Among rising COVID-19 cases state-wide, Habersham Schools have closed for in-person learning until Jan. 25 due to a shortage of faculty and staff. However, in-person athletics are continuing, leaving some parents and students asking how schools will open again with continued exposure.
“We moved to a temporary learning from home plan because we were experiencing a shortage of bus drivers, not a shortage of coaches,” Superintendent Matthew Cooper tells Now Habersham. “The shortage of staff in our schools has nothing to do with athletics. The fact of the matter is that our school system has actually fared quite well with regard to COVID-19 and athletics.”
Cooper says that the Habersham school system has not experienced any “large-scale quarantining or program shutdowns” like other Georgia schools have, saying that “coaches have generally remained healthy.” These athletic events, both indoor and outdoor, have been criticized by parents who say the events do not follow CDC COVID-19 protocol and could potentially become superspreader events.
“There is simply no evidence that athletic activities have become so-called ‘superspreader events,'” Cooper said. Health professionals, like parent and nurse Neile Chambers, disagree.
“He has no way of knowing what happens outside these events, in student’s homes, medically-speaking,” Chambers said. “At this point in the pandemic, any event where more than 10 people are gathered, are less than 6 feet apart at any given time, and/or include participants who are not wearing masks, should be considered a ‘superspreader event.’ As a nurse, it makes me very nervous for all of us who have children participating in sports. The athletes aren’t the only people being affected by the lack of mask and distancing mandates at these events; those of us attending are at risk, as well.”
According to Cooper, his observations of athletic activities lead him to believe that social distancing is available and followed, but parents have testified that this isn’t the case.
“I have attended both middle school and high school basketball games, wrestling matches, as well as other athletic and extracurricular events. From what I have personally observed, people are generally sitting with those that they are already coming into close contact with,” Cooper said. “I have also observed that if people are willing to use both sides of the gyms there is usually plenty of room to spread out and stay away from others who are not friends or family.”
But Chambers, and other parents sharing their experiences on Now Habersham’s Facebook page, have said this isn’t true. “My observation of [the] basketball games I have attended recently is that social distancing isn’t always an option, as gyms are packed on both sides. No effort is being made to keep gym doors open to the outside, or turn on fans, to promote circulation of fresh air,” She says. “Masks are encouraged but not required, which, in this area of the state, means that a bare minimum of people will have them on.”
Chambers says that while participation and attendance are voluntary, she doesn’t feel comfortable leaving her child at these events. And she fears that pulling her child out entirely will reflect poorly on future tryouts and how coaches might view her child’s overall performance.
“When the Superintendent announced that school would be virtual through Jan. 25, I was thrilled, but when he noted it was due to a staffing shortage and that extracurriculars would continue, I was nonplussed,” Chambers said. “The bottom line is that the Superintendent is not placing student and staff safety at the forefront of his decision making. For the life of me, I can’t understand why that is.”
“We will continue to watch this entire situation closely,” Cooper says. “For now, I expect athletic events to continue in Habersham County.”
You can read Cooper’s full statement here: Supt. Matthew Cooper response
