CRANBERRY TWP — Seneca Valley superintendent Tracy Vitale's COVID-19 update Monday contained more than local viral data: She also sought help from the community.

The superintendent's update included what a later speaker called a “sobering” update on staffing, with Vitale asking the community for cafeteria, transportation and teaching help.

“Every district in Butler County — and in Allegheny County — is experiencing this shortage,” Vitale said. “We need bus drivers. We need cafeteria workers. We need teacher (substitutes).”

Although Gov. Tom Wolf's emergency declaration was terminated, Vitale said there are some ways community members can become substitute teachers during the pandemic. Local residents with college degrees can obtain an emergency certification as a teacher in Pennsylvania, Vitale said, and while there are restrictions on how frequently the emergency certified teachers can be in the classroom, the superintendent said it would still be helpful.

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