OMAHA- Leaders from the Nebraska State Education Association adopted a resolution that aimed at pushing the governor to take a a more aggressive approach to the pandemic. They are calling on the governor to impose mask mandates, limit outdoor gatherings and temporarily close bars. They also want a lower density of students in the classroom and in cafeterias, when masks are off, especially.
Nebraska schools are now in an all-hands-on-deck situation with administrators covering classrooms and college students substitute teaching during their winter break. Teaching students are being recruited to work after Thanksgiving during the extended winter break many colleges have. The Principal at Pine Creek Elementary in Bennington, NE has been subbing a few times a week, which is leaving her to do all duties of a principal at night.
Finding substitute teachers is a seemingly impossible task right now, especially if the school is on hybrid learning. COVID-19 has only worsened the problem that schools have been speaking about for years now. If schools want to stay open, they need more teachers. Districts have now been forced to work with college students to get the license to substitute teach. This helps college students build their resume while being paid and it helps the schools out during this high-pressure time.
“They [college students] now can literally work every day until they come back to the university, which is a good two months,” said Sara Skretta, certification officer at UNL.