Northern Lehigh School District has less than a handful of cases of COVID-19.

Superintendent Matthew J. Link shared that information with the school board on Monday in response to a question that was submitted during the board’s virtual meeting, stating it appears that there are many more cases in the district than residents are being informed of, and that it seems teachers are part of the reason that students are unable to come back full time.

However, Link said that was inaccurate.

“We’ve had one employee, we’ve had one student test positive, and we have one student that is presumed positive,” Link said. “That information is coming to us directly from the Department of Health.”

Link added, “Staffing in all work groups is difficult not only for Northern Lehigh School District, but all school districts.

“There are no substitutes to go around; every district’s competing for the same substitutes. Staff still has to be out for reasons other than anything related to COVID. We still have to try to find coverage for them.

“We were directed by the DOH that certain people need to quarantine, that is different than being tested positive. Some of them have to quarantine up to 14 days. That’s two instructional weeks.

“We don’t have a choice. We are trying to piece together day by day staffing our classrooms. We’ve been successful so far.”