A viral photo showing students crammed in a Georgia high school hallways and very few wearing face masks caused an outrage on social media. "Going back, I'm probably going to be just as nervous as I was the first day of school", she told The New York Times. According to the family, the student was suspended in part due to use of a cellphone in the school hallway, filming minors, and using social media during school time.
District spokesperson Jay Dillon declined comment.
By then, sophomore Hannah Watters, 15, had already revealed on Twitter that her suspension had been rescinded.
"This morning my school called and they have deleted my suspension", Watters wrote. The teacher allegedly said the viral images accurately represented what was happening inside the schools and that students and faculty were both warned not to publicize the activity on social media.
Superintendent Otott emailed a letter to parents on Thursday that stated the district will be providing all staff with cloth masks and face shields and attempting to reduce crowding in high school hallways during class changes. The message sent was also to reassure them that their student was not known to be in close contact with this particular student-athlete.
Cherokee County officials later announced a student at Sixes Elementary School near Canton tested positive for the virus. "This includes, but is not limited to, using recording devices to video, photograph or record misbehaviors or to violate the privacy of others".
Watters followed the lead of another North Paulding High School student who shared a similar photo.
"Not only did they open, but they have not been safe", she said.
Critics widely derided the pictures on social media, although some residents of the counties voiced support. "However, nearly every single student has broken that rule before". Now, the student who took the pictures has allegedly been suspended.
What do YOU think about what's going on at this GA high school? "You have no valid expectations to privacy".
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that schools choosing to reopen their doors amid the pandemic should have students wearing masks or facial coverings "when around people who live outside of their household, especially when other social distancing measures are hard to maintain".
The state of Georgia has commenced the 2020-21 academic year with students back on campus.
The district has adopted a policy that wearing a mask should be a "personal choice" for students and parents.
"We have anticipated that COVID-19 would impact us as it has almost every community, and the district has worked in partnership with the Department of Public Health (DPH) to proactively implement safety precautions and response plans", reads a letter sent by the parents to the school.
