School starts for students in Maury County amid the pandemic

SPRING HILL, Tenn. (WTVF) — Maury County parents have the option to choose in-person or remote learning for students.

“I think that choice is great," said parent Erica Williams.

Parents are also able to decide if their child wears a mask or not at school. However, employees with Maury County Schools are required to wear face coverings.

"Last night I asked my daughter, I said, ‘Are you excited about school?’ And she said, 'mommy I can’t even talk about it right now I’m so excited,’” said Williams.

Caroline is in fifth grade at Battle Creek Middle, and Ethan is a first-grader at Marvin Wright Elementary. Williams decided to send them back for in-person classes.

According to Principal Renata Powell, about 20% of her students are learning from home, and the rest were back in class. They are taking several safety precautions, and students have to get their temperatures checked before they enter Spring Hill Elementary.

"None of the children complained, it was like a regular school year, even though it was unusual," Powell said.

Powell said they’re prepared to go fully remote too.

“It’s a little bit different with schools across the district, but yes we have some teachers that are going to be remote teachers, and then we have some teachers that are just traditional teachers, and then we have a little bit of both," she said.

For now, parents and teachers are taking it day by day.

“Just trying to be positive about it, and look forward to a good year,” Williams said.

To start the year, Spring Hill High and Whitthorne Middle School were closed due to staffing-related COVID-19 precautions. Tuesday is a teacher in-service day. If all goes as planned, a district spokesperson said students should be able to go back to Spring Hill High and Whitthorne Middle on Wednesday.