Name: N.H. School Superintendents Warn Lawmakers About Staff And Budget Shortfalls
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N.H. School Superintendents Warn Lawmakers About Staff And Budget Shortfalls

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Superintendents across New Hampshire are warning of budget shortfalls and staff shortages as they navigate the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking to members of the House and Senate Education committees on Wednesday, district leaders praised schools for figuring out how to reopen safely and provide services to families, but they said community frustration with schools is high, and staff shortages could force schools to go remote all over again. Substitute teacher shortages have plagued New Hampshire for years, but with COVID-19 safety protocols requiring any student or teacher with any symptom of the coronavirus to remain home, substitutes are in even greater demand. White Mountains Regional School District Superintendent Marion Anastasia said school leaders were scrambling every day to find enough substitute teachers. "This shortage could literally shut us down if we don't have teachers, paraprofessionals, nurses, bus drivers and cooks for students and custodians to keep our schools safe and clean," she warned. New Hampshire schools have received over $34 million in federal coronavirus relief aid, but district leaders say many schools will need more than their allotted amounts to pay for proper HVAC systems and air filters, PPE, cleaning supplies, and technology, some of which are still on back order. “I haven’t figured out how this will play out in the [2022] budget yet, but if the costs are similar to this year, we simply do not have the money, nor do our communities,” continued Anastasia. Some schools are aiming to transition from hybrid to fully in-person models later this fall, if their facilities can accommodate social distancing measures and meet other safety protocols. But rising COVID-19 case numbers in some areas of the state and the onset of cold and flu season are causing other districts to reconsider full reopening plans. Andover and Merrimack Valley Superintendent Mark MacLean urged lawmakers to find relief for families whose kids are in hybrid or remote models. “We are hearing on a daily basis that hybrid and remote models are not matching with the needs are families have to be gainfully employed, and we’re caught in the middle,” he said. MacLean and others also noted the state’s current quarantine rules – which require people who have travelled outside of New England to quarantine upon return – are forcing many to decide between seeing family members for the holidays and quarantining from school for weeks. “We have folks telling us that they haven't seen their parents since last March,” he said, “And there's a sentiment that people want to connect with family, especially with the upcoming holiday season.” Tags:&nbsp;The coronavirus pandemic has upended the education system across the country, and in New Hampshire.&nbsp; NHPR’s “COVID &amp; the Classroom” tells the stories of how Granite Staters are weighing the necessity of employment and school with the realities of the pandemic. And we want to hear from you.State health officials are doubling down on their for dealing with potential COVID-19 cases, in spite of criticism that the recommendations are too strict. The state says students with any new or unexplained COVID-19 symptoms should immediately be sent home and referred to their physician for COVID-19 testing.Some of the state's largest school districts – including Concord and Manchester - are moving from a largely remote model of instruction to a hybrid later this month. Many schools in New Hampshire have already been experimenting with the hybrid system for several weeks, with varying degrees of success.&nbsp;NHPR is continuing to cover the developing story around coronavirus in New Hampshire. Bookmark this page for the latest updates, including case numbers and other important news of the day. for all of our COVID-19 coverage.

Superintendents across New Hampshire are warning of budget shortfalls and staff shortages as they navigate the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking to members of the House and Senate Education committees on Wednesday, district leaders praised schools for figuring out how to reopen safely and provide services to families, but they said community frustration with schools is high, and staff shortages could force schools to go remote all over again. Substitute teacher shortages have plagued New Hampshire for years, but with COVID-19 safety protocols requiring any student or teacher with any symptom...

N.H. School Superintendents Warn Lawmakers About Staff And Budget Shortfalls

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