Staff Shortages Prompt Lakeland To Change Reopening Plans

SHRUB OAK, NY — The Lakeland school district in Shrub Oak will not be reopening school in fall using a hybrid learning model. Superintendent Brendan Lyons said Thursday in a Facebook post that the district has changed its Sept. 8 opening to 100 percent remote learning.

"As you know, we were looking to open using a hybrid learning model," he wrote. "However, in the last few weeks, we have received numerous requests for leaves of absences for medical and other personal reasons such as childcare from all our schools and departments."

Lyons said, coupled with the expected absences due to sickness as well as required absences because of daily employee coronavirus screenings, it became apparent that the schools would not be able to open with enough staff and supervision in order to maintain health, safety and a productive learning environment.

Many area school districts' decision to go 100 percent remote also causes a domino effect on other districts such as Lakeland, and staff encountered childcare issues, Lyons said.

Instruction will begin Sept. 8 remotely and will continue that way until Oct. 13.

Lyons said that, between now and Oct. 13, the district will work on resolving staffing issues in the hope that classes can transition to a hybrid model at that time.

"We are keenly aware that this change will result in challenges for some families and I apologize for this hardship, and late notices," he said. "However, we can not justify having students arrive at schools each day without assurances of adequate staffing."

During remote learning, students will have set schedules for the school day, with live instruction, group work and engagement as well as pre-recorded content via streaming.

Lakeland joins Poughkeepsie, Ossining, Clarkstown and Nyack, among others, that have decided to begin the 2020-21 school year using remote instruction.

Information on the 100 percent remote learning model for the Lakeland school district, go here.

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