Monticello schools will switch to remote learning on Thursday due to a significant number of anticipated staff absences, school officials announced Wednesday afternoon.

"Factors such as COVID-19 quarantine orders, staff illnesses and staff booster vaccinations exacerbate the challenges the district already faces with adequately staffing our school buildings," Superintendent Matthew Evans said in a statement posted on the district website. "When large numbers of staff are unable to work due to illness, or unable to report to the school buildings due to quarantine orders, we simply do not have enough substitute staff members to supervise classrooms, transport students to school, keep our buildings clean and feed our students."

The George C. Cooke and Kenneth L. Rutherford elementary schools, the Robert J. Kaiser Middle School, St. John Street Sixth-Grade Academy and Monticello High School will all move to remote learning starting Thursday, the district said. School officials said they expect the remote learning to last just a day.  

Emma C. Chase Elementary School students, self-contained special education students from all schools and high school students in the BOCES Career and Technology program should report for in-person instruction Thursday.

Meals will be delivered at the following times and locations.

Evans said the school district has increased daily pay rates for substitutes and continue to actively search for candidates to fill vacant positions. The district is also hiring substitute clerical workers, substitute food service staff, substitute bus monitors, substitute bus drivers, substitute custodial staff and substitute teacher aides.

The middle school temporarily went remote in September due to COVID cases.  

"We know these schedule changes are frustrating, and we truly apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause," Evans stated. "Our goal is always to avoid schedule disruptions and to have in-person instruction whenever it is feasible to do so. We appreciate your patience and flexibility throughout these challenging times."