North Georgia school district reverts to virtual learning due to spike in COVID-19 cases

CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. — A north Georgia school district will move back to virtual learning after a significant number of students and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 and even more are in quarantine.

Catoosa County Schools announced Friday that all students will revert to digital learning next week. The district will then move to a hybrid schedule where students will be back in class for two days a week through Sept. 17.

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Students are expected to be back in the classroom five days a week on Sept. 20.

School officials said 425 students and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past two weeks. At least 2,250 students and staff are in quarantine.

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The district has reported a total of 477 cases of COVID-19 since the school year began.

Catoosa County Schools has a total of 10,415 students, faculty and staff. Nearly 26% of the district are currently positive for COVID-19 or in quarantine, based on data released by the school district.

School officials said they are seeing a higher number of students in quarantine test positive for COVID-19, which was one factor in the decision to close the entire district.

Heritage Middle and High Schools were both already closed on Aug. 19th and 20th, respectively, for high case loads there.

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Numerous teachers and staff have also tested positive.

“It has been very challenging to find substitute teachers for classroom supervision and adequate staff to maintain school operations,” officials said.

District officials said that when students return, they will reconfigure classrooms to provide more physical distance between classrooms, create seating charts, stagger class transitions and lunch and restrict visitors.

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