Hamilton County Schools Start Semester With Remote Learning This Week

Hamilton County, TN – Spring semester starts Wednesday, January 6th for Hamilton County Schools and the District plans to follow a remote schedule this week. 

As of December 30th, the Hamilton County Schools Phase Tracker showed a 5-day average of 3,719 active COVID-19 cases putting the school system in Phase 1. 

According to the Phase Tracker, Phase 1 shifts K-3 students to Hybrid Learning with 4-12 students learning remotely. 

The number of active cases will have to drop below 2,940 before the District shifts to Phase 2, where K-3 students will be on campus four days a week and 4-12 students will transistion to hybrid learning. 

School staff will also follow a remote schedule, but they can request access to their school building through their administrators if needed. 

School-Age Child Care (SACC) will operate a limited number of school sites.  

Athletics can resume practices as of Wednesday, January 6th, pending notification from relevant coaching staff and in accordance with Governor Lee’s most recent Executive Order.  

All other activities, after school programs, and extracurriculars will remain remote/virtual for now. 

According to HCS, Phase Tracker updates will be communicated every Tuesday. 

This update will determine the school schedule for the following week. 

The schedule for the week of January 11-15th will be shared on Tuesday, January 5th by HCS. 

Regarding COVID-19 vaccinations for employees of HCS, between December 22 and 26th, the Health Department sent HCS virtual allotment cards, which HCS shared with all Phase 1a1 employees (386 EXED and 108 Nurses). 

During this time, the Health Department issued a press release stating they would discontinue the use of the allotment card system and a work ID or proof of employment as outlined in the State’s Plan would be sufficient.  

On December 30th, the phase rollout schedule was updated to include all HCS staff for the COVID-19 vaccination in Phase 1b. 

HCS stated that all staff members who have received vaccines so far volunteered to do so and that vaccines are not mandatory.  

To date, HCS has approximately 700 employees eligible to receive the vaccine and all HCS employees will be eligible to receive the vaccine once the Health Department announces the start of Phase 1b.