Enhanced security, new Fair St. school highlight back to school in Gainesville area

Enhanced security along with classroom, lunchroom and other additions are among the things awaiting many north Georgia students who begin returning to class next week. And, while it won't be ready for them when Fair Street students in the Gainesville City School System head back to classes on August 12, they should be in their new school before Halloween.

Friday is the first day of the new school year in the Jefferson City School System - the earliest start date for any of the systems and private schools in Hall County that AccessNorthGa.com tracks each year at this time.

But classes in Habersham County won't start until August 15, the latest of any of the public systems. Among private schools, Chattahoochee Christian has the earliest start date, Aug. 6, and Riverside Military Academy the latest, Aug. 25.

The systems reporting enhanced security at their schools are Hall and Habersham. Hall County says it will have "security" entrances at all middle and high schools system-wide when classes begin August 12. Habersham County school officials say "security" entrances, including cameras, have been installed at all schools. In addition, "access control" for the "perimeter" doors has been installed at Habersham Central High School.

In Gainesville, city school officials have announced that they plan to move into the the new Fair Street International Baccalaureate (IB) World School on October 16. Fair Street students have been attending classes at Wood's Mill Academy since the old Fair Street facilities were torn down last year and work began on the new school. Moving the Fair Street students back to their own school will have a ripple affect on Wood's Mill and some of the other schools in the city system. (Details below.)

Work on the new school began last spring with shortly after the existing facilities were torn down. Plans to tear the school down and replace it were explained at a Nov. 2009 meeting with parents and others. The last classes in the old complex were held May 24, 2011, and in July of that year, former teachers, students and others gathered for a "Farewell to Fair Street" and to reflect on the school's history.

Fair Street dates back 76 years and was, for a long time, all-black until schools in Gainesville were integrated in the 1960s.

Back to school at a glance:

BANKS COUNTY

Name of school system: Banks County School System

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Enhanced security, new Fair St. school highlight back to school in Gainesville area