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The Cherokee County School District’s Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council kicked off for a second school year of providing educators with the opportunity to share valued feedback.

Congratulations to TSgt. (Ret.) Ciarra Malto, Etowah High School Career Pathway teacher for Air Force JROTC - Government and Public Administration, on being named the southeast U.S. region's CTAE (Career, Technical and Agricultural) New Teacher of the Year!

We can’t wait to build our future success together!  Our High School Student Advisory Board, made up of ninth- and 10th-grade student leaders from all our high schools, kicked off their year of service!

Nine Cherokee County School District high school seniors today were named 2027 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists!  Congratulations to: of Cherokee High School, Kavya Desai, Madeline Flournoy, and William Mizelle; of Creekview HS, Emeline Cromer and Marley Greenwell; of Etowah HS, Maanas Bellamkonda and Rohan Pandya; and of Sequoyah HS, Luke Griffies and Alexander Severson.

Five of our high schools are among the Top 100 in Georgia and all our traditional high schools are ranked in the top third in the U.S., according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings of the nation’s best high schools.

Congratulations to our new Student Delegates to the School Board! This year’s Delegates are: Cherokee HS, Madeline Flournoy; Creekview HS, Liam Collins; Etowah HS, Aspen Stringfellow; i-Grad Virtual Academy, Kai Hof; River Ridge HS, Tyler Stacey; Sequoyah HS, Beatriz Roca-Garcia; and Woodstock HS, Natasha Lakeram.  

Our school district swept the top honors presented by the Georgia PTA to educators, support staff, school leaders, and volunteers for outstanding service to students and their families!

Twenty-six Cherokee County School District high school students are spending this summer as student researchers through a partnership with Georgia’s National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center! 

A Cherokee County School District Class of 2026 graduate has earned a statewide student athlete award! Trevor Condon, who graduated this spring from Etowah High School and helped lead his team to two State Championships, is the Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year for Baseball!  

Cherokee County School District students won gold in the statewide Summer Special Olympics, and a team is advancing to the USA Games to compete nationally this month!  Cherokee County Special Olympics’ soccer team earned gold and student athletes earned individual gold medals in cheer, soccer, swimming, and track competitions at the 2026 State Summer Games recently held at Emory University.  

A Cherokee County School District student has been selected for a U.S. Department of State-sponsored study abroad program.  Etowah High School rising junior Brady May this August will travel to Germany as part of the CBYX (Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange) program, a partnership between the State Department and the German government.

It's CCSD Class of 2026 graduation video download debut day! A big thank-you to our commencement ceremony venue, First Baptist Church Woodstock, for providing our graduates' families with the opportunity to download videos at no cost.

Cherokee County School District students have earned top honors at statewide and regional career competitions with students advancing to national contests this summer!  Through Career and Technical Student Organizations, students expand their classroom Career Pathway program learning by participating in after-school and weekend activities like conferences, competitions and community service.  

Two Cherokee County School District Class of 2026 graduating seniors have earned $25,000 college scholarships from a community foundation. Congratulations to the Class of 2026 winners, Taylor Kallbreier of Etowah High School and Rylie McCormick of Woodstock High School!

A Cherokee County School District student has been named the top U.S. Air Force Junior ROTC cadet in the world!  Congratulations to Etowah High School junior Kane M. Barnard, who has been honored as the 2025–26 AFJROTC Cadet of the Year: the best of the 100,000 students who participate in U.S. Air Force JROTC programs in the nation and internationally.  

Two Cherokee County School District graduating seniors have earned community scholarship awards. Congratulations to Madeleine Blanchard of Etowah High School and Emily Pheifer of Woodstock High School for earning the $2,500 scholarships presented by Towne Lake Academy!  

Congratulations to Etowah High School junior Dayton Creekmore for earning a spot in the nationally competitive NASA SEES (STEM Enhancement in Earth Science) Summer Internship Program hosted by the University of Texas Center for Space Research in Houston!

