Daria 'Doing Well' Despite Diagnosis, Optimistic For TCS Return

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — Tuscaloosa City Schools Superintendent Mike Daria told local media Thursday afternoon that he is quarantining at home with his family and in high spirits, despite news breaking of the superintendent testing positive for the coronavirus this week.

"This came on Tuesday night, Tuesday afternoon, Tuesday evening, where I started to feel mild symptoms," Daria said via Zoom call. "I did not have major symptoms. I had a minor symptom and that alone was enough for me to decide to go ahead and get tested and play it safe."

Daria said he was tested Wednesday, which yielded a positive result. He was also tested again rapid tested again Thursday, with results expected around 1 p.m.

"I'm feeling fine, thankfully," he said.

When asked by Patch if he knew how he came into contact with the virus, Daria said he hasn't been able to pinpoint it.

"I was not contacted by [the Alabama Department of Public Health] or anybody regarding a close contact," he said. "So at this point, I’m not able to say here’s where it happened or when it happened."

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Daria's diagnosis comes less than a week before the school system was set to return to in-person instruction in a full-time capacity for the students wishing to do so. While Daria said nothing would change for him in terms of his capabilities working from home, he did say it will be hard to work remotely on the first day students return.

"It is very tough," he said. "It is tough to be doing this work remotely, because this work we’re in is about being with our students."

The positive test and time in isolation, Daria said, will also not impact any of the school system's approach moving forward with the new changes.

"The plan that we have takes into account all of the things we may encounter as we go through this pandemic," he said.

As Patch reported on Thursday, the most recent data from the city school system shows 19 active COVID-19 cases among the system's 10,763 students, with 271 currently in isolation. Among more than 1,400 TCS employees, 88 are reported to be in quarantine, while 16 cases are listed as active.

Daria said he plans to return to work on Monday, Oct. 26.