EDUCATION NEWS
COVID-19 pandemic complicates finding subs for teachers BY ERIC INGLES eingles@saukvalley.com The area’s pool of substitute teachers already was getting pretty shallow. Now comes COVID-19, which could result in more teachers using sick days and more subs needed in the classrooms. “We had trouble last year, before this even started,” said Bob Sondgeroth, superintendent of the Lee-Ogle-Whiteside Regional Office of Education. “It’s a statewide issue. There is a shortage of substitute teachers.” What was a shortage to begin with will be exacerbated by the likelihood of teachers falling ill. Districts are doing symptom screenings and tem-
perature checks at the door at the start of a school day; staff members who test positive or show symptoms will find themselves in quarantine for up to 2 weeks or more, which means someone else will have to step into the classroom. Sondgeroth is asking anyone interested in being a sub who has a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution to sign up through the regional office. Those with associate degrees from an accredited institution also can sign for short-term sub work, which means working in one classroom for 5 days. The ROE pool was stretched even thinner by districts that have hired full-time subs just to be in the building, on call, Sondgeroth said. “I understand. I think that’s a really good idea for them, because you never know when a teacher has to leave,” he said. “To have a sub in the building is fantastic.” The Chadwick-Milledgeville School District is hoping to head off some potential problems. Monday, its board voted to raise sub pay to
$110 per day, in an effort to attract them at a time when they might be hard to find. Other districts are planning ahead, too. “I think we’ve called about every sub on the list to try to add to that pool as best we can,” Rock Falls High School Superintendent Ron McCord said. “We have a couple ... who sub all the time who will not be in due to this situation and their own health risks. It’s going to be a challenge from day one.” Sterling Superintendent Tad Everett built a lot of flexibility into this district’s reopening plan with the knowledge that things could change, especially if teachers and staff fall ill. “If we get enough teachers that are ill that we can’t replace them in the in-school learning environment, we may be forced to go remotely,” Everett said. “Those are all things we’re going to have to be flexible and fluid with.” From district to district, there are different COVID-19 procedures in
place, and Sondgeroth is instructing subs to ask each district what those procedures are. “If I’m a substitute, that’s the first thing I ask when I walk in to a building: Where are the wipes, what should I be doing, how do I wipe things down, what are your rules for the masks?” he said. “Our health departments have been amazing. Lee, Ogle and Whiteside County health departments have worked with our administrators. They’ve been on many Zoom meetings with our administrators.” There is another Zoom meeting next week to go over Illinois Department of Public Health school guidelines issued a week ago that left a lot of the details up to local health departments. Sondgeroth and school district and health department administrators will go over their plans. The ROE office is at 1001 St. Mary’s Street in Sterling. Call 815-625-1495 for more information on signing up for sub work.
The Polo Chamber of Commerce Chili Cook Off that was schedule for Saturday, Sept. 26 is canceled this year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Business after Hours If you are interested and would like to host a Business after Hours or Breakfast before Business call the Chamber at 815-946-3131.
Dinner Cancelled The Polo Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner the last Monday of September is canceled.
inees should consistently show civic leadership through volunteerism and service to their community. Services provided to the community should be based on volunteerism outside of the nominee’s normal employment duties. Those wishing to nominate a candidate that they feel is deserving of these prestigious awards can send in your contact information, the nominee information and the reason you feel the candidate is deserving of this prestigious award to the Polo Chamber of Commerce at P.O. Box 116, Polo, IL 61064
Citizen of Year, Volunteer of Year Each year the Polo Chamber of Commerce recognizes one Polo citizen as the Citizen of the Year and one citizen as the Volunteer of the Year. Eligible nom-
Weekly Events Kids Café lunch has begun on Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to noon at the First United Methodist Church.
Get the Word Out Contact The Polo Chamber of Commerce at 815-946-3131, polochamber@ gmail.com or mail to P.O. Box 116, Polo, IL 61064.
On April 17, 1949 in southern Illinois, she was united in marriage to Samual Johnston. Samual and Katherine celebrated over 58 years of marriage before his passing in January of 2012. She retired from the United States Postal Service after over 30 years. Katherine was a very kind woman,
enjoyed dancing and doing crossword puzzles, and her strong will was admired by most. She and her late husband raised their grandchildren, opened a restaurant and volunteered with many organizations, including the Masonic Lodge and the Camping Club. Survivors include her son, Dennis
(Laura) Johnston of Florida; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Samual; daughter, Paula Mason; three sisters, Marguerite, Betty and Mary Louise; and three brothers, Bill Jo, Phillip and Lawrance. Visit www.polofamilyfuneralhome. com to send condolences.
POLO CHAMBER CHATTER 50-50 Raffle Tickets The Polo Chamber is selling 50-50 raffle tickets from the Car Show that was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Tickets are available at Scholl Insurance Agency, Inc., Chesty P’s, Jeff Refs, Haldane Custom, and First State Bank. Please stop by one of these businesses to purchase your tickets. Thank you for supporting the local businesses and the Polo Chamber of Commerce. The drawing will be at 4 p.m. Sept. 26 at Louise Quick Park, 102 W. Mason St. Jeff & Joe’s First Annual Jeep Jamboree, Saturday, Sept 26, 1 to 5 p.m. Downtown Polo. Sponsored by Jeff’s Refs and Chesty P’s. Free drawing for shirts at 4 p.m. Chili Cook Off
OBITUARY KATHERINE G. JOHNSTON POLO – Katherine Grace Johnston, 88 ,of Polo, passed away Wednesday, August 19, 2020, at her home surrounded by family. Katherine was born June 24, 1932, in Dahlgren, the daughter of Clarence and Flora Bennett.
Town Wide Garage Sales Garage Sales will be Sept. 26. Be sure to visit the local downtown business’s while visiting the garage sales.
Certificates of Recognition The Polo Chamber of Commerce would like to issue Certificates of Recognition to any Polo Chamber of Commerce business members who are celebrating five years of being in business, or those with five-year increments of being in business in Polo.
OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com • Friday, August 28, 2020
ROE putting out the call for substitute teachers
13
