Fannin Schools’ new Agriculture and Environmental Sciences facility will be built at the school system’s Ada Street property.  Originally, the facility was to be at the Blue Ridge Farmers’ Market on East First Street.  While the East First Street property would be the best location in terms of proximity to schools, the property is one acre shy.  The state’s education facility requirements call for five acres for this type of facility.  Five acres accommodates the facility’s size and parking for 136 cars and 30 trucks and livestock trailers.  (click here to see property layout)

There is a hidden benefit though.  By moving to the Ada Street property, the Ag Facility will be next to Feed Fannin’s gardens, giving students a chance to increase their horticulture skills.  Feed Fannin leases their Ada Street property from the Board of Education. The entrance to the Ag Facility will be off Windy Ridge Road.  Buses, students and trailers will not be using Feed Fannin’s entrance on Ada Street.

The $3 million Ag Facility will greatly increase Fannin County School System’s agriculture and environmental science opportunities for all grades.  Also, it means that 4-H and FFA can compete on their home turf instead of driving to 200 miles competitions like the one in Perry, GA.  The facility is also a boon to the community because it will host livestock shows and be an event space open to the public, not just school system activities.  Read more details the Agriculture and Environmental Science Facility in FetchYourNews’ May article Fannin Students and Residents on Track for First-Class Agriculture Facility.

Funding for the facility’s construction comes from E-SPLOST.

(This section of the article has been updated to include the correct figure of $3 million.  The previous version incorrectly stated $17 million.)

Student Mentors

Superintendent Mark Henson thanked Fannin residents Elizabeth Ann White, Nicole Potzauf, Pam Chandler, Pam Chandler, Tammy Art Jones and Sharon Cole for becoming mentors to FCSS first group of REACH Scholars.  These five agreed to meet their mentees once a month for the next five years – a total of 60 meetings.

Gov. Deal started REACH in 2012.  The program begins in middle school and continues through high school.  According to the REACH website, the program’s purpose is to provide Georgia’s academically promising students with academic, social and financial support needed to graduate from high school and college prepared for work.  This is the first year FCSS is participating in the program

Tourist Taxes

Superintendent Henson’s sister was visiting him over Labor Day weekend.  She complained about how bad the traffic has gotten in Fannin County.  Henson sees traffic differently.  The weekenders may clog up roads but each carload adds money to FCSS.

In fact, Henson is always grateful for tourist and their tax contributions. At every Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Henson profusely thanks Fannin County Chamber of Commerce for outstanding marketing of Fannin County as a tourist destination.  This year, FCSS expects to receive $24,248,564 from E-SPLOST. The Chamber’s work pays off for property owners as well as students.  “Because of the Chamber’s efforts, we can cut back property taxes by 1 mill” said Henson.  Henson is referring to the lower millage rate approved by BOE at its August meeting.

School Board Member Lewis DeWeese Warns about Constitutional Amendment Vote in Nov. 2016

Lewis DeWeese thanked Fannin County media outlets for their coverage about the upcoming Nov. 8^th vote on whether Gov. Deal can take over public schools in Georgia.  This requires a change in Georgia’s Constitution.  Thus, voters must decide yes or no about this in November.  (see related article Keep Georgia Schools Local Host Forum about Proposed Georgia Constitutional Amendment)  DeWeese went on to state that the amendment’s wording is deceptive to voters.  The amendment states “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow the state to intervene in chronically failing public schools in order to improve student performance?”

Bernie Hodskins Proposes Fannin County/Mexico Student Exchange Program

Bernie Hodskins, paraprofessional at Fannin County Middle School, presented the Board of Education with a possible student exchange program between FCMS and Mexican firm arranging student exchanges in the United States.  Hodskins’ proposal is that this spring FCMS host the exchange students to see if the program works well enough to send FCMS students to Mexico next year.  This would require seven to ten Fannin residents to step up and be willing to house the students for the one-week exchange program.  A Mexican teacher will accompany the students. Hodskins did not say if the Mexican students are public or private school students or if all the students are from the same school.  Hodskins vouched for the program because he knows the owner of the student exchange company.  Board members agreed that an exchange program is an excellent way to open students eyes to life outside of Fannin County.

Hodskins is the former Director of Fannin County Recreation Department.  He left his post under allegations of embezzlement of Recreation Department funds.  Georgia Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating his actions at the Recreation Department.  According to Fannin County Clerk Rita Davis Kirby results of the investigation have been expected since mid-summer.  However, at this time, FetchYourNews is not aware of any resolution of the investigation.