Cobb Reporter

Cobb Schools are facing a lawsuit by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) after prohibiting disabled students from attending schools to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

"By refusing to implement effective virus mitigation strategies, the district unlawfully excludes our clients from, and denies them the benefits of, an in-person education based on their disabilities," a letter from the SPLC read.

Reports of the ban surfaced after Superintendent Chris Ragsdale reported a 94% drop in Covid-related cases, marking a 62% decline since Aug. 27, according to Patch. The most recent case count, released late last month, reported 394 positive cases among students and staff, representing a decline from the 576 reported the previous week.

"This is what we expected to see last year," Ragsdale said, comparing the drop to a school year when the district required masks, Patch reported. He said that when compared to four other districts – two that required masks, two that were mask-optional – Cobb finished in the middle when it came to the number of new COVID-19 cases.

Schools within county parameters are included in the the lawsuit if their COVID-10-related policies remain the same. 

The SPLC letter said that the law center, based in Montgomery, Alabama, considered the conditions of disabled students and determined they were unable to attend school in person unless the district acted to “mitigate the risks.” The letter also highlighted the school's unwillingness to adhere to guidelines established by the CDC for K-12 students, which include mask-wearing.

"Since the start of the 2021-2022 academic year, the district has willfully refused and consistently failed to implement policies and practices that comply with current COVID-19 safety guidelines established by federal, state and local public health officials," the letter read. "The district has received hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal government to keep students safe during the pandemic and allow all students the opportunity to attend school in person if they choose."

The center brought up potential alternatives that would allow all students to engage in physical school attendance while still following COVID-19-related safety precautions.

"As is the case with any issue, individual student needs are supported on a student-by-student basis and we actively encourage any student or family to discuss their needs with their local school,” the letter read.