Cobb schools report continuing drop in COVID-19 cases

Reported COVID-19 case rates in the Cobb County School District are continuing to fall after the fall break.

The district reported on Friday that there are 262 active cases in the 112-school system, the lowest single-week tally since 185 cases the first week of the current 2021-22 school year.

Only four schools are reporting double-figures in active cases, including 11 at Tritt Elementary School in East Cobb. The others are Dowell ES (12), Teasley ES (21) and Osborne HS (11).

There are nine cases each at Eastvalley ES and Simpson MS.

A number of schools have no active cases, including Bells Ferry ES, Garrison Mill ES, Kincaid ES, Nicholson ES, Powers Ferry ES, Daniell MS, Dodgen MS and McCleskey MS in East Cobb.

Friday was the first reporting date since the fall break the last week of September. On Sept. 24, there were 394 cases.

The district’s figures are staff and students combined and do not include individuals under quarantine.

Since the start of the school year, reported cases rose sharply in Cobb, to 1,033 the week of Aug. 27.

The entire fifth grade at East Side Elementary School was sent home to learn remotely for nearly two weeks due to a COVID-19 outbreak.

Parents demanding Cobb schools mandate masks were met by counter protestors. But Superintendent Chris Ragsdale didn’t budge from maintaining a masks-optional policy, even after the Cobb Board of Health—of which he is a member—issued a position statement in favor of a mandate.

But in September, those numbers began falling nearly as rapidly.

At the September Cobb Board of Education meeting, Ragsdale defended the masks-optional policy further, even as nearby districts maintained their mandate.

Four Cobb school parents filed a federal lawsuit against the district last week, saying its COVID-19 protocols, including a masks-optional policy, are preventing their medically fragile children from getting a proper education.

The district is facing a deadline to respond next week to a motion from the plaintiffs seeking a temporary injunction to require masks.

A Fulton County judge this week sided with the Fulton County School System after parents challenged its mask mandate.

Related stories

• Wheeler Name Change group to hold virtual town hall
• Cobb schools online learning lottery opens for spring semester
• Cobb school board member sends e-mail discouraging COVID vaccines
• Cobb school board to hold special called meeting for legal reasons
• Cobb school district sued by parents over COVID-19 protocols
• Cobb schools awaiting accreditor’s special review report
• Pope HS students install Little Free Library at Green Acres ES
• Cobb school superintendent defends masks-optional policy
• ADL: Cobb schools response to anti-Semitic attacks ‘disappointing’
• Cobb schools bring disciplinary charges in anti-Semitic incidents

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!