Paulding Schools Starts Semester In Person, Updates Protocols As COVID Cases Surge

PAULDING COUNTY, GA — As COVID-19 cases are rising across Georgia, including in Paulding County, the Paulding County School District still opted to start the semester Tuesday in person, but with preventive measures in place and updated quarantine protocols.

Superintendent Steve Barnette sent out a letter to parents Monday night, the night before school started, noting the district's School Operations Opening Plan with four color-coded escalating practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools.

The district has been operating at the "Yellow Operating Level," and Barnette said the district will continue to do so to start the second semester. This means limiting the number of group gatherings (such as student meetings and assemblies); enforcing social distancing when appropriate and feasible; and limiting the number of visitors at each school, though that varies depending on the location and situation, according to the protocols.

However, Barnette emphasized that the school community should be prepared to move into further operating levels of the color-coded practices, including the possibility for temporary school closures, as more COVID-19 data and information become available.

"While we are opening at the high end of the Yellow Operating Level (Preventive Practices), we all need to be prepared to quickly pivot to the Orange Operating Level (Enhanced Mitigation Practices) or Red Operating Level (Digital Learning Days Temporary Closure) as data and information continue to evolve regarding this new variant," Barnette said.

According to the most recent Georgia Department of Public Health data, Paulding County has a 14-day case rate of 1,410 PCR cases per 100,000 county residents as of Dec. 31 — more than twice the 14-day case rate on Dec. 24 at 620 PCR cases per 100,000 county residents, recorded just a week earlier.

The state DPH was not able to update its COVID-19 daily status report Monday due to "a large amount of data overwhelming the system," health officials said.

The district's ability to provide adequate staffing for schools is also a major factor in the decision to close school or change operating levels, Barnette said, and each school is different. All schools are prepared to shift to digital learning if needed, and teachers have plans and technology in place for such a transition.

"We know that shifting from in-person to virtual instruction places a burden on families, and we want to assure you that we will make every effort to give parents as much advance notice as possible should such an operational change be necessary," he said. "Our goal remains unchanged: to manage COVID-19 as a community."

The district updated its COVID-19 quarantine protocols for the yellow and orange operating levels, based on new Georgia Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

"There are a wide variety of needs, opinions, and expectations among the approximately 18,000 families and 30,000 students we serve. To the best of our ability, we are trying to manage this as a community," Barnette said. "As always, I genuinely appreciate your support as we work together to keep students in the classroom as much as possible, while maintaining a safe and effective learning environment."

You can view the updated protocols below, or click this link if you're having trouble viewing them on this page.

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