ECHS, SEHS seniors celebrate College Acceptance Day

Zack Lee

Published: May 18, 2017, 8:48 PM

On May 2, graduating seniors from South Effingham High School and Effingham County High School celebrating College Acceptance Day by coming to school dressed in the shirt of the school that they will attend. The following are the South Effingham seniors with the school they will attend: attending Armstrong State University are Ashlyn Beasley, Kala Costin, Grace Diederich, Hannah Douglas, Alexa Harig, Megan Holcombe, Jordan Lancaster, Bailey McCary, Jaci Rogers, Hannah Toohey, Jake Walbert and Tayler Westberry; attending Augusta University are Leslie Duncan, Lauren Jackson, Makaylah Pevey and Mikylia Terrell; attending Brewton-Parker College are DeAnna Ballard and Christian Walton; attending Clark Atlanta University is Sabrayiah Williams; attending Duke University is Elizabeth Nist; attending East Georgia State College are Darien Bacon, Joshua Hagan, Alexis Morrison, Jackson Ramirez, Kaisha Strickland, Madison Trenary and Jonathan White; attending The George Washington University is Alex LeFavi; attending Georgia College and State University is Bailey McGrath; attending Georgia Institute of Technology are Ian Azpiazu, Katherine Freeman, Garrett Harvey and Madison Liotta; attending Georgia Southern University are Madison Brewton, Taylor Cocke, Brittany Downs, Allison Dudley, Logan Edwards, Aaron Emmett, Abigail Floyd, Isabel Granat, Matthew Hagan, Marshall Hamilton, Chloe Horne, Brittany James, Haley Johnson, Mariece Jones, Ashton Jordan, Faith Long, Taylor Lucius, Kathryn Nary, Katie Nelson, Chloe Phillips, Alexis Ricker, Kyra Safrin, Kelly Shuman, Austin Thompson, Kashish Verma, Madison Wells, Emma Wheeler, Jenna Wiley and Bailey Yarbrough; attending Georgia State University are Jace Mozeko and William Solomons; attending Johnson and Wales University is Jamia Washington; attending Kennesaw State University areChandler Browning, Alison Cannon, Kayla Fowles, Rachael Jones, Jacob Pulkinen, Kenneth Scott, Catherine Sowers, Zoie Vandine and Aerial Youmans; attending Lee University is Jeremiah Summitt; attending Mercer University are India Davis, Victoria Hall and Rachel Lukavsky; attending Mississippi State University is Rachel Croasmun; attending Morehouse College is Orlanda Jones; attending Ohio Northern University is Timothy Signal; attending Savannah College of Art and Design are Michael Alex Bailey, Anna Powell and Holden Videon; attending Shorter University is Ethan Radcliffe; attending South Carolina State University is Kendra Moon; attending the University of Arizona is Joshua Fernandez; attending the University of Georgia are Heath Allen, Naren Bhimbra, Melanie Bott, Nolan Dasher, Madison Garrett, Nicholas Hobbs, Kayla Hodge, Kevin Koffroth, Riley Maness, Reesha Patel, Jaylen Powell, Diana Richtman, Sarah Sellars, Anna Wilson, Guilherme Witkoski and Megan Wright; attending the University of Kentucky is Karlyn McClellan; attending the University of North Georgia are Erin Ames, Hailey Crawford, Haylie Davis, Amelia Rathburn, Rachel Schoonover and Tamia Wiley; attending the University of Northwestern Ohio is Caleb Fedie; attending the University of South Carolina-Beaufort is Alexis D. Edwards; attending the University of West Georgia is Claire Atcheson; attending Valdosta State University are Kirsten Arnett and Michael Garcia; attending Virginia Commonwealth University is Conner Phillips; attending Voorhees College is Denzel Walls and attending Young Harris College is Cathleen Chance. The following are the Effingham County High seniors with the school they will attend: attending Abraham Baldwin College are Austin Beard, Abbie Dickerson, Liam Harrison, Kaylei Howe, Emily Roberts, William Tyson and Bryce Young; attending Albany State University is Samantha Johnson; attending Andrew College is Gabby Reed; attending Arizona State University is Christopher