Weekly Communique
December 3, 2021
Thoughts from Dr. Pacatte
Staff Shortages Continue and Could Impact Your Family.
Over the recent weeks we have struggled with staffing our buildings on a daily basis. This is not necessarily a result of us not being able to fill positions, but more a result of absences in the positions we have filled. Teachers and staff still get sick and have life events that require them to be absent. When our staff’s young children are sent home from their schools because they’re ill or required to quarantine, their parents (our staff) also have to stay home to care for them. With limited availability of substitutes, that makes operating the school very difficult. There are uncovered classrooms in all four schools, daily. Administrators are substitute teaching, doing playground and lunch duty.
With every licensed driver and substitute driver on the road, we are operating without back up personnel. Every transportation department employee is on the road. You may be reaching out to the transportation department and have to leave a voicemail message as we don’t have additional personnel available to keep their office open. All transportation staff are licensed drivers and are on the road. We are now looking for ways to consolidate a route or two to free up a driver so cancelling a route in an unexpected absence won’t be necessary. As of today, it may be necessary for us to cancel a bus route at the last minute should a driver call in sick. We would notify parents asap and at that point there would be two options: 1) parents drive their student in to school OR 2) have your student wait one or two hours after the original bus pick up time for a late run.
I am including our most recent vacancy list. If you or anyone you know is interested in working in the schools, please share this information with them. If you or anyone you know is willing to consider spending even one day a month subbing in one of our schools, it would help. Included in this communique is new information on how to become a licensed substitute teacher in Illinois. They have recently adjusted the requirements in response to the shortage. Interested people are required to hold either an Associates (60+ hours) or Bachelor’s degree to complete the process. District 56 will reimburse the $50.00 registration fee if you complete the process and sub for us at least twice!
Illinois State Board of Education
Covid-19 Update
Tweet of the Week
What's for lunch in December
Digital Literacy at Prairie Trail School
5th grade students learning about tsunamis in digital literacy and then using skills in keynote to create visual infographics.
Relays at Spaulding School
Viking Drama
Viking Drama is putting on Emma - A Pop Musical this weekend. The show will be live streamed Friday night at 7pm and replayed Saturday night at 7pm. Tickets for the live stream are available at https://d56.anywhereseat.com/
Gurnee Park District
Winter Break Days Off School
Stay busy all winter break long with our Days Off School programs! Each day includes activities such as games, crafts, outdoor fun, and MORE centered around a daily theme. Programs take place at our Hunt Club Park Community Center (6:30am-6:00pm) all winter break long! Sign up today; spaces are limited!
Message from the CAPS of Lake County IL
Family First Center Toys for Tots Marine Corp Reserve
Community Christmas Concert
Adler Arts Center for December
Gurnee School District 56
Email: returningstudent@d56.org
Website: www.d56.org
Location: 3706 West Florida Avenue, Gurnee, IL, USA
Phone: 847-336-0800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GurneeD56
Twitter: @GurneeD56