With plans in place to wrap up the 2019-2020 school year, Gwinnett County Public Schools has brought back some personnel to the buildings to aid in the final days of instruction.
“We brought a few additional staff members (assistant principals and two additional clerical staff members) back to work this week to assist in the support of teachers and digital instruction, and the planning that is taking place for the remainder of this school year and the beginning of next year,” said spokeswoman Sloan Roach. “These staff will work rotating schedules as a means of keeping the number of people to a minimum.”
Some in the community expressed concerns that this goes against Gov. Brian Kemp’s mandate that no more than 10 people at a time be gathered at one business not deemed “essential.”
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“We estimate that at our very largest school there would be fewer than 30 people reporting (approximately 10 school nutrition program staff, 10 custodians, and eight leaders and support staff). As they are the only people in the building, social distancing will still be in effect and the leaders and support staff can do their work in offices apart from each other,” added Roach. “We have sensible safety measures and precautions in place to allow this small number of staff to return to service. We do not expect employees to put themselves or others at risk, and there are provisions in our employee leave policies for addressing any needs and concerns employees may have.”
The family of one staffer reached out to a local TV station concerned that their loved one was being placed in harm’s way.
“It’s frustrating, it’s disheartening to know that he would allow his employees to go to work knowing that this is an uncertain time,” they told the station.
The building in question is over 460,000 square feet, said Roach and everyone will be wearing personal protection equipment and remain more than six feet apart.
Although the governor’s office hasn’t classified school personnel as “essential,” Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks assured staff in a March 30 memo that education is vital to all communities.
“We work in public education and our nation’s long-term prosperity depends as much on our jobs as on those in the medical profession. This is a pivotal time when we either bow to fear and uncertainty, or continue to go about our lives and our work with courage, common sense, and optimism. I choose the latter path, and believe you would as well,” he said.
Roach stresssed that any employee who felt uncomfortable in the brick-and-mortar environment was encouraged to speak to the human resources department for alternative solutions.
When digital learning was begun during the pandemic, principals, stellar subs (employees who filled in for teachers), paraprofessionals and office staff were asked to report to the schools to help in the transition. They were moved to working remotely shortly after that, said Roach.
“In the beginning many of them didn’t have school district equipment to work from home. The plan in place allows for employees to stay safe while still serving the students.”
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