From The Tribune staff reports
CULLMAN — Cullman County Schools Superintendent Shane Barnette is pleading with parents to do their part in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in schools, after a spike in cases throughout the school system.
“Our numbers yesterday, at the end of the day, were very alarming,” Barnette said. “Our COVID-related absences were almost 400, which is higher than any one day last school year. ”
As of Tuesday, the fifth day of school in Cullman County, there were 373 students and staff out with COVID or out in quarantine.
Barnette said students will not be made to wear masks, but if they do, they will not have to be sent home if they are exposed to coronavirus. The superintendent said he is a firm believer that mask-wearing should be a choice by the parents.
He pleaded with parents to keep their kids home if they are feeling bad or if they have been exposed to a person with COVID.
“I need those students to stay at home and just report that to the school that they’ve either been exposed or that they’ve tested positive,” he said. “If you’ll do that, and if you’ll work with me, we can keep our schools open and we can keep our kids in school.”