Members of Cherokee County School District’s Class of 2026 have committed to military service through service academies, other college military programs, or enlisting.  Congratulations and thank you to these graduates, their families, and our JROTC instructors!

Congratulations to the valedictorians and salutatorians for the Cherokee County School District’s Class of 2026!  These outstanding students and their parents will be honored by the School Board and Superintendent of Schools at the Annual Scholar Recognition Banquet this week.  

Six Cherokee County School District students have earned aviation scholarships named in honor of two longtime pilots!  The Don Stevens and Bob Burns Memorial Scholarships, awarded by the Cherokee County Educational Foundation, honor students who attend a Cherokee County School District high school and are pursuing a private pilot’s license.  

Two Cherokee County School District student athletes have been honored as the most positive in their sport in the state!  Sequoyah High School junior Addie Kate Beck is the Positive Athlete Georgia winner for Basketball, and Etowah High School senior Grey Davis is the Positive Athlete Georgia winner for Cheerleading.

Cherokee County School District’s high schools have again earned the state’s top honors for outstanding Advanced Placement programs and performance! All six of CCSD’s traditional high schools have been named 2026 AP Honor Schools for exceptional student performance and participation on AP exams.

The Cherokee County School District is celebrating its future educators!  High schools across the country held signing day events as part of National Teacher Appreciation Week to honor graduating seniors who plan to pursue careers in education.

The Cherokee County School District is celebrating graduating seniors who plan to pursue careers in skilled professions!  The District joined Be Pro Be Proud Georgia, the Cherokee Workforce Collaborative, Cherokee Office of Economic Development, and Chattahoochee Technical College this week to present the annual Skilled Professions Signing Day event held in downtown Woodstock at the Arts Center.  

Two Cherokee County School District students are among only 94 students nationwide awarded an Air Force JROTC Flight Academy scholarship to earn a private pilot’s license and college credits this summer. Congratulations to Cherokee High School junior William Tyler and Etowah High School junior Kane Barnard!

Twelve Cherokee County School District Class of 2026 graduating seniors will be honored this week by the Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame! The community organization, a CCSD Partner, every spring recognizes the most outstanding male and female senior athletes from each of CCSD’s six traditional high schools.

Congratulations to the Cherokee County School District Innovation Zone Coaches of the Year! The awards program begins with the selection of a top coach for each CCSD Innovation Zone based on outstanding leadership, tradition of excellence and contributions to overall school culture and community.  

Sixty-eight more Cherokee County School District student athletes have signed commitment letters to compete at the college level!  Students at Cherokee, Creekview, Etowah, River Ridge, and Woodstock High Schools were honored with ceremonies at their high schools this week to celebrate their signing of National Letters of Intent.  This week’s National Signing Day, the fourth so far this school year, now brings the total number of student athletes celebrated to 150!  

Cherokee County School District high school students have increased their success in college-level courses to a new record high!  More CCSD students passed Advanced Placement (AP) exams, which earn them college credit at most state colleges and universities, with the rate increasing to 85.1% this past spring, up from 82.8% the previous year, according to newly released results. 

The Cherokee County School District on Thursday night celebrated 192 outstanding high school students as 2026 Superintendent’s Key Scholars!  

Congratulations to the Cherokee County School District’s 2026 STAR Students and Teachers!  The STAR, or Student Teacher Achievement Recognition, Student honor is awarded to the high school senior from each Georgia public and private high school with the highest score on any single test date of the SAT and who also ranks in the top tier of their class for GPA.

More than 500 CCSD female athletes gathered Monday to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) and recognize the positive impact and great opportunities provided by the school district’s elite athletic programs. 

CCSD’s Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) handbook, “Focus on the Future,” will be going home with 8th graders this month as they prepare to register for their high school classes. 

The Holly Springs Optimist Club today honored eight CCSD students, along with an outstanding teacher and a paraprofessional at its annual High School Awards breakfast, which recognizes outstanding special needs students and their supportive teachers and staff. 

