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The Cherokee County School Board at its regular meeting on Thursday, May 15, 2025, reviewed the Superintendent’s final year-one report and planned focus areas for 2025-26 school year, the findings of the school district’s audits this past year, and appointed new school and district leaders.
The Cherokee County School District’s Student Advisor and Student Delegates to the School Board gathered this afternoon for their last roundtable meeting with Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis. One outstanding high school senior from each of CCSD’s high schools serves as a delegate for one school year to give input and feedback to the School Board and to the Superintendent. Their valued feedback influenced success this school year and led to planned improvements to the Delegate program for next school year.
Cherokee County School District’s Class of 2025 will walk across the stage for graduation ceremonies next week! The ceremonies for CCSD’s graduating seniors will be held at First Baptist Church of Woodstock (11905 Highway 92, Woodstock, 30188). There is no limit on guests. Ceremonies will be streamed on www.fbcw.org so family and friends who are unable to attend still can participate. Congratulations to our graduates and thank you to our School Board for its investment in our students’ success!
Cherokee County School District educators and volunteers were honored by the PTA with regional and local awards! The Georgia PTA District 13 Spring Conference & Awards Ceremony recognized outstanding PTA volunteers, teachers, nurses, and administrators from Cherokee and Forsyth Counties, who now advance for consideration for statewide awards. The Cherokee County Council PTA additionally presented annual awards for excellence to CCSD school staff and school PTAs, and District 13 also awarded student scholarships.
The Cherokee County School District today honored retiring employees as legends for their dedication to ensuring our students learn more, grow more, and achieve more here than they can anywhere else! The CCSD Retiring Legends Reception and Recognition Ceremony celebrated 139 retiring employees, including teachers, support staff and administrators, on Thursday afternoon in the school board auditorium.
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Month, we’re celebrating a school 2025 Teacher of the Year each day! Special Education teacher Leigh Anne Powell, a 16-year educator, is the Teacher of the Year for ACTIVE Academies - i-Grad Virtual Academy.
Please check out the May edition of the CCSD Connections newsletter at https://www.cherokeek12.net/about-ccsd/newsletter for the latest CCSD news, announcements, upcoming events, and a message from the Superintendent. Thank you to this month's sponsor, Credit Union of Georgia! #CCSDElevateTheExcellence
The purpose of Child Find is to identify, locate, and evaluate children and youth, who are suspected of having or have a diagnosed disability or developmental delay, in order to provide free appropriate Special Education services. The Cherokee County School District serves children from three years through 21 years of age.
The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, April 17, 2025, approved the Superintendent’s recommended budget for next school year, which holds the millage rate steady while raising teacher and support staff pay and increasing funds for classroom resources. The board also approved updated teaching and learning standards for next school year and its first-ever literacy policy and appointed several new principals and other leaders.
The Cherokee County School District saluted educators tonight at the 2025 Legacy Makers: CCSD Teachers of the Year Celebration and Dr. Lisa Spence of Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy was named CCSD’s Teacher of the Year! The Legacy Makers event held at the Northside Hospital Cherokee Conference Center in Canton honored the Teacher of the Year for every CCSD school.
The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, March 20, 2025 reviewed the Superintendent’s recommended budget for next school year, which invests more funding in teachers and resources that directly support student learning, while holding the millage rate steady.
The Cherokee County School District’s Student Advisor and Student Delegates to the School Board gathered today for their third roundtable meeting with Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis. One outstanding high school senior from each of CCSD’s high schools serves as a delegate for one school year to give input and feedback to the School Board and to the Superintendent.
The Cherokee County School District’s proposed budget for next school year invests more funding in teachers and resources that directly support student learning, while holding the millage rate steady. Proposed improvements include more competitive compensation for teachers and staff directly supporting students, advancing school safety and security, and upgrading instructional resources and classroom supplies for teachers and students.
It’s School Board Appreciation Week, and we’re so grateful for our amazing Cherokee County School Board! A high-performing school district begins with a high-performing school board … and our board is incredibly dedicated to elevating the excellence in its governance. Each day this week, we will share one School Board member’s thoughts on three questions.
