NEWS BRIEF: Appeal filed against court decision denying COVID-19 protections to Cobb students

An appeal has been filed against a court’s decision last month to deny emergency COVID-19 protections for Cobb County students with disabilities. The Southern Poverty Law Center’s notice of appeal was filed on Nov. 10 on behalf of four parents and their minor children. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia had denied a petition by the SPLC seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the district for its failure to implement federal health and safety guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in its schools, stating such inaction discriminates against students with disabilities and those with medical vulnerabilities. SPLC attorney Mike Tafelski said in a statement, “The district’s continued refusal to follow CDC guidelines and ensure safe schools for all students effectively deny our clients the access they are entitled to under federal law.” splcenter.org