Two Metro Schools employees test positive for COVID-19, 18 others in quarantine

As Gov. Bill Lee and state officials push for schools to reopen in-person this fall, two Metro Nashville Public Schools employees have already tested positive for COVID-19.

The two employees both attended a pre-planning session at Smith Springs Elementary School ahead of the new school year, according to Metro Schools spokesperson Sean Braisted, only later to be notified that they had tested positive. 

As a result, 18 other staff members were advised to quarantine as of July 21, based on recommendations from the Metro Public Health Department and school district protocol. None of the additional staff members have reported positive tests, Braisted said in an email.

The Tennessee Department of Education and Department of Health released protocols Tuesday for when and how schools should close after someone has tested positive for COVID-19 as part of Lee's plans for reopening schools.

Most school districts also have their own protocols for what to do if and when an employee or student tests positive.

Metro Schools will start the academic year Tuesday, with students attending class virtually through at least Labor Day. 

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All Metro Schools employees are required to go through a screening process when entering the building for temperature and symptom checks and are required to wear masks when around other people, Braisted said in an email.

"In the event an employee tests positive, MNPS will work with the Health Department to determine the scope of any potential exposure and identify close contacts who will be required to quarantine. Additionally, our school nurses are being trained to support contact tracing efforts," he added.

Staff are notified at the school level and, once in-person education resumes, families will be notified through calls and emails if there is a positive case and informed of steps schools are taking to address the issue. Before an individual with a positive case can return to school, they will have to be released by the Metro Public Health Department. 

Metro Schools will also notify the Metro Public Health Department whenever there is a positive case reported for an employee or student and vice versa, according to Braisted. 

Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said Tuesday the state does not plan to publicly report cases of COVID-19 per school or school district.

The two Metro Schools cases, first reported by the Tennessee Lookout, come as school districts across the state plan to reopen schools in the coming weeks. Nashville students will be learning from home until at least Labor Day, but many surrounding districts will return to in-person class as early as Monday, Aug. 3.

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Some worry that as students and teachers return to school, communities will see a spike in cases. 

In East Tennessee, just days after Alcoa City Schools began welcoming students back to class last week, an individual at Alcoa Middle School tested positive for the virus.

And on Tuesday, Oak Ridge schools said a staff member at a middle school tested positive for COVID-19. Oak Ridge students began returning to school Wednesday.

Meghan Mangrum covers education in Nashville for the USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee. Contact her at mmangrum@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.