CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Another school will go virtual after the outbreak of COVID-19 cases in Clayton County continued to grow.
Clayton County Public Schools announced Sunday that Kendrick Middle School will go virtual Monday morning until at least through Friday, Aug. 27 with a Monday, Aug. 30 return to classes.
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The announcement comes hours before Monday’s school day will begin and school administrators attributed the sudden move to a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases. They emphasized the move was a “precautionary measure”.
Channel 2′s Ashli Lincoln was in Clayton County Sunday night, where teachers told her social distancing is nearly impossible in the school buildings.
One teacher, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she’s very worried.
“We are seeing a lot of students that are coming to school that are sick,” she said.
A parent Lincoln spoke to said she thinks the district should go back to virtual learning.
“With numbers increasing and the virus coming back even stronger this time, I prefer virtual learning,” she said.
School officials said breakfast and lunch meals will be delivered to students via bus routes from 9:30 a.m. through 11:30 a.m. during the time classes are virtual.
They want students and families to know they’ll need to report to their regular bus stops in order to receive the meals.
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CCPS is asking parents in all their schools to monitor the county’s social media platforms or local news organizations for the latest information on schools that are open and closed.
Kendrick would be the fifth school in the district to utilize virtual learning since the school year started just a couple of weeks ago.
According to the case tracker on the school district’s website, the county has roughly 361 cases per 100,000 residents as of Aug. 14, up from 238 the week before.
Clayton County Schools released the following statement Monday evening:
Statement from Clayton County Public Schools Spokesperson;
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act expired on December 31, 2020. However, the district expanded sick leave for employees using the framework of Families First Coronavirus Response Act until June 30, 2021. With the new fiscal year, if an employee is advised to quarantine, he/she may submit a request to use sick leave or annual leave if applicable.
Channel 2 Action News wanted to know how an employee will be paid once an employee’s sick and personal days run out and they are mandated to quarantine. We are awaiting a response from the district to answer that question.
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