By y Joe Johnson
The Clarke County School District recently formed a task force of district officials to plan the safe reopening of Athens-area schools in the upcoming school year amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Athens public schools, like those in other communities, are tentatively scheduled to resume classes on Aug.3.
Among challenges the Clarke County and other school districts face is when in-person instruction might safely resume, how the reopenings should proceed and what safety protocols for students, employees and visitors should be implemented.
The School Reopening Task Force will also have to figure out how to safely operate the schools under a reduced budget. Gov. Brian Kemp has called for a 14 percent state budget cut as tax revenues fall during the pandemic. Other issues include safely transporting groups of students on buses and if social-distancing can be maintained in classrooms.
The school district on Tuesday released to Classic City News the names of school district officials who are on the task force and will be making those critical decisions.
The co-chairs of the task force are Dexter Fisher, Chief of Operations, and Brannon Gaskins, chief academic officer.
The other members are as follows:
Principal Lindsey Chathman, Cleveland Road Elementary; Principal Makeba Clark, Burney Harris Lyons Middle School; Taylor Duke, executive director of technology; Robert Ezekiel, director of assessment; Taylor Duke, executive director of technology; Paula Farmer, executive director of school nutrition; Chrystal Gillis, director of social workers; James Green, director of custodial services; Chris Griner, chief financial officer; Lawrence Harris, executive director of community engagement; Michael Harris, executive director of human resources; Taylor Duke, executive director of technology; Robert Ezekiel, director of assessment; Paula Farmer, executive director of school nutrition; Chrystal Gillis, director of social workers; James Green, director of custodial services; Chris Griner, chief financial officer; Lawrence Harris, executive director of community engagement; Michael Harris, executive director of human resources; Heidi Hill, executive director of special education; Associate Principal Cynthia Lowe, Cedar Shoals High; Beth Moore, communications manager; Amy Roark, director of nursing; Leroy Ryals, athletic director; Associate Principal Reginald Thomas, Clarke Central High; John Ward, athletic director; Mark Weaver, director of transportation; Rachel Williams, executive director of leadership development; Tiffany Williams, executive assistant; and Principal Kena Worthy, Timothy Road Elementary.