Shortage Of Subs Concerning, Black Horse Pike Schools Say

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Two students have tested positive for the coronavirus in the Black Horse Pike Regional School District, school officials said this week as they identified the metrics they are using to determine what, if any, changes need to be made to their return-to-school plan.

The district also said a shortage of certified substitute teachers is concerning, and noted that about 200 students have transferred from the district’s hybrid learning model to the remote learning model.

"It has been very difficult securing substitute certified teachers," the district said in a letter to parents. "We can sometimes fill a vacancy by having another certified teacher cover those classes, but only if their schedules allow. This is concerning to us."

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The number of teachers who are home on medical leave is greater than it has been in the past, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Repici told Patch.

About 28 staff members are operating fully remote, according to the district. Repici said the first 3-4 days of the school year were the most difficult, but it was starting to get better. It remains a concern, though.

“I understand why they don’t want to do it,” Repici said. “I think everyone’s in the same boat right now with sub-shortages.”

Repici that all teachers in the district are doing a “really great job,” in the situation.

“We’ve collaborated with the union, and the teachers have been great in terms of answering obligations in different scenarios,” Repici said.

The district also noted two cases of the coronavirus among students in its recent letter.

One student at Triton Regional High School was only exposed to an athletic team, according to Repici. That student attends school in-person one day a week, and had not been in the school around the time that they tested positive.

The other student also had not yet been to school, according to the district. No staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus.

“There are other students who have been in ‘close contact’ or have been a ‘contact of a contact,’” the district said. “Whenever we are notified or find out about potential exposure, we immediately consult with our nursing staff, school physician, and the Camden County Department of Health. The Department of Health provides guidance and direction as to who may be or who must be excluded from attending school. Either the Department of Health or the school will reach out directly to those families affected by potential exposure.”

There have been more than 40 notices of “close contacts” or “contacts of a contact,” according to the district. Most of these notices were of “contacts of a contact,” which presents the lowest risk for contracting the virus.

The district receives notices from the Department of Health, as well as from students, parents, staff members and members of the community.

“The Department of Health will dictate whether or not a school must close,” the district said. “In order for that not to happen, we need all students to stay home from school or extra-curricular activities if they are not feeling well, not adhering to social distancing, even with friends, or have been around someone else that has not been feeling well or social distancing. This will help safeguard everyone in our schools.”

The district, which consists of Triton, Timber Creek, and Highland regional high schools, reopened for the year with both 100 percent remote and hybrid learning models on Sept. 3. Read more here: Black Horse Pike Reopening Plan Includes Mostly Remote Learning

As of the end of the day on Sept. 18, an additional 203 students had switched from the hybrid learning to full remote-learning model, bringing the total number of students who are learning fully remote to 1,206 students.

See related: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know