Districts Starting the School Year Facing Uncertainties About Physical and Emotional Health | News, sports, jobs

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Teaching Assistant Rebecca Eberhard helps a parent and student cross the street in front of Lakeview Elementary School in Provo as parents pick up their children after the first day of school for the Provo City School District on Thursday, August 20, 2020. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald file photo

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Students find their parents at Lakeview Elementary School in Provo after the first day of school for the Provo City School District on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale Daily Herald

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Second grade teacher Rebecca Anderton waves to students at Lakeview Elementary School in Provo after the first day of school for the Provo City School District on Thursday, August 20, 2020. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale Daily Herald

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Teaching Assistant Rebecca Eberhard helps a parent and student cross the street in front of Lakeview Elementary School in Provo as parents pick up their children after the first day of school for the Provo City School District on Thursday, August 20, 2020. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

Students find their parents at Lakeview Elementary School in Provo after the first day of school for the Provo City School District on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

Second grade teacher Rebecca Anderton waves to students at Lakeview Elementary School in Provo after the first day of school for the Provo City School District on Thursday, August 20, 2020. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

The 2021-22 school year has been running for a few weeks for most schools in the Utah Valley, and students, teachers, and staff are working to get things on the right track.

But it’s not easy, especially with so much uncertainty surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Strong voices criticize the lack of safety measures to fight the virus, such as mask requirements, especially since vaccines are not approved for children under 12 years of age.

Equally strong voices on the other hand criticize the mental and emotional effects of these measures and fear other negative results just as or more than the virus itself.

Teachers and school districts often find themselves in a no-win situation.

“We see both sides and we understand both sides,” said Provo City school district spokesman Caleb Price in a phone interview last week. “Everyone’s opinion is valid. We continue to share the message that our hands are pretty tied when it comes to mask mandates and the like. We must obey the law and work with our health department and district commissioners to make changes in that direction. We do everything we can to cleanse and encourage masks and encourage vaccinations, and go as far as we can without needing them. We work as best we can with the health department. “

Communication during these times is vital, which is why the Provo City School District, for example, has a dashboard on its website that is updated daily with the number of cases in its schools.

But there is also the mental and emotional distress faced by teachers, administrators, staff and students as pandemic-related concerns continue to cast shadows of concern.

Price hopes the foundation that the Provo City School District established will help both adults and high school students overcome the mental and emotional challenges.

“Even before COVID-19 broke out, our district had an emphasis on social work and mental health,” said Price. “We probably have more social workers than most counties. We have almost one for every school. They are available to students and employees for all concerns and needs. This has continued with COVID, where there is an increased awareness of making sure staff and students are safe with regards to mental health. It’s about offering as many services as possible when they need them. “

Price said all schools are aware of the potential problems the COVID-19 Delta variant could cause, so the district is looking to stay on the same page as the Utah County’s Department of Health.

“They are the group that will tell us when we hit the threshold set in state law, which is 30 cases or 2% of student enrollment,” Price said. “If you reach this number, the test protocol will be issued, which the health department will help us with. We have tried to convey as clearly as possible to our employees and our parents what we can do and what we will do when the time comes. “

Price also said the Provo City School District, like most school districts, is facing some pandemic-related workforce challenges.

He said that while the district is getting students where they need to be, it definitely needs more bus drivers. He added that more teachers and part-time assistants are needed to help out in the classrooms.

For more information on employment opportunities in the Provo City School District, visit http://provo.edu/employment-opportunities.

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