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Silva named All-State
0207 Dillon Silva allstate band
Dillon Silva is the first student from ECMS to make the All-State Band in more than 20 years. - photo by Photo provided

Dillon Silva, an eighth grader at Effingham County Middle School, has been selected to the Georgia Middle School All-State Band.  Silva is the student of ECMS band director Tony Murray. 

Silva is the first student from ECMS to make the All-State Band in more than 20 years. He plays the contra-alto clarinet and will be sitting first chair in the band. 

Band students from the entire state go through a two-audition process in December and January that narrows down nearly 10,000 students to about 180 who are ultimately selected to be part of this  honor band.

The Georgia All-State band will rehearse in Savannah from March 1-3, culminating in a concert to be held at the Savannah Civic Center on March 3.

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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