Clairmont; attending Armstrong State University are Alexis Anderson, Nicholas Bingham, Makenzie Crocker, Deja Green, Tyler Gunn, McKenzie Howard, Sydnie Jenkins, Hannah LaCount, Alyssa Mastin, Zoe McCarter, John Allen Kennett Rivera, Corley Sauls, Brannon Seckinger, Ka’Asia Smith, Erykah Spriggs and Susan Yun; attending Augusta University are Abby Freyermuth, Monique Overstreet, Alyssa Thornton, Camille Vernava and Mary Madeline Weiss; attending Berry College is Aurora Jacobs; attending Brewton Parker College is Mackenzie Stewart; attending Carlow University is Emily Rasmer; attending East Georgia State College are Abigail Allread, Derricka Davis, Liam Harrison, Ravian Johnson, Destiny Lee, Christopher Mathers, Angel Victoria Smith, Amberly Salinah Ward, Athena Westerman, Brittany Williams, Charles Williams and Lamesha Williams; attending Emory University is Matthew Beech; attending Erskine College is Brantley Emanuel; attending Florida Gulf Coast University is Joseph Wilharm; attending Florida Southwestern University is Cathryn Ragan; attending Georgia College are Kailey Ward and Kaywuana Williams; attending Georgia Southern University are Emily Alexander, Brooklyn Arnold, Yvette Brockett, Joshua Cipleu, Marcelene Delcampo, Sydney Leah Edwards, Haley Fowler, Sarah Freeman, Cole Fulcher, Luis Garcia, Robbie Holder, Caroline Johnson, Alyssa Kaeser, Mary Catherine Knight, Sydney Rhebecca Kublin, Kimberly Liebl, Justice Longenberger, Elizabeth Morgan, Randy Nance, Mason Oglesby, Logan Quinton, Anna Rafter, Vindra Rampersad, Briana Riggs, Natalie Schaut, Kaylee Shuman, Abbey Sikes, Mary Sincavage, Gavin Smith, Anna Snooks, William Turner Tyson, Zachary Van Sickle, Tyler Venegas, April Williams, Tessa Yardley and Larson Zettler; attending Georgia State University are Mayte Davis, Elizabeth Victoria Nesbit, Shakari Powell and Dylan Williams; attending Georgia Tech are Thomas Jackson, Will Jarman and Joshua McElveen; attending Jacksonville University is Simone Jackson; attending Johnson University-Knoxville is Malloy Tootle; attending Kennesaw State University are Hannah Dodson, Phillip Knight, Makenzy Lane, Grace Liebl, Autumn Miller, Nate Nichols, Jessica Shaw and Stella Talley; attending Mercer University are Blessed Jordan, Whitney Ricardo, Ian Rivera, Alyssa Smith and Marina Van Sickle; attending Ogeechee Technical Institute is Anita Quarles; attending Savannah College of Art and Design is Thomas Monaco; attending Savannah Tech are Dylan Adkins, Taylor Anderson, McKenzie Ansel, Janette Babcock, Jordin Bassett, John Fort, Wesley Fulcher, Tyler Herring, Jared Holland, Chastity Johnson, Callie Malphus, Hannah Mills, Abagail Nease, William Powell, Alexis Smith, Marques Stewart and Morgan Williams; attending Shorter University is Shelby Burgess; attending Universal Technical Institute are Blaze Burns, Kelvin Bernard Davis, Jr., and Robert Cook; attending the University of Colorado at Boulder is Noah McIntosh; attending the University of Georgia are Isaac Anderson, Zach Baranowski, Katie Chumley, Jill Craig, Nautas Dramis, Saralyn Elizabeth Helmly, Josie Howard, John Jennings, Grace Kieffer, Caroline Malphrus, Ryan Nance, Dejay Patel and Delaney Simich; attending the University of New Haven is Savannah Leslie; attending the University of North Georgia are Brett Allen, Harmony Kelly and Tamia Moss; attending the University of Oklahoma is Raymond Lamb; attending the University of South Carolina-Beaufort are Peyton Boyd and Kyler Kline; attending the University of West Georgia is Arlen Edwards; attending Truett McConnell University is David Shyrock; attending Valdosta State University are Maggie Badagliacca, Jessica Burnette, Paige Giles, Daulton Harris Skyler Lanier, Faith Ariana McFadden and Chloe Ward; attending Voorhees College is Juwan Jones; attending Wofford College is Adam Osella and attending The United States Marines is Michael McCollum.

