An investigation into a reported threat on Thursday at Chattooga High School has determined there was no credible danger to students or staff.
UPDATE (4:10 PM)
Update regarding the threat earlier today involving the Chattooga High School campus. Following a thorough investigation conducted in coordination with the Sheriff’s office, the FBI, and GEMA Homeland Security, the reported threat has been deemed non-credible. Authorities have also determined that it is connected to similar false threats reported at schools on a wide scale. At all times, the safety of our students and staff remained our top priority, and we appreciate the cooperation and patience shown by our school community as safety protocols were followed.
We are grateful for the swift response and continued support of our law enforcement partners. If any additional information becomes necessary to share, we will provide further updates.
Thank you,
Dr. Michelle Helie
Chattooga High School was placed on lockdown today after administrators received a threat involving the high school campus, according to Chattooga County School Superintendent Dr. Michelle Helie.
School officials say the threat was taken seriously, and immediate safety protocols were put into place. Law enforcement responded to the campus and remains on site while the matter is investigated.
Dr. Helie said students and staff are safe, and there is no confirmed immediate danger on campus at this time. Instruction is continuing, and regular school operations are proceeding as scheduled.
Out of an abundance of caution, the campus will remain on lockdown for the rest of the school day. Student dismissal is expected to take place at the regular time using normal procedures unless school officials announce otherwise.
Parents and community members are being asked not to come to campus unless necessary for regular operations or unless specifically directed to do so, as extra traffic could interfere with law enforcement and school safety procedures.
Additional updates will be released as more information becomes available.
Opioid overdose reversal kits are being distributed to 180 schools across Northwest Georgia.
The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is partnering with Northwest Georgia RESA as part of a statewide effort to equip every public school in Georgia with Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.
A “Stuff the Box” event was held Tuesday, April 21, where local education, behavioral health, and public safety professionals helped assemble the kits for schools in the region. Several schools picked up their completed kits the same day.
State officials say the effort is funded through opioid settlement dollars and supports Wesley’s Law, which allows schools to obtain and administer opioid antagonists while providing legal protections for staff acting in good faith.
The statewide initiative has already reached more than 1,300 schools, with a goal of equipping 2,300 schools by the end of the school year.
A student is in custody after allegedly making online threats directed at Gaylesville School, prompting a rapid response from local and federal authorities.
Several measures that could affect residents in Northwest Georgia are still alive in the Georgia General Assembly after lawmakers met last week’s Crossover Day deadline, one of the most important milestones of the legislative session. Crossover Day marks the point when most bills must pass either the House or Senate in order to continue moving forward this year, and a number of proposals tied to schools, taxes, public safety, and the courts made it through.
State Representative Eddie Lumsden (R-Armuchee), who represents Chattooga County and part of Floyd County, says the Georgia House completed a busy seventh week of the 2026 legislative session as lawmakers approach the important Crossover Day deadline. The week included extensive committee work and the final passage of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 state budget, which totals about $43.6 billion and includes billions in surplus funding. According to Lumsden, the budget prioritizes taxpayer relief, transportation improvements, expanded mental health services, and investments in the state’s prison system, along with a one-time $2,000 salary supplement for educators and state employees.
A couple in Armuchee is facing felony child cruelty charges after authorities say two children—both minors—were sent to school with animal feces on their clothing and bookbags, and were living in what investigators described as deplorable conditions inside the home.
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Photo Credit: Education Week
Georgia lawmakers are considering extending a statewide ban on student personal devices to high schools, meaning today’s sophomores could face phone-free school days by their senior year. A ban covering kindergarten through middle school is already set to take effect next fall after passage last year, and the bill’s sponsor now wants to expand that policy to older students beginning in fall 2027.
Chattooga High School will conduct its January fire drill on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 1 p.m., according to Assistant Principal and Athletic Director J. Mark Turner.
As the new year begins, the Georgia Department of Education is turning its attention to the 2026 General Assembly, releasing a new list of legislative priorities aimed at shaping education policy under the Gold Dome.