BanksNewsTODAY

Banks County High School will hold its graduation commencement ceremony at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 20, at the BCHS Leopard Stadium.

In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, at the Leopard Stadium.
The valedictorian of the 2012 senior class is Ms. Sefali Patel, the salutatorian is Mr. Vishal Patel and the first honorarian is Mr. Jason Jeong.

Voters will have the opportunity to go to the polls to vote on the Education Local Option Sales Tax –ELOST on Tuesday, March 15. Among the projects to be funded with the one-cent sales tax would be an addition to the high school and construction of a new elementary school.

ELOST is an option for a local school system to call for a referendum approving a one percent sales tax for school construction and/or to retire bond debt.

The county currently has a seven percent sales tax in place. The referendum is to continue the current tax. If the ELOST passes, there will be no change to the existing seven cent sales tax in Banks County. The tax is a consumption tax. It is not a property tax.

The ELOST would generate a maximum of $19 million over a five-year period. If the ELOST is passed, the school system can immediately begin additions to the high school to address overcrowding, make necessary technology updates and transportation purchases, construct an addition to the agriculture facility and administrative offices, acquire future school sites, and begin construction of a new elementary school. All proposed projects should be completed by fall 2018.

The current high school facility is at capacity. High school additions and a new K-5 building are needed to meet the projected growth. In order to provide permanent, adequate classrooms and facilities, additional buildings are required. These decisions were based on the local facilities plan conducted by the facilities section of the Georgia Department of Education and supported by the local school system's strategic plan.

School Superintendent Chris Erwin said, “The penny sales tax spreads the responsibility of educating our children to all citizens and visitors of the community. Anyone who spends money in Banks County is funding the ELOST regardless of whether or not the person resides in the county,” he said.

All of the proceeds from the previous ELOST were used to construct the new Banks County Elementary School, the Banks County High School cafeteria addition, the Banks County High School athletic complex, and the Banks County Primary School additions.

Due to inclement weather and icy conditions, the Banks County School System will be closed for students and staff for Thursday December 16. This closing includes the Head Start program.