Thirteen Cherokee County School District high school seniors have been named National Merit Commended Students by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation!  The seniors are among the only 2 to 3% of the Class of 2025 honored nationwide with the recognition, which is based on outstanding PSAT scores, and CCSD’s total increased from eight honorees last year.  

The Cherokee County School District reached new heights with 1,500 current students and Class of 2025 graduates earning national 2025 Advanced Placement (AP) awards!  The AP awards program each fall recognizes an elite group of high school students from across the country who have demonstrated outstanding college-level achievement through their performance on multiple AP exams the previous school year.  

The Cherokee County School District’s Class of 2025 ACT scores increased and topped national and state averages!  The class earned an outstanding 22.8 average, up from 22.5 last year and exceeding Georgia’s 21.4 (up from 21.2) and the Nation’s 19.4 steady average on the competitive college entrance and placement examination, according to a report released today by the Georgia Department of Education.

The College Board has honored Cherokee County School District students with National Recognition Programs Awards for exceptional academic achievement!

Cherokee County School District’s SAT scores for the Class of 2025 increased and continue to top national and statewide results!  The CCSD Class of 2025 earned an average total score of 1085 on the curriculum-based college entrance and placement exam, according to results released today by the College Board.  The 2025 score is an increase from 1083 in 2024 and further widens CCSD’s margin over the national public school average by 89 points and the state by 56 points.  

The Cherokee County School District’s graduation rate for the Class of 2025 topped the state average, with three schools exceeding 95%!  The CCSD four-year graduation rate is 91.8%, according to a new report from the Georgia Department of Education released today, exceeding the state average of 87.2% by nearly 5%.

Eight Cherokee County School District high school seniors today were named 2026 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists!  They are: of Cherokee High School, Grace Dai, Andrew Lockwood, and Ian Zeller; of Creekview High School, Levi Cone; of Etowah High School, Dylan Fallin; and of Sequoyah High School, Matthew Chemmala, and Riley O'Neill.  Congratulations to our honored students and their teachers and thank you to our School Board for its investment in ensuring our students learn more, grow more, and achieve more in our classrooms than they could anywhere else!

The Cherokee County School Board this week will recognize its new class of Student Delegates!  Student Delegates to the School Board serve for one school year to give input and feedback to the School Board and Superintendent of Schools. 

The Cherokee County School District and School Board celebrated the Class of 2025 Valedictorians and Salutatorians at its 24th Annual Scholar Recognition Banquet.  The special event on Wednesday evening was attended by the Scholars and their parents; the teacher each scholar chose as the most influential in his or her education; CCSD’s high school Principals; Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis and her senior staff; and the School Board.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, appointed a new board member to fill a vacancy created by retirement and voted to maintain local control of school funding decision-making by opting out of statewide legislation.

Congratulations to the Cherokee County School District’s 2025 STAR Students and Teachers!  The STAR, or Student Teacher Achievement Recognition, Student honor is awarded to the high school senior from each Georgia public and private high school with the highest score on any single test date of the SAT and who also ranks in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of his or her class based on grade point average.  Each honored student is invited to select his or her favorite teacher to be named that school’s STAR Teacher.

Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis today spoke at the 2025 “State of the County” program.  The regional Council for Quality Growth nonprofit group organizes the annual luncheon.  

Cherokee County School District theatre programs and students earned top honors at regional One Act Play competitions, with one show advancing to a state performance event!

Cherokee County School District high school students have increased their success in college-level courses, earning international honors for their schools.  CCSD students raised their overall Advanced Placement (AP) exam average score to 3.6, up from 3.4, this past spring, according to a new report from the College Board, while also increasing participation, with 6,955 exams completed, up from 6,091.  

The Cherokee County School District’s Class of 2024 ACT scores topped national and state averages!

Cherokee County School District’s SAT scores continue to top statewide and national results, according to results released today by the College Board.

