Between the weather and the pandemic, local schools can’t seem to catch a break. Rabun County Schools will revert to online learning for the remainder of this week after experiencing what school administrators describe as an “unprecedented increase” in COVID-19 cases. They say the number of students and staff quarantined from direct contact, symptoms, or positive tests has greatly affected daily operations.
“Having enough teachers, paraprofessionals, school nutrition workers, bus drivers, and custodians to cover all operations to provide effective face-to-face instruction has become a significant challenge,” says Rabun County School Superintendent Dr. April Childers.
According to Childers, the school district has a “very limited” number of substitute teachers, bus drivers, custodians, and school nutrition workers. As a result, the district does not have enough personnel to cover essential positions. School officials decided to switch to all online learning after consulting with principals, district leaders, and the Department of Public Health.
All Rabun County students will move to online classes beginning Wednesday, December 16 through Friday, December 18. The school system will continue to provide meals to students. Extracurricular activities will continue with mitigation strategies in place.
Rabun County schools are scheduled to resume in-person instruction after the holidays on Tuesday, January 5, 2021.
Holiday surge
The 2,200 public school students in Rabun County will join thousands more in Hall County who have reverted to online learning for the remainder of this week. Hall County has also experienced a significant increase in COVID since schools reopened after Thanksgiving break.
Habersham County schools, too, have seen a rise in COVID cases, but Superintendent Matthew Cooper says there are no plans to halt in-person classes. “I’m very firm in my belief that school is the best place for most students,” Cooper said during the December 14 Habersham Board of Education meeting. “It remains the best place for most students. Yes, the number of positive tests has increased here lately, [but] school is still the best place for most students.”
Habersham County schools are closed Wednesday because of the weather. The forecast calls for the possibility of freezing rain overnight. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Habersham, Rabun, and surrounding counties through noon on Wednesday, December 16. Classes are expected to resume Thursday.
