Colbert Co. Schools and others Switching to Virtual Learning

Right now -- more than 100 students and staff in the colbert county school system are in quarantine because they either have coronavirus or were exposed to it.

Now -- the school system is going virtual until january 11th.

That's just one of several school districts with schools switching to remote learning due to the coronavirus.

You're taking a look at some of the others now.

You can see the impact across north alabama.

Good evening and thanks for joining us tonight -- i'm najahe sherman.

And i'm dan shaffer.

We have a lot of new information about the pandemic's impact on schools tonight.

We begin with waay31's breken terry.

She's live after talking to the colbert county school system, parents and even students..

Breken..

How they feel about this?

Breken.... superintendent gale satchel told me this was an incredbly difficult decison to make.

For parents, it's a bit heartbreaking because sports like basketball, cheer and other extra curricular activies might not happen for the next few months.

Karlee- virtual is not a problem for me because we've basically been virtual the whole year.

I've been in quarantine because of volleyball and cheer.

I spoke with colbert heights senior karlee kimbrough and her dad jace over zoom.

Karlee said what really upsets her is possibly not having any extra curricular actiiveis until january.

Karlee- i just broke down in tears.

I just cried all night because it's very emotional that my senior cheer season for basketball is being taken away.

Her dad, jace, said it's hard to try and help his daughter cope with the unknown and he hopes board of education members and the superintendent are listening.

Jace- as parents we feel that they jumped the gun a little bit on the extra cirriculars because there have been guidelines there are guidelines in place by ahsaa and our administration in order to let extra cirricualars happen.

Superintendent satchel said this was a tough call to make.

High numbers of cases, not enough substitute teachers, and the overall well being of students and staff were all factors in this decision.

The school system recently lost bus driver bobby stutts to covid and he took all the precautions said satchel.

Satchel- i don't want to lose another life under my leadership.

It's hard because he's not here with his family and his kids and i don't want that burden on anybody else so i have made a difficult decision satchel told me she knows this decision will upset some.

For those who don't have internet access, they will be doing pencil to paper work and turning assignments in weekly.

There is hope extra curricular activies could start back in january.

Live in the shoals bt waay31.

Thanks breken.

All students at lauderdale county high school are transitioning to remote learning until november 30th due to teachers and students being quarantined.

And as we mentioned -- changes like these aren't limited to the shoals.

Marshall county schools is transitioning to remote learning through the new year.

Traditional students aren't expected to return to the classroom until january 7th.

4 schools in the largest school district in north alabama will temporarily switch to remote learning.

Golds-mith schiffman elementary, ridge-crest elementary, columbia high school and huntsville high school will switch to virtual learning beginning next week.

The school district said it's due to a number of positive cases and the availablity of substitute teachers.

In the madison county school system -- sparkman middle school is moving to remote learning.

It's the second school in the system to announce the switch this week.

Harvest elementary is also making the transition.

East limestone middle and high schools will be on temporary remote learning through november 30th.

398 students and 16 staff members are in quarantine.

The district says they did not have enough substitutes to fill those positions.

The schools will be deep cleaned and disnifected in the next 2 weeks.

The school superintendent adds there are about 650 students in