NAFCS schools switched to all virtual learning the week before Thanksgiving last semester after receiving information that Floyd County was in danger of moving to the “Red Zone”. Students returned to school at the beginning of the spring semester with Floyd County actually in the “Red Zone”.

There are many different opinions on whether schools should have moved to all virtual after Thanksgiving in the first place or even be back in the building now. A video from Floyd County Health Official Dr. Tom Harris and Superintendent Dr. Brad Snyder was released explaining why we moved to all virtual in November.

“In the last few weeks the increase with the virus’s presence has had an effect on us,” Dr. Snyder said. “We have had significant increases in positive cases with our students and our staff, but probably more importantly the number of quarantines.”

Returning to the building at the start of the new year has some questioning whether it is safe NAHS principal Dr. Michelle Ginkins said she is very glad for students to be back in the building at this time.

“I do believe being back in school is best for learning even though some people can’t be here,” Dr. Ginkins said.

She added that we shut down in November mostly from the staffing situation, not from kids contracting COVID at school. 

While in-person learning is better for many students, some are still not able to come back to the building based on their personal situations.

Junior Dana Wright has had some concerns coming back in the red zone, but decided to come back to the building and avoid virtual learning.

“I go [into the building] only two days a week, I have for the whole year,” Wright said. “I think it’s a little crazy that we are back in the building when the county is in the red zone but I also believe that I need to be back in the building for learning purposes.”

Sophomore Ishamel Dearing also added that he believes we should have gone virtual because of how many calls about COVID cases his family got from the school.

Dr. Snyder and the health department have not been able to trace the spread of cases to school buildings which lead them in their decision to open back up the schools. According to the CDC, children are less likely to get and spread the virus. Studies have also shown that children are contagious for less time if they contract the virus.