Posted On: Thursday, March 12, 2020

On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised that all Cherokee County School District schools and offices will be closed for two weeks from Monday, March 16, 2020 through Friday, March 27, 2020. (Update 3.17.2020: Governor Kemp has mandated school closures through March 31). We will use Digital Learning Days during this closure to continue teaching and learning.

This decision was not made lightly, but was based on new information and serious concerns shared today by Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Public Health in regard to coronavirus COVID-19 and its threat to our State and community.

We are not closing Friday, March 13, 2020, as we need to allow time for students and staff to retrieve needed materials and technology to be prepared for this closure. However, should you as a parent decide to keep your child home, that absence will be excused without academic penalty and with the ability to make up missed work.

All CCSD activities including athletics and extra-curriculars, including Georgia High Schools Association (GHSA) events, are cancelled effective immediately. This is in addition to the cancellations/postponements of CCSD special events and field trips announced earlier today. However, After School Program will be held on Friday, March 13, 2020, and SAT testing will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2020 as planned.

Non-CCSD activities held on our campuses, such as league sports and church services, also will not be held during the two-week closing, effective Monday, March 16. During this closure, our custodians will use this time to deep clean our schools.

Beginning Monday, March 16, we will use our Canvas learning management system to continue teaching and learning through Digital Learning Days. More information about this system is online here; teachers will communicate with students and parents through Canvas. If your child does not have access to technology or the Internet, please reach out to their teacher as soon as possible tomorrow about options available through CCSD.

Our School Nutrition department has applied with the State to provide to-go meals to our neediest schools. We will communicate with eligible families as soon as possible.

We know this closure will lead to hardships for many of our students and families. We know you may have other questions for which we don’t yet have answers. We are committed to doing our best to serve your children in this challenging time.

Barbara P. Jacoby

Chief Communications Officer

Cherokee County School District