Oglethorpe County Schools

School employees to receive raises

McCain Bracewell
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
All Oglethorpe County School System’s classified and certified staff will see a salary increase this year. The board of education approved the 2023-24 fiscal year budget at the board meeting on July 20.
This is a rendering of the front of the new Oglethorpe County Elementary School, which is projected to be finished in January 2025. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

This is a rendering of the front of the new Oglethorpe County Elementary School, which is projected to be finished in January 2025. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

New school projected to cost $44-45 million

News Staff
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Staff Report   The Oglethorpe County Board of Education has up to $49 million to spend on construction of the new elementary school, but school board chair Becky Soto expects the final cost to be about $44-45 million.
Members of the OCHS senior class rejoice on the football field after graduating on Friday at Patriot Stadium. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Members of the OCHS senior class rejoice on the football field after graduating on Friday at Patriot Stadium. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

OCHS Graduation

News Staff
Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Brown to host first summer tourney

Owen Warden
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Oglethorpe County head basketball coach Larry Brown has a busy summer schedule planned.   Brown and the Patriots — who went 14-14 and 3-3 in Region 5-A Division I last season — will host both a summer camp and a summer tournament, the latter for the first time ever.
Eric Schmidt (center) stands with four students from his first year of teaching last week. All four (from left): Wanda Colquitt, Brenda McCormack, Schmidt, Tim Poole and Andrea Ash work with Oglethorpe County Schools. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Eric Schmidt (center) stands with four students from his first year of teaching last week. All four (from left): Wanda Colquitt, Brenda McCormack, Schmidt, Tim Poole and Andrea Ash work with Oglethorpe County Schools. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Schmidt retires after 38 years of teaching

McCain Bracewell
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
When Eric Schmidt’s father-in-law asked him years ago when he was going to be promoted to administration, Schmidt responded that he loved teaching and the classroom and could never give it up.   When Schmidt hit the 30-year retirement mark, he said he still wasn’t ready to leave the classroom.
Members of the Oglethorpe County Board of Education, representatives from Southern A&E and Parrish Construction Group, Superintendent Beverley Levine, Principal Katie Baldwin, and students throw dirt with their shovels. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Members of the Oglethorpe County Board of Education, representatives from Southern A&E and Parrish Construction Group, Superintendent Beverley Levine, Principal Katie Baldwin, and students throw dirt with their shovels. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Ceremonial start for new school

McCain Bracewell
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Oglethorpe County Schools had more to celebrate than the last day of class on May 24.   The Board of Education, teachers, students, parents and elected officials gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony of the new K-5 elementary school.
Jason Lewis demonstrates packing a wound for staff members of the ASPIRE program at a Stop the Bleed training session at Oglethorpe County Primary School on Nov. 7. The training helps educate county teachers and officials on how to stop significant bleeding in case of injury. (Emily Garcia/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Jason Lewis demonstrates packing a wound for staff members of the ASPIRE program at a Stop the Bleed training session at Oglethorpe County Primary School on Nov. 7. The training helps educate county teachers and officials on how to stop significant bleeding in case of injury. (Emily Garcia/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Program trains teachers, officials to stop bad bleeds

Emily Garcia and Kennedy Lewis
Thursday, December 1, 2022
Tonia Willis is a visual learner. Led by Jason Lewis’ instruction, she velcroed a blue tourniquet shut on her thigh and turned the windlass rod until her leg started to go numb.
All four teachers of the year. From left: Tim Stoudenmire, Mary Kate Shealy, Erin Serrian, Laray Mask. (Submitted Photo)

All four teachers of the year. From left: Tim Stoudenmire, Mary Kate Shealy, Erin Serrian, Laray Mask. (Submitted Photo)

Teachers of the year selected for their dedication

Emily Rose Hamby
Thursday, November 3, 2022
This year’s Oglethorpe County School teachers of the year may come as no surprise to those in their classrooms, in part, because they are being honored for their teaching techniques and student support — even after they leave their classrooms each day.

Levine: Lockdown drills 'successful'

Megan Fitzgerald
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Superintendent Beverley Levine called Tuesday’s lockdown drills “successful” at the school board meeting that night.   Levine said the last lockdown drill the school system conducted was before the COVID-19 pandemic, so another drill was needed at all four of the county’s schools.