WRDW-TV News 12 / EducationTeam 12 - School news for Augusta, Georgia

School choice deadline in Georgia
Applications must be completed and returned to your school district no later than July 15, 2009 for the upcoming school year.
Aiken County BOE finalizes $152 million budget
The Aiken County Board of Education has been racing against the clock to balance the budget for the upcoming school year.
Aiken County School budget to be finalized
About 100 positions have already been eliminated and multimillion dollar cuts will have to be made Tuesday night, in the final meeting for Aiken County's 2009-2010 School Budget. We've got your preview right here.
President of Savannah River College is closing for good
The president of a local business school says there will be no more classes at the school after today. It appears financial problems are forcing Savannah River College to close up for good.
Savannah River College to shut down
News 12 has confirmed Savannah River College will shut down on Tuesday, but the reasons are still unclear.
School chief's Peachtree City home in foreclosure
State School Superintendent Kathy Cox, who filed for bankruptcy last year, will have her Peachtree City home on the auction block on July 7.
Only on 12: Officers train for school shootings
Local law enforcement ran through a drill on what to do if there was a school shooting. News 12 gives you an inside look at how the officers trained at Stallings Island Middle School.
SC colleges get more requests for financial help
University of South Carolina financial aid director Ed Miller says applications are up about 15 percent from the same time last year.
Richmond County School's budget costing students, parents
It's been a tough budget year with the the Richmond County School System coming up short about $24.5 million, but in the end the board balanced the budget, costing some teachers as well as parents.
Aiken County schools solicit ideas for stimulus money
Some parents and students spoke out about how a local school board should spend their money.
Local students to be honored at Education and Business Summit
Local students, Camisha Stokes and Samuel Adkinson, will be honored on June 21, 2009 as "Technology Champions.
Disabled students athletic program to lose funds
The American Association of Adapted Sports Programs, a nonprofit, learned last week it's losing its main source of funding -- $705,000 in state Department of Education funds.
Delay in tax bills could force Columbia County school to take out loan
Delays in getting the Columbia County property tax bills in the mail could cost the school board big money.
Local school superintendent being investigated
An investigation into actions by the Edgefield County school superitendent is in progress.
Millions heading to help Aiken County schools
The Aiken County School District is expecting to see about $6.9 million from the federal stimulus money Gov. Mark Sanford was forced to accept.
Georgia: more eighth-graders passing math exam
New data from the state Department of Education shows that 70 percent of eighth-grade students passed muster on the mathematics portion of the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test.
SC State University raising tuition 8.4 percent
Trustees at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg have voted to raise tuition 8.4 percent for the coming year.
School board votes for new budget, cuts $24.5 million
Furloughs and pay cuts, plus a few layoffs are included in 2010's $255,241,336 budget for the Richmond County school system.
June Time To Care Winner: Lula Wooden
She's been working for 37 years in the Aiken county school system. Thousands of children have been touched by her service and her last school year just came to a close.
Georgia Southern University among recipients of NASA grant
The NASA grant will fund the development of a curriculum that will completely change the way astronomy is taught in Georgia’s public high schools.
Only on 12: Illegal school board election?
Just days before school lets out for summer break, a local high school is at the center of a legal battle.
Nine local South Carolina seniors have perfect attendance
Nine local students have been honored for perfect school attendance for 12 years in South Carolina.
More teachers scramble for fewer SC openings
Hundreds of people packed into South Carolina's annual job fair for teachers as jobseekers competed for limited classroom openings.
State looking at merging college systems
A group organized by Gov. Sonny Perdue is recommending that the state's community colleges merge with the technical college system.
School system burglarized three times in a month
The Richmond County School System's maintenance department has been stolen from three times in just the past month.
Richmond Co. Schools still cutting from budget
The Richmond County Board of Education is getting closer to deciding on a final budget for next year, but has called another meeting to make decisions on how to make cuts.
New scholarships for Aiken High School students
High school students attending Aiken County Public High Schools and participating in the dual-enrollment program at Aiken Technical College are eligible for a newly established $1,000 scholarship.
SC schools await ability to build interest-free
South Carolina lawmakers have approved a bill that could help generate funds to rebuild run-down schools across the state.
High School graduation time
It's high school graduation time and Columbia County schools were the first to march into the James Brown Arena today.
School's out: Free lunch
Schools are letting out for the summer and that means thousands of students will not be guaranteed lunch in Richmond County.
Richmond County CRCT scores improve some this year
CRCT tests results are in for Richmond County Schools.
Richmond County teachers upset at possible pay cut
Some local teachers may be getting paid less next year as the Richmond County school system looks to trim nearly $25 million from its budget.
Columbia County CRCT results are in
The CRCT test results are in for Columbia County schools. Students in first through eighth grades took the test back in April. For students in third, fifth, and eighth grades the test means passing or failing that grade.
Retired Ga. teachers to get back benefits
An agreement has been reached in a class action lawsuit that will provide lump sum payments for thousands of retired Georgia teachers and their beneficiaries.
New program to help students who may not graduate
Preliminary results are in for the state graduation test and they show improvement in Richmond County. For some students who didn't pass, a new program called Project Express is supposed to help.
SC teachers uncertain if they'll have jobs
Hundreds of public school teachers in South Carolina will go home this weekend without assurances they'll have jobs in the next school year.
Tech schools recommended in bad economy
Some students learned about what a tech school can offer in today's economy at Aiken Tech's Career Expo.
SC legislators kill private school choice bill
South Carolina legislators have again killed a bill to use taxpayer money to help parents send their children to private schools.
As school ends, budget woes continue for local school districts
As students head to their classrooms, their boards of education head to the meeting room. They're learning their own lesson about dollars and cents.
Bullying hot topic for upcoming middle schoolers
The Columbia County Juvenile Court was talking to 5th graders Tuesday about making the transition to middle school. One of those challenges is bullying.
Board votes to close Lamar Elementary
It's a move to mainly save money, by combining Lamar and nearby Milledge Elementary.
Ga. Regents OK furloughing college employees
The state Board of Regents has passed a measure allowing college presidents to furlough employees if needed.
First on 12: Man wanted for putting school on lockdown for hours talks to 12
Aiken County Sheriff's Office investigators say Tregory Tyler called the school and threatened the principal while speaking with a secretary. But Tyler tells News 12 he did nothing wrong.
Georgia governor vetoes broader tuition tax credit
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue has vetoed a measure that would have broadened the state's new tuition tax credit program.
Some USCA graduates worry about job-hunting
Graduation day is a memorable one for most students, but for some it also comes with a lot of worry, especially in today's economy.
Fox Creek High School graduates
Fox Creek High School have announced their Valedictorian and Salutatorian for 2009.
New law aims to help military kids
In a visit to Fort Benning on Thursday, Perdue signed a bill that allows children of soldiers stationed in Georgia to qualify for Georgia's HOPE scholarship.
Sergeants Major offer scholarship
High school seniors interested in competing for the Fort Gordon Sergeants Major Association’s annual scholarship can begin applying.
New college grads get diploma, but still no job
College grads across our area are hitting the job market in the coming days, but many will not be working. We take a closer look at how tough it is for many in this economy.
First on 12: Former Destiny's Child star visits Augusta school
In this economy it seems the stars have to align just right to pay for school or find a job. It is even harder for students struggling to make the grade. That struggle brought a pop star to Augusta.