Lack of subs cited as CCS cancels classes Friday

    Citing a lack of substitute teachers to cover classrooms, Supt. Adam Lambert said there will be no classes at Chase County Schools this Friday and only K-6 students will attend on Thursday.
    “We didn’t have enough subs to cover all of our absent teachers,” Lambert said.
    Thursday’s schedule became an issue after the addition of the rescheduled high school SPVA Track Meet that day to the junior high SPVA meet CCS was already scheduled to host.
    Perkins County was scheduled to host the high school SPVA meet last Friday, but weather forced postponement after only a few events were completed.
    Lambert said the majority of CCS grade 7-12 students will be involved in the track meets, and enough teachers could cover K-6 classes, freeing up 7-12 teachers to also help work at the track meets.
    Friday was “the perfect storm,” Lambert added.
    “The amount of classrooms still open after subs have signed up to work we just couldn’t cover,” he said.
    When asked what the events were taking teachers away Fridy, Lambert said he can’t speak to leave requests since that falls under personnel matters.
    “But there is a mix of personal and sick leave and not enough subs to cover,” he said.
    He noted there are two long-term CCS subs currently working for two teachers on maternity leave, as well, “which has cut into our sub pool.”
    Lambert said they have “worked extremely hard” all year to not call off school.  
    “It’s definitely not ideal and we understand the burden on families.  We will continue to work hard in hopes that this won’t happen the rest of the year,” he said.
    In most cases if a class or two or even three couldn’t be covered by a certified sub, then it would be filled internally with teachers covering those classes during their planning periods, he said.  
    “Principals, counselors, the curriculum director and activities director have also filled in quite a bit when classrooms needed subs,” he said.
    He encouraged patrons, if interested in getting their substitute teaching certificate, to contact the school.
    The current sub teacher rate is $120 per day.