Chattanooga Times Free Press | Stories by Ben Benton

Posted: Tuesday - Nov. 24, 2009

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LaFayette Middle almost fixed after vandals

Officials at LaFayette Middle School say there’s little sign that vandals struck here Nov. 7, but they’re still waiting on some electronic equipment to be replaced.

Posted: Sunday - Nov. 22, 2009

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Substitute teachers safe from budget cuts so far

Northwest Georgia's substitute teachers aren't targets of the budget ax like they are in some districts that are curbing costs in the face of another tight year predicted in 2010.

Posted: Saturday - Nov. 21, 2009

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Ringgold principal says No Child works but leaves mark

RINGGOLD, Ga. -- The performance of small groups of students often gives an undeserved black eye to schools and students that are otherwise making the grade, according to Ringgold High School Principal Sharon Vaughn.

Posted: Saturday - Nov. 21, 2009

1 Comment

Local school districts don't drug-test teachers

Most student athletes in Northwest Georgia school systems are tested for drugs and some for steroids, but what about school personnel?

Posted: Thursday - Nov. 19, 2009

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Latecomer to education

RINGGOLD, Ga. -- Wayne Ingle says he was a "Joe Average" high school student, and the distinction of being Catoosa County's Teacher of the Year just makes him shake his head and smile.

Posted: Wednesday - Nov. 18, 2009

New owner eyes ‘community events’ for school

Rossville business owner Randy Bohanon hopes to turn the old Rossville Middle School into a haven for community events and activities.

Posted: Tuesday - Nov. 17, 2009

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Dalton nets $36,000 in Title I awards

Schools in Dalton, Ga., garnered the lion's share of federal funding among Northwest Georgia schools in the latest round of the state's Distinguished Title I Schools awards.

Posted: Sunday - Nov. 15, 2009

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Walker school projects advance

Five of Walker County’s seven school improvement projects are complete or nearly so as the construction season wanes this year.

Posted: Saturday - Nov. 14, 2009

14 Comments - Photo

LFO cheerleaders reflect on banner ban aftermath

Six weeks after their Scripture-quoting banners were prohibited, two Lake-view-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleaders remain unapologetic in their opposition to the ban.

Posted: Tuesday - Nov. 10, 2009

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'Apply to College' day today in Chickamauga, Thursday in Whitfield

The application process can be a daunting task for students who want to become the first in their families to go to college.

Posted: Sunday - Nov. 8, 2009

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What kids eat

Iris Graham admits it — she’s a sneak.

Posted: Friday - Nov. 6, 2009

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Piece of Rossville history up for auction next week

The old Rossville Middle School will be sold to the highest bidder now that Walker County officials have the building ready for a new owner, school officials said.

Posted: Wednesday - Nov. 4, 2009

2 Comments - Photo

Test scores, grad rates drop

Test scores are down in Hamilton County schools and the district's graduation rate continued a three-year decline, according to the state's annual Report Card released Tuesday.

Posted: Tuesday - Nov. 3, 2009

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Whitfield school blocks run-through Bible banner

In Catoosa County, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School’s controversial ban on Bible-verse signs at football games led to the end of similar signs at Southeast High School in Whitfield County.

Posted: Monday - Nov. 2, 2009

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Ridgeland student, teacher named to state councils

A Ridgeland High School student and teacher have been selected for posts on two of state education advisory councils for 2009-10.

Posted: Friday - Oct. 30, 2009

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Senior projects seek to help schools in Nicaragua and Kenya

A couple of teenagers at the Catoosa Performance Learning Center are taking their senior projects out of the country to help education mission efforts in Nicaragua and Kenya.

Posted: Thursday - Oct. 29, 2009

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Dade seeks state waiver to save money

To offset state funding cuts and a lagging economy, Dade County Schools officials are asking the state for relief from requirements for class size, staffing and spending.

Posted: Wednesday - Oct. 28, 2009

2 Comments - Audio

Steroid tests eyed by Walker schools

Walker County Schools officials want to head off anabolic steroid use among high school students by adding the substance to the system's drug-testing list.

Posted: Tuesday - Oct. 27, 2009

Dalton teacher keeps job while DUI, other charges are pending

A City Park Elementary School teacher will keep her job at least until DUI and other charges go to court, Dalton Public Schools officials said Monday.

Posted: Sunday - Oct. 18, 2009

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Family Support Council seeks help from businesses

The Family Support Council in Murray and Whitfield counties is asking for help from businesses in the agency's fight against child abuse.

Posted: Friday - Oct. 16, 2009

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Rocky Face school launches Rocket Race fundraiser

Westside Middle School students love the school's Renaissance program that rewards them for good attendance, behavior and grades, but the school needs help with the $2,500 yearly cost.

Posted: Thursday - Oct. 15, 2009

Tennessee, Georgia change little on national math test

Tennessee students scored about the same as they did in 2007 on a national math test, while Georgia students earned slightly higher scores, according to results from the nation’s report card.

Posted: Thursday - Oct. 15, 2009

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Student synergy

TRENTON, Ga. -- Eighth-graders Brandon Middlebrooks and Isaiah Robinson can see themselves a few years from now whipping up frothy lattés in their "Sweet Torches" coffee shop at the public library.

Posted: Wednesday - Oct. 14, 2009

8 Comments

Catoosa school board upholds Bible verse ban

FORT OGLETHORPE, Ga. — The Catoosa County Board of Education on Tuesday upheld the ban on the Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleaders’ Bible verse banners.

