WNEG News Checks In With School Superintendent Dr. Connie Franklin About New School Year

The 2024-25 school year in Stephens County kicks on this coming Friday, August 2, and WNEG News spoke with school officials to find out what parents and students can look forward to this year.

First, passing on a frequent question from listeners, WNEG News asked school district officials about the choice to start classes on Friday, as opposed to Monday.

April James, School and Community Engagement Director, responded, stating, “The first day of school is usually a day of introductions and expectations. Starting on a Friday, gives students the weekend to review their new schedules and get organized or acclimated to their new routines before the first full week of school.”

Stephens County SChool Superintendent Dr. Connie Franklin’s first thought when asked about the new school year was safety, followed by the district’s efforts make the start of school convenient for both students and families by making sure all needed information is easily available online

Franklin told WNEG News about several new programs and initiatives for the 2024-25 school year, starting with the reminder that, this school year, both breakfast and lunch will be free for all students, including high school students. Previously, Big A Elementary, Liberty Elementary, Toccoa Elementary, Stephens County 5th Grade Academy, and Stephens County Middle School participated in the free meal program. Under the new Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) formula and with financial support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, Stephens County Schools will serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. Families will not have to complete free meal applications to qualify.

Moving on to transportation issues, Franklin talked about the new bus app, saying “To enhance communication, Stephens County School System transportation services will begin using the My Ride K-12 mobile app. The app will calculate the timing of each bus route, determine bus numbers, and communicate any route changes. Parents and guardians are encouraged to download the My Ride K-12 app. More information, including step-by-step download and student registration instructions is available at stephenscountyschools.com/departments/transportation. The link is also attached to this story on wnegradio.com

In another nod to the importance, ease and convenience of online access, Franklin said that all school paperwork for the beginning of the year will now be completed through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. This eliminates parents from having to handwrite and return numerous paper documents. Parents and guardians are asked to please complete the required paperwork on a smartphone, tablet, or computer as soon as possible to gain access to your student’s schedule. For those who do not have a Campus Parent account or can’t remember the password, you can email [email protected]. 

Franklin stressed the school system’s dedication to an updated and revised mission and vision statement, stating that the Stephens County School System leadership team met during the summer and approved revised mission and vision statements for the School System.

The new mission statement is “In partnership with the community and families, SCSS empowers students to be critical thinkers by providing relevant learning experiences in a safe environment. Through collaborative learning, students are motivated to meet high expectations and achieve personal and academic success.”

The new Vision Statement is “Growing Greatness in ALL Students.”

Circling back to the issue of safety, Franklin said that, as part of the ongoing efforts to make school safety and security a priority, the Stephens County School System encourages everyone to download the mobile “See Something, Send Something” app. Offered by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security, the app enables students, parents, and the community to anonymously report student tips about weapons, drugs, bullying, mental health concerns, and/or other school safety concerns 24/7 and is monitored by trained, emergency professionals. 

Franklin asks all students and parents to download the free app to their cell phone to remind them to always be aware of their surroundings, and so the app is readily available if needed. For more information and to download the app, visit the link attached to this story on wnegradio.com.