Schools cope with staff shortages

BRADFORD—Like many school districts around the region, Oxbow Unified Union School District faces staffing challenges during the COVID-19 era. But with an increase in the number of absences taken by regular teachers and staff combined with a reduced pool of substitutes to draw from, it’s likely the problems will only get worse as flu and cold season peaks.
The number of absences during the first six weeks of the school year has been “exponentially” higher than in previous years, Orange East Supervisory Union Human Resources Director Melanie Elliott told school board members during a presentation on Oct. 21.