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Dec. 11, 2025

The 22 district winners in the Oconee County Schools Technology Competition Showcase were announced this week. Chief Technology Officer Tony McCullers stopped by the seven schools to surprise the winners with their certificates and medals. But the journey isn’t over. These students now will advance to the regional competition on Jan. 31 at Legacy Knoll Middle School.

Project Creator(s)	School	Project Title
Anslee Leach, Maggie Westbrook	CFES	Move Away
Monroe Clark, Reagan Reese	CFES	Ocean Animals
Esha Dwivedi, Charlie Peters	CFES	The Wonderful World of Stories
Cooper Hammock	DCES	Life Benefit of Sports
Kaelyn Franks, Caitlin Yan	DCES	Natural Disasters Time Travel
Nandini Patel	DCES	Picnic Day
Matthew Yi	DCMS	Rubik's Cube Solver
Emmaline Brookins	MBES	Amazon Rainforest
Yerri Kang, Anagha Macheri	NOHS	Animatronic Humanoid Robot
Dora Yang	OCES	Dora's Guinea Pig House
Nicolette Brown	OCES	Duck Village
Paxton Lindsey	OCES	Penguin Universe
Gus Eckles, Jacob Liebowitz	OCES	Space City
Sydney Gallagher	OCES	Sparky Robot
Richard Liu	RBES	Find and Collect Underwater Pollution
Albert Ho	RBES	Rocket Shooter Game

OCS is seeking proposals for renovations to the HVAC at Oconee County Primary School and Oconee County Middle School. Responses are due on Friday, January 9, 2026 by 10:00 a.m. Please see attached RFP for instructions.

OCPS OCMS HVAC Renovation RFP

OCPS OCMS HVAC Renovation Instruction to Offerors


 

Dec. 9, 2025

WATKINSVILLE, Ga. — Oconee County Middle recently was selected as a National Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School of Excellence.

Principal Anne Poss, counselor Katie Buckler, and teachers Amy Carter and Kimberly Scheiwe represented Oconee County Middle at the 26th Annual Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Conference in Florida Dec. 1-4.

Since the program began in 2003, more than 400 schools have been recognized as National Blue Ribbon Lighthouse Schools of Excellence, and 10 are in Oconee County: Colham Ferry, Dove Creek, High Shoals, Malcom Bridge, Oconee County, and Rocky Branch elementary schools; Malcom Bridge and Oconee County middle schools; Oconee County Primary School; and North Oconee High School.

Oconee County Middle earned the recognition after successfully completing a rigorous process by the national Blue Ribbon Schools for Excellence organization. The school excelled in all nine categories of the Blueprint for Excellence:

• Student Focus and Support
• School Organization and Culture
• Challenging Standards and Curriculum
• Active Teaching and Learning
• Technology Integration
• Professional Community
• Leadership and Educational Vitality
• School, Community, and Family Partnerships
• Indicators of Success

Dec. 8, 2025

WATKINSVILLE, Ga. — The Oconee County Board of Education approved several action items during its regular session at the Instructional Support Center on Monday.

The Board of Education chose All About Asphalt, with a bid of $55,406, for an Oconee County Primary driveway project. The Board approved bids by Virtucom for 1,165 Chromebooks and 60 laptops at $452,020 and $49,620, respectively. The driveway and computer projects will be paid for using ESPLOST and general fund dollars. Additionally, the Board of Education approved an Oconee County Middle chorus field trip to Greenville, S.C., in February and an updated pay scale for mechanics.

The Board of Education voted to place a draft of the 2027-2028 academic calendar on the table for public review and comment until its next meeting on Jan. 12.

Dr. Melissa Butler delivered the Superintendent’s Report, expressing the district's deepest sympathies to the family of Jerry Studdard, who passed away recently. Mr. Studdard had a deep sense of civic duty, including more than a decade of service on the Oconee County Board of Education where he served as the Chairman for a portion of that time.

The Board of Education also heard presentations from Teaching and Learning, Student Services, Special Education, Technology, Human Resources, Business Services, Operations, Operations - Facilities, and Communications.

Paraprofessional Mary Street of Rocky Branch Elementary was chosen as the December Pursuit of Excellence Award Winner. She received a $50 VISA gift card, fleece blanket, stainless steel mug, and tote from Peach State Federal Credit Union. Chops & Hops and Rosie’s Hometown Meats provided additional gift cards, while Oconee County Schools presented a commemorative plaque.

Principal Sara Bailey; Assistant Principal Chelsea Palmer; and students Jonah Swymer, Seyram Avoke, Trey Mapp, Crew Edwards, and Daniella Martinez-Avila presented High Shoals Elementary’s Points of Pride that included students as wax figures bringing history to life. High Shoals Elementary students, under the direction of teacher Charles Clinkenbeard, provided the December art display.

FFA student Dawson Presley of Dove Creek Middle was recognized for a second-place showing in Tree Dendrology Notebook at the Georgia National Fair. His advisor is Brandon Walker.

Personnel recommendations were approved as presented, including Director of Secondary Education Andrea Pender being named the Interim Chief of Special Education.

No Oconee County residents addressed the Board of Education during Public Communication.

To view more information on Monday’s meeting, please click here.

The Board of Education holds meetings in public at the Instructional Support Center. Access to the simultaneous broadcast of the Board of Education meeting will be available on the Oconee County Schools YouTube channel. Meetings will be archived on YouTube within two business days.

The Board of Education next will meet on Monday, Jan. 12, at 6 p.m. at the Instructional Support Center.
 

Monday, Dec. 1, 2025

Public Notice: Destruction Of Records Of Special Education Students

The Department of Special Education of Oconee County Schools announces its intention to destroy specific data. Records will be destroyed that were collected, maintained, or used in the provision of a free appropriate public education for disabled students in Oconee County Schools. This notice is in compliance with the system’s comprehensive plan for special education required by P.L. 94-142.

Records on students who enrolled in a special education program for the disabled and whose birthdays are between January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2002, are no longer needed for education planning purposes. These records may be needed by the student or parents for Social Security or other reasons. The system plans to destroy these records on Friday, January 9, 2026, unless there has been a request for a due process hearing, under P.L. 94-142 or a complaint filed with the Office of Civil Rights, under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

If you, as the student or parent(s) of the student, desire copies of these records prior to destruction, contact the Department of Special Education at (706) 769-5130, ext. 1214. You will be required to produce identification or provide verification data.