Families who attended Cobb elementary school open house test positive for COVID-19

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A Cobb County elementary school has reported that several families who attended a back to school open house have tested positive for COVID-19.

Channel 2′s Chris Jose received a copy of the letter that was sent to King Springs Elementary families over the weekend.

“We are super excited to get this school year started! Following our wonderful Sneak a Peek on Thursday, we’ve been notified that several families have positive cases of Covid and attended our event,” the letter stated. “Since this was a fluid event with people mingling throughout the building, we thought it best to send a low risk letter to all families.”

The letter did not say how many families tested positive or were exposed at the event.

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Cobb County Schools, which is Georgia’s second largest school district, returns to the classroom on Monday.

Face coverings will be optional for students and staff, including on school buses. Any student or staff member who is identified as a close contact will be required to quarantine.

[COBB COUNTY: What students and parents need to know about back to school policies]

As the district starts the school year, parents on both sides want a choice: A choice to wear a mask. A choice to flip back to virtual learning.

“Keep the masks optional. Those parents who have concerns about their student, absolutely feel free to wear a mask,” parent Amy Buchanan said.

“Cobb County Schools prides itself on being a school system of excellence. What is excellent about putting children in a situation where they can be potentially unsafe?” parent Courtney Johnson said.

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Johnson chose face-to-face learning for her child. As a family, they made that decision in the spring when the portal opened up to register. At the time, the district still required masks.

Johnson wants to switch her child back to virtual, but the deadline to choose has passed. She wants district leaders to reopen the registration window.

“Give us the opportunity to do what we feel like is safe, given the current policy,” Johnson said.

Jose asked the district if it would grant those requests. A district spokesperson said the deadline was put into place to help face-to-face and virtual teachers focus on their individual jobs.

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