Edinburgh middle, high school go virtual due to staffing shortages

Students at Edinburgh Middle School and Edinburgh Community High School will shift to virtual learning Wednesday due to staffing shortages that have plagued schools locally and nationally.

Parents learned of the change Tuesday morning via text message.

Edinburgh schools superintendent Ron Ross said in some departments, such as food services, they were working with about half the usual staff due to COVID-19 cases. He expects students will continue with eLearning through the end of the month.

A recent surge in COVID-19 cases caused Franklin schools to shift to virtual learning for students in fifth through 12th grades on Friday, though students returned to classrooms Tuesday. The change affected students at Custer Baker Intermediate School, Franklin Community Middle School and Franklin Community High School, spokesperson Robin Betts said in an email.

Whiteland Community High School also shifted to virtual learning Friday due to staffing shortages. Students were to return to classrooms Tuesday, according to an email sent to parents Thursday.

Edinburgh schools’ decision to shift to virtual learning comes shortly after four Johnson County school districts joined Edinburgh schools in implementing mask mandates due to increased COVID cases. Indian Creek schools was the only district in the county without a mask mandate as of Tuesday.