Gwinnett County

Gwinnett schools return to in-person classes Monday as many remain skeptical of safety over COVID-19

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The state’s largest school district went back to partial, face-to-face learning Monday after all students spent the last week at home for digital learning only.

About 120,000 Gwinnett County teachers, staff and students returned to their schools on Monday and another roughly 80,000 students continued digital learning.

Teachers throughout the district are mourning the death of a colleague as parents are deeply divided over where the best place is for their children to be.

Over the weekend, family and friends of Maude Jones gathered for her funeral services. The Rock Springs Elementary paraprofessional died from COVID-19 earlier in the month.

“I just don’t understand. You work all days of your life, you work all the years to sit and enjoy your family and this happens,” one mourner said, not identifying themselves.

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The family believes Jones caught COVID-19 while working at school.

After a week of digital-only classes due to staffing issues, Gwinnett educators and students returned to classes Monday.

An increasing number of teachers are speaking out, fearing more colleagues will fall victim to the pandemic.

“Teachers and staff are terrified,” teacher Virginia Harvey said.

“It is time we give our teachers the choice of working from home,” said teacher Anthony Downer.

Parents throughout the district remain divided about sending their children back to in-person classes.

“It’s a sad state when I feel like I have to fight for the right to have my child go to school in person,” parent Laurie Farley said.

Right now, 55% of Gwinnett County students are in face-to-face learning. The rest chose digital.

Administrators insist the district is following guidelines, but even the school board is split.

“We have had 100,000 people in our schools for an entire semester and our numbers are fantastic,” said Steve Knudson, Gwinnett County School Board member.

The latest numbers released Monday morning show 359 new cases or people in quarantine in Gwinnett schools, with 1,920 active cases overall.

That’s down from a high point a couple of weeks ago.