NEW ULM — New Ulm Public Schools are continuing with in-person learning, despite being stretched thin on staffing.

District 88 Superintendent Jeff Bertrang said roughly 3% of school staff is out due to COVID. Only one staff member is out because of a positive test — the main issue is quarantine.

Bertrang said 14 staff members have been quarantined out of precaution. Regulations require those quarantined after coming in contact with a positive-testing person to remain isolated for two weeks. Those two weeks of quarantine can be a backbreaker for the school.

Bertrang said depending on the time and the building, staffing can be a challenge. The schools are short on paraprofessionals. Bertrang said this is not a problem if is for a day, but the quarantines make it harder.

Other illnesses can sideline students and teachers. As the cold and flu season starts, students and staff are going to be out sick with traditional illnesses. Bertrang said some students have developed strep infections. These illnesses are part of every school year, but in a year impacted by COVID, these problems are made worse.

“It is a COVID ripple effect,” Bertrang said. One COVID case can cause problems elsewhere. Some staff has been forced to take off due to daycare issues. If a daycare closes down due to COVID, staff need to find a new provider before returning to school. District 88 also has multiple staff members out on maternity leave.

The district did hire long-term substitutes before the school year began in anticipation of needing subs to fill in. Bertrang said the substitutes are being used every day.

All of Minnesota has seen a spike in COVID infections over the last week. Bertrang said the number in Brown County is high, but virus transmission is still not being seen in the school. Brown County Public Health has confirmed the virus is being spread outside of the schools at social gatherings. For this reason, the district is committed to keeping students in the classroom rather than going to distance learning.

Bertrang praised the staff for going above and beyond during the crisis.

“All the buildings are doing great. Staff is doing a great job of stepping up,” Bertrang said. “I can’t say enough about them.”