About 50% of Unit 5 employees have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine so far.
Speaking to the school board Wednesday night, Superintendent Kristen Weikle said staff vaccinations are “one more step to help us in the return to have more of our students return to in-person learning.”
Weikle said the district has been working with the McLean County Health Department (MCHD) to hold clinics exclusively for Unit 5 employees; 200 district employees received a shot last week, with 200 more scheduled for Thursday.
Weikle noted that some staff have reported side effects after receiving the vaccine. Side effects, ranging from a sore arm to flu-like symptoms, are common, but reportedly not dangerous (in fact, doctors say side effects are a good thing).
Weikle warned that with hundreds of employees being vaccinated at the same time, Unit 5 is preparing for the possibility of high numbers of staff absences.
Depending on the number of available substitutes, Weikle said, the district may have to institute remote learning days for individual schools.
“We are looking at every single option, but I do want to note as a last resort, we may have to make a call early in the morning and say, ‘Building X’ is going to have a remote instructional day,'” she said.
Weikle said the district continues to explore the possibility of returning to full-time, in-person learning for grades 6-12. Elementary students transitioned from hybrid to full-time, in-person instruction in early February.
Beginning this week, Unit 5 will send surveys to 6-12 teachers and families seeking feedback.
“I don’t have any doubt that everyone wants the kids back more days a week, but it’s a matter of what are people comfortable with, given the safety precautions that we’re able to put in place,” Weikle said.
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