At the Fannin County School system monthly school board meeting on Thursday April 14, the board set the calendar for school year 2016-2017.  The major dates in the 180 day school year include:

• August 4 – First day of school
• September 5 and 6 – Labor Day Holiday
• October 10, 11, 12 – Fall Break
• November 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 – Thanksgiving Break
• December 22 – January 2 – Winter Break
• February 20 – Potential holiday or emergency make up
• January 16 – Potential holiday or emergency make up
• March 16 and 17 – Potential holiday or emergency make up
• April 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 – Spring break or emergency make-up
• April 14 – Potential holiday (Good Friday) or emergency make-up
• May 26 – Last day of school and graduation.

The Board reviewed requests by the community to have Veterans’ Day and Good Friday as school holidays.  The Board decided that because of the numerous Veterans’ Day events hosted by the schools,  students have more opportunity to learn about and show respect for military service during their school day.  The Board wishes to make a day-off for Good Friday; indeed, it is tentatively set as a holiday depending on days missed for inclement weather.

The 2015-2016 school year is at 176 days for the entire school year.  There are fewer days this year because the school calendar did not have enough make-up days to account for days lost to bad weather.  School ends on Friday, May 20^th with graduation set for that evening.

Fannin County School System Finance Department, under the supervision of Susan Holloway continues to show outstanding competency in managing education funds.  The department completed the 2015 school system financial audit early and the audit was free of any problems.  By completing the audit early, the Finance Department betters the systems risk factor, which places the system higher up in education funding grant competitions because the system has less risk.  Also, the Finance Department has run the budget at 1.5 to 2% less then revenue taken in during the year meaning that the school system will finish the year in the black with a surplus.  At the Board meeting, Ms. Holloway recognized department members that help keep the school system financially strong:  Connie Grindstaff, Amy Buchanan and Pan DeCostsa as well as Nutrition bookkeeper, Sharon Watkins.

The Fannin High School gymnasium is now a multi-purpose space.  Under Assistant Superintendent of Facilities and Assessment Art Hubbard’s guidance, the Fannin County High School gymnasium is going through renovations which will make it more suited to uses other than just basketball and P.E. classes.  First, the gym got new lighting which brightened the court.  Now, the gym is getting sound baffles which will be hung from the ceiling.  The gymnasium won’t be Carnige  Hall, but it will be prepared for an indoor graduation if rain ever threatens the traditional outdoor ceremony.  Also, people might just be able to hear some words during raucous pep rallies.

Money for the two dollar or so surcharge that you pay on your phone bill for universal service is coming back to Fannin county through money to purchase high-speed connectivity switchers for the schools and central office.  The cost of the whole package is $412,817 and the school system will end up paying less than one-fourth of that price – $86,507.

Shannon Miller, Principal of Blue Ridge Elementary, gave a state of the school presentation.  Throughout the year attendance has been at 90% or more across all grade levels.  Through the STEM programs there which focuses on raising vegetables, the students are learning about environmental design, basic concepts which are important for an area that receives so much environmental tourism.  This year, the school is slated to hold 27 community events.  Ms. Miller thanked the Board for providing enough money to have a content area specialist in each grade and an academic coach at each level.  She also thanked the Board for providing nurses at each school which is a far cry from other systems Ms. Miller has experience with which only have one nurse per system.

Ms. Miller also talked about the pre-K program which will start in August at Blue Ridge Elementary School.  She said that 1/3 of children entering Fannin County School System have no prior school experience.  Some children are even lacking in basic skills like which way to open and hold a book in order to read it.  The pre-K program will also provide regular school bus transportation to the four and five year-olds.