ALL Cannon County Elementary Schools – Auburn Elementary School; East Side Elementary School; Short Mountain Elementary School; West Side Elementary School; Woodbury Grammar School; and Woodland Elementary School will cease On-Campus Learning beginning Thursday, November 12th, 2020 through Tuesday, November 24th, 2020 – Cannon County Schools are OFF for Thanksgiving Holidays on Wednesday, November 25th, 2020, Thursday, November 26th, 2020 and Friday, November 27th, 2020. Students will return to On-Campus Learning Monday, November 30th, 2020. ALL Cannon County Elementary School Students will be participating in Distance Learning during this time. Cannon County High School was already participating in Distance Learning until November 30th, 2020.
Director of Cannon County Schools, William F. Curtis stated, “There has been a major surge in the number of positive cases and specifically contacts of COVID-19 with students and staff at our Cannon County Elementary Schools these past few days this week. The following Statistics indicate:
Total Cannon County Students = 1,810
Students
Total Positive Cases = 14 Students or 0.07%
Total Contacts = 276 Students or 15.2%
Total Cases/Contacts = 290 Students or 16.02%
Staff
Total Positive Cases = 5 (Staff Personnel) or 1.6%
Total Contacts = 29 (Staff Personnel) or 4.4%
Total Cases/Contacts = 34(Staff Personnel) or 11.3%”
Curtis continued, “We have been in consultation with the Tennessee Department of Health at the Local, Regional, and State levels which recommended the closure of our Cannon County Elementary Schools On-Campus Programs for allowing time for these possible exposures and cases to diminish. Our Cannon County Elementary School Students will transition to ‘Distance Learning’ on Thursday, November 12th, 2020 through Tuesday, November 24th, 2020. Cannon Elementary School Students will return to “On-Campus” learning Monday, November 30th, 2020. Teachers will get packets to students for work on Thursday, November 12th, 2020 and my expectation is that ALL Teachers will utilize Google Meet platform for ALL Elementary Students on Friday, November 13th, 2020 through Tuesday, November 24th, 2020. Cannon County Schools are OFF for Thanksgiving Holidays on Wednesday, November 25th, 2020, Thursday, November 26th, 2020 and Friday, November 27th, 2020. Parents and Guardians will be contacted by individual Cannon County Elementary School Officials via multiple means, and we sincerely appreciate their cooperation in these unprecedented times.”
“Cannon County Elementary School Students Grades 6th-8th have already been provided a Chromebook for instruction and will be required to check-in daily with each teacher and complete assignments. Our Technology Team is in the process for distributing newly arrived Chromebooks for 4th and 5th Grades, and we hope to have them distributed by Monday, November 16th, 2020. PreK-3rd Grade Students will utilize Google Classroom if that technology is available, and paper packets will be sent out and received at the Meal Distributions.”
“GRAB-AND-GO BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHES will be distributed at each Cannon County Elementary School on Thursday, November 12th, 2020 – 11 AM – Noon – Breakfasts & Lunches provided for 2 days; Monday, November 16th, 2020 – 11 AM – Noon – Breakfasts & Lunches provided for 5 days; Monday, November 23rd – Breakfasts & Lunches provided for 5 days. CCHS students can pick up meals at ANY Elementary School. CCHS is not a feeding site. A flyer is attached to this release and an additional separate Press Release regarding this program will be issued with more details.”
Curtis concluded, “Cannon County Schools and specifically Cannon County Elementary Schools are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but our students’, families’ and staff members’ health and safety is our number one concern at this time. Thank you for your understanding. Cannon County Schools appreciates the hard work of our dedicated Cannon County Principals, Teachers, and Staff Members to continue the education of the children of OUR Cannon County Community during this pandemic event. Everyone in OUR Cannon County Schools Family is striving to achieve OUR NEW VISION – ‘Engaged in Excellence EVERY Day in EVERY Way!’ We urge everyone to do what they can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during this latest ’resurgence’ involving our students, faculties, and staff personnel. Please contact your individual Cannon County Elementary Schools (Auburn Elementary School; East Side Elementary School; Short Mountain Elementary School; West Side Elementary School; Woodbury Grammar School; and Woodland Elementary School) for any additional needed information.”