With a new school year starting online in Cobb County next Monday, a group of parents pushing for classroom learning will hold another public rally on Saturday.
The group that calls itself Let Parents Choose will gather at the Marietta Square at 10 a.m. Saturday.
They’ve started an online petition drive and created a Facebook group and organized a a similar rally last month the drew several dozen people to the Cobb Civic Center.
They were upset when Cobb County School District superintendent Chris Ragsdale dropped an in-school option in July, citing a high community spread for COVID-19.
Let Parents Choose says that the relatively low COVID-19 case rate for school-aged children needs to be considered, but more importantly, the delivery of education to students, especially those at risk of dropping out, who have special needs.
All students, they say, are feeling the brunt of social isolation and many families were struggling with virtual learning that began in March, when the schools were closed.
Since the group’s first rally, Ragsdale has outlined plans for a return to classrooms but no dates for when that might be. He hasn’t responded to the Let Parents Choose concerns.
Last week, several school districts in Georgia began their school year, with COVID-19 cases prompting the quarantine of a class in Cherokee County. On Monday, North Paulding High School switched to online-only after nine positive COVID-19 cases were reported.
As Cobb teachers and staff reported for preplanning last week, around 100 cases of the virus among staff and students were acknowledged by Cobb and Douglas Public Health, dating back to July 1.
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- The East Cobb Open for Business Directory
- East Cobb News COVID-19 Resource Page
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Corrections, last sentence:
follow safety protocols for the next six weeks. Students could return to school
in split shifts thereby decreasing crowded hallways, classrooms and restrooms. By implementing preventive measures that are effective it is feasible to decrease COVID19 cases especially as flu season draws closer.
To the Let Parents Decide Group: although it is admirable that you have organized to meet your goal of reopening schools, Cherokee and Spaulding schools have proven to be disastrous. Cobb County’s latest Covid cases have increased which is a sign that it is too soon to reopen our schools. Our childrens’ health and safety along with teachers, staff, family members and relatives’ well being will also be jeopardized.
Many do not have access or the means to medical care which will place them in serious danger. As a community we must think of all Cobb residents as well as our neighboring counties. Many teachers, staff and support members commute vs residing in Cobb. If everyone would quarantine, follow all safety protocols for six more weeks as well we along splitting school days it would decrease the growing number of Covid cases in our County.