Efforts are underway to secure more substitute teachers to fill the gap should a large number of teachers have to isolate due to COVID-19.
The province has revealed its back-to-school plan amid an ongoing surge in Omicron cases.
The aim is to get students in the K-12 system back to in-class learning on Monday, January 24th, with a final decision expected on Wednesday.
Education Minister Tom Osborne says work is already underway to try to make sure substitutes are available.
They are working with the NLTA, the school districts, and the Dean of Education at Memorial to maximize access to staff if a teacher needs to isolate.
NLTA President Trent Langdon says there aren’t enough substitutes available right now, and he anticipates it’s going to be a problem.
He’s advocating a delayed return to in-class learning.
He says as soon as they get a certain number of teachers of self-isolating, “we’re going to hit a break wall” in certain schools.
He says the union supports a delayed return for both safety and operational reasons.