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Savannah-Chatham County school officials learned a lot of new valuable lessons last school year on maintaining a clean safe environment. The pandemic forced them to.

"First we realized that we didn't have the right number of people, so we created a new position called, director of custodial services," said Ashok Batra, executive director of facilities management.

The new hire, Tashawna Williams, hit the ground running.

"Right now we have two custodial supervisors that supervise about 265 custodians in the district," said Williams. "We're also providing disinfecting wipes to all the classrooms. They are like an 800-count disinfectant wipe bucket.

"We're also providing hand sanitizer, Lysol spray and equivalent giving them all the necessary products they need to disinfect those high touch surfaces that students will encounter on a regular and daily basis."

According to Williams, they have new ionization units in schools for cleaner air, and they plan to disinfect any area frequented by students using a fogger.

"We clean the surfaces first, and then we fog last so they're getting an actual double layer of protection at the end of the day," said Williams.

Desks will not be spaced six feet apart this year.

"Right now it is not possible because all students are coming back, and I don't think we have double the capacity, so unfortunately we can not do that," said Batra.

School officials, however, are confident in their plan to protect students.

"We know we have a responsibility to the students and their parents to make sure they're safe, and we're doing what we have to do," said Williams.

Fall classes begin for the Savannah Chatham County Public School district Wednesday, Aug. 4.

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