The Cherokee County School Board this week will recognizes its new class of Student Delegates!

The Cherokee County School Board at its Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 meeting approved plans to expand a school and heard important budget updates.

The Cherokee County School Board at its Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023 regular meeting welcomed its new Student Advisor and Student Delegates for the school year!

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, June 16, 2023 approved a budget for next school year that improves teacher and support staff compensation and keeps class sizes low without a millage rate increase.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, May 18, 2023 reviewed the proposed budget for next school year, which increases salaries for teachers and support staff, and approved the construction contract for the new replacement Cherokee High School campus.

This week’s CCSD Pathway Profile focuses on Veterinary Science and Equine Science, with both programs offered at Creekview High School and the former offered at Etowah High School.  

This week’s CCSD Pathway Profile focuses on Plant and Floral Design Systems and Companion Animal Systems, which is offered at Etowah High School.  Five different agriculture Career Pathway programs are available in CCSD high schools. 

This week’s CCSD Pathway Profile focuses on Healthcare Science: Therapeutic Services - Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology.  Sports Medicine is offered at Cherokee, Creekview and Etowah HS; Exercise Physiology also is offered at Etowah HS.  Five different Healthcare Science programs are available in CCSD high schools.  CCSD offers 38 Career Pathway high school programs, which provide students with a wide selection of job exploration and preparation electives.  Through CCSD Pathway Profiles, we regularly share highlights with you from one of these programs … 

This week’s CCSD Pathway Profile focuses on Air Force JROTC - Government and Public Administration, which is offered at Cherokee HS, Etowah HS, River Ridge HS and Sequoyah HS, with other JROTC Pathways also offered at Creekview HS (Army) and Woodstock HS (Navy).  The Cherokee County School District offers 38 Career Pathway high school programs, which provide students with a wide selection of job exploration and preparation electives.  Through CCSD Pathway Profiles, we regularly share highlights with you from one of these programs.  

This week’s CCSD Pathway Profile focuses on Healthcare Science - Therapeutic Services and Allied Health and Medicine, which is offered at Creekview and Etowah High Schools.  The Cherokee County School District offers 38 Career Pathway high school programs, which provide students with a wide selection of job exploration and preparation electives.  Through CCSD Pathway Profiles, we regularly share highlights with you from one of these programs … 

This week’s CCSD Pathway Profile focuses on Law Enforcement Services and Criminal Investigations, which is offered at Woodstock and Etowah High Schools.  The Cherokee County School District offers 38 Career Pathway high school programs, which provide students with a wide selection of job exploration and preparation electives.  Through CCSD Pathway Profiles, we regularly share highlights with you from one of these programs … 

The Cherokee County School District offers 38 Career Pathway high school programs, which provide students with a wide selection of job exploration and preparation electives.  Through CCSD Pathway Profiles, we’ll regularly share highlights with you from one of these programs.  This week’s profile focuses on Cybersecurity, which is offered at the Cherokee College & Career Academy that is open to all CCSD high school students …

The Cherokee County School District offers 38 Career Pathway high school programs, which provide students with a wide selection of job exploration and preparation electives.  Through CCSD Pathway Profiles, we’ll regularly share highlights with you from one of these programs.  This week’s profile focuses on Transportation: Collision Repair - Painting and Refinishing, which is offered at Etowah High School, with Cherokee HS and Sequoyah HS offering other automotive programs …

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022 approved mid-year bonuses for teachers and support staff and heard plans to increase salaries for next school year.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower proposed the one-time supplemental payments of $1,000 for eligible full-time employees and $500 permanent part-time employees, which will be issued in this month’s paychecks, to show appreciation for their continued service.

