Banks County

• Address: 102 Ga. 51 S., Homer, GA 30547
• Phone: 706-677-2224
• Web site: www.banks.k12.ga.us
• Superintendent: Christopher B. Erwin
• Projected enrollment: 2,800
• New for 2008-09: No new programs, but new teacher induction starts Monday and runs through July 31. Preplanning for all teachers starts Aug 4.

Calendar
Aug. 8: Classes begin
Sept. 1: Labor Day holiday
Oct. 10: Teacher work day
Oct. 13: Columbus Day
Nov. 24-28: Thanksgiving
Dec. 22-Jan. 6: Winter break
Feb. 16: President's Day
March 13: Holiday
March 16: Professional Learning Day
April 6-13: Spring break
May 25: Memorial Day
May 29: Classes end

Buford

• Address: 70 Wiley Drive, Buford, GA 30518
• Phone: 770-945-5035
• Web site: www.bufordcityschools.org
• Superintendent: Geye Hamby
• Projected enrollment: 2,900
• New for 2008-09: New principal Banks Bitterman starts this year at Buford High School. Open house for all Buford city schools is from 4-6 p.m. Aug. 6.

Calendar
Aug. 7: Classes begin
Sept. 1: Labor Day holiday
Oct. 10, 13: Fall holiday
Nov. 24-28: Thanksgiving
Dec. 22-Jan. 5: Winter Break
Jan. 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb. 16: President's Day
April 6-10: Spring Break
May 22: Classes end

Commerce

• Address: 270 Lakeview Drive, Commerce, GA 30529
• Phone: 706-335-5500
• Web site: www.commerce-city.k12.ga.us/main/index.asp
• Superintendent: James McCoy
• Projected enrollment: 1,500
• New for 2008-09: There are no changes at Commerce city schools this year.

Calendar
Aug. 7: Classes begin
Sept. 1: Labor Day holiday
Oct. 13: Teacher work day
Nov. 24-28: Thanksgiving
Dec. 19: Teacher work day
Dec. 22-Jan. 2: Winter break
Jan. 5: Teacher work day
Jan. 19: Holiday
March 13: Teacher work day
April 3-10: Spring break
May 22: Classes end

Dawson County

• Address: 517 Allen St., Dawsonville, GA 30534
• Phone: 706-265-3246
• Web site: www.dawsoncountyschools.org
• Superintendent: Nicky Gilleland
• Projected enrollment: 3,470
• New for 2008-09: Dawson County Middle School opens this year, and students will now be split between the new school and Riverview Middle. Also, construction has started on Riverview Elementary, directly behind Riverview Middle, and it is scheduled to open in 2009.

Calendar
Aug. 11: Classes begin
Sept. 1: Labor Day holiday
Oct. 13: Fall break
Nov. 4: Teacher workday
Nov. 26-28: Thanksgiving
Dec. 22-Jan. 5: Winter break
Jan. 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb. 16: President's Day
April 6-10: Spring break
May 22: Classes end

Forsyth County

• Address: 1120 Dahlonega Highway, Cumming, GA 30040
• Phone: 770-887-2461
• Web site: www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/forsyth/site/default.asp
• Superintendent: Paula Gault
• Projected enrollment: 32,600
• New for 2008-09: New principals include Charley Stalder at Matt Elementary, Kristan Morse at Silver City Elementary, Connie Stovall at Liberty Middle, Steve Miller at Otwell Middle and Jason Branch at South Forsyth High.

Calendar
Aug. 11: Classes begin
Sept. 1: Labor Day holiday
Nov. 4: Student holiday
Nov. 26-28: Thanksgiving
Dec. 22-Jan. 5: Winter break
Jan. 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb. 16: President's Day
March 20: Inclement weather day
April 3: Inclement weather day
April 6-10: Spring break
May 22: Classes end

Habersham County

• Address: P.O. Box 70, W. Stanford Mill Road, Clarkesville, GA 30523
• Phone: 706-754-1234
• Web site: www.habershamschools.com
• Superintendent: Robert Costley
• Projected enrollment: 6,300
• New for 2008-09: Along with a new superintendent, Habersham schools is opening Fairview Elementary in a new building this year. Darlene Hudson is the new principal for the sixth-grade academy, and Brent Tuck is the new principal at North Habersham Middle.

Calendar
Aug. 8: Classes begin
Sept. 1: Labor Day holiday
Nov. 26-28: Thanksgiving
Dec. 22-Jan. 5: Winter break
April 6-13: Spring break
May 29: Classes end

Jackson County

• Address: 1660 Winder Highway, Jefferson, GA 30549
• Phone: 706-367 5151
• Web site: www.jackson.k12.ga.us
• Superintendent: Shannon Adams
• Projected enrollment: Not available
• New for 2008-09: Jackson County schools will be hosting its periodic review for accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which includes an on-site visit Sept. 28-Oct. 1. High school math teachers will be implementing a revised curriculum that includes algebra, geometry and statistics in each math course. Also, students in first through fifth grades will move to a standards-based report card, which will assess and communicate student progress on meeting grade-level standards rathen than a number or letter system.

Calendar
Aug. 7: Classes begin
Sept. 1: Labor Day holiday
Nov. 26-28: Thanksgiving
Dec. 22-Jan. 5: Winter break
April 6-10: Spring break
May 22: Classes end

Jefferson

• Address: 575 Washington St., Jefferson, GA, 30549
• Phone: 706-367-2881
• Web site: www.jeffcityschools.org
• Superintendent: John Jackson
• Projected enrollment: 2,650

Calendar
Friday: classes begin
Sept. 1: Labor Day holiday
Oct. 3-10: Fall Break
Nov. 26-28: Thanksgiving
Dec. 19-Jan. 5: Winter Break
March 30-April 3: Spring Break
May 22: classes end 

Lumpkin County

• Address: 56 Indian Drive, Dahlonega, GA 30533
• Phone: 706-864-3611
• Web site: www.lumpkin.k12.ga.us
• Superintendent: Dewey Moye
• Projected enrollment: 4,100
• New for 2008-09: The school system is continuing to implement the Georgia Performance Standards, making changes for the students who need help to be promoted to the next grade. The school system is also starting math support classes in ninth grade to help students with the new Math 1 curriculum.

Calendar
Aug. 7: Classes begin
Sept. 1: Labor Day holiday
Nov. 26-28: Thanksgiving
Dec. 19-Jan. 6: Winter break
March 6-10: Spring break
May 29: classes end

White County

• Address: 113 N. Brooks St., Cleveland, GA 30528
• Phone: 706-865-2315
• Web site: www.white.k12.ga.us
• Superintendent: Paul A. Shaw
• Projected enrollment: 3,900
• New for 2008-09: Mossy Creek Elementary opens this year with Principal Roger Fitzpatrick. Also, Kristi Smith is the new principal at White County Middle School.

Calendar
Aug. 7: Classes begin
Sept. 1: Labor Day holiday
Nov. 26-28: Thanksgiving
Dec. 19-Jan. 5: Winter Break
April 6-10: Spring Break
May 22: Classes end