Staffing Protocol for when there are not enough Adults Available to Supervise Kids Onsite

 

We all knew one of the greatest challenges of COVID would be staffing, and we are really feeling this impact. Given  staffing challenges it is important that all families who send their children onsite have back up childcare. This is a common issue schools and workplaces are dealing with during this pandemic. It is very possible that some days there will not be enough adults available to operate the school safely. 

 

 

• Step 1: Rearrange internal coverage - AXIS has hired additional staff members to support internal coverage. 
• Step 2: Call in substitutes - Once additional staff members have been assigned to rooms and more adults are needed, we will call people on our sub list. Please consider signing up to be a sub, as substitutes are extremely difficult to find.
• Step 3: Cancel intervention and/or specials and use these teachers to cover.
• Step 4: Combine cohorts if possible - If there are still gaps in adults available to supervise children, AXIS will combine cohorts in the cafeteria or gym where students will be socially distanced and may receive remote learning onsite. This will likely be asynchronous learning. We will prioritize combining cohorts of older children, who can better follow the health guidelines and are more proficient at remote learning methods. Families will be notified so they can choose to keep their child home.
• Step 5: Implement schedule changes - If there are still gaps in adults available to supervise children, AXIS may be forced to have some students attend a half day schedule. 
• Step 6: Shift entire cohorts to remote learning offsite - If there are still gaps in adults available to supervise children, AXIS may have to close certain cohorts/classes. We may prioritize closing upper grades, as those students are more proficient at remote learning and often easier to support at home compared to children in kinder through 2nd grade. 
  • For preschool families: this may mean offering only a limited number of spots (12) in the preschool. Preschool families may be asked if their child can stay home that day, to help ensure that families who desperately need childcare can still have it. Families who are able to keep their child home will be given a credit on their Procare account for that day. 
• Step 7: School closure - If there are still gaps in adults available to supervise children, AXIS may have to close the school for a certain period of time.

We will do our best to notify families before 7:00am if we have to implement steps 4, 5, 6 or 7. AXIS staff are required to notify AXIS administration of an absence before 6:00am or ideally before 10:00pm the night before. This is required so that we can notify families in case of steps 4, 5, 6 or 7 below. Sometimes an emergency or illness may occur after 6:00am where a staff member cannot give us notice and children may have to be sent home during the day. We will do our best to avoid these wherever possible, but is important that families are prepared for this and have back up care in place. 

 

Interested in Becoming a Substitute Teacher for AXIS?

All substitute teachers must meet the following requirements: 

A bachelor’s degree (or higher) or a CDE Substitute Authorization (for those without a bachelor's degree).

Completion of the AXIS Online Employment Application. 

Successful completion and passage of a background check (you will receive the background check instructions after completing the Employment Application).