A £1 million budget to manage potential school closures as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic is set to be approved on Thursday.
Since schools reopened on August 10 there have been 25 positive cases of the coronavirus in pupils and staff across the region. Pupils accounted for 21 case and staff the other four.
That has resulted in 172 pupils and 19 staff members not being in school in term one. However that figure more than doubled in term two with 382 pupils and 46 staff self isolating between October 17 and November 27.
As part of an educational recovery plan from the local authority, councillors will be asked to green light a budget which will increase levels of need against increasing staff absence.
Education director Gillian Brydson will tell members: “As the prevalence of the pandemic within the community has risen over the last two months, so too has the level of staff absence due to the requirement to self-isolate for two weeks as a result of being a close contact of a positive case. In addition, there are short term absences where the staff members are symptomatic and awaiting a test and results.
“There is significant pressure across schools and the resources available to meet the increase in referrals for additional support.”
Councillors will be asked to make available £1 million to deal with the issue. The breakdown of the money will be £300,000 for absence cover for teachers, £200,000 for support staff cover and £500,000 to support vulnerable learners.