It’s School Board Appreciation Week, and we’re so grateful for our amazing Cherokee County School Board! A high-performing school district begins with a high-performing school board … and our board is incredibly dedicated to elevating the excellence in its governance. Each day this week, we will share one School Board member’s thoughts on three questions.
It’s School Board Appreciation Week, and we’re so grateful for our amazing Cherokee County School Board! A high-performing school district begins with a high-performing school board … and our board is incredibly dedicated to elevating the excellence in its governance. Each day this week, we will share one School Board member’s thoughts on three questions.
It’s School Board Appreciation Week, and we’re so grateful for our amazing Cherokee County School Board! A high-performing school district begins with a high-performing school board … and our board is incredibly dedicated to elevating the excellence in its governance. Each day this week, we will share one School Board member’s thoughts on three questions.
It’s School Board Appreciation Week, and we’re so grateful for our amazing Cherokee County School Board! A high-performing school district begins with a high-performing school board … and our board is incredibly dedicated to elevating the excellence in its governance. Each day this week, we will share one School Board member’s thoughts on three questions.
It’s School Board Appreciation Week, and we’re so grateful for our amazing Cherokee County School Board! A high-performing school district begins with a high-performing school board … and our board is incredibly dedicated to elevating the excellence in its governance. Each day this week, we will share one School Board member’s thoughts on three questions.
It’s School Board Appreciation Week, and we’re so grateful for our amazing Cherokee County School Board! A high-performing school district begins with a high-performing school board … and our board is incredibly dedicated to elevating the excellence in its governance. Each day this week, we will share one School Board member’s thoughts on three questions.
The Cherokee County School District celebrates outstanding school volunteers and business and community partners and their valued role in our mission to become the highest-performing school district in Georgia! The annual CCSD Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year Recognition Ceremony honored a Partner of the Year and a Volunteer of the Year for each individual school and center. The evening included the surprise announcement of the CCSD Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year selected from that pool of honorees.
Cherokee County School District kindergarten and new student registration now is open online for the 2025-26 school year. We can’t wait to welcome your children to learn more, grow more, and achieve more in our classrooms than they could anywhere else!
The Cherokee County School District this evening celebrated the swearing in of the Cherokee County School Board new District 3 member. Chance Beam of Woodstock was appointed by the board last month to fill the District 3 post vacancy for the remainder of the term.
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.
The Cherokee County School District on Thursday night celebrated 264 outstanding high school students as 2025 Superintendent’s Key Scholars! These top students were recognized, through the 20th Annual Superintendent’s Key Scholar Recognition Ceremony, for earning a PSAT National Merit Selection Index score of 185 or greater, which ranks them in at least the top 10% of students nationwide.
Every school year, each CCSD high school selects one Student Delegate to the School Board to represent the student voice. One Delegate is named the Student Advisor and sits with the Board at its meetings. We’ll continue to introduce you to them all this year! #CCSDElevateTheExcellence
The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, continued preparations for approving its budget for next school year, including hearing a state funding update, and accepted the resignation of a longtime board member.
Congratulations to the Cherokee County School District’s 2025 School Teachers of the Year winners! Every school year, every CCSD school’s teachers and staff are asked to select a Teacher of the Year for their school. These school-level winners now are eligible for the honor of Cherokee County School District 2025 Teacher of the Year.
The Cherokee County School District this evening celebrated the swearing in of the Cherokee County School Board’s new chair and two re-elected board members.
The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024 began reviewing budget priorities for next school year, including options for maintaining competitive salaries for teachers and support staff.
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 Student Advisor and Student Delegates to the School Board gathered today for their second roundtable meeting with Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis.
The Cherokee County School District improved its overall college and career readiness performance index scores at each school level this past school year and continues to exceed state scores.
The Cherokee County School District next month will celebrate outstanding service at its seventh annual Support Staff Employees of the Year Awards!
The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday reviewed the funding outlook for next school year and approved a new governance policy.
The Cherokee County School District recognizes employees’ important service to the community with the CCSD Milestones Service Awards.
CCSD leadership and staff showed appreciation this morning for our outstanding CCSD bus drivers with a drive-through breakfast sponsored by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and gifts from other partners for the 450 men and women who get the community's children to and from school each day with safety and care.
