Schools across the Okanagan-Skaha district have remained open and functioning, but that has meant a lot of juggling and support from every department, according to the SD67 superintendent of schools.
“We’ve seen significant illness throughout our schools, but we have managed to keep things going and continue to staff all schools,” said Superintendent Todd Manuel.
This is thanks to the district’s human resources team, that has been back filling teachers and CUPE support staff who are away sick, he said. There have been teachers across the district off sick, but so far SD67 has been able to find substitute teachers for those classrooms.
“The TOC (teachers on call) have been amazing, as have the CUPE support staff substitutes,” said Manuel.
Since the return from winter break Jan. 10, six schools have met the threshold for higher than usual absenteeism.
Giant’s Head Elementary in Summerland is the latest to send a letter home to families and staff, saying there has been transmission of COVID-19 and high absenteeism.
Columbia Elementary families got a letter last week about an increase in absenteeism. That letter was from Interior Health, stating they are monitoring the situation in one particular classroom.
Kaleden Elementary, Uplands Elementary, Penticton Secondary and Princess Margaret Secondary have all seen attendance drop below a threshold, triggering an alert to Interior Health to monitor the situation.
This information about letters home is not provided by Interior Health or the school district, but by an online forum and Facebook page created by concerned parents in B.C. called BC COVID School Tracker.
SD67 includes Summerland, Kaleden, Naramata and Penticton.
Manuel said he monitors each school’s attendance on a daily basis.
“In consultation with principals we monitor student attendance and if this is above a threshold [for absenteeism] I notify Interior Health,” he said.
“When a letter goes home it means I will continue to monitor attendance on a daily basis and families will be updated if additional actions are recommended.”
READ MORE: Another school monitored for low attendance
Last summer, SD67 upgraded all its ventilation and filters. What has been upgraded at each school is available on the school district’s website.
The board of education meeting is Monday evening, Jan. 31.
To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.
<>@PentictonNews
newstips@pentictonwesternnews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.