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KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (WATE) – Students at Austin-East Magnet and Central High School will access a virtual study schedule after returning from their Labor Day vacation. In similar letters sent to parents and staff on Saturday, Central High Rector Andrew Brown and Austin-East Rector Tammi Campbell said students will move to online learning from Tuesday, September 7 through Friday, September 10 .
Austin-East Magnet High School and Central High School will switch to online learning from Tuesday, September 7th through Friday, September 10th. (All district schools will be closed on Monday, September 6, for Labor Day holidays.) Pic.twitter.com/w0DKHga4Sb
– Knox County Schools (@KnoxSchools) September 4, 2021
The Knox County Schools also announced the move on Twitter on Saturday.
Although no specific reason is given, the move was due to the continued increase in student and staff absenteeism from schools in Knox County and the state. Knox County School’s newly implemented COVID-19 dashboard shows nearly 680 active cases, 594 students, and 85 employees across the school system.
More than 2,500 COVID cases at Knox County Schools in August, according to state data
All extracurricular and sporting activities of the week are also canceled for the week. The Central Bobcats football team was due to receive Gibbs on Friday. The Road Runners should go to Scott.
“Please know that this decision was not made lightly,” the letter reads. “Superintendent (Bob) Thomas filed a waiver Friday to temporarily move our school to distance learning, and that request was approved today by Tennessee Education Officer Penny Schwinn.”
The letter goes on to say that face-to-face classes will resume on Monday, September 13, unless otherwise advised.
Knox County’s parents are filing a lawsuit against Governor Lee seeking the mask mandate in schools
After a long debate on Wednesday, the Knox County Schools Education Committee voted 5-4 against a mask mandate in its schools. However, the board has introduced isolation leave for full-time KCS employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 and updated their attendance policy to allow students to be counted as in attendance when they receive and complete their assignments from teachers online or over the phone.
Knox County Board of Education Votes Against Mask Requirements; approves COVID-19 dashboard, employee leave
A copy of the letter sent to Austin-East and Central parents, students, and faculty is shown below:
Dear central families,
This is your director, Andrew Brown, with an important message. Our school will switch to online learning from Tuesday September 7th to Friday September 10th. (Please remember that Monday, September 6th is Labor Day and a county holiday.) During this time, all students should log into their Chromebooks for synchronous class meetings on their normal daily schedule. All extracurricular and athletic activities for the week are being canceled by the Tennessee Department of Education. Students will return to school for face-to-face lessons on Monday 13 September unless otherwise advised.
Please note that this decision was not made lightly. Superintendent Thomas filed a waiver Friday to temporarily move our school to distance learning, and that request was approved today by Tennessee Education Officer Penny Schwinn.
If you need to pick up your student’s Chromebook from school or other personal items needed to continue studying, please call the school to arrange a pick-up time. To receive meals next week, please fill out the Meal Inquiry form at www.knoxschools.org/mealsrequest. Please note that there is only one food pick-up on Wednesday due to the public holiday.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
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