COVID spurs home learning, safeguards at local schools

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - After just one full day back from winter break, the Richmond County School System shifted two schools to home learning and the Columbia County district rolled out new COVID guidelines.

As the region copes with a surge of coronavirus cases, in-person classes resumed Tuesday in Richmond, Columbia and Aiken counties, while Warren, McDuffie, Taliaferro and Jefferson counties extended their winter break to evaluate their options.

By Wednesday, we started hearing about changes for Richmond and Columbia counties. Here’s what we learned:

Richmond County

The Richmond County School System said Wednesday that due to increased staff absences due to COVID-19, Sue Reynolds Elementary and Jenkins-White Elementary Schools will go to the home learning model from Thursday through Monday.

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Students will return for in-person instruction on Tuesday.

Meals are available for pickup from the side entrance of the school cafeterias on Thursday, Friday and Monday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.

“The Richmond County School System will continue to follow the guidance of public health officials to ensure the proper recommendations are followed to clean and disinfect our school facilities and act in the best interest of our students, teachers and staff,” the district said in a statement.