The Cherokee County School District offers 38 Career Pathway high school programs, which provide students with a wide selection of job exploration and preparation electives.  Through CCSD Pathway Profiles, we’ll regularly share highlights with you from one of these programs.  This week’s profile focuses on Nutrition and Food Science, which is available at all CCSD high schools …

The Cherokee County School District offers 38 Career Pathway high school programs, which provide students with a wide selection of job exploration and preparation electives.  Through CCSD Pathway Profiles, we’ll regularly share highlights with you from one of these programs.  This week’s profile focuses on Computer Science - Cloud Computing, which is offered at Woodstock HS and Etowah HS …

The Cherokee County School District offers 38 Career Pathway high school programs, which provide students with a wide selection of job exploration and preparation electives.  Through CCSD Pathway Profiles, we’ll regularly share highlights with you from one of these programs.  This week’s profile focuses on Engineering Drafting and Design and Architectural Drafting and Design, which is offered at Sequoyah High School and Etowah High School.

The Cherokee County School District has earned international recognition for excellence in education!

The district is one of only 38 school districts in the world to today be named a 2022 Cognia School System of Distinction by the international accreditation organization.

The Cherokee County School District offers 38 Career Pathway high school programs, which provide students with a wide selection of job exploration and preparation electives.  Through CCSD Pathway Profiles, we’ll regularly share highlights with you from one of these programs.  This week’s profile focuses on the Construction and Carpentry program, which is offered at Etowah and Cherokee High Schools:

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday evening welcomed its new Student Advisor and Student Delegates for the school year!

The School Board has included a Student Advisor position on its board since 1999, and, for the past 11 years, a Student Delegate from each high school also has been selected.  

The Cherokee County School District offers 38 Career Pathway high school programs, which provide students with a wide selection of job exploration and preparation electives.  Through CCSD Pathway Profiles, we’ll regularly share highlights with you from one of these programs.  This week’s profile focuses on the Arts, A/V Technology and Communications program, which is offered at all CCSD high schools:  

Cherokee County School District students for the seventh consecutive year exceeded State averages on the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade and End-of-Course tests, with significant gains on most tests. 

The annual tests assess students’ mastery of Georgia Performance Standards, which set expectations for what lessons students will learn in each grade.  Teachers and administrators use the results to improve instructional best practices.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday night approved the budget for next school year, which calls for a tax rate reduction, increased investment in school safety and pay raises for teachers and support staff.

The 1.5 mills decrease in the tax rate, which was unanimously approved, is the first reduction proposed since 2014 and was prompted by the rise in property values.  While most homeowners will see an increase in their tax bill due to their property value rising, the increase will be less due to the School Board’s action.   

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday night reviewed the proposed budget for next school year, which calls for a reduction in the tax rate for all property owners and well-deserved pay increases for teachers and support staff.

The proposed 1.5 mills decrease in the tax rate is the first reduction proposed since 2014 and has been recommended by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower in light of rising home values.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday heard good news about the school district’s financial outlook due to increasing home values and discussed ways to reduce the burden on taxpayers, while also using some of the windfall to make teacher and staff pay more competitive.

Oak Grove Elementary School STEAM Academy celebrated the news of its State STEAM certification on Monday with cake, snacks, balloons and beads, as well as party horns—to blow off STEAM! Oak Grove is the first STEAM certified school in Cherokee County.

The Cherokee County School District received excellent news today: the district’s international accreditation as a high-quality school system is recommended for renewal for another five years!

“Accreditation is the gold standard for school districts – it provides independent assurance to parents, employees and taxpayers as to the excellence of their public schools,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said.  “I’m incredibly proud of the work that all of our employees do every day to provide the best possible education and care to each of our students.  Thank you to the amazing parent volunteers and business and community partners who support us.  None of this would be possible without the outstanding leadership of our School Board, its vision for our future and its strong stewardship of the resources entrusted to them by our community.”

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, March 17, 2022 approved a budget amendment to accept state funding for eligible part-time and full-time staff to receive a one-time bonus and appointed new school leaders for next school year. 

