Diocese of Pittsburgh elementary teachers not guaranteed positions for next school year

Elementary teachers in the Diocese of Pittsburgh are not guaranteed their positions in the coming school year after officials said they needed a “pause” before completing contracts.

“Due to continued fallout from the global pandemic, there are questions related to the reopening guidelines for schools across the country in the fall, as well as enrollment,” diocesan spokeswoman Ellen Mady said. “With respect to our teachers, we need to take the administrative action of issuing these constriction notices, in accordance with their contracts.”

Elementary teachers learned of the news during video conference calls with their school principals before receiving official letters.

Gov. Tom Wolf in April closed schools across the state for the remaining academic year to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. As districts look toward an uncertain future of restarting schools in the fall, questions over how to safely do so have left schools wondering how many students will enroll in in-person learning versus virtual.

Wolf on Friday said, “Schooling will look different. You’ll probably have more online learning and maybe less classroom learning. There might be fewer students in each classroom.”

He added there’s “no question” Pennsylvania school districts will physically reopen in the fall.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh has already had to make hard decisions over one of its schools.

On Friday, officials announced Quigley Catholic High School in Beaver County will permanently close at the end of the school year. The decision came after 93 students were projected to enroll for the coming school year. Unsustainable cost projects and insufficient funds to assure the long-term viability of the school aided in the decision, officials said.

“I acknowledge the great sadness that comes with this announcement for Quigley students and their families, administrators, teachers, staff and alumni, all who are affected by this very difficult decision,” Bishop Zubik said in a news release. “It is heartbreaking for me, as well.”