Mid-Buch Reopening Plan (8-23-20)

Mid-Buch Reopening Plan (8-23-20)

Growing uncertainity as the start of the school year approaches for districts in northwest missouri tonight... good sunday evening i'm ron johnson.

There's a lot of things that can go wrong this school year.

Virtual learning and in-person classes all while the pandemic carries on.

Kq2's madeline mcclain shares what one local school administrator says is his biggest fear heading into this year.

<<script:mid-buchanan public schools -- like other area schools -- will require face masks on day 1.jay albright, mid-buch superintendent: we recognize that's a contentious issue across the nation but again it's all about keeping our doors open because we really want to have our kids here and be on site for instruction."

Mid-buch superintendent jay albright doesn't have time to worry about the politics of masks.he's got bigger things on his mind.like having enough subs.jay albright, mid-buch superintendent: "that's probably one of my biggest fears in regards to keeping our doors open."there's been a substitute teacher shortage across the nation & in missouri for years.jay albright, mid-buch superintendent: "finding subs has been difficult for a lot of years.

I've been in a principal or superintendent position for a total of about 14 or 15 years and it's always been a struggle."the coronavirus crisis has compounded the shortage.jay albright, mid-buch superintendent:"we recognize that with the pandemic, we started receiving calls from some of our subs that were just like, 'hey, not comfortable coming back,' and we saw that list starting to dwindle."last week -- state education officials passed an emergency rule relaxing the requirements to be a sub.

Before individuals needed to have 60 hours of college credit.today -- they just need to complete a 20-hour online sub training -- and have a high school diploma.that happened within 24-hours of mid-buch officials coming up with their own strategy.jay albright, mid-buch superintendent: we are jumping from $90 to $105 dollars a day."they bumped up pay.jay albright, mid-buch superintendent: if it's a certificated teacher or a retired teacher that still has a valid certificate, they would go from $90 to $125 a day.albright says he's hoping it will help mid-buch fill a solid second string of subs willing to help.jay albright: we hoped would maybe encourage people to reach out to us and jump on our sub list."

Reporting in faucett, madeline mcclain kq2 news.>> the state board's emergency rule goes into effect on september 2nd.