The Cherokee County School Board at its regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 17, heard an update on CCSD’s student support services efforts including suicide prevention.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Jan. 13, reviewed a progress report on accomplishing Blueprint strategic plan goals and heard operational updates including the planned expansion of CCSD’s school choice program.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Nov. 18, approved its 2022 Legislative Partnership Priorities, which advocate for continued local control of public education decisions and the end of State educational funding budget cuts.

The Cherokee County School Board at its Thursday, Oct. 21 work session, reviewed projects proposed for the Education Special Purpose Location Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) renewal up for a vote on Nov. 2, with Early Voting now underway.

The Cherokee County School District has been named a finalist for the 2021 Governance Team of the Year Award presented by the Georgia School Boards Association!
 
Three awards are presented annually to recognize top School Boards and Superintendents of Schools for outstanding leadership and dedication to continuous improvement.  One winner is selected in three categories based on school district enrollment: small, 1-3,000 students; medium, 3,001-10,000 students; and large, 10,000+ students.  

The Cherokee County School Board at its meeting on Thursday, July 15, 2021 took the following action:

• Approved the monthly personnel report, which included the appointment of Adam Johnson, a 13-year CCSD teacher who has taught and coached track at Cherokee High School, as a new assistant principal at Woodstock High School;

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, June 17, 2021 unanimously approved its budget for next school year, which is balanced without a tax rate increase and includes hiring 125 new teachers above and beyond enrollment growth to help bridge any pandemic-related learning opportunity losses.  

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday reviewed the recommended budget for next school year, which includes hiring more teachers to lower class size while not raising the school property tax millage rate, and adopted a resolution that prohibits implementing Critical Race Theory (CRT) and The 1619 Project.  

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, April 15, approved school calendars for three more years and appointed several new leaders for next school year.

The approved calendars for the 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 school year now are posted at http://bit.ly/CCSDcalendars.  They were developed by a committee of CCSD employees and parents and use the same balanced calendar model as currently in place.  

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, March 18, 2021, heard school operations updates on plans for special events including graduation ceremonies and proms, as well as details for next school year including the continuation of a Digital Learning option.  

The School Board also approved several appointments for CCSD school leadership roles for next school year including new Principals for Ball Ground Elementary School STEM Academy and Mountain Road Elementary School, as well as the naming of the District’s first administrator focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives.

The Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) has announced the week of March 15-19, 2021 as “School Board Member Appreciation Week.” 

CCSD joins a statewide celebration this week to salute the efforts of local school board members.  As constitutional officers of Georgia, school board members are responsible for setting educational policies, employing school personnel, providing buildings and equipment, operating a transportation system and disbursing school funds.  As community leaders, school board members serve as advocates for the children in local public schools and must study, evaluate and decide what actions are in the best interest of those students.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, approved several appointments for CCSD school leadership roles for next school year.

As part of the monthly personnel report, the School Board accepted the retirements of many longtime educators throughout CCSD including Bascomb Elementary School Principal Kathleen Chandler.  

The Cherokee County School Board at its meeting Thursday night heard updates on State education funding and the state of public health.  

The Cherokee County School Board has earned top state honors for exemplary leadership and innovation practices.

The Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) has awarded the Cherokee County School Board its 2020 Exemplary School Board designation.  The statewide recognition program honors school boards that consistently meet standards of excellence and model best practices; it is a three-tiered program, and Exemplary is the highest level of achievement.  In order to earn this status, school boards must demonstrate commitment to

The Cherokee County School Board during its meeting Thursday approved the purchase of land for the potential site of a new Cherokee High School.

The 88-acre site is north of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and adjacent to the current Teasley MS campus in Canton’s Riverstone area, and the land cost is $87,500 per acre to be paid for with current Ed SPLOST funds. 

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday heard an update on potential State funding concerns for next school year.
 
During its pre-meeting work session, School Board members began the planning work for its annual Legislative Partnership Priorities, a list of top issues it would like to see addressed by Cherokee County’s State legislators during the General Assembly Session.  The report typically is shared by the School Board with the Delegation at a meeting in early December prior to the legislative session’s start in January.

