The Drug Free Coalition of Hall County is launching a contest for local students to create videos about being drug free and the consequences of substance abuse.

Any group of two to five middle or high school students in Hall County can apply.

Groups should upload their video to their own YouTube account and email the link to prevention@faceitpeople.org by March 2.

Videos will be reviewed and then posted on the coalition's Facebook page for the community to vote between March 12-19.

Those videos that receive the most likes on Facebook and views on YouTube will be judged by a panel of coalition members and youth.

Two winners will be chosen, one from a middle school group and one from a high school group. The members of the first-place groups will receive new iPod nanos, and the second-place group members will receive Ultra HD Flip video cameras.

The contest was designed by two Gainesville State College students who are interning with the coalition, Lauren Karkovich and Lana Wirsig.

The top 10 videos will be premiered at an event in April.

For more information, visit www.faceitpeople.org.

State wants to attract teachers to rural schools

The Georgia Department of Education recently announced it wants to spend $3.6 million to provide incentives for teachers and school leaders who are willing to move to a rural school district.

The goal is to distribute teachers in rural and high-needs schools equally around the state. The funds can be used as bonuses for meeting academic goals, and can be used as stipends for relocation.

The grant is part of the Race to the Top program, a $400 million federal grant that aims to improve schools across the country.

Two schools in Habersham County qualify to apply for the grant.

Schools qualifying for the relocation grant have until March 8 to apply. Approximately 10 schools will be awarded by the end of March.

Each school could receive as much as $180,000 a fiscal year.

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