FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — Williamson County School officials announced they will begin school for all students on August 7 under the district's Medium Protocol.
Williamson County Schools Superintendent Jason Golden made the announcement Thursday afternoon.
Pre-K through 2nd-grade students will begin with in-person instruction and 3rd through 12th-grade students will begin with remote learning.
The Medium Protocol will last for two weeks. School officials hope in that time the county's COVID-19 numbers will have improved enough to return to school in a full capacity.
Students at the Alternative Learning Center will begin on campus and students with disabilities will also begin on campus with instructors addressing their specific needs.
Masks will be required for all students on campus when social distancing is not an option.
Read the full Williamson Co. reopening plan here.
Superintended Golden said that since the school board passed the district's plan to return to school, school officials have been closely working with city, county and health officials to decide when it would be best for students to return.
As of Thursday, there were 1,470 active COVID-19 cases in the county with a seven-day net increase of 136 cases within the week. Even though there was a slight decline in cases within the last three days, Golden said the district decided to begin instruction under the Medium Protocol.
"We're concerned the with our current numbers returning all students to campus on Aug. 7 where we know we cant be socially distanced, will place a burden on our students on our staff and on the health department and others that currently can't be born based on our numbers," explained Golden.
The superintendent said the district currently has about 20 summer staff members who are out due to quarantine or health issues including some administrators who've been diagnosed or quarantined.
Since the plan was passed, officials have been checking when the best time would be for students to return to schoolsactive 1470 COVID-19 cases (7day net increase of 136 over the week)
Williamson Medical Center is also experiencing an increasethis week we closed one of our programs extended programs due to a positive case
we're concerned the with current numbers on aug 7 will place a burden on students staff and on health departmentapply our medium protocol on aug 7 - half day for students no matter what program you've pickedfor first 2 weeks of school pre-k through 22nd will start school on campus3-12 remotealternative learning center on campusdisabilities get services on campus addressing their specific needsthose signed up for virtual on aug. 7 - the deadline to apply is extended until sunday
