Masks Not Mandated, Strongly Encouraged In Hamilton County Schools
Photo Credit: Hamilton County Schools / YouTube
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
Dr. Justin Robertson, the new Superintendent of Hamilton County Schools, has shared the School District’s virus mitigation strategies going into the second semester of the 2021-22 school year.
Robertson stated that school leaders are prepared to welcome students back to campus and they will utilize COVID-19 mitigation strategies to “promote and maintain healthy learning environments”.
“We strongly encourage our entire staff and students to practice the mitigation strategies that have been successful,” Robertson said, “Specifically, we recommend that students and staff wear a mask when indoors, social distance when possible, frequently wash hands to eliminate germs, stay home when you are sick and reduce risk by getting vaccinated or boosted.”
Robertson stated that the District is looking forward to a smooth transition in the second semester and that the District “will remain focused on doing what is right for students.”
“We are continuing to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and cases have risen in the community over the past week,” Robertson said, “As a District, we continue to prioritize the health and well-being of our students and staff.”
Robertson stated that the District is looking forward to a smooth transition in the second semester and that the District “will remain focused on doing what is right for students.”
Robertson also announced the creation of a transition team to be composed of members of the Hamilton County community.
“This team will focus on specific concerns and ultimately make recommendations regarding how we move Hamilton County Schools forward,” Robertson said.
*** Click Here to Support Conservative Journalism in Tennessee. We can’t cover stories like this without your support! ***
“I am looking forward to working with our community in Hamilton County to move this District forward,” Robertson said, “We are well-positioned and recognize that there is more work ahead.”
Following the appointment of Robertson to the Superintendent of Schools position, Dr. Nakia Towns, who served as the interim superintendent, announced that she is leaving the District and Chattanooga to “pursue other opportunities.”
Prior to his appointment as the new Superintendent of Hamilton County Schools, Robertson served as HCS Interim Deputy Superintendent.
The Hamilton County School board voted Robertson in as the new superintendent with a 7-2 vote, following a process of several specially-called school board meetings to narrow the candidate pool.
Ken Carrick of Buffin/Baker, representative of the search firm that aided with the previous Superintendent search which led to the hiring of Dr. Bryan Johnson, recommended Robertson as his top pick for the position.
School Board members Tucker McClendon, Marco Perez, Tiffanie Robinson, Joe Smith, Rhonda Thurman, James Walker, and Joe Wingate all voted in favor of Robertson. The dissenting votes came from board members Jenny Hill and Karitsa Jones.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Directory for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
