Athens ISD is ready to welcome back students
Athens ISD is heading back to school Wednesday and students will be returning to disinfected facilities, according to Superintendent Dr. Janie Sims.
"Our custodial staff has done a deep clean and disinfecting of all facilities during the break," she said.
While COVID-19 hospitalization numbers have climbed throughout the region, the school district has stayed pretty consistent with regard to the coronavirus, according to Dr. Sims.
"Our positive case numbers have remained very low," she said. "We didn’t see a spike after Thanksgiving break. Staff and parents have been sending information to us throughout the Christmas break. As of (Monday), we have eight reported staff cases and four reported student cases."
Those numbers represent less than one half of 1 percent of the district's student body and staff.
Dr. Sims credited the district's diligence with contact tracing and adhering to CDC guidelines for keeping the numbers down.
"We’ve had lots more at home due to quarantine than with actual positive cases," she said. "That has enabled us to keep our doors open and students learning in person."
The district also became a Texas Education Agency COVID-19 testing site after Thanksgiving, giving them the ability to administer rapid tests to staff and their children.
"That has helped tremendously," said Dr. Sims. "One of our main concerns has been with our adults -- teachers and others -- missing work while waiting too long on tests that may be negative. We may offer this to all students in the coming weeks if positive cases begin to trend upwards."
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