Baker County K-12 preps to have students return for summer training

NEWTON, Ga. – The Georgia High School Association sent out a guidance for schools planning on opening up to athletes returning to conditioning.

“The kids are excited about getting back to school. They may not say they are, it may not be cool to say they are but they are excited about coming back to school, they’ve been in the house over two months now.”

Schools across America are empty. And Baker County High School Principal, Boyd Williamson, says he’s ready to have his students back.

“The kids have not been allowed to be up here. And now through guidance of the Georgia High School Association, we’re able to bring them back up here, that’s a great thing and now they can be up here with their coaches working hard getting back into shape”

Come Monday, high school Students are allowed to train in their school’s gym.

“The only way for a small school like us to compete is to out work other bigger schools in the weight room.”

However there are some conditions. GHSA has 17 recommendations or restrictions for schools wanting to open.

Recommendations and restrictions (GHSA)

Students must workout in limited group numbers, hand sanitizer must be plentiful and locker rooms must remain closed. But Coach Jesse Atkins says abiding by the regulations is a small price to pay when the payout means having students back to train before the year begins.

“The season is approaching extremely fast and once it gets here there’s no time to prepare once it gets here. You gotta prepare before it gets here so we can be well trained and well conditioned for the upcoming season. I’ve been home for the last 2 and half months not doing anything but preparing for this exact moment right here,” says Atkins

Principal Williamson says that the precautions will not be taken lightly and that students are required to sign a liability waiver and no waiver means no attendance.