Dear Monticello Community:
This morning, the district was short 15 bus drivers due to illness, long-term leave, and existing vacancies in the transportation department. If we had all transportation staff (including mechanics and dispatchers), driving buses today, we still would have had seven (7) runs without drivers.
Though they didn’t factor into this morning’s decision, we are also short staffed in other departments and schools, especially at Monticello High School, Robert J. Kaiser Middle School and the facilities and food services departments. Our administrators and directors are scrambling almost every morning to schedule coverages. Workers are leaving the work force in record numbers. We also have increasing staff absences due to COVID-19 (sick or on quarantine) and other illnesses.
The district recognizes the need for our students to attend school, in-person, every day. Please know we are trying to resolve these shortages with every available resource. We have been and will continue to recruit full time staff and substitutes in all areas. Please visit our employment webpage for a full list of vacancies and/or to apply.
We expect to reopen as scheduled tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 24. As a reminder, tomorrow is a half day for all MCSD schools. The district is closed for Thanksgiving Recess on Thursday, Nov. 25 and Friday, Nov. 26 and will reopen on Monday, Nov. 29.
I hope you all enjoy a restful Thanksgiving.
Stay well.
With Monti Pride,
Matthew T. Evans, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools