Madison City Schools announces football game forfeits, delay in high school return due to COVID-19 cases

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - Madison City Schools Superintendent Ed Nichols announced Friday that Bob Jones High School will not play the next two games of the 2020 schedule due to COVID-19.

As of Friday afternoon, 15 people tested positive within the school system, and re-entry for Madison City High school students will be delayed by one week.

Fourteen students and one employee across five different schools have confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 within the district.

Additionally, 170 people are quarantined that are spread across seven schools from being associated with positive, or presumptive cases.

Here is the breakdown:

Positive Cases:

Columbia - 1 student

Rainbow - 1 student

Liberty - 1 student and 1 teacher

Bob Jones - 9 students

James Clemens - 2 students

Quarantined:

Columbia - 5 students and 1 teacher

Mill Creek - 1 student

Rainbow - 1 student

Discovery - 21 students

Liberty - 10 students

Bob Jones - 120 students and 10 teachers

James Clemens - 1 teacher

Full statement from Madison City Schools:

“Today, I received information from the Bob Jones High School principal, athletic director and head football coach, that we have 9 BJHS football players who have tested positive for Covid-19.

After consultation with the ADPH and the AHSAA, we are announcing the cancellation and forfeiture of tonight’s football game against Florence High School and next week’s game against Auburn High School.

I believe that this is in the best interest of players, coaches and fans on both sides. At the current time, we are evaluating which members of the team are considered “close contacts” by the ADPH guidelines. Therefore, in an abundance of caution, we are isolating the BJHS team until Sunday, September 27, as we evaluate this situation.

Furthermore, we are delaying our school-based reentry schedule for all high school students for one week.

Both of our high schools will resume school-based learning on an A/B rotation on Sept. 28.Until further notice, all middle and high school students will continue on an A/B rotational schedule. Additional information will be a part of our Friday Covid-19 update this afternoon.”