UNION COUNTY, Ga – Union County Schools (UCS) announced the decision to close schools for a week to potentially prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

In a statement released around 3 p.m. on Friday, March 13, UCS students will be expected to complete online learning from Tuesday, March 17 to Friday, March 20. On Monday, principals will be releasing “school-level guidance” across each school website for parents.

The School administration will make a decision about the week of March 23 sometime next week.

All athletics, extracurricular activities, and field trips are canceled until further notice.

For those who would like to request meals for children from one to 18 at no cost, they can fill out this survey. Meals will be delivered Tuesday and Thursday from 12:00 pm until 1:00 pm at the 12 voting locations. The locations are listed by address in the survey. If anyone has questions or cannot get to one of the locations please call 706-835-4408.

Read the entire statement below:

“During the past few weeks, we have been closely monitoring the situation concerning COVID-19 (Coronavirus 2019) and the global impact of this virus. Following President Trump’s address to the nation Wednesday night, and Governor Kemp’s press briefing Thursday afternoon, Georgia School Superintendents had a conference call with State School Superintendent Richard Woods. The information that was provided, along with extensive prior guidance from the Federal Department of Education and Georgia Department of Education, indicated that proactive school closures help flatten the bell curve of infection allowing health care providers to care for medically fragile and elderly individuals who are affected greatly by this particular virus. Extensive scientific research supports the President’s and Governor’s recommendations.

Effective immediately, the Georgia High School Association recommends the suspension of all athletics across the state according to the Governor’s recommendation. Union County Schools has canceled all field trips, athletics, extracurricular activities, and the use of all district facilities effective immediately until further notice.

Our students spent today preparing for Online Learning Days. Monday, 3-16-20 has been scheduled as an in-service day. From Tuesday, 3-17-20 through Friday, 3-20-20, faculty and students will be working from home. On Monday afternoon, our Principals will push out school-level guidance on their websites to parents concerning your child’s specific instructional plan for the week. We will reassess the situation as it evolves to make further decisions at the end of next week. 

More information will be forthcoming to support families needing food service. The vision statement of Union County Schools is “Success for ALL,” and we are committed to ensuring our families are supported during this time.  

As school leaders, we have to make hard decisions keeping the entire school and community in mind based on guidance from local, state, and national leaders. Please be patient and keep in mind the health and well-being of ALL members of Union County. Challenging times are when we need to come together and protect one another. Please join us in uniting for the greater good of our community, state, and nation.

Sincerely,

John E. Hill 

Superintendent Union County Schools”

You can also read the Coronavirus statement here.