Posted: Tuesday - Oct. 13, 2009

6 Comments

Catoosa school board upholds cheerleader signs ban

Catoosa County’s Christian community turned out in force tonight to call for lifting a ban on Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleaders’ Bible-verse banners, but school board members said they’re sticking to the decision.

Posted: Tuesday - Oct. 13, 2009

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Whitfield academy makes learning fun

DALTON, Ga. -- Learning by doing makes school fun for Whitfield County students in the inaugural class of the system's new 21st Century Learning Academy.

Posted: Tuesday - Oct. 13, 2009

Sign ban reversal unlikely tonight by Catoosa school board

It's not likely the ban on Bible-verse banners at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe football games will be lifted at tonight's Catoosa County Board of Education meeting.

Posted: Sunday - Oct. 11, 2009

Marion highway director wins statewide honor

John Graham, Marion County’s highway superintendent, has received the 2009 Robert M. Wormsley Outstanding County Official of the Year award from the Tennessee County Services Association.

Posted: Sunday - Oct. 11, 2009

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Educator praises 'teacher tools'

A couple of new tools for teachers are drawing some interest in North Georgia.

Posted: Friday - Oct. 9, 2009

4 Comments

Jackson, Catoosa Schools no strangers in legal tilts

Catoosa County Schools and the Ringgold, Ga., resident whose comments spurred the ban on Bible-verse signs at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School football games have been at odds before.

Posted: Wednesday - Oct. 7, 2009

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Summer retesting boosts students' performance

Several school systems in North Georgia improved their Annual Yearly Progress scores after standardized tests were retaken over the summer.

Posted: Tuesday - Oct. 6, 2009

Southeast High principal placed on administrative leave

Whitfield County Schools officials won’t comment on why Southeast Whitfield High School principal Alan Long has been placed on leave.

Posted: Saturday - Oct. 3, 2009

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Georgia superintendent seeks student advisers

Georgia Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox is looking for a few good students to serve on the state's Student Advisory Council.

Posted: Friday - Oct. 2, 2009

31 Comments - Photo

LFO Bible verse 'complainant' denies call for ban

Ringgold, Ga., resident Donna Jackson said she's been wrongly blamed for causing the banning of Bible-verse signs from Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School football games.

Posted: Friday - Oct. 2, 2009

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Cheerleaders' signs to get space outside stadium

Christians headed for the football game tonight between Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe and Ridgeland high schools to support the LFO cheerleaders could include people from as far away as Kentucky, a Christian organizer says.

Posted: Thursday - Oct. 1, 2009

48 Comments

LFO Bible verse ‘complainant’ denies call for ban

Ringgold, Ga., resident Donna Jackson denies she complained about the signs bearing quoted scriptures held up by Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleaders.

Posted: Thursday - Oct. 1, 2009

16 Comments - Audio

It’s a Southern thing

Southern culture traditionally embraces prayer and religion in public life without regard for outside opinion, political affiliations or legal interpretations.

Posted: Wednesday - Sept. 30, 2009

59 Comments

Speaking up for signs

There was no shortage of religious messages Tuesday night at a rally in support of Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleaders and their Bible-verse signs that were banned last week from football games.

Posted: Wednesday - Sept. 30, 2009

35 Comments

Hundreds rally to support Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe cheerleaders

At least 500 people gathered in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., tonight in support of Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High cheerleaders whose Bible-verse-bearing signs were banned last week.

Posted: Wednesday - Sept. 30, 2009

7 Comments - Photo

Rally for LFO cheerleaders draws huge crowd

There was no shortage of religious messages Tuesday night at a rally in support of Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleaders and their Bible-verse signs that were banned last week from football games.

Posted: Tuesday - Sept. 29, 2009

14 Comments - Photo

Georgia: Rally to support LFO cheerleaders begins

Several hundred supporters are gathering at the polo grounds on Barnhardt Circle in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., to show their support for cheerleaders at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School whose Bible-verse-bearing signs were banned last week.

Posted: Tuesday - Sept. 29, 2009

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Cheerleaders’ religious signs draw fire

Community members are rallying around Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleaders after they were banned from displaying signs with Bible verses urging fans and players to “commit to the Lord” and “take courage and do it.”

Posted: Monday - Sept. 28, 2009

LFO senior achieves AP Scholar status

Next fall, Steven Harris hopes to be treading the halls of an Ivy League school after leaving behind a legacy at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School.

Posted: Monday - Sept. 28, 2009

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College on minds of grads

Two-thirds of Georgia’s high school graduates go on to college.

Posted: Thursday - Sept. 24, 2009

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Chattanooga: Water recedes, mop-up begins

Roads are open, and creeks and rivers are receding follow heavy floods this week. But there is plenty of worry about more rain expected this weekend.

Posted: Thursday - Sept. 24, 2009

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Schools reviving physical education classes

Physical education gets a lesser share of the school day than it used to, but North Georgia schools try to keep students thinking about fitness and sometimes even breaking a sweat.

Posted: Wednesday - Sept. 23, 2009

Several schools close

Continuing rain forced five North Georgia school systems to close today and forecasters say there’s more wet weather on the way.

Posted: Tuesday - Sept. 22, 2009

Several schools close in wake of flooding

Hamilton County Schools officials are waiting until this morning to decide whether to close any schools in the wake of significant area flooding.

Posted: Tuesday - Sept. 22, 2009

Rain days may drown out schools' snow days

Dade County Schools Superintendent Patty Priest said her system's calendar doesn't have much room for "flood days."

Posted: Monday - Sept. 21, 2009

North Georgia schools wary of weather

Officials with Walker County Schools said this morning that no school buildings or facilities were threatened by high water but they’re keeping an eye on the skies, according to spokeswoman Elaine Womack.

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