NH schools say flu could cause sub teacher deficit

BC-NH — Substitute Shortage,0119

NH schools say flu could cause sub teacher deficit

Eds: APNewsNow.

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Some New Hampshire school officials are concerned that the spreading swine flu could cause a shortage of substitute teachers if too many classroom teachers get sick.

Substitute teachers frequently work for more than one district and some are concerned there won’t be enough.

Epping Superintendent Barbara Munsey says schools are all pulling from the same group.

The New Hampshire Union Leader says Epping teachers are talking about ways to handle a shortage. One suggestion is to consolidate classrooms.

At the Epping Elementary School this week 80 of 470 students are absent. And Principal Mark Vallone says 20 percent of the teachers are sick too.

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Information from: New Hampshire Union Leader, http://www.unionleader.com