A rise in COVID-19 cases was seen locally as the Thanksgiving holiday approached, but Dade County Schools were able to continue their in-person classes.
Both Walker County Schools and Chattanooga Christian closed in-person classes in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving due to COVID spread. In Dade, while numbers of those in quarantine was up a bit, the amount of people who tested positive remained low. In fact, the highest number of positive cases Dade County Schools have had at one time was 15 in mid-October with the highest number of those quarantined at 128 last week according to Superintendent Dr. Jan Harris. By the end of last week, Harris reported, the school system started their Thanksgiving Break with one positive case and only thirty in quarantine.
Around twenty percent of students continue with the system’s online learning program and the guidelines the system started out the school year with for masks, santizing, social distancing, health, and quarantine continues. Harris has stated multiple times that the school system continues to rely on information and guidance from the Department of Health, CDC, and other related officials in an effort to keep schools open.
“Helen Keller said it best, ‘Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much’ “, Dr. Harris said. “The reason we continue to be able to keep the school doors open can only be attributed to the favor of The Lord and our board members, administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and students working together as a team for the good of the boys and girls of Dade County. Like our character education plan suggests- we are seeking the counsel of others and we are seeking knowledge to continually do the best we can for our deserving students. We are thankful and we ask everyone to continue to pray for the safety and well-being of our students and staff as well as everyone in Dade County.” Jan Harris
