CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The head of the state’s second-largest school district said hundreds of teachers were out sick Tuesday, forcing him to close five of the district’s schools.
“Kids need to be in school,” said Elgin School District U-46 Supt. Tony Sanders.
Sanders said he does not plan to shut down his entire school system unless “absolutely necessary.” That’s why five of the district’s schools were shut down Monday while 52 remained open.
“We have actually 529 [staff] absences. Of those, 394 are teachers and, out of those teaching positions that are vacant, 178 were unfilled,” Sanders continued.
The superintendent said the way he handled the shortage in staff is to dispatch out to classrooms administrators, substitute teachers and teachers who do not have assigned classes.
“That’s the challenge that we’re facing along with many other school districts,” Sanders said, adding that the spike in COVID-19 cases after this winter break is likely to beat last winter’s.
In the meantime, Sanders said his staff is doing what it can to reopen schools that had to be closed because of staffing issues today.
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