COVID quarantines, positive cases drop
Gilmer Schools have continued to see a decline in COVID quarantines and positive cases since both peaked Aug. 23.
Superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley said Monday afternoon there are currently 195 students in quarantine, down from 1,100 four weeks ago. System-wide positive cases among students and staff are at 23, a decline from 127.
“We’re excited to see the numbers go down. We think the masks on buses are really helping there. We’re not having to contact trace anything on buses because everyone is wearing masks,” Ridley said. “We know it’s a hassle, but right now it’s getting us through and helping us keep our schools open.
“We’re at a much more reasonable place now as far as student quarantines. Of course we don’t want any quarantined, but right now we’re at a little under 5 percent. We’re encouraged by the numbers going down. The lower those numbers go, the more kids we have in school. At the end of the day, that’s really the point.”
One of the school system’s methods to help quell positive cases and exposure is the requirement of masks on buses, which was instituted Aug. 23. The system also upped its cleaning and sanitizing procedures and has promoted social distancing in classrooms and during lunch as much as possible. Ridley plans to keep the bus mask mandate intact at least through the end of the month.
“We’ll reevaluate at the end of September and see where our numbers are. If it seems productive we’ll keep with it. If things are better and we don’t have to, then we won’t. Aside from the fact that we know people don’t like it generally, it’s not an easy thing to do. It’s not easy to source that many masks every week. As long as it’s working, we’re going to stick with it,” Ridley said.
Angie Hensley, a mother of Gilmer students in sixth and 12th grade, spoke at the Gilmer County Board of Education’s regular monthly session last Thursday. Hensley is not in favor of masking students, and was prompted to speak at the board meeting after her son was asked to wear a mask in weight training.
Hensley contacted Ridley, GHS principal Carla Foley, the school nurse and spoke to the weight training coach. Gilmer Schools only mandates masks on buses and for students who are on modified quarantine while attending in-person instruction.
Ridley noted the situation occurred last month as the system’s positive cases were on the rise. At the time, GHS was forced to cancel football, volleyball and softball games, and athletes started to take a proactive approach to keep their seasons afloat.
“This took place before modified quarantine (Aug. 19). So if a kid comes to school wearing a mask, and they get exposed, they don’t have to quarantine. When we told them that, a lot of the athletes started wearing their masks and coaches told them to make sure they wear it so they don’t have to quarantine,” Ridley said.
“I think there was some misunderstanding in some classes. I can’t comment on her kid specifically, but there was some confusion about ‘Maybe we’re supposed to wear them when we’re actually lifting weights.’”
Ridley noted the situation has continued to be fluid over the past four weeks and they will continue to make adjustments to their plan as more information becomes available.
“I don’t blame the staff for being confused or the parents for being confused. The guidance has changed so much,” he said. “One week we got three sets of guidance from three different government organizations. I do appreciate the fact that she came and talked to me.”