TEWKSBURY — As state officials continue to claim that rates of in-school coronavirus transmission in Massachusetts are low, an increasing amount of school staff members in Tewksbury are out on leave, according to Superintendent of Schools Chris Malone.
“Typically, at any point during the school year, we might have around 14 staff members or about 5% of the staff out on leave, due to maternity, illness or other things of that nature,” Malone said during a virtual School Committee meeting last week. “Right now, we’re between two and three times that amount.”
Additionally, Malone said that because an even larger number of staff members have been out due to accommodations regarding child care, the American Disabilities Act or because they were identified as being in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, the impact of the pandemic is reaching about 26% of their staff.
As a result, Malone said the district needs to keep a close eye on the number of teachers out on leave, as it will have a direct impact on the town’s ability to keep kids in school.
“Our concern is, at some point, how does that affect our ability to supervise the number of students that are in person?” he said. “That’s a piece we’re going to have to watch closely.”
That issue may become even more pertinent in the months to come, as Gov. Charlie Baker reiterated earlier this month his eagerness to get kids back to in-school learning, repeating claims that the coronavirus doesn’t spread in schools.
Still, Malone said many teachers out on leave have been able to work well remotely and praised them for their efforts.
“The staff is doing a great job with instruction,” he said. “They really are doing fantastic. Hats off to them.”
According to the latest coronavirus data released by the town on Nov. 19, Tewksbury had 144 active, confirmed cases.
