SWEETWATER, Tenn. — Sweetwater City Schools and Monroe County Schools both announced they will use non-learning days to close on Sept. 1 and 2 due to COVID-19.
Monroe County Schools said teachers will remotely participate in a staff development day on Friday, September 3. For Sweetwater City Schools, teachers will still come in for the professional development on Friday.
The districts said they will not move to virtual learning. Schools will just be closed on those days.
Monroe County Schools said all extracurricular activities and sports are canceled Wednesday through Friday.
"Please be mindful of the reasons behind this closure, as we are allowing sick or quarantined students and staff an opportunity to recover," Monroe County Schools said. "We would like to encourage all employees, staff, and students to please limit attendance to any large events or activities in order for the closure to maximize our goal of curbing the chances of exposure and to aid in flattening the curve."
Students in both districts will return after the Labor Day holiday on Tuesday, September 7.
"We're struggling. I'm just being honest with you. We want to keep our kids well, our staff well, and this has been a booger," said Angie Kyle, the principal of Brown Intermediate School in a video on the Sweetwater City Schools PTO Facebook page.
"We don't know the right or wrong answers of everything because honestly, everybody gets criticized across the board for whatever reason or decisions we make."
She said it's a hard decision to close the whole district and she respects Director of Schools Rodney Boruff's call. She encouraged everyone to stay home and get well.
"Our community is hurting now and we need your help to keep our kids well and our staff well and safe," Kyle said in the video.