North Paulding Closes After 6 Students, 3 Staff Get Coronavirus

DALLAS, GA— In-person school at North Paulding High School in Dallas has been called off for Monday and Tuesday after six students and three staff members tested positive for the coronavirus after the first week of school. This comes after the school made national headlines for student photos shared to social media that appeared to depict crowded hallways.

"We have consulted with the Department of Public Health and are temporarily switching the instructional model to digital learning," Superintendent Dr. Brian Otott wrote in a letter to parents Sunday, noting that the results of additional tests are still pending and the number of positive results could grow.

Teachers will post assignments on Monday and students will participate in remote learning on Tuesday, Otott said. The school will be "thoroughly cleaned and disinfected" while students and staff are out on Monday and Tuesday.

A decision on whether in-person school will return on Wednesday will be made as more test results come in, the superintendent said.

At least two North Paulding High School students were suspended last Wednesday for posting images of a crowded school hallway that went viral on Twitter. Hannah Watters was among the students who did so, but her suspension has since been lifted.

RELATED: Suspension Lifted For North Paulding Student Who Tweeted Photo

The photo Watters shared appears to show few students wearing face coverings to prevent the virus' spread.

Day two at North Paulding High School. It is just as bad. We were stopped because it was jammed. We are close enough to the point where I got pushed multiple go to second block. This is not ok. Not to mention the 10% mask rate. pic.twitter.com/JKbGYqG9RS
— hannah (@ihateiceman) August 4, 2020

The status of a second, unidentified student who was also suspended for posting pictures is unknown.