Mid-Prairie suspends pre-K program

A sharp increase in faculty absences at Mid-Prairie West Elementary School has prompted the district to suspend its pre-kindergarten program at least through next week.

During an emergency meeting Wednesday night, the Mid-Prairie school board made the unanimous decision to suspend the pre-K program effective Thursday morning.

Superintendent Mark Schneider reported that, on Wednesday, 18 teachers and paraprofessionals were absent at West Elementary alone.

He said that with so many teacher absences, it becomes difficult to find enough substitutes to cover classes.

'Over 40 percent of teachers and paraprofessionals were absent for reasons beyond their control,” Superintendent Mark Schneider told the board. 'When you have that many staff members, it becomes a chess game.”

West Elementary Principal Bill Poock explained that, by suspending the pre-K classes, it frees up three certified teachers and three paraprofessionals to help cover absences in other classes.

The district has six half-day pre-K classes, all housed at West Elementary. The pre-K program is a voluntary program for 3-and-4-year olds.

Schneider said that he and the district's principals discussed several options on Wednesday.

'Our recommendation is a short-term option to allow the illness to mitigate,” Schneider said. 'Our recommendation to you tonight is certainly something we don't want to do.”

He said that the move will 'help mitigate the COVID circumstances” and allow for more flexibility for school staff.

Poock said that he and pre-K teachers would notify parents of the decision following the meeting.

Schneider said that the situation will be re-evaluated on Wednesday to determine whether to extend the program's suspension.

The district has seen an uptick in COVID-related quarantines.

On Tuesday, the last day the districtwide numbers were posted on the district's web site, there were 117 students in quarantine and 12 staff members.

Schneider said that he would like the board to discuss long-term plans, including benchmarks, at Monday's regular school board meeting.