Students across Alabama are heading back to the classroom but that’s not without its difficulties during the coronavirus pandemic.
Schools across the state are being forced to quarantine students and teachers after positive cases are reported. Other schools are having to change schedules and routines to adjust to the COVID-19 virus.
Here are some of the latest Back to School 2020 headlines:
Schools coronavirus roundup: 8 cases in north Alabama, 9 with cases or exposure at Spanish Fort HS
Eight coronavirus cases have been confirmed at north Alabama schools on Thursday, with nine more confirmed or suspected cases at a Baldwin County school, according to published reports.
7 Inverness Elementary teachers out following COVID-19 exposure
Seven teachers at Inverness Elementary have been exposed to COVID-19, according to the Shelby County School system, with six of them out reportedly from the same grade level.
Virtual town hall to update school year starting in Black Belt
State Superintendent Eric Mackey and local superintendents from Black Belt county and city school systems will take part in a virtual town hall meeting Saturday at 1 p.m. to update parents on the start of the school year and how it will be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Legendary Vestavia Hills coach Buddy Anderson, wife test positive for COVID-19
Legendary Vestavia Hills football coach Buddy Anderson and his wife Linda have both tested positive for COVID-19.
Lee County high school shuts down football workouts, cancels first 3 games
Beulah coach Matt Johnson told AL.com on Wednesday that his team has been quarantined after a player tested positive for COVID-19 this week.
Alabama’s beach cities wrap up ‘long journey’ in defining their educational future
Seventeen years ago next month, 180 people crowded into a room at Gulf State Park and listened to city officials and an education consultant inform them property taxes would need to be raised in order to create a new “Pleasure Island” school district, and to make it competitive with other schools in Alabama.
From the Dothan Eagle
Enterprise schools moving to blended schedule after 121 students sent home in first week
“After 121 Enterprise City Schools students were sent home the first four days of class, the system is moving to a blended schedule where junior high and high school students will only attend school physically two days a week.”
Anniston City Schools delays in-class instruction to Sept. 8 as staff report COVID cases
In-class instruction at Anniston City Schools has been delayed until Sept. 8 as “several cases” of COVID-19 have been reported among staff, the district superintendent said Tuesday.
From the universities
Early COVID-19 test results for Alabama college students show low positivity rate
With a week left until classes begin at the University of Alabama System’s three campuses, the first numbers of COVID-19 reentry tests are available.
As of Wednesday morning, approximately 30,000 students had been tested either in person or through the mail-in kits. Of that group, 0.83 percent tested positive, a GuideSafe Entry Testing spokesperson told AL.com on Wednesday evening.
Student in Troy University dorm tests positive for COVID-19
A student at a Troy University dorm has tested positive for COVID-19, the university confirmed.