Many school systems across the state of Georgia made the decision to close on Friday and give students a four-day weekend over the Labor Day Holiday Weekend.

But the move wasn’t just to give the students an extra day of Labor Day vacation.  The closings were an effort to accomplish two goals: allow for deep cleaning of school buildings and to allow for an extended period of time for students to be distanced.

On Friday, several school systems in the state moved to virtual learning because of high numbers of COVID cases.

Both local school systems here in Chattooga County were closed Friday and will not reopen until Tuesday.  Local school officials say that they hope the extra day and extra-cleaning will help mitigate the spread of COVID among local students.