‘Temporary measure’ amid staffing shortage

Victoria E. Freile and Sean Lahman

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle USA TODAY NETWORK on 1/6/22 on page A2

The Rochester City School District announced that it would pivot to remote learning beginning Thursday, Jan 6. Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small said the suspension of in-person classes was necessary due to the rising number of staff absences and a shortage of substitutes.

“I would imagine Rochester isn’t going to be the only district to make these shifts,” the superintendent said at a press briefing Wednesday afternoon.

For many Monroe County schools, 2022 sure feels a lot like 2020.

Most schools opened in-person Monday for their spring semester start, others shifted to remote learning and a growing number of other schools seem to be considering the shift to remote learning amid the omicron-fueled surge in coronavirus infections and subsequent staffing shortages.