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ECHS juniors selected for CNN summer program
Simone Rego
Simone Rego - photo by Photo provided

Simone Rego and Peyton Callanan, juniors at Effingham County High School, will be spending an all-expense paid week in June on the Georgia Tech campus and CNN headquarters as they participate in “Leadership Unplugged,” a CNN 21st Century Leaders summer program.  


The week-long program, designed for a diverse group of 100 Georgia juniors and seniors, focuses on media, current events, and expanding worldviews.

Rego and Callanan applied online for the program and then participated in a local interview process before being selected.  

For more information about CNN’s “Leadership Unplugged,” go to www.21stcenturyleaders.org.

Effingham School Board Approves $203M budget with Potential Property Tax Increase
2026 budget
This chart illustrates how the Effingham County School District’s $203 million general fund is allocated for fiscal year 2026, including spending on salaries, benefits, transportation, health services, and safety and security. (Courtesy of Effingham School District)
The Effingham County Board of Education approved a $203 million fiscal year 2026 budget Thursday night, reflecting an 11% increase over last year. The rise is largely due to an $8 million spike in health and retirement benefit costs for employees. To help cover the shortfall, the district may raise the property tax millage rate, potentially increasing homeowners’ taxes by up to 12 percent.
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