The Cherokee County School District, as previously announced, last night presented a community forum on the topic of safety and security. A video recording of the panel presentation, featuring Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis, Police Chief Buster Cushing and staff, Chief School Leadership and Operations Officer Dr. Debra Murdock and staff, and Cherokee Sheriff Frank Reynolds, now is posted online here.
The Cherokee County School District’s graduation rate for the Class of 2024 rose to 93.5%, a new high that also continues to top the state average.
Today is National School Custodian Day, and for the next week we’ll be recognizing one of our high school head custodians each day. Please join us in thanking them for all they do to keep our schools safe and clean for our students, teachers and staff, volunteers, and visitors! Today’s recognition is of ACTIVE Academies Head Custodian Joyce Edwards.
Join us as we #ThankACustodian in recognition of National School Custodian Day. We love our custodians -- not just today, but every day!
October is National Principals Month! Our Principals are Elevating the Excellence every day in our schools by providing leadership and inspiration. We’re recognizing one of these amazing leaders each day. Please join us in thanking them for all they do each day for our students and families, teachers and staff, and communities!
Cherokee County School District students topped state averages and improved performance on math sections of the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade and End-of-Course tests, mirroring the success achieved in other subjects announced this summer.
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 on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 heard a report on current safety and security systems and practices and reviewed the school district’s progress in accomplishing its Key Priorities for elevating the excellence in all areas.
Given the heartbreaking tragedy at Apalachee High School and uneasy atmosphere we have navigated in the days since, Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis gave a video report, during her welcome, on the state of safety and security in our school district at tonight’s School Board meeting.
Please check out the September edition of the CCSD Connections newsletter online here for the latest CCSD news including a message from the Superintendent, a calendar of upcoming events, and much more.
It is with a heavy heart that I send this message this evening following the horrific and tragic events at Apalachee High School in Barrow County today. As the Superintendent of the Cherokee County School District, there is nothing that I think more about each day than the safety and security of our students and our staff, and I am heartbroken to think about the devastation experienced by the Barrow community and shared by our entire state of Georgia.
The CCSD Athletics new weekly calendar of events now is online! The weekly calendar online here includes times, dates and locations for upcoming CCSD high school varsity, JV and freshman athletic games.
The Cherokee County School District’s School Nutrition department is searching for the best kid-friendly recipes that “par-slay the day!”
The Cherokee County School Board at its meeting on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, reviewed the school district’s Georgia Milestones Assessment Performance Review report, a new level in accountability reporting introduced this school year by the Superintendent of Schools.
The Cherokee County Student Delegates to the School Board this week began their year of service!
Class Act, the award-winning magazine from the Cherokee County School District, went home with students the first week of school, giving parents a one-stop publication for back-to-school information and a peek at what's new for this school year.
The Cherokee County School Board this week will recognizes its new class of Student Delegates!
The Cherokee County School District is accepting applications for its annual parent academy program.
We had a wonderful #CCSD1stDay2024! Here's a video of highlights from today. Thank you to everyone who made today a success for our students. #CCSDElevateTheExcellence
It is the night before our first day of school in CCSD, and we are excited for a great day! Please click the link below for a video message from Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis. We can’t wait to see you tomorrow.
As we begin the new school year, we ask all drivers to please remember the rules of the road when encountering school buses, bus stops and school zones:
Cherokee County School District students won gold in the statewide summer Special Olympics!
This summer, we converted our student information system and launched a new platform called Synergy in preparation for the 2024-25 school year. Synergy offers families a ParentVUE website and app that provides greater access to their children’s emergency contacts and attendance information.
The Cherokee County School District congratulates the winners of its third annual Transportation Employee of the Year Awards!
The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, June 20, approved its budget for next school year, which provides salary improvements to teachers and support staff while maintaining the same tax rate. The school board also adopted consistent guidance for student dress and appropriate cell phone use for elementary, middle, and high school students to take effect as we start the 2024-25 school year.
Get Ready for Back to School with CCSD’s New ParentVUE … the parent portal for our new student information system, where you can update emergency contact info, track absences and more!
Cherokee County School District educators and volunteers have been honored by the Georgia PTA with its top statewide awards!
The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce this week announced the 2024 group of Cherokee County's Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch, including two honorees from the Cherokee County School District.
