop-down menu. Go to Substitute Teacher.
“It currently says one needs a bachelor’s degree (to be a substitute teacher). However, we are updating that page to state that one actually needs an associate’s degree,” Saari told the Waupaca County Post.