A district wide press release on Saturday, October 24th stated “The county's cumulative (total) number of positive cases reported for students and employees for the 2020-21 school year from August 23, 2020, to October 24, 2020, was 124 cases.” Aiken county public schools added that no hospitalizations were made over the course of the year. Mr. John Murphy, principal of North Augusta High School, says that county policy regarding the virus has remained largely the same since the beginning of the year, stressing the importance of social distancing, mask wearing and handwashing. However, school administrators are accountable for acting with some degree of autonomy, largely reliant upon the uniqueness of each school's situation. Mr. Murphy added that in light of the school’s strenuous precautions North Augusta High School will remain prepared for the possibility of an outbreak upon student’s full time return to school, and will continually listen to the word of local health experts and school board advisors.
How a cautious and Covid-19 aware class looks at North Augusta High School. Desks are properly distanced and students are wearing their masks.
Photo credit: Matthew Price
Pictured from left to right: Takcoda Hale, Mrs. Karen Coyle, Matthew Hammond, Jadon Mace
One thing of importance to those in Aiken County is that the Aiken Innovate policy will remain principally the same though semester one. No new admissions will be made, as previously stated by Aiken county public schools in late August of 2020. Mr. Murphy says “this decision was reached in part due to Aiken County’s commitment of online teachers and resources upon receiving a student headcount for the semester”. He adds that despite this the school board has attempted to accommodate students who have extenuating or evolving circumstances. As of Thursday, October 29th, Aiken Innovate students were given a survey, which outlined how the aforementioned students would like to return to school in semester two. Similarly, students in Aiken County who wish to return to school after the end of semester 1 may do so.
Mr. Murphy stresses that Aiken country’s long-term goal in relation to Covid-19 is “A full time in-school learning environment free from Covid-19 by the 2021-2022 school year or sooner.” Mr. Murphy outlined a possible route to full time learning, saying “after North Augusta High School can prove success with the previous hybrid model, and full time in school learning, a large majority of Aiken innovate students will return to in-person instruction after semester one.” After proven integrated student success, masks will no longer be required followed by no longer needing to enforce social distancing guidelines, finally larger facilities such as the cafeteria and auditorium will open. After school activities such as clubs and athletics will continue as they have previously until further notice says. Larger scale events such as prom, sidewalk art, and ring ceremony, Mr. Murphy says, are largely dependent upon Covid-19 numbers in the coming months of March and April. This decision, as opposed to athletic events such as football, was reached as a result of Aiken County Public School’s Covid-19 safety policies. Mr. Murphy stressed the fact that students who attend larger gatherings such as football games are to assume a higher level of risk despite the increased safety precautions associated with the events.
Mr. Murphy concluded that “I could not have been more impressed with how students have handled masking and social distancing. They've truly done a great job. I think our young people have been conscientious, responsive, and reactive. I couldn't have asked for more.
Attached below are Aiken County’s Covid-19 positive cases chart with respect to school, and the overall district infection chart respectively.
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