SPALDING COUNTY, Ga. — After the deaths of several transportation staff members, the Griffin-Spalding County School System has made the decision to temporarily transition to virtual learning.

The district said bus drivers Natasha Deangelo and Bobby Leverette and bus monitor Marie Darley have died.

“Our hearts are heavy and our thoughts and prayers are with friends, family and coworkers.”

The school system has not commented on if the deaths were related to COVID-19.

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The district said that these tragic deaths have “created strain and disruption to transportation operations.”

Students will still attend school in person on Tuesday, but the school system said to expect widespread bus delays. The district is asking parents to drive their children to school if they can.

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Starting Wednesday, the students will transition to virtual learning.

Officials say virtual learning will continue through at least the end of the week, but could persist.

Many parents told Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes that they plan on demanding the school board sends students home for virtual learning for the rest of the year.

Chasity Nichols is a mother of four who is terrified of the delta variant and how school administrators are handling it.

“From what I’ve been told from the bus drivers personally is that they’re not able to properly disinfect in between the many routes they’re taking from one school to another, so unfortunately they are exposed,” Nichols said.

Students also say others are ripping their masks off as soon as they get on the bus and are spitting everywhere.

One ninth grader told Fernandes that she gets bullied for speaking up about how students and teachers need to wear their masks.

“I’ve tried to like talk about it and I’ve tried to speak up,” she said. “I’m scared for my safety, i’m scared for my peers safety, and my teachers, and other staff.”

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Griffin-Spalding County Schools says there are currently 96 bus drivers in the district. Five of them are out sick and four more and suffering the after-effects of COVID-19.

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