District 11 attributes substitute shortage to high school shifting to remote learning

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Thomas B. Doherty High School and William J. Palmer High School District 11 are now utilizing remote learning in their entirety after multiple students tested positive for COVID-19.

District 11 leaders say a shortage of substitute teachers was a big factor in the decision to shift Doherty High School to remote learning.

"Doherty had two positive unrelated cases," says Devra Ashby, Chief Communication Director for District 11. "Because of the lack of substitute teachers they were operationally challenged.”

Leaders at Academy District 20 say they've recently had to shut down four of five of their traditional high schools for the same reason.

"We’re facing the challenge of teachers going into quarantine, then we can’t find enough substitute teachers or guest staff, so we have to send everyone to e-learning," says Allison Cortez, Chief Communication Officer for District 20.

District 20 says they have about 600 substitutes in its pool of substitutes, many of whom are subs for other districts. District 11 says they have about 460 in their pool, as well.

But when push comes to shove, many of them are scared to fill in at a school that has had an outbreak.

“We’ve had at least 70 come to us and say, 'We don’t want to sub this year,'" says Ashby. "Rightfully so, a lot of them are in a high-risk category.”

District 11 says their saving grace in this situation - is that it’s happening at their high schools.

“For high school students, it’s usually not as big of a deal," says Ashby. "High school students can work remotely on their own, they don’t need a lot of supervision."

Students in quarantine at Doherty and Palmer High School will return to campus on November 10. In the meantime, both districts are hoping to fill in the gaps that COVID-19 has left in their sub pool.

“If you’ve ever been called to sub teach at a school that sent groups to quarantine, it's still very safe," says Cortez. "We’ve gotten all of the potential positive cases out, they’re in isolation, they’re in quarantine. If you’ve ever thought about being a sub, now is the time."

Two staff members at District 11’s North Administration building also tested positive for Covid-19.

The building will continue operating as it has been, at 50% capacity.