By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green City School District has no plans to close down due to staffing shortages created by the COVID pandemic.
“Knock on wood,” Superintendent Francis Scruci said Wednesday after a board of education meeting.
“The only way we’d ever go virtual again is if the state or federal government tells us to,” he said. Students need to be in school, he added.
Lake Local Schools superintendent announced earlier this week that his district may have to close for a day or two due to staffing shortages.
Like many districts, Lake is experiencing a shortage of substitute workers. Staff are being asked to give up planning periods, lunchtime and other breaks to cover for absent employees.
While Bowling Green City Schools has had some difficulty staffing bus routes due to illness among drivers, the staff absences at school buildings have been manageable, Scruci said.
The fact that Bowling Green has maintained masking and other COVID protocols has made a difference, he said.
“We’re not seeing the positive cases from school exposure,” Scruci said.
It’s possible that Bowling Green City Schools will have to close down for a teacher work day due to staffing issues – but so far, that has been avoidable, he said.
“We’re going to try to make it through,” Scruci said.
