When Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools made the decision to have all-virtual classes as of Nov. 19, the reason for that board vote centered on the lack of substitute teachers. Administrators told the board there were simply not enough adults to handle classrooms when teachers were ill or on quarantine due to exposure to one or more individuals testing positive for COVID-19.
The virtual classes will continue at least through Jan. 15. New board members will be sworn-in at the Jan. 13 meeting and a decision is expected on whether to remain all-virtual after Jan. 15.
That decision will be heavily influenced by how many substitute teachers are available. School officials were using every available person to cover classrooms needing a sub, including principals, assistant principals, counselors and central office administrators. Many teachers offered to give up their preparation periods to oversee classrooms without the regular teacher available.
But even with all that, the district was coming up short on providing enough substitutes. Superintendent Allen Bourff told the board his staff has been processing applicants as quickly as possible. Background checks are required, with the fee and amount of time needed to complete the check dependent on how many states must be checked in the process.
Some substitute teachers are retirees and many are hesitant to cover classrooms during the pandemic. Dr. Bourff told the board 54 percent of available substitute teachers have not been in a classroom during the pandemic. However, 46 percent of the subs have substitute taught at least once during the pandemic, many of them subbing more than once.
Dr. Bourff encouraged people in the local HSE community to apply for a substitute teaching position, saying that would be a big help in bringing students at the lower grade levels back to in-person learning.
Board President Michelle Fullhart asked Dr. Bourff to comment on local social media posts asserting that the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association, the local teachers union, is responsible for the district going to all-virtual classes. The association has input into district decisions per state law, but Dr. Bourff made clear the teachers’ union never forced the school corporation into any decision.