Staying Open

As with other area school districts, the Aledo ISD is feeling the staff pinch from the latest surge in COVID-19 cases.

Nationally, statewide, and locally, the numbers of new reported cases are dwarfing previous surges in the summers of 2020 and 2021.

As case numbers rise, school districts and businesses are dealing with absent employees who have tested positive.

In Parker County, Weatherford ISD canceled classes for Jan. 19-21 due to a shortage of teachers and substitutes.

Several other school districts have closed one or more days due to lack of adequate staff to keep classes going.

So far, Aledo ISD has managed to stay open. On Monday, Jan. 17, AISD Superintendent Dr. Susan Bohn sent a letter to parents explaining the challenges the district is facing in terms of teachers, cafeteria personnel, and bus drivers.

The letter was in response to offers of help, and explains how to contact the district if someone is interested in helping as a substitute teacher, cafeteria food server, or bus driver.

Bohn said the district is utilizing substitutes whenever possible, and teachers are also filling in to assist in addition to members of the administration.

There is a process including fingerprinting and virtual training for people who are interested in working as substitute teachers. For more information, visit https://www.applitrack.com/aledo/onlineapp/.

Parents or community members who wish to help in cafeterias should contact Child Nutrition Director Patty Willhite at pwillhite@aledoisd.org or our Child Nutrition Secretary Renee Goodneough at rgoodenough@aledoisd.org.

School busses are an entirely different matter, as driving a school bus requires special training and a special license.

“Given the impact that illness is having on our bus drivers, it is very likely that we will have to combine bus routes at some time this week,” Bohn said in the letter.

Anyone who has a Texas Commercial Driver License (CDL) with Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) endorsements can apply to drive a bus or be a substitute bus driver at https://www.applitrack.com/aledo/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Transportation.

The Community News asked Dr. Bohn if there is a threshold at which classes could not continue.

“We analyze numbers every afternoon and evening and then in the morning in preparation for each school day. The needs for each campus, department and grade level vary so there are no thresholds set that would require closure,” Bohn said. “We have had a high number of absences and some staffing challenges as COVID-19 numbers continue to rise, but we have had substitutes, fellow teachers, and even non-teaching staff step up and into our classrooms to keep our kids learning.

“I am so grateful to be in a district where everyone is doing whatever it takes to support each other. While I know this can be stressful - and hopefully it is short term as we are already seeing absence numbers go down - it is also inspiring to see how our staff are supporting each other in this way.”