FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. – Franklin County Public Schools announced Sunday evening that virtual instruction will be initiated this week at one of its elementary schools. Division Superintendent Dr. Bernice Cobbs said in an email to families that Snow Creek Elementary School will switch to virtual instruction from Monday, Jan. 11 to Friday, Jan. 15, and students will resume their normal schedule on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Cobbs said this is due to the community spread of COVID-19 in Franklin County and the difficulty to provide adequate classroom supervision. The email stated that the staffing issue stems from staff needing to quarantine.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. - A now-empty plot of land has parents and school officials butting heads. Piles of hay, torn up grass and an empty field are all that's left after a new playground at Snow Creek Elementary School was dismantled. Grindstaff sent this message out to parents in a letter on Wednesday:Dear Snow Creek Families, I write you today to clarify and explain why our newly installed playground equipment was dismantled. The purchased equipment and materials used to construct the playground also does not meet the national playground safety standards. "I hope that the playground they say they're going to buy goes in quick enough to use this school year," said Amos.