The Cherokee County School Board during its meeting Thursday heard operations updates and talked about construction of a replacement Cherokee High School as a possible project to be funded in the next Education SPLOST renewal.

The Cherokee County School Board at its regular meeting tonight heard an update on the start of the school year, and talked about a possible “hybrid” model for the reopening of three temporarily closed high schools.

After a wide-ranging discussion of current school operations and possible operational changes, the School Board voted, 5-1, with Vice Chair Kelly Poole dissenting and John Harmon absent, to authorize Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower to make adjustments, as he determines are needed, to the Reopening of School Plan in order to reopen Creekview, Etowah and Woodstock High Schools on Aug. 31.  The motion specifically excluded authorizing a student mask mandate at this time.

The Cherokee County School Board at its regular meeting tonight unanimously approved the Cherokee County School District’s annual budget, which, despite a $25 Million State education funding cut, was balanced without the need for furlough days or a millage rate increase.

The Cherokee County School Board at its called meeting tonight unanimously approved the Superintendent’s recommended CCSD Reopening of School Plan, which calls for both the return to schools for traditional learning and the launch of an improved digital learning choice.

On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised that Cherokee County School Board Chair Kyla Cromer has called for a School Board meeting to be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 9, 2020 to consider approval of the Superintendent’s recommended CCSD Reopening of School Plan. 

The Cherokee County School Board at its work session and regular meeting this evening reviewed the proposed CCSD budget for next school year, which balances a State funding shortfall without the need for furlough days or a tax rate increase, and heard an update on school reopening plans.

The Cherokee County School Board during its May meeting, which was held this evening virtually and streamed online, heard school reopening plans and a budget update.

The Cherokee County School Board this evening unanimously approved the Superintendent of Schools’ recommendation to end school early on May 8 and to postpone a decision on high school graduation ceremonies until July 1.

The Cherokee County School Board tonight heard plans to further extend the closure of all Cherokee County School District schools and offices through the previously scheduled Spring Break. 

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020 approved the appointments of new Principals and other leaders for next school year.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020 approved the appointment of a longtime CCSD leader as its next Chief Operations Officer.

Dr. Debra Murdock, a past Georgia High School Principal of the Year who currently serves as an Executive Director in the Office of School Operations, will begin leading the division this spring.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019 heard an update on CCSD’s Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) initiative, including projects underway to increase counseling services and create a “parent university” program for providing parents more information to help their children’s safety and well-being.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019 approved Blueprint, a new long-range plan for the Cherokee County School District’s continued success, developed based on community input. 

The creation of the new five-year strategic plan, which is posted here, evolved over six months of meetings with students, families, teachers, support staff, business and community partners to determine what matters most to them and how CCSD could better serve them.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, July 18, 2019 appointed a longtime CCSD leader to head up the new Social and Emotional Learning initiative, as well as several resulting Principal changes.  

Dr. Debra Murdock, the former Principal of Cherokee High School and Georgia High School Principal of the Year, who has most recently served as the School Operations’ executive director overseeing middle and high schools, will take on the newly created role focused on developing new ways to better support students’ and employees’ emotional and mental health and well-being.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, June 20, 2019 unanimously approved the Superintendent’s proposed budget for next school year and celebrated the swearing-in of a new CCSD School Police Chief.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, April 18, 2019 approved the appointment of a new CCSD School Police Chief and new assistant principals to fill vacancies for next school year. 

The School Board unanimously approved naming Major Buster Cushing, who currently serves as commander of field operations for the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, as the next CCSD School Police Chief effective July 1.  Major Cushing will fill the role held by retiring Chief Mark Kissel  since the Department’s establishment 20 years ago.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018, approved its annual Legislative Partnership Program outlining requests for the local Legislative Delegation’s consideration during the upcoming session, and local control topped the list.