YIR: Davis Academy Coping with COVID Outbreak
February 2021: The Jewish day school had to adjust schedules, including days with all students at home, while urging parents to adhere to reporting and exposure protocols.
Dave Schechter is a veteran journalist whose career includes writing and producing reports from Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East.
A COVID-19 outbreak at The Davis Academy in early February 2021 prompted administrators to scold parents who may not have been truthful in reporting exposure or in following the school’s protocols to prevent exposure and spread of the virus.
The outbreak, which most affected middle-school and first grade students at the K-8 school, at one point also sidelined 20 percent of the faculty, forcing scheduling changes that included sending students home for online instruction.
A Feb. 2 statement to Davis Academy families said that “The circumstances surrounding the most recent positive cases reported to the school confirm continuing activity and exposure outside of school as well as unreliably reported information . . . We rely on the honesty and integrity of our families to help us stay in school, yet we have indications that some parents may not be tracking and reporting accurately and honestly.”
A follow-up on Feb. 19 said that “many individuals in the Davis community participated in social gatherings including group meals, celebrations, sleepovers, and/or sports activities which has resulted in increased cases especially among Middle School students.”
By Feb. 24, Davis Academy reported no new cases.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced Feb. 25 that teachers and staff in public and private K-12 schools, pre-K programs, and daycare centers would be eligible to receive vaccinations beginning March 8.
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