Students enrolled in the Hall County School District will begin the upcoming spring semester under a "learn from home" mandate as officials try to navigate the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases statewide.
Superintendent Will Schofield announced the decision Sunday evening on behalf of the Hall County School Board, and said the use of "blended learning" during the first week of the semester will allow school officials to gather data and make the most well-informed decisions for students and staff.
The spring semester begins on Tuesday, January 5th.
"COVID-19 numbers in Hall County continue to increase at alarming rates. Additionally, the information we receive from our local hospital system is sobering," The district said in a release sent out alongside a video update posted online. "Record numbers of patients are in beds, the supply of staff and resources are inadequate, and the hospital may be forced to contemplate how they would ration care if the spike continues."
The the current plan would see officials formulate a more concrete plan over the coming days, and use relevant information to determine a course of action through January 18th, the MLK holiday.
