Pittsburgh Public Schools now employing rolling building closures to fight COVID-19 staff shortage

PITTSBURGH — Officials with Pittsburgh Public Schools announced the district will now employ rolling building closures in an attempt to stave off staffing shortages due to COVID-19.

Here is a release sent from the district:

Today the District transitioned eight additional schools to its list of rolling facility closures for the remainder of the week, while the Pittsburgh Greenfield PreK-8 facility will reopen tomorrow, January 6. The closures are necessary to address staffing shortages due to COVID-19 and other absences. Five schools closed initially for one day are now closed for the rest of the week. Each school is scheduled to reopen on Monday, January 10, 2022. Students and staff at the schools listed below will continue instruction and learning synchronously for the rest of the week. The newly added facilities are noted in blue below.

“The health and safety of our students and staff is a top priority. As students try their best to recoup a year of unfinished learning, we are committed to keeping schools open to provide high-quality in-person learning,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Wayne N. Walters. “Our rolling closure approach allows us to engage in a day-by-day review of staffing with our school leaders to ensure we are only closing schools for staffing shortages as necessary. We understand this may cause some difficulty for our families, which is why we do not take the decision to close a school even one day lightly during this challenging time.”

Thirteen school buildings are now added to the list of schools closed for the remainder of the week:

• Pittsburgh Arlington PreK-8
• Pittsburgh Carmalt PreK-8
• Pittsburgh Carrick High School
• Pittsburgh Concord PreK-5
• Pittsburgh Faison PreK-5
• Pittsburgh King PreK-8
• Pittsburgh Mifflin Pre-8
• Pittsburgh Miller PreK-5
• Pittsburgh Milliones 6-12
• Pittsburgh Obama 6-12
• Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy 6-12
• Pittsburgh Sterrett 6-8
• Pittsburgh Westinghouse 6-12

Fourteen school buildings are currently closed for the remainder of the week and will reopen on Monday, January 10, 2022:

• Pittsburgh Allegheny PreK-5
• Pittsburgh Arsenal 6-8
• Pittsburgh Classical Academy 6-8
• Pittsburgh Langley PreK-8
• Pittsburgh Liberty PreK-5
• Pittsburgh Lincoln PreK-5
• Pittsburgh Manchester PreK-8
• Pittsburgh Montessori PreK-5
• Pittsburgh Perry High School
• Pittsburgh Phillips PreK-5
• Pittsburgh Morrow PreK-5
• Pittsburgh South Hills 6-8
• Pittsburgh Weil PreK-5
• Pittsburgh Whittier PreK-5

Instead of reporting to the listed school buildings, instruction will transition to Microsoft Teams, and students will access work in Schoology. The day will follow the regular bell schedule of each school. Grab and Go meal service will be available to students from 9:00 AM to noon in each school’s cafeteria.

Staffing shortages slamming Pittsburgh Public Schools, impacting 17 school buildings

©2022 Cox Media Group