Halls High School will go virtual for 10 days to reduce COVID-19 spread

Halls High School will close for 10 school days starting Monday because of the number of students being quarantined due to COVID-19.

The school district considered several factors when making this decision, but superintendent Bob Thomas said the student absence rate was the primary factor for the decision to close.

"The decision was made based on the fact that the number of students that are quarantined is very significant," superintendent Bob Thomas said in a media call Friday. "In an effort to stop and slow the spread of COVID-19, we made this decision."

Students will learn virtually using their Chromebooks. All sports and extracurriculars are canceled. Students who were going to take the ACT will be able to make up the test on Oct. 6 or get a voucher for a future test.

There was not one event, group or class that led to cases at the school.

"It was pretty scattered throughout the school and no particular event precipitated the new cases," Knox County Health Department Director Dr. Martha Buchanan said.

The Tennessee Department of Health and Tennessee Department of Education outline several scenarios where a 14-day closure is recommended. One listed scenario is when there is an "increasing number of cases identified within 14 days."

It is not clear how many people have COVID-19 at Halls High because the district does not release information by school. But the school has sent at least two emails announcing COVID-19 cases. The school told families of a case Sept. 4 and told families of "cases" Sept. 10. 

There are 52 active COVID-19 cases across the school district, according to the district's COVID-19 dashboard Friday. There are 43 active student cases and nine staff cases. There are 1,008 people in isolation or quarantine, including 942 students and 66 staff.

The school previously announced it would not play two football games because multiple players were quarantined after being exposed to COVID-19. At the time, nonquarantined players were allowed to continue limited practice.

Knox County Schools did not consult TSSAA about the cancellation of sports, but Thomas said it is a local decision and that he knows the cancellation is disappointing to families.

"My heart goes out to our students who are unable to participate in sports activities at this time,"  Thomas said. "However, we've got to be responsible and do everything within our power to try to stop the spread."

Thomas urged families to socially distance, wear masks, wash hands, clean surfaces and stay at home when sick.

If students don't have reliable access to internet to complete virtual learning, Thomas said families should call the district for help. The district has a plan to help families get low-cost internet. 

Thomas told school families about the closure in an email Friday. The school principal also sent an email to families.

"Please know that this decision was not made lightly; however, it is a decision that we feel is best for the health and safety of our students and staff," Thomas said in the email. "We have consulted with Dr. Martha Buchanan and the Knox County Health Department, and Dr. Buchanan is in support of the two-week closure. While not ideal, we believe that moving to online learning for two weeks is the quickest and most effective way to help reduce the spread of COVID-19."

This is the second school in the district to temporarily switch to virtual learning. Over Labor Day weekend, Cedar Bluff Middle School announced it was going virtual for four school days because of a substitute teacher shortage. Thomas said the district is not currently considering moving any other schools to virtual learning.

Since releasing its reopening plan on July 15, the district has said it's possible certain schools will move to virtual learning while others remain open. The reopening plan also allows for the entire district to switch to virtual learning, if need be.

School started Aug. 24 with about 70% of district students choosing in-person learning. Knox County Schools lists active case counts, recovered case counts and isolation/quarantine counts on its website at knoxschools.org/covid.