More than 1000 BPS staff called out sick on Tuesday
Oh boy….all hands on deck…
Tuesday was the first day back for Boston Public Schools after Christmas break and more than 1000 teachers and staff members called out sick.
According to CBS Local, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brenda Cassellius there are 461 classroom teachers among the 1,000 sick calls – although not all of the absences are COVID related.
Cassellius added that 42 schools in the city are dealing with 20% of their staff members being out. About 60 central office staff members are working in schools Tuesday to help with the teacher shortage. There are also 52 bus drivers out sick.
Cassellius stated the goal is to keep students in the classroom for in-person learning whenever possible. But she also added that due to the staffing shortages, schools will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
Wow!! That’s a huge amount of people who are out sick with the Covid-19 virus. The fact that 40% of people here in the United States are not vaccinated against Covid-19 at all, while not the majority of people, really does set a dangerous precedent. Unvaccinated and under-vaccinated people not only put themselves at risk but they put others at risk, as well. This is precisely why the Covid-19 vaccinations should’ve been made mandatory for people who are able to get the vaccines (as the polio and other vaccines were), so that herd immunity would be reached.
While vaccines are not 100% affective, they do save lives, by keeping people out of the hospitals, and out of horrific intubations, and/or deaths.
Gov. Charlie Baker should’ve implemented a state-wide indoor mask mandate, as well. It was a mistake for him not to.