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Barbour County students going back to schools

PHILIPPI — After operating in remote learning mode last week due to COVID-19 concerns, Barbour County Schools officials announced that students will return to the classrooms today.

Barbour County Superintendent of Schools Jeff Woofter posted the following information on social media:

“The number of quarantined staff and students is dropping, and we want to return to a normal school day while continuing our mask mandate,” Woofter wrote. “We will do everything we can to avoid going back to district-wide remote learning and will utilize class, grade level, or individual school remote learning as needed.

“I understand there are those who are apprehensive about going back to in-person instruction, but we have many students who are depending on us to provide daily meals, a steady and caring environment, and the comfort of being with trusted adults and friends. Plus, we all realize that the quality of face-to-face instruction is much more effective and efficient than trying to teach and learn over the internet or through paper packets.

“We would like to ask all parents to keep their children at home if they have any of the following symptoms: a fever, runny nose, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or congestion. All staff is required to do the same. We really need everyone to work together and to look out for one another during this crazy time,” he wrote.

“Again, I want to thank you for your patience and cooperation. Please know that we are doing our best to provide a quality education to all of our students in the best way that we know how.”

The most recent information released by the Barbour County Health Department states that there are 218 active COVID-19 cases in the county.

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In other local COVID-related information, on Friday Randolph County Schools released the number of COVID-19 cases in each county school.

Tygarts Valley Middle/High School has 32 active cases, while Elkins High School has 19 and Elkins Middle School has two, according to the information released Friday.

Among the county’s elementary schools, George Ward has 15 active cases, Third Ward has 11 cases, Midland has 9, North has 7 and Beverly has 6, according to Randolph County Schools.

Coalton Elementary School and Harman School each have 2 active cases, according to the information released. The Randolph Technical Center and the Randolph County Youth Reporting/Alternative Learning Center each reported zero cases.

On Friday, the Randolph-Elkins Health Department announced that there were 455 active COVID-19 cases in the county, which has seen 19 COVID-related deaths.

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