Staffing shortages linked to coronavirus in Georgetown County School District

GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - There are 66 staff members in the Georgetown County School District who either have COVID-19 or are in quarantine.

As a result, district officials say schools will continue remote learning next week due to staffing shortages.

The district’s COVID-19 dashboard shows 28 staff members tested positive for coronavirus and 38 are in quarantine as of Wednesday.

District officials say barring unforeseen circumstances they plan to resume hybrid instruction for the following week beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 19 but that could change. Monday, Jan. 18 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a holiday.

The safety director for the district says when bus drivers, cafeteria workers and custodians are not able to work it impacts the ability for the district to resume in-person instruction. Teachers can teach from home virtually while students are in the classroom.

District officials say they rated high in all metrics in last week’s DHEC report for disease activity.

While some parents say they don’t believe students should return to school later this month due to safety reasons, others would like to return and fear their children will get behind in school with long-term virtual learning.

“The younger ages are very important they don’t have that foundation that the high schoolers have,” parent Katherine Bond said. “Fifth grade and sixth grade just set the foundation for middle school we want to make sure that we’re not falling behind.”

This month the school board will consider allowing elementary school children to attend school four days a week.

The district says all winter sports competitions and spring sports conditioning have been suspended until Jan. 19.