Cherokee County School District student artists earned statewide honors in the PTA Reflections fine arts contest, with one student earning a national prize!
The Cherokee County School District and School Board celebrated the Class of 2024 Valedictorians and Salutatorians at its 24th Annual Scholar Recognition Banquet.
Congratulations to the valedictorians and salutatorians for the Cherokee County School District’s Class of 2024!
The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday heard a report from Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis on her key priorities and recommended balanced budget for next school year, with a focus on elevating the excellence of academics and achievement for all students and improving employee compensation to retain the best educators possible.
Mary Elizabeth Davis over the past month has continued her ongoing meetings with students, parents, teachers, support staff and community partners to listen and learn more about CCSD’s strengths to further nurture and invest in, as well as for opportunities for continuous improvement.
The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday heard a presentation from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis on her progress over the past month in the new role. The school board also approved new school assistant principals for next school year.
Cherokee County School District students, educators and volunteers were honored by the PTA with regional awards!
A new online tutoring program now is available for high school students at no cost!
The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, March 21, 2024 heard a presentation from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis on her first two full weeks in the new role. The school board also approved new school leaders for next school year and heard updates on new school construction projects.
Mary Elizabeth Davis today began her service to Cherokee County as our new Superintendent of Schools.
True to her 100-day plan’s mission -- “Listen to understand, Lean-in to remember, and Learn to Lead” – Mary Elizabeth spent her first day visiting schools and meeting students, teachers and support staff, families and business and community partners.
The Cherokee County School Board at its regular meeting tonight, Feb. 15, 2024, voted to officially hire Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis as the county’s next Superintendent of Schools.
Dr. Davis currently serves as Superintendent of Schools for Henry County. You can learn more about her extensive experience as an educator and leader online here. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower last fall announced he planned to retire this spring after nearly 40 years in education, including eight years in his current role.
The Cherokee County School Board at a special called meeting tonight, Jan. 31, 2024, announced a sole finalist to serve as the county’s next Superintendent of Schools. The school board voted to announce Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis as the sole finalist to begin leading the school district.
The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, heard updates on the current state legislative session and how the proposed state budget and legislation may impact school operations.
The Cherokee County School Board at its called meeting Wednesday evening adopted the Superintendent’s recommendation to award employee bonuses this month.
The Cherokee County School Board at its meeting on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, heard plans by the Superintendent of Schools to return school custodial services to in-house operations for next school year. The school board also approved the Woodstock HS classroom addition construction contract, named Dr. Chad Flatt as the new principal for Freedom Middle School beginning Jan. 8 as Principal Whitney Nolan is stepping down and appointed Adam Holley as the new head football coach for Cherokee High School.
The Cherokee County School District continues to exceed state averages for overall college and career readiness.
The Cherokee County School District celebrated the important role of support staff at its Sixth Annual Support Staff Employees of the Year Awards on Thursday evening.
The Cherokee County School Board at its Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 meeting reviewed how anticipated state legislation will impact next year’s budget for school operations.
CCSD is in the process of welcoming 30 new additions to its bus fleet, with new vehicles being delivered that will offer more safety features for its drivers and passengers while allowing the oldest buses in the fleet to be taken out of service.
The Cherokee County School Board at its Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 meeting approved plans to expand a school and heard important budget updates.
CCSD recognized its school bus drivers on Tuesday morning with a drive-through breakfast and gifts.
The Cherokee County School Board at its regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023 heard an update on its search for the next superintendent of schools. The school board earlier this month voted to contract with the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) for its support services to aid in the search. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower on Sept. 1 announced his plans to retire at the end of this school year.
The CCSD Connections monthly newsletter is designed for CCSD parents, but we know there are many people in our community who like to keep us with our school district’s news.
The Cherokee County School Board at its meeting on Thursday, April 20, 2023 approved the appointment of a new Cherokee High School principal and improvements to the driveway and parking for Creekview High School and Creekland Middle School.
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 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 Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Flight Operations, which is new to CCSD this year and offered at the Cherokee College & Career Academy (C3) …
The sky’s the limit for a new Cherokee County School District high school Career Pathway program offering students the opportunity to explore careers in flight.
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.
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.
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.