Central Bucks Closed Monday Due To COVID-19 Staffing Shortage, Not Snow Forecast

DOYLESTOWN, PA — All schools in the Central Bucks School District were closed on Monday due to staffing shortages from a high number of COVID-19 cases across the district, the superintendent announced Sunday.

While Superintendent Abram Lucabaugh did say there were concerns about the snowfall projected for the district's first day back after winter break, he added that "it is unfortunately not the only problem" informing the decision to close local schools.

"The anticipated staffing shortages associated with the omicron-related spike in COVID-19 cases have come to fruition," he told the school community. "At this hour, we have a significant number of staff who will be absent from work tomorrow across every school and operating division within our district."

Lucabaugh said the resulting "unprecedented" demand for substitute teachers far exceeded the number available to fill in. Concerned the case load might continue to grow, administrators canceled school.

"Once again, this situation has presented a problem that will require our collective wisdom and patience as a school community," Lucabaugh said.

Throughout the day Monday, administrators held meetings to determine schools' next steps for the remainder of the week. In the afternoon, Lucabaugh announced that all schools would reopen for regular in-person learning on Tuesday due to the district deploying additional internal resources.

"The operational status of our schools and departments will be evaluated daily to determine the sustainability of these efforts until employee absentee rates return to more manageable levels," he told families. "If the rate of unfilled absences among professional and support staff reaches a level that is unmanageable despite these additional efforts, we may need to consider operating our schools on a modified schedule to utilize additional staff in classes that remain unfilled."

Lucabaugh said the 9th grade curriculum fairs scheduled for Jan. 6 will now take place on Jan. 13; that certified teachers should apply to substitute teach in district schools; and that those with bachelor degrees should consider becoming an emergency certified substitute teacher.

Central Bucks recently adopted a mask-optional policy in schools following the lifting of the executive masking order. Some district staff have also been vocal recently about feeling a lack of support during the struggles of COVID-19, while school board meetings have been dominated by political debates less relevant to school issues.

Read more recent Central Bucks news:

• Masks Now Optional In Central Bucks School District
• New Central Bucks School Board Votes On Masks, Contact Tracing
• 'Crisis Festers' In Central Bucks School District, NY Times Says

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