The 2022-2023 school year for Tattnall County public school students began Monday, August 1, 2022, which included two new schools opening their doors to students for the first time: South Tattnall Elementary School (STES) at 102 Love's Chapel Road in Glennville and North Tattnall Elementary School (NTES) at 26189 Hwy. 23, Collins.
Total enrollment for the system is 3,223 students (3,051 plus 172 PreK), which compares to 3,658 for the 2021-2022 school year. The number will fluctuate for several weeks, however.
The enrollment by school is as follows: Tattnall County High School (TCHS), 877, plus 14 in PreK; South Tattnall Elementary School (STES), 725, plus 78 in PreK; North Tattnall Elementary School (NTES), 707, plus 80 in PreK; South Tattnall Middle School (STMS), 343; and North Tattnall Middle School (NTMS), 399.
Supplies for the Tattnall students in all schools have been purchased by the school system for this school year, using the Federal ESSER III Funds, related to COVID funding.
All Tattnall students are allowed to eat a FREE breakfast and lunch at each of the schools.
Unlike the two previous years, the threat of COVID is not oppressive at the beginning of this school year, with only face-to-face instruction offered by the school system. Students are not required to wear face masks but can do so if they prefer. Proper hygiene and hand washing are encouraged along with hand sanitizer available in the schools and on the buses.
With the two new elementary schools, the first few days presented traffic flow issues, but these hopefully have been resolved. NTES reported one minor accident, and traffic at STES was stalled for up to an hour on Barnard and connecting streets to the STES location at 102 Love's Chapel Road on the first day of school. Signs were in place on Tuesday, and the traffic problem continued somewhat but not to the extent as on Monday. Parents are allowed to park and walk their young children into school the first three days of school, but parents are asked to utilize the drop-off procedure by Thursday, August 4.
"Thank you, parents and other motorists, for your patience on the first day of school. The first few days are always hectic. We have had to adjust the traffic flow plan that was created for our schools, and the new morning drop off and afternoon pick up should now work more smoothly so as not to impede the flow of traffic within Glennville," Superintendent Gina Williams, PhD., said.
"Important Car Rider Information" for STES was released to parents Monday afternoon, which has instructions as follows:
STES Morning Drop Off:
(1) Parents will enter/exit off Hencart Road and the car rider line will extend on the road behind the school. There is not a set time to begin lining up on the road behind the school. A barrier will be set up prior to 7:30 a.m.. At 7:30 a.m., the barrier will be removed so parent drop off can begin.
(2) ONLY STAFF and BUSES will enter/exit from Love's Chapel Road.
STES Afternoon Pick Up:
(1) Parents will enter/exit off Hencart Road, and the car rider line will extend on the road behind the school. A barrier will be in place on Hencart Road to stop traffic prior to 2:15 p.m. At 2:15 p.m., the barrier will be removed to allow for the car rider line to flow, according to the new traffic plan.
(2) Parents are asked to remain in their vehicles. A staff member will place your child into your car.
However, if you are not driving to STES in the mornings, it is suggested that you may want to avoid Hencart Road, Barnard Street, and Love's Chapel Road enroute to your destination, if at all possible.
