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Five Effingham students chosen for all-state band
0325 middle school all-state band
Effingham County students selected for the middle school all-state band were, left to right, Niamh Kavanagh, Sanaya Gardin, Rebekah Zettler, Katie Wyman and Wyatt Smith. - photo by Photo provided

Five students from Effingham County were selected to participate in the Georgia Music Educators Association middle school all-state band in Athens on Feb. 26-28.

Three students from Ebenezer Middle School — Sanaya Gardin, clarinet; Niamh Kavanagh, bassoon; and Katie Wyman, percussion — and two students from Effingham County Middle — Wyatt Smith, bass clarinet; and Rebekah Zettler, contra-alto clarinet — participated in the three-day event.

More than 11,000 students in grades 6-8 auditioned for the Georgia all-state band, with approximately 200 students being selected at the middle school level.

Kenza Murray is the Ebenezer Middle School band director and Tony Murray is the Effingham County Middle band director.

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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