School System Ready for New School Year with Facility Updates and Safety Enhancements

During the summer months, the Stephens County School System has been busy preparing for the 2024-25 school year, which starts this Friday, August 2. Several new safety enhancements have been implemented, the construction of the Ferman Gregory Agriculture Center is nearing completion, and various renovations and updates to athletic facilities have been completed or are currently underway.

With funding from the Georgia Department of Education Safer Georgia Schools Grants, the School System has increased the number of security cameras and keyless access points throughout each of the System’s six school buildings. The grant funding also purchased CENTEGIX CrisisAlert™ wearable, mobile panic buttons for rapid incident response that employees will wear and activate during an emergency. Critical Response Mapping has also been installed on all school campuses. This technology provides site- specific floor plans, updated images, and consistent communication for all emergency responders. 

Superintendent Dr. Connie Franklin stated, “Our number one priority is safety. By prioritizing safety, we help to ensure that our schools are sanctuaries for learning and growth.”

Deputy Superintendent John Stith told WNEG News that the construction of the Ferman Gregory Agriculture Center is on schedule and expected to be completed at the end of September. Funded through the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), the approximately 28,000 square foot multi-use facility is located off Eastanollee School Road near the Stephens County FFA Livestock Barn and the Stephens County School System’s Eastanollee Cannery. It will house a 7,700-square-foot livestock showing arena with retractable bleachers and a seating capacity of 400 people, including ADA seating. It will also feature a 3,000-square-foot multipurpose room, a 670-square-foot meeting room, four offices, a livestock staging or prep area, a livestock loading and unloading area, as well as support spaces for storage, utilities, and concessions.

Franklin stated, “We have always had a great agriculture education program and Future Farmers of America (FFA) in Stephens County and now our facilities will help complement what our students are learning in the classroom. The new multi-purpose facility will host livestock shows and school performances to help support our FFA program and prepare our students for future employment opportunities. Our mission this year is to “grow greatness” and this is just one more way we can achieve this goal.”

At the Eastanollee Cannery new equipment has been installed, is offering more retail items such as freeze-dried fruit and raw milk and has seen significant growth in its Local Growers Market with local vendors and farmers selling a variety of homegrown fruit and vegetables. 

Richard Johnson, Manager of the Eastanollee Cannery, stated, “I want to thank all our local vendors for bringing their homegrown harvest to sell at the Local Growers Market. I also want to thank our community for coming out and supporting these growers. Every time we purchase from one of our local growers, we are supporting a sustainable community. Neighbors helping neighbors, friends helping friends, me helping you and you helping me – all for the common good. It is wonderful to see our community come together in this way.”

Regarding the athletics program renovations with SPLOST funding, the tennis courts were resurfaced during the summer, and new LED lighting was installed at the Reservation football stadium and at the softball field. 

Stith said, “One of the most noticeable renovations taking place at Stephens County High School is the demolition of the former field house on the visitor’s side of the Reservation. This area is getting a much-needed renovation. Once completed, visitors to the Reservation will benefit from a new paved parking area, and a new building will be constructed to replace the former field house. The new field house will include a press box, restrooms, and concession stand as well as a weight and locker room. Visitor parking and access to the visitor side of the Reservation will be available during this fall’s football games, but the parking area will not be paved, and the field house will not be constructed until after football season.”

The baseball stadium at Stephens County High School is also getting a much-needed renovation with a new dug-out, bleachers, lighting, fencing, and press box, and Stith told WNEG News that the new baseball stadium will be complete by January 2025 and will provide the baseball team with an exceptional environment to compete.