'We are seeing an uptick': TVDSB battling staffing absences as schools close
CTV
The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) closed two of its school in London, Ont. Friday amid staffing issues.
The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) closed two of its school in London, Ont. Friday amid staffing issues.
The one day closures impact Lambeth and Sir Issac Brock Public Schools.
At the latter, a Thursday night email to parents wasn’t caught by Elizabeth Are.
She was surprised when told by CTV News that her daughter, Comfort, would not have classes Friday. “What? Really? Nobody told me. Is it because of COVID?”
While a TVDSB news release does not specify COVID-19 as the reason for the closures, associate director of education Jeff Pratt concedes the virus is broadly impacting the school system. “Can’t link it directly to COVID, but certainly that is a part of, what is driving these absences.”
Pratt says the sick list for staff and students is growing. It is a worry acknowledged in a tweet by the board’s chair, Lori-Ann Pizzolato, who stated 400 daily staff absences are “not sustainable”. “We are seeing an uptick, especially in the last week or two, of absences,” says Pratt.
