While school districts across the state continue to set their COVID-19 policies as we enter the beginning of the 2021-22 academic year, two schools in the Pine Belt have already shifted back to virtual learning.
After staggering the return of students for the new school year last week, both Oak Grove and Purvis High Schools will continue with virtual learning for the next two weeks with students set to be back in the classroom on August 16th.
Officials confirmed that an increased number of COVID-19 cases led to the hiatus from in-person learning.
During this time, all extracurricular activities have been cancelled.
With cases skyrocketing in Mississippi due to the spread of the Delta variant, the topic of masks in schools has been widely debated in recent weeks. While the CDC and MSDH are now recommending universal masking in schools, some districts—such as DeSoto County— say that masks are optional while others—including the Gulfport School District—are now mandating masks.
Governor Tate Reeves has continuously stated that he will not mandate masks in Mississippi schools from the state level.
