Georgia’s state schools superintendent, Kathy Cox, named Savannah Arts Academy one of 27 Georgia Schools of Excellence.

Tough economic times are hitting more than just households and businesses.  It’s also affecting how people are spending, which means revenue for ESPLOST, the penny sales tax for education, are not what officials originally predicted.  SCCPSS projects continue though, but with a tightened belt.

“Apply to College” week begins on Monday and school districts across the state will fill out their applications with the help of volunteers from Georgia colleges and universities.

Most school districts across the state implemented furlough days so they could meet their budgets.  Savannah-Chatham County school teachers and staff received 3 furlough days while executive staff took 5.  Now, teachers, parents and children are saying, please, no more furloughs.

With tough economic times, changes in state funding and a delay in property tax collection the Savannah-Chatham County school district officials are predicting a negative cash balance for the months of November and December.

The school board and Superintendent Lockamy are recognizing two students of the month, one for September and one for October.

The school board learned about the district athletic reclassification.  The 2010 reclassification will last for 4 years, which is new.  The board does not have a say.  Classification is decided by principals at each of the high schools.

On Monday, Superintendent, Dr. Thomas Lockamy sent and email to teachers and staff members saying “regrettably, public school systems like ours are not immune to state funding reductions and must quickly react to any downward adjustment in state revenue.“  The school board meets today and teachers and staff will be protesting the possibility of more furloughs.

Two local high school students will soon have their say on issues affecting our school systems. Katherine Olson, a student at Savannah Arts Academy and Leekira Smith of Statesboro High School are among 53 pupils chosen by State School Superintendent Kathy Cox to serve on Georgia’s 2009 -2010 Student Advisory Council.

In January AASU will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of its founding.

Real men read books! That’s the message Haven Elementary is sending to its students. This week, the school is hosting its “Real Men Read” program.

SCCPSS schools and students are rising in anything from test scores, making adequate yearly progress to graduation rates and truancy.  News 3 education reporter, Randi Hempel shows you how truancy and graduation go hand in hand.

Schools across the county and country are celebrating Red Ribbon Week and taking a pledge to “say no to drugs”

We all know the regular school lessons - reading, writing, and arithmetic…but for some students it’s about learning lessons while thinking outside the box.  News 3 education reporter, Randi Hempel, visited a local school to see how a SCAD graduate is teaching the students new lessons.

There are 45 HBCU (historically black colleges and universities) marching bands vying for a chance to perform at the 2010 Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase, and Savannah State University’s “Coastal Empire Sound Explosion” is one of them.

The halls are silent at Savannah Christian’s daycare building.  Children are home with their parents as teachers, staff and families mourn the loss of a 4 year old student who passed away Sunday after exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

It’s National School Lunch Week and students are learning why it’s so important to make healthy choices.  News 3’s Randi Hempel talked to students at Savannah High about making smart choices.

Tonight’s Take Back the Night March & Rally to be held at Savannah State University has been cancelled because of the rain.

The driver of a log truck calls News 3, concerned about his morning commute.  He says it was an extremely dangerous situation when he was cut off by a bus driver as he drove through the intersection of Hwy. 21 and Monteith Road.  The truck driver tells News 3’s Randi Hempel that he came really close to killing a bus load of children.

Thursday afternoon, 53 exceptional teachers were recognized for their work in the classroom with a reception at the Savannah Morning News.  Out of the 53 teachers of the year, three were named finalists.