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SEHS FFA secretary goes to state for discussion meet
Smith
Whitney Smith, South Effingham High School FFA secretary, will go to the state discussion meet. - photo by Photo by Sandi Van Orden

Whitney Smith, FFA secretary at South Effingham High School, competed at the Area level discussion meet in Twin City at ECI on March 4. There were eight other schools participating in this event.

While taking part in the discussion meet competitors had 15 minutes to discuss as a group the topic assigned to them by the judges, which was, “The issue with the increasing demand for water and how rural America maintains a strong voice among competitors.”

After the discussion, judges score competitors on how well they addressed the topic and stressed their points. Whitney Smith placed second in the competition and will advance to the state level on April 25 in Macon while attending the state convention.

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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