Notes from AJC Community Conversation
Suggestions Ahead of School Re-openings

Earlier this month, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution moderated a lengthy community discussion with a panel of educational leaders of Metro Atlanta public schools.

The community submitted questions for the panel, which included the AJC's education reporter, Marlon A. Walker; Lisa Herring, the new Atlanta Public Schools superintendent; Mike Looney, Fulton County Schools superintendent; and Cheryl Watson Harris, DeKalb County Schools superintendent.

The superintendents for Cobb, Clayton, and Gwinnett county schools also participated, as did the superintendent for Marietta City Schools. Richard Woods, Georgia's State Superintendent of Schools, did not attend the meeting as he was with the president during his July 15 visit to Atlanta.

All superintendents answered several questions about COVID-19 policies and practices. Lisa Herring is the new superintendent for Atlanta Public Schools, beginning her post July 1.

One of the first decisions made by Herring was to delay the opening of School to August 24. Herring perceives the number of cases in Atlanta, Fulton County, and Georgia requires caution and a delay to in-person return to schools.

Consequently, children attending schools in the APS system will return online only. Through questions posed to Herring during the roundtable of superintendents, she noted the following:

Returning to virtual learning would afford the time to engage in needs assessments such as community needs of technological devices, availability of wireless connections, and student levels of technical skills.
Additional needs assessments include those about trauma, support services, and challenges in households.
Herring also expressed the intention of identifying volunteers and partner organizations to offer support services to community members and to monitor children in need.
When APS resumes, in-school services will require students to wear masks. Students will be required to maintain physical distancing requirements and to have temperature checks.
Herring further stated that APS would be adhering to hand washing and hygiene standards.

In addition to listening to the roundtable, it was equally fascinating to read the comments on the chat line. Teachers in every part of Greater Metro Atlanta are frightened of their well-being.

As a side note, when schools open, I caution Lindridge-Martin Manor parents to consider the ability of their kids to maintain physical distances over six feet. Six feet is the bare minimum for distancing. More importantly, ask questions of faculty and administrators about the quality, density, and flow of the air in the classrooms and corridors.

I also suggest all kids should have practice in wearing and using:

3-4 ply masks or masks with filters
Face shields
Portable desk shields

A few other thoughts: Please take time to familiarize children with what distancing of 8 to 10 feet looks like. Make certain that they wash all sides of their hands frequently while singing the "Happy Birthday" song and not stopping until it is finished. And remind them not to touch or share pens, pencils or crayons with others or to touch anything that others have handled.

Best regards,

Cathi Trapani
LMMNA Education Chair

Blackboards might be virtual for a little while.