The state Department of Education said about 800 teachers called out sick on Wednesday, leaving roughly 400 teaching positions unfilled for the day.
Interim Superintendent Keith Hayashi said in addition to the 800 teachers who called out sick, another 800 were absent for various other reasons.
The 1,600 teachers who were out on Wednesday represent about 12% of the DOE’s teacher labor force.
Public school students returned to class Tuesday amid a national debate about whether in-person learning is safe.
Meanwhile, DOE officials said there’s no specific threshold to determine if rising COVID cases will require a pivot from in-person to virtual learning at its 257 schools.
At a press conference, Hayashi reiterated his belief that in-person learning is the best possible option for students.
He said while the intention is to continue that model, the department has plans in place to adjust if necessary, and individual schools can work with DOE administrators to shut down certain classrooms, grade levels, or entire campuses if necessary.
"There is no threshold or say magic number that we’re looking at to say, if it’s at this number, this will happen. Because I think each case needs to be treated individually," Hayashi said.
Hayashi addressed criticism from the state teachers’ union regarding the transparency of the DOE’s COVID contingency plans.
The Hawaiʻi State Teacher’s Association has complained that those plans have not been shared, leaving parents and staff in the dark as to how they should respond should an emergency arise.
"If there is a need to adjust, I’m very confident we’ll be able to do that, and within that particular situation, be able to communicate with parents and let them know what’s happening at that particular point in time," Hayashi said.
Osa Tui Jr., president of the state teachers' union, said schools are calling in counselors, security guards and other staff members to fill in the gaps when there are not enough substitute teachers. He said the DOE should have been better prepared for the situation.
