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COVID cluster forces another local school to switch to full-remote learning

CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. — An elementary school in Caldwell County has gone to full-remote learning after the school district said a cluster of COVID cases among faculty and students at Dudley Shoals Elementary has dozens of people quarantined.

Channel 9 reporter Dave Faherty was at the school on Tuesday and learned this is a county-wide problem.

The school district said nearly 1,200 students are currently quarantined across Caldwell County -- that is just over 10% of all students in the school system.

There are nine faculty members, including five bus drivers, at Dudley Shoals Elementary who have tested positive for COVID-19.

The principal told Channel 9 that with the bus driver shortage, it would be difficult to even run the buses.

Four students have also tested positive, and the district said 44 students were being quarantined.

Caldwell County schools began the new year under a mask-optional policy, but the superintendent reversed that decision last week because of the rise in COVID cases.

Dudley Shoals Elementary will stick with remote learning for the remainder of the week. The school will provide breakfast and lunch for students, delivering meals to families in front of the school Tuesday evening.

(WATCH BELOW: First day of mask-wearing in Caldwell County schools)