Lewis County Infection Rates
Lewis County is currently experiencing the largest increase in COVID cases to date. The effect on our schools has been dramatic. From September 1, 2021 to December 17, 2021, TSD recorded 102 COVID positive cases. We have recorded 87 cases in the first three weeks of January. The result is a shortage of staff, substitutes and student absences. On Monday, January 17, we did not have enough drivers to transport students and made the decision to switch to remote instruction.
Moving Forward
Thanks to the hard work of our remaining drivers and our administrators, we have called every family that uses bus service to determine their ability to transport students to school or to an alternate bus stop. Thankfully, most parents are able to make this work. As a result, we will be announcing "Short Staff Routes" later today. These routes will come just in time as we do not expect our drivers to be well enough to return to work for some time yet. Short Staff Routes will enable us to return to in-person instruction on Monday January 24, but it will create additional traffic and congestion at our schools. We ask that parents transporting be patient and watchful for pedestrians when dropping off and picking up students.
Staffing Concerns
We are grateful to the many community members who have indicated interest in substituting and we still need more people. Some folks can only work for very limited times. We still need substitute drivers and paraeducators. As I write this, we have 11 staff members in quarantine. We also have several positions that we cannot fill. Being able to get students to school will do no good unless we have people on hand to work with them when they arrive. Please consider signing up with Teachers on Call to become a paraeducator substitute.
Masking at Games
During this spike in infections, we are doing our best to continue to operate athletics. I have noticed an increase in the number of folks who are choosing not to wear a mask while in the gym. These spectators aren't forgetting to wear their mask properly. They do not have a mask at all. We have found that it is not safe to approach these people to ask them to mask up. Staff are usually met with hostility and opposition. We are choosing to politely provide masks and announce a reminder. Please accept this as a reminder that we have already canceled games multiple times this season and that our players play without masks. If you are against wearing masks, please watch the game on NFHS and help us protect the kids' season. Thank you.
