Stayton High School did not hold classes Friday, Jan. 14 because not enough staff and teachers were available to cover the classes.
“We had administrators from other buildings and the central office ready to cover, but new cases overnight meant that we could not cover all of the absences,” North Santiam School District Superintendent Andy Gardner told Our Town. “Staff who were not sick ended up reporting to work on Friday.”
Gardner said that the absences were caused by illness, including COVID-19, but he did not have a numerical breakdown.
Several teachers were tested for COVID by district staff, Gardner said, and “through results of the tests that staff came and took, we conclude that absences were related to illness, much of it COVID.”
Last Friday’s closure was the biggest COVID-related disruption in the district this school year. Gardner noted that in October, “two classrooms in Sublimity were moved to quarantine as a whole class due to community spread at that time.
“Given the five-day quarantines at present, the district plans on short-term shutdowns only if we do not have enough staff to run (a school). We have no plans to move to distance learning for any extended period of time, although we have reviewed a shift to distance learning if worst-case were to happen. We do not see that happening.”
Gardner also praised district teachers and staff for their flexibility during the pandemic.
“SHS staff have given up their prep time on countless occasions this year covering other staff absences so staff were able to use the time to plan,” he said. “I just want to emphasize to our communities that we have seen our teachers in the district really pitch in and help to keep kids in school. We appreciate their work and commitment.”
The closing of the school on Friday did not affect extra-curricular activities. The doubleheader boys and girls basketball games at Cascade went forward as scheduled.
