![Screenshot of the false message on Instagram [Courtesy of Jackie Johnson]](https://snworksceo.imgix.net/ufa/b27ebf8a-e120-431b-97d6-c3bf394beedc.sized-1000x1000.jpeg?w=1500&ar=4%3A3&fit=crop&crop=faces&facepad=3&auto=format)
A fake Instagram account posing as Alachua County Public Schools spread a false message late Saturday night that schools would switch to remote learning. The school district plans to contact Instagram with hopes of getting the account taken off the platform.
The goal of the organization is to guide current students while also funding school programs and scholarships. It is one of the few high school alumni associations in the Alachua County Public School system.
In its fourth week of classes, ACPS has 702 students and faculty in quarantine for COVID-19. The spread is tied to positive cases on sports teams.
![Photo of ACPS Teacher of the Year Nicole Harris [Courtesy of Jackie Johnson]](https://snworksceo.imgix.net/ufa/46e23593-39b3-4317-ba7f-eee5743abfe7.sized-1000x1000.jpeg?w=1500&ar=4%3A3&fit=crop&crop=faces&facepad=3&auto=format)
The Robert W. Hughes Teacher of the Year Celebration selected Harris as the winner among two other finalists during a virtual livestream Jan. 21. Harris will represent the Alachua County Public School District in the 2022 Florida Teacher of the Year Program.
The 17-year-old Eastside High School senior has volunteered more than 500 hours at Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, GRACE Marketplace and the Farm Share — all while being the captain of her cross country and soccer teams and student body president with a 4.7 GPA.
After the first week of spring classes, 144 ACPS students and staff were in quarantine. These cases have been attributed to recreational activities and gatherings, not campus spread.
As of Friday afternoon, ACPS has 81 active COVID-19 cases, according to the school district’s COVID-19 dashboard. This week, 258 are in quarantine — an increase of more than 100 since last week.
The Alachua County Public School board voted 3-2 in a meeting Friday to select Carlee Simon as interim superintendent.
Alachua County Public Schools can continue offering digital learning in the spring, according to a state emergency order enacted this week.
Eight months since Alachua County Public Schools went virtual due to COVID-19, students continue to struggle with the change. With many students still not physically back in schools, education morphed to fit into an increasingly virtual world through digital or hybrid learning. Even in brick-and-mortar classrooms, digital access is a necessity.
Following a tumultuous year, Superintendent Karen Clarke is fired effective Dec. 1
After almost three decades working in the school district, Clarke announced that she is resigning, effective June 30, 2021
Rickey Davis is the second ACPS bus driver to die from COVID-19 since August
District totals are at 181 student and 103 staff cases
For the first time, three Black women will sit on the School Board of Alachua County
District totals are at 152 student and 91 staff cases
ACPS teachers can still count on volunteers this school year, even through a screen
District totals are at 143 student and 86 staff cases
The school district and Alachua County Health Department released a joint statement Thursday noting protocols do not indicate schools should close
Eight weeks into school, student totals for COVID-19 positives have passed 100
Solutions by The State News
