January 03, 2022
Dear District 118 Family:
I am writing to provide everyone with more specific information regarding the challenges we are facing as a district. Currently, we are struggling most in the areas of custodial support, food service, and COVID testing lags.
As of last night, we understood our challenges for today to be the following:
• Custodians 8 out
If we lose another head custodian, we are going to be in a position where we can’t
cover a building 1st shift.
• Food Service 10 out
o Entire team at Northeast Elementary
• Teachers 21 out
• Teaching Assistants 8 out
• Guidance/Social Workers
Nurses 5 out
• Secretaries 3 out
This morning we were notified of additional shortages:
• Bus Drivers 9 called out this morning
o This caused significant delays in service.
• Food Service
o We were notified by ISBE that we would not receive the December delivery
from the USDA due today because they are facing staffing challenges.
• Teachers
Additional 5 out totaling 2
Teaching Assistants
Additional 12 out totaling 20
• Guidance/Social Workers Nurses
Decreased by 1 totaling 4
• Secretaries
Additional 5 totaling 8
We have approximately 200 staff members who are mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education to participate in weekly COVID19 testing. With our local service providers facing similar staffing shortages, testing has become difficult to procure and there are increases in the
amount of time to receive results to report for work for the week.
While we know that new COVID cases are concerning, and the numbers are increasing, we will do our very best to attend in-person while adhering to the Illinois State Board of Education regulations, as well as those of the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Let’s all give our best effort to combat the effects of the virus so that we may reverse the impacts to our student’s learning and our schools. The well-being of our school community will always be our number one priority. If you have any COVID related questions, we have identified Mrs.
Danielle Montgomery, School Nurse, as our point of contact. She can be reached at 217-444-1603 or MontgomeryD@danville118.org.
We will stay in contact with you and provide more detailed information should the need for a change in learning modality arises. In the meantime, please stay healthy and safe.
Sincerely,
Dr. Alicia Geddis
Superintendent
