Half Of Cherokee High Schools Closed From Coronavirus Outbreaks

CANTON, GA — Half of Cherokee County's high schools are now closed through the end of the month, with students transitioning to digital learning after multiple students and staff tested positive for the coronavirus.

On Sunday, the district said that effective immediately, it is temporarily closing in-person learning at Creekview High School. Reopening is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 31. This decision was made with the support of school board members and in consideration with the Department of Public Health, the district said.

Over the weekend, the number of positive virus cases at Creekview High School increased to a total of 25, with 500 of its 1,800 in-person students now under precautionary quarantine, Cherokee Schools said Sunday in a news release. Additional tests pending that would significantly increase the quarantine total, the district said.

"We understand these closings create hardships and are disappointing to students who want to learn in-person as well as their families, but these are necessary measures to avoid potential spread within our schools," the district said.

All Creekview High School in-person students will stay home from school beginning Monday until the scheduled reopening on Aug. 31. Teachers will spend Monday at home preparing for the shift to remote learning, officials said, and the building will be deep-cleaned.

Remote learning, through the Canvas learning management system, will begin on Tuesday, with teachers reporting to school to provide this online instruction. The closure has no effect on Creekview High students already enrolled in digital learning.

Students who need to pick up medication or other items that they must have during the next two weeks should call the school’s front office to make an appointment. Extracurricular athletic activities will continue after school with additional safety measures in place, but continuation will be closely monitored for possible closures.

Cherokee Schools has now closed three high schools: Etowah High School, Woodstock High School and now Creekview High, with plans to reopen all three on Aug. 31.

"As we have said since we announced our reopening, we will not hesitate to quarantine students and close classrooms in an effort to continue operating school in-person for as long as possible," the district said. "We need everyone to work together to help us continue to operate schools in-person for the more than 31,000 students whose families want this choice and who have been sending their children to school since we reopened two weeks ago. What happens in our community outside of our schools impacts what happens inside our schools and our ability to keep schools open."

The district asks the public and students to:

• Stay home when you’re sick and use this checklist.
• Get tested if you’re symptomatic.
• Report your child’s positive test to their school.
• If you are directed to quarantine, follow the instructions and limit interaction with non-family members.
• Social distance when you can and wear a mask when you can’t.

Related:

• Woodstock High School Closed Due To Coronavirus Outbreak
• Etowah High School Closing Immediately From Coronavirus Outbreak