We have enjoyed seeing students and staff back in our schools for in-person learning. Districts across Oakland County continue to experience staffing shortages due to the pandemic. As COVID-19 cases continue to rise we are seeing the impact in our classrooms. We ask for the continued patience and support of our students, staff, and families as we navigate these difficult staffing shortages when we need to fill vacancies in the classrooms. Universal mask-wearing is a protocol in Royal Oak Schools, and it is being strictly enforced.
Substitute teachers are in very high demand. When our staff needs to be out of school we will work to fill those vacancies, but in some cases, it may be necessary to alter schedules or offerings. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding if those changes are made in your child's school.
In the coming days and weeks, it is possible that our district will experience some of the following:
- Interruption to before and after school care services
- Changes to programs and activities outside of the school day
- Postponed or cancelled events
It is also possible that a classroom or school may need to transition from in-person learning to virtual learning. We will treat this on a case-by-case scenario, based on many factors, including:
- Availability of staff to safely operate in-person learning in a school
- A high volume of positive COVID-19 cases within a given classroom or school
- Guidance by OCHD to go virtual based on local COVID-19 data
Families are encouraged to prepare for alternative childcare and transportation arrangements in the event that there are disruptions. Though these are not ideal situations, and we will do everything we can to avoid them, please know that our school and district administrative teams continue their unwavering commitment to offering exceptional learning experiences for our students during the school day. Daily, we closely monitor COVID-19 data by class, school, and the district.
Thank you for your continued support when it comes to the health and wellness of our Royal Oak Schools Community.