ATLANTA (AP) – At least three Georgia school districts are ceasing in-person instruction until after Thanksgiving because of coronavirus spread among teachers and students, while at least eight other districts have closed at least one school.
Among districts that have closed are Cook County in south Georgia, McDuffie County west of Augusta and Walker County in northwest Georgia.
Districts that have closed at least one school include Bibb County, Cherokee County, Clarke County, Fulton County, Lanier County, Monroe County, Richmond County and Ware County.
“I think that any time we lose face-to-face instruction, that’s a concern,” said state school Superintendent Richard Woods, an elected Republican. “I think that’s the best way to make sure we are where we need to be academically.”
Unlike in some other states, the vast majority of Georgia districts serving the state’s 1.8 million students have been offering in-person instruction, although a minority of families have elected to keep their students home for virtual learning. Some districts, including Atlanta, DeKalb County and Clayton County, have remained fully online.