As students in the Chattooga County and Trion City school systems return to the classroom this week, healthcare professionals are reminding families that a few simple steps can help children stay healthy and ready to learn throughout the school year.
Chattooga County Schools is making the switch from the Remind messaging system to ParentSquare for the 2026-2027 school year.
District officials say ParentSquare will serve as a single platform for school and district communication, allowing families to receive announcements, emergency alerts, forms, permission slips, volunteer opportunities, and other important information in one place.
Parents and guardians will continue to receive messages through their preferred method, including text message, email, or the ParentSquare app, with support for multiple languages.
The school district says additional information about setting up accounts and using the new platform will be shared with families in the coming weeks.
The Chattooga County Board of Education is accepting applications for two custodian positions at local elementary schools.
A full-time, 208-day custodian is needed at Lyerly Elementary School. The position requires employees to work 9.25 hours per day, Tuesday through Friday, and includes benefits such as health insurance, retirement, sick leave and vacation leave.
The school system is also hiring a part-time, 208-day custodian at Leroy Massey Elementary School. That position is 4.5 hours per day, Tuesday through Friday and is not eligible for benefits.
Applicants should have a high school diploma or GED, although it is preferred rather than required. Duties include cleaning and maintaining school buildings and grounds.
Applications are available at the Chattooga County Superintendent’s Office or online at chattooga.k12.ga.us by selecting District Services and then Human Resources. Completed applications, along with required documents, should be submitted to Dawn Campbell, Human Resources Director, at the Chattooga County Board of Education in Summerville.
Georgia’s nationally recognized Pre-K Program is beginning its 34th year, and for children in Chattooga County, the school year is already underway.
As students return to classrooms for the new school year, the Chattooga County School District has activated a new panic alert badge system designed to improve campus safety and speed emergency response.
According to Chattooga County Schools Superintendent Michelle Helie, the district has completed implementation of the CENTEGIX CrisisAlert system after beginning work on the project last fall.
“We started working on it last fall and began the implementation phase and onboarding all in the spring, but come this year, it is active, it’s live and ready to go,” Helie said.
The CENTEGIX system is required under Georgia law and provides every school employee with a wearable badge equipped with a panic alert button. Teachers, office staff, custodians, cafeteria workers and other employees throughout the district have been issued the devices.
If an emergency occurs, staff members can press the button on the badge to immediately notify school administrators, 911 and emergency responders through the system’s alarm network.
Helie said district employees completed training on the system last week before receiving their badges. Staff members will wear the panic alert badge alongside their regular school identification badge. One side displays the employee’s identification, while the reverse side contains the emergency alert button.
The badges became active with the start of the new school year, adding another layer of security for students, staff and visitors across all Chattooga County schools.
All students enrolled in the Chattooga County School District will receive free breakfast and lunch throughout the 2026-2027 school year.
The Chattooga County School System is asking parents and students to prepare for several transportation changes as the new school year begins, including bus detours caused by bridge restrictions and repairs.
With the first day of school just days away, motorists are being reminded to slow down, stay alert and obey Georgia’s school bus laws as Chattooga County students return to class on Friday, July 24.
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in the Gore community will hold its annual school prayer walk on Sunday, July 26, inviting families, educators, students, community members and other churches to take part.
The prayer walk will begin at approximately 5:15 p.m. at the CCEC Center and Chattooga County Schools Bus Garage.
The group will then visit the following schools:
Leroy Massey Elementary School — 5:45 p.m.
Trion City Schools — 6:10 p.m.
Summerville Middle School and the CO/AGC area — 6:40 p.m.
Chattooga High School — 7 p.m.
Lyerly Elementary School — 7:25 p.m.
Menlo Elementary School — approximately 7:56 p.m.
Organizers said all times are approximate, but the group plans to arrive as close as possible to the listed schedule.
Community members are welcome to join the prayer walk at their local school or travel with the group to each stop. Other churches are also invited to participate.
Families across Chattooga County will have an opportunity to meet teachers and prepare for the upcoming school year during Meet the Teacher Night on Thursday, July 23.
The event will be held from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Menlo Elementary School, Lyerly Elementary School, Leroy Massey School, Summerville Middle School, and Chattooga High School.
Students and their families are encouraged to visit their schools, meet teachers, tour classrooms, drop off school supplies, and learn more about the year ahead before classes begin.
School officials say Meet the Teacher Night is a great opportunity for students to become familiar with their learning environment and start the new school year with confidence.
