Wheeler Schools Go to Digital Learning Days Through October 13

With COVID-19 quarantining numerous teachers and students, Wheeler County Schools will suspend on-campus classes October 6-13.

Schools Superintendent Suzanne Couey issued a message Monday afternoon alerting parents and guardians about the decision. Because of the number of instructors impacted, “It has become diffi cult to cover classes,” Couey said.

Beginning Tuesday, October 6, students were to remain home for the remainder of the week with a planned return on Tuesday, October 13. Teachers were to report to schools on October 6 to post assignments and provide support for students from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. “Teachers will not be assigning any new material but will be posting opportunities for extra credit for students who have completed all work and providing support for those who still need to make up assignments,” Couey explained.

Teachers will not return to school after Tuesday, and students will work independently on make-up or extra credit work Wednesday through Friday. Sports will continue as planned.

“This will provide seven days for many students and teachers to complete their quarantine periods and will allow students to improve grades before report cards go out next week,” Couey noted. Because of these changes, report cards will not go out until next Friday.

This latest interruption is the second time Wheeler County Schools have temporarily halted classes because of COVID. In August, less than a week after beginning the new term, on-campus classes were paused because of an uptick in the number of COVID- 19 cases in the community. Students went to home study for two weeks starting August 17. They returned to campus on August 31. On Friday, Wheeler’s weekly COVID online update reported ongoing statistics as of October 2: 98 students quarantined at present (including the previous week) and 13 total staff quarantined at present (including the previous week). The report for the week of September 28 through October 2 listed 7 students with positive COVID- 19 status and two staff members with positive COVID- 19 status.

The Vidalia City Schools reported on October 2 that one student has current positive COVID-19 status; 7 students have been quarantined for COVID-19 exposure; and 2 employees have been quarantined for COVID-19 exposure. No employees have current COVID-19 status.

Toombs County Schools reported on October 2 that one student is currently COVID- 19 positive; 12 students are currently quarantined because of exposure to COVID- 19; two employees are currently COVID-19 positive; and five employees are currently in quarantine.

Montgomery County School System reported on October 2 that two students are currently COVID-19 positive and 19 students are currently quarantined because of exposure to COVID-19; one teacher and one staff member are currently quarantined.