UNDATED - The number of schools opening for the new year this week is a dramatic increase over the number that opened last week.
Jefferson and Buford city systems were the first to start the new school year but this week ten public systems and one private school in Hall County throw open their doors.
The public systems are Banks, Gwinnett, Jackson and Lumpkin counties and Commerce city (all on Monday); White County on Wednesday; Dawson and Forsyth counties on Thursday; and Gainesville and Hall County on Friday. Chattahoochee Christian School in Clermont also opens on Wednesday.
As AccessNorthGa.com reported last week, Forsyth County is the only area system opening a new school this year. Kelly Mill Elementary will be the county's 36th public school.
In Hall County, the old South Hall Middle School facility has undergone major renovations and is now The Academies of Discovery, housing The Da Vinci Academy (grades 6-8) and grades 4-7 of the World Language Academy.
School calendars in many places, including Hall County, continue to be affected by reduced revenues.
"We are beginning the year with a reduction of 10 days from the work and school calendar," Hall County Schools Superintendent Will Schofield said recently. "It is our hope that we are able to add an instructional day (in February) back at our October board meeting. Pending property tax appeals and state funding, we will also consider adding an additional professional learning day to post-planning."
