Crockett County High School (CCHS) stepped back into distance learning with students not being allowed in the building on Monday, October 19.
Parents and students are encouraged to reach out to their teachers during distance learning for any educational concerns or needs. The school is also asking that any students who test positive for COVID-19, report the positive results as soon as possible to assist in contact tracing.
Currently the middle schools and elementary schools are on track and will continue in person learning as scheduled.
“I appreciate all the parents that have called in and kept us informed when students have needed to quarantine to help keep our students and faculty safe,” said Phillip A. Pratt.
Closing the high school to in person learning for two weeks was a hard decision for the school system but due to high numbers of positive cases and exposures in students and faculty, as well as extended wait times on results for suspected exposures, the decision was made for high school students to return to distance learning for two weeks and limit their exposure to others.
“We didn’t have enough substitute teachers to cover the 14 teachers that were out for either positive test results or exposure,” said Pratt.
The school has been notified of additional positive cases since the weekend but ultimately the number of people being quarantined because of exposure made the school choose to take extreme precaution in containing any possible spread of COVID-19 at CCHS.
Along with decisions regarding education, coaches and the school board have discussed the best ways to proceed with current athletics.
Tuesday, October 27 will be two weeks since the CCHS football team began their quarantine. The decision will be made that evening on when the football team will proceed with practices. Currently, the upcoming game against Dyersburg High School on October 30 is scheduled to continue as planned.
Additionally, CCHS Volleyball will compete at the state tournament this week.
Coach Bobby Rawson has been completing diligent checks daily on players and will continue having athletes complete temperature checks and daily questionnaires to track the health safety of the team. Following their competition at state, Coach Rawson will continue to monitor his teams’ possible exposure to help prevent spreading sickness when they return.
CCHS students are currently scheduled to return to in person learning on the November 2 with the most recent schedule of Freshman and Sophomores on Monday and Thursday and Juniors and Seniors on Tuesday and Fridays.
A decision will be made on how to proceed after students return that week.
