Dougherty County schools roll out innovative way of registering for upcoming year

ALBANY, Ga. – As the pandemic rages on, schools are scrambling to adjust to a new normal ahead of the school year.

Monday, Dougherty County School System officials helped parents with the traditional task of registering kids for school in an unconventional way.

Parent scanning QR code to access registration paperwork

“We have a QR code for them to scan using their phones to register,” says Live Oak Elementary School principal Dr. Shanekia Williams.

For the first time ever, parents can drive-up to the school and use the QR code to register a student; minimizing person to person contact. Any paperwork needed by the school like utility bills, birth certificates, or immunization records can now be easily documented from a cellphone without being handled by multiple people.

Principal Dr. Shanekia Williams

“All you have to do is snap a picture of the records and upload them, it’s just that simple.”

Williams hopes the streamlined process encourages people to register for school sooner rather than later. Many parents wait until the last minute to register their children but this year, it’s as important as ever to register early.

“We’re not going to have that typical first day of school rush that we typically do in the past. And so what we’re trying to do right now is encourage parents to go ahead and use that online registration to get their child registered as soon as possible rather than waiting on the first day of school because we don’t know if we’re going to be virtual or face to face.”

School is set to begin August 31 and Williams says parents are feeling different this year than in years past.

“They’re scared, and rightfully so. I wouldn’t be telling you the truth if I didn’t say I was a bit nervous as well. And only because of the unknown. But in the words of our superintendent: leaders lead. And in this moment I am prepared to answer any questions for parents to put their minds at ease.”