In an effort to reduce the spread of the new coronavirus, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday ordered public elementary and secondary schools to remain closed for in-person instruction through April 24.
The executive order issued Thursday by Kemp comes after he previously ordered the closure of all public elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools in the state from March 18 to March 31.
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Kemp said Thursday students may be able to return to school on April 27.
“I am deeply grateful to State School Superintendent Richard Woods, the Georgia Department of Education, superintendents, and parents for keeping us informed and helping us make the right decision for our students,” Kemp said. “Throughout this process, we will continue to seek the advice of public health officials, school leaders and families to ensure the health and safety of the educational community. As we approach April 24, 2020, we ask for continued patience and flexibility since circumstances may change, but we encourage families to stay strong and follow the guidance of federal, state and local leaders in the weeks ahead.”
The University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia will remain closed for in-person instruction through the rest of the semester, as students have already transitioned to all online learning.
As of Thursday evening, there were more than 1,600 COVID-19 cases reported in the state, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Brantley County
The Brantley County School System also posted on Facebook about Kemp’s announcement:
“Gov. Kemp has just issued an executive order that all Georgia schools will remain closed through April 24. Hopefully, students will be able to return to school on Monday, April 27.”
Camden County
In accordance with Kemp’s recent mandate to extend school closures and to best prioritize student and staff safety, Camden County Schools will remain closed until at least Friday, April 24.
“We recognize the hardship school closings may have on our families and community but we also know these are unprecedented times and extreme measures must be taken as a school system and as individuals to keep our community safe,” the school district said in a post Thursday on its Facebook page. "Throughout the process, we have relied on the guidance from the Georgia Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as our state and local leaders. We will continue to rely on the counsel of these agencies to determine when it is safe to reopen our schools and we will continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available.
“While our school buildings will remain closed, the education process has not stopped. Our faculty continue to work remotely to best support students, including delivering digital and physical instructional resources to students while they are at home.”
Camden County Schools plans to continue student meal service throughout our school closures. Information about meal delivery and pick up locations can be found on the Camden County Schools website at www.camden.k12.ga.us.
Charlton County
Charlton County Superintendent John Lairsey on Thursday sent the following message to parents:
"This morning, Georgia’s Governor, Brian Kemp, issued an executive order extending the closure of Georgia schools through April 24, 2020. Therefore, all Charlton County Schools will be closed, and it is anticipated we will return to school on Monday, April 27, 2020.
"Our plan is to enhance our current offering of digital resources for those students who have the capability to access the digital environment. For those without connectivity or computer resources, we will provide printed packets to our students next week. These packets will be delivered to areas of our community in coordination with the Grab ‘N Go Lunch and Snack Program. More details will be released as soon as possible. For the best information related to COVID-19, we encourage you visit the following websites:
“We will continue to update our web page https://www.charlton.k12.ga.us/ with COVID-19 information. This situation continues to evolve daily and information will be provided as necessary.”
Glynn County
In accordance with Kemp’s executive order, Glynn County schools will remain closed for in-person instruction through Friday, April 24. Schools will tentatively resume on Monday, April 27.
Prior to this date, the governor will make a decision on the remainder of the school year.
Updates and additional information related to COVID-19 will be provided by the Glynn County School System on the “COVID-19/Coronavirus Information” reference page at www.glynn.k12.ga.us, through the One Call Now automated calling system and on social media platforms.
Ware County
After receiving information from the governor that all Georgia schools will remain closed through April 24, Ware County Superintendent Bert Smith sent a message to parents on Facebook.
If your child’s homeroom teacher has not reached out to you, please call your child’s school between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Friday, March 27.
Central office staff and administrators will be meeting next week to develop a learning plan, based on parent survey results, to be put in place for the duration of school closures. The school district will update students, parents and the community on how its learning plan will be presented.
The nutrition program will continue through April 24 with the exception of the school district’s scheduled spring break, April 6-10.