VIGO CO, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — One Vigo County school has gone to remote learning for the remainder of the week due to staffing shortages and COVID-19.
Rio Grande Elementary school was the first school to go virtual within the Vigo County School Corp. district in 2022. VCSC Interim Spokesperson Dr. Katelynn Liebermann said it was a decision made between the district and Rio Grande’s principal.
“We have to have staff in place to ensure we are effective and efficient in providing instruction. That’s one of the determining factors, it’s not a cookie cutter model,” she said. “It’s a collaborative conversation,”
Liebermann said as of right now there are no other schools planning to turn to remote learning.
Any school switching to remote learning will be done on a school-by-school basis. However, the district must report to the state when 20% of both students and teachers will be absent from the facility.
“That’s been an ongoing thing, not just because of COVID,” she stated.
Click here to view the Vigo County School Corporation’s COVID-19 dashboard. Both staff and students are seeing a decrease in cases and quarantines.
VCSC plans to continue in-person instruction as long as both staff and students remain safe.
“We do have an opportunity if families prefer a virtual experience for the students, they can use the Vigo Virtual Success Academy,” Liebermann added.
More bus drivers are returning to their regularly scheduled routes after an outbreak of COVID-19.
“We are wanting to make sure we implement the best practices and those mitigation efforts to stay in school in person each day,” she said. “That being shared, we do rely on the Vigo County Health Department and our COVID-19 task force.”
The district is looking to hire on more bus drivers and substitute teachers.
Rio Grande is expected to go back into in-person learning next week.
