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August 29, 2026

Georgia Students Invited To Celebrate Wildlife Through Art In Annual Poster Contest

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Elementary students across Georgia are being encouraged to put their artistic talents to work while learning more about the state’s wildlife.

August 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga Mountain Education Going Phone-Free With Yondr Pouches Beginning Monday

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Students at Chattooga Mountain Education will enter a new phone-free learning environment beginning Monday, August 10, as the school implements the Yondr phone pouch system.

August 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Walker County Board Of Education Plans Full Millage Rollback For 2026

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The Walker County Board of Education plans to adopt a full rollback millage rate of 14.013 mills during its meeting on Monday, August 17.

According to information released by Walker County Schools, the rollback rate is calculated using the previous year’s millage rate minus the millage equivalent of the total net assessed value added through property reassessments.

A public hearing on the proposed 2026 millage rate will be held at 6 p.m. on August 17 in the boardroom of the Walker County Department of Education, located at 301 N. Cherokee Street in LaFayette.

School district officials say they continue to work to balance the growing needs of students with efforts to keep local taxes as low as possible while also maximizing state funding.

Walker County Schools noted that over the past six years, the district has either lowered or maintained its millage rate. In 2019, the rate stood at 17.404 mills. For 2026, the district plans to adopt the full rollback rate of 14.013 mills.

All concerned citizens are invited to attend the public hearing.

August 8, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Students Near Pre-Pandemic Levels On Milestones Testing

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Georgia students are continuing to make academic gains, with the latest Georgia Milestones results showing performance in several subjects now near or at levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.

August 7, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Menlo School Closed Today Due to Power Outage

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Due to downed trees in the area that have resulted in a power outage at Menlo School, and with no estimated timeline for power to be restored, Menlo School will be closed today, Friday, August 7, 2026. All other Chattooga County Schools will operate on a normal schedule. We appreciate the understanding of our Menlo School families and staff as crews work to address the outage. Please stay safe when traveling in areas affected by downed trees and power lines.

July 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga Schools Activate New Panic Alert Badge System For All Staff

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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.

July 26, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga County Schools To Provide Free Breakfast And Lunch To All Students

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All students enrolled in the Chattooga County School District will receive free breakfast and lunch throughout the 2026-2027 school year.

July 17, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

New Georgia Law Requires Schools To Enroll Foster Students Within Three Business Days

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A new Georgia law designed to reduce educational disruptions for children in foster care is now in effect, requiring public schools to enroll foster students within three school business days of a request for enrollment.

July 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Southeast First National Bank Donates To Chattooga County School Athletic Programs

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Southeast First National Bank has made a donation to support athletic programs throughout the Chattooga County School System.

The contribution was presented by Suzanne Hurley-Bowman and Barry Hurley of Southeast First National Bank to Chattooga County School System Superintendent Dr. Michelle Helie and Chief Academic Officer Robert Beach.

Barry Hurley said the bank remains committed to supporting local schools and organizations that serve the community and its young people.

“We are proud that over the years we have been able to support our school systems and other entities that serve the citizens and youth of our community,” Hurley said.

School officials expressed their appreciation for the contribution, noting that partnerships with local businesses help strengthen athletic opportunities and provide additional support for student-athletes across the Chattooga County School System.

June 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

According To Georgia Recorder, More Than Half Of Georgia Teachers Now Use AI To Prepare For Class

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More than half of Georgia’s public school teachers are now using artificial intelligence to help prepare lessons and complete other classroom tasks, according to a new report highlighted this week by the Georgia Recorder.

The report, based on findings from the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts, found that 54 percent of teachers surveyed said they use generative AI tools for lesson planning, classroom activities, grading, or other instructional purposes. At the same time, many educators expressed concern that students’ growing use of AI could negatively affect learning, critical thinking, and academic integrity.

The findings come as school systems across Georgia continue developing policies for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in classrooms. State education leaders have also released guidance encouraging schools to use AI in ways that support teaching while protecting student privacy and promoting ethical use.