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Effingham Schools Approve Property Tax Rate Increase

Comparison of the property tax impact for Effingham County homeowners under the approved millage rate increase, showing the difference from fiscal year 2025 to 2026.

School Property Tax Rate Increase — Comparison of the property tax impact for Effingham County homeowners under the approved millage rate increase, showing the difference from fiscal year 2025 to 2026.

Updated: Sep 19, 2025, 12:52 AM

Published: Sep 19, 2025, 12:53 AM

SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — The Effingham County Board of Education unanimously approved raising the property tax rate from 16.5 to 18.45 mills. For a homeowner with a $350,000 property, that’s about $22 more per month. The vote was 5-0.

Why the Increase is Needed

District officials said the adjustment is necessary to cover rising costs and remain competitive in attracting and retaining teachers and staff. More than 87% of the district’s budget goes to salaries and benefits for employees ranging from classroom teachers to bus drivers, nurses, counselors, paraprofessionals, and administrators.

Most of the increase is tied to an $8 million spike in required contributions to state benefit plans.

The state’s health and retirement benefits for certified employees — teachers — are going up 7% in 2026, finance director Lauren Cain, said. Benefits for non-certified employees — staff — are rising 36%. That’s a total of $8 million more in health and retirement benefits the district will have to cover.

Although the state is increasing funding to Effingham schools by $4 million, it will cover only about half the benefits hike, she said.

As of July 1, premiums for the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) have nearly doubled since FY2023, jumping from $945 to $1,885 per month per employee. In addition, the district’s contribution rate to the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) has increased from 20.78% to 21.91%.

To help offset those rising costs, the district voted to raise the millage rate.

Balancing Costs & Education

Superintendent Yancy Ford previously called the increase “an investment in every child’s future.” He said, “Smaller class sizes, highly qualified teachers, and strong support staff are all proven to raise student achievement. This millage rate increase allows us to continue building on our successes and to make sure every child in Effingham County has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.”

Ford also acknowledged the strain on taxpayers. “We don’t want to put the taxpayers in this position next year,” he said. He promised to “dissect the budget” and search for ways to “lower costs” while still doing what’s best for students. “We know people are feeling it,” he added.

Fiscal Accountability & Academic Record

While the millage rate itself rises about 11.5%, higher property values mean overall revenue collections will increase nearly 26%. School leaders say the additional funds will help preserve Effingham’s strong academic record, which includes a 90.7% graduation rate, above-average reading scores in elementary grades, and SAT results that top both state and national averages.

Ford emphasized accountability in managing taxpayer funds. Every dollar from this millage rate increase is an investment directly tied to student learning, he said.

Effingham Schools recently earned a 4.5 Financial Efficiency Star Rating from the Georgia Department of Education, ranking fourth out of 180 school systems statewide.

Public Concerns

About 20 residents attended the final public hearing before the vote. Several property owners, retirees on fixed incomes, and business owners voiced frustration over rising appraisals, cost of living increases, and tax abatements for industry.

Looking Ahead: ESPLOST Vote

Looking ahead, the district is preparing to ask voters in November to approve another ESPLOST (Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax). If passed, funds would go toward capital projects such as facility upgrades and technology improvements.

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