Marietta City Schools To Start Second Semester In Person This Week

MARIETTA, GA — With COVID-19 cases rising across metro Atlanta, including in Cobb County, Marietta City Schools will still start the spring semester in person on Wednesday, district officials reminded parents in an email Sunday.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, Cobb County has a 14-day case rate of 1,505 cases per 100,000 county residents as of Dec. 31 — more than twice the 14-day case rate on Dec. 24 at 628 cases per 100,000 county residents, recorded just a week earlier.

At least three metro Atlanta school districts have pivoted to remote learning to start the semester due to rising cases: Fulton County Schools, Atlanta Public Schools and DeKalb County Schools.

"Based on my daily conversations with public health officials, it is likely that our community has not yet reached the peak of the Omicron surge," Superintendent Grant Rivera said in an email to parents Sunday. "Our priority is to continue to offer in-person learning, as we understand the impact on a child's academic progress and their social-emotional wellness when we shift to virtual learning."

Staff returned to campus Monday, with students returning Wednesday. The district said allowing students to start in person would also ensure that all of them have access to their Chromebook laptops, which would be necessary should a shift to virtual learning happen in the future.

However, the district could switch to virtual schooling in the coming weeks "due to staffing dynamics," Rivera said in the letter.

MCS reports COVID-19 case information online each week when school is in session. According to the most recent seven-day case report from Dec. 11-17 prior to the holiday break, there were 21 positive student cases, four positive staff cases and 248 on-campus close contacts identified overall.

Additionally, Cobb Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Lisa Cupid signed a COVID-19 declaration of emergency just before Christmas, set to expire at midnight Jan. 22 unless extended, amended or rescinded, due to rising cases. It was signed concurrently with a mask mandate from County Manager Jackie McMorris, requiring masks in all county government buildings.

Related:

• Pfizer Boosters For Kids 12-15: What GA Parents Need To Know
• COVID Spike Pushes 2 Metro School Districts To Virtual Learning
• Douglas Schools To Return In Person, With Masks For Some
• COVID-19 State Of Emergency, Mask Mandate Issued In Cobb Again
• Cobb Schools To Resume In Person This Week As COVID Cases Rise