‘We’re Ready': TCS Superintendent Affirms Plan to Reopen Schools

Hours after confirming that he has tested positive for COVID-19, Tuscaloosa City Schools Superintendent Mike Daria said there will be no change to the system's plan for its students to return to full-time in-person instruction Monday.

Daria joined area media outlets virtually Thursday and reiterated that he has faith in TCS leadership to continue to follow plans to return to in-person instruction and adjust those plans as necessary.

"We're ready," Daria said. "I've got full confidence in the educators, faculty and staff in Tuscaloosa City Schools. They've got this, they know what to do, they know how to do it and they know how to make adjustments. They've got the ability to make those adjustments in real-time and look, that's what we're going to do through the course of this next phase, we're going to watch our numbers we're going to follow the ADPH guidelines."

According to the TCS Real-Time COVID Tracker, over 270 students and 87 faculty are currently quarantined because of potential contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case.

"The part I would emphasize in this is what we asked all of our parents, our students and our employees to do, is that part about staying at home if you're not well," Daria said. "That is exactly what I was talking about earlier, when I did not feel well, my inclination was to get tested to be sure, even though the morning I got tested I felt well, I still went to get that test just to make sure before I returned to school."

Daria said that he started to feel mild symptoms on Tuesday but is feeling fine. He said that he is going to return to work on Oct. 26 and that working from home will not inhibit his ability to be the superintendent.

"Look, we've got the technology in place, we've got the people in place and we have a plan so that everything that I would be able to do if I were in the office or in schools, I can do from my home," Daria said.