Families received phone calls early Tuesday morning when the district found out around 4 a.m. that there would not be enough bus drivers to get all the students to school in District 308.
About 1/3 of the 100 school bus employees did not show up, both drivers and monitors, and there’s no clear reason why.
“I got the call and what was going on, you know, they didn’t really give us a reason at first and then we found out that everybody’s gonna be remote,” said Marcy Turnquist, Oswego parent. “We just kind of went with the flow.
In the state’s seventh largest school district, with some 17,500 students, officials prioritized getting elementary school students to school as they did not have a remote learning plan in place. By contrast, contingency plans are in place for junior high school and high schools students, who all have Chromebooks to keep them connected.
Still, everyone was caught off guard, and not particularly happy.
“The teachers were surprised, they didn’t really know what they were going to do, they didn’t know what they were going to teach us today because they already had plans for in school,” said Cameran Guzman, junior high school student.
District officials though they would have more drivers back on duty, but were not sure. There is speculation the absences could be related to the governor’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, but the district said drivers do not have to show proof of vaccination or submit to a testing regimen until next week.
Like other school districts around the state, District 308 has been short-staffed for bus drivers since the beginning of the year, reflective of a larger labor shortage.
In an email to parents Tuesday night, Superintendent John Sparlin said, “At this point we anticipate a normal school day.” But a similar situation could crop up again, he said, and parents should be prepared to transport students, including their youngest, to class, or if they’re older to have them connect remotely.
Elementary school students unable to get a ride would be provided make-up material. Upperclassmen not participating in remote learning would be given an unexcused absence.
“I would definitely like to avoid remote learning,” said Kristin Parr, parent. “I think kids need to be back in school, I think they’re doing better back in school.”
“I think tomorrow will be better, teachers will be more prepared, but I am hoping we are able to get back because remote is definitely not ideal,” said Jacqueline Enghdal, student.
The first communications that school would not go as planned came out in the middle of the night, and it’s not out of the question for Wednesday, so it could be an uneasy night for parents and students.
Reading: Oswego District 308 school bus drivers call out of work, sending some students to remote learning
OSWEGO, Ill. ( WLS ) — Dozens of school bus topology drivers in Oswego called out of knead Tuesday, hobbling the school change and even sending some students home for distant learning.Families received telephone calls early Tuesday morning when the zone found out around 4 ante meridiem that there would not be enough bus drivers to get all the students to school in District 308.About 1/3 of the 100 school bus employees did not show up, both drivers and monitors, and there ‘s no clear reason why. “ I got the call and what was going on, you know, they did n’t actually give us a rationality at beginning and then we found out that everybody ‘s gon sodium be distant, ” said Marcy Turnquist, Oswego rear. “ We merely kind of went with the flow.In the submit ‘s seventh largest school district, with some 17,500 students, officials prioritized getting elementary school students to school as they did not have a distant teach plan in set. By contrast, eventuality plans are in place for junior high school and high schools students, who all have Chromebooks to keep them connected.Still, everyone was caught off guard, and not particularly felicitous. “ The teachers were surprised, they did n’t truly know what they were going to do, they did n’t know what they were going to teach us today because they already had plans for in school, ” said Cameran Guzman, junior high school student.District officials though they would have more drivers bet on on duty, but were not sure. There is meditation the absences could be related to the governor ‘s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, but the district said drivers do not have to show proof of inoculation or submit to a testing regimen until following week.Like other school districts around the state, District 308 has been short-handed for bus topology drivers since the beginning of the year, reflective of a larger undertaking shortage.In an e-mail to parents Tuesday night, Superintendent John Sparlin said, “ At this point we anticipate a normal school sidereal day. ” But a like situation could crop up again, he said, and parents should be prepared to transport students, including their youngest, to class, or if they ‘re older to have them connect remotely.Elementary school students ineffective to get a ride would be provided makeup substantial. Upperclassmen not participating in distant determine would be given an unexcused absence. “ I would decidedly like to avoid outback learn, ” said Kristin Parr, parent. “ I think kids need to be back in school, I think they ‘re doing better second in school. “ “ I think tomorrow will be better, teachers will be more train, but I am hoping we are able to get back because outside is decidedly not ideal, ” said Jacqueline Enghdal, student.The first communications that school would not go as planned came out in the in-between of the night, and it ‘s not out of the interrogate for Wednesday, so it could be an uneasy night for parents and students .
