Board Business Briefs: Cherokee HS Update, Key Priorities Review

The Cherokee County School Board at its regular meeting on Thursday, May 14, 2026, reviewed the success of this year’s Key Priorities action steps to further elevate the excellence of the school district.

The School Board also heard a report on continued progress to open the Cherokee High School replacement campus on time and within budget, including the City of Canton’s plans for traffic improvements.  An update additionally was shared on the Board-approved plan to sell the current main campus and re-open Canton Elementary School, and the Board approved the appointment of new school and district leaders for next school year.

The meeting began with a work session at 5:30 p.m. followed by the regular business meeting at 7 p.m.  Both were livestreamed via YouTube, and the videos are archived on the CCSD website in the Board of Education area online here.

Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis opened the work session by recognizing it as the last School Board meeting of the school year and Teacher Appreciation Month and shared her gratitude for the professionalism demonstrated by the CCSD team in response to the worldwide cybersecurity incident involving the Canvas learning management system.  She thanked teachers and school staff for their resiliency during the service interruption and thanked specific district office staff for their “around the clock” collaborative work to restore teacher and student access to Canvas, ensuring completion of end-of-year instruction and grading.

“In the face of this challenge, they have exemplified our district office philosophy: we only exist to amplify the effectiveness of what happens in schools,” she said.  “We have navigated this together, keeping kids at the center of our decisions.”

CHEROKEE HIGH SCHOOL

The School Board on Thursday heard an update on final preparations to open the new Cherokee High School replacement campus for next school year, including the City of Canton’s plans for traffic improvements, as well as a report on progress for future use the current Cherokee High School campus. 

NEW CAMPUS AND TRAFFIC PLANS

The new replacement campus is ready for its Aug. 3 first day of school, with work completed on time and within budget.  Support Services is completing final “punch list” work, landscaping, and technology installations, and preparing for staff move-in.  Administrative staff and athletic programs will begin relocation in June, with remaining staff members and programs transferring in July.

The report also included the display of the planned traffic flow map for the new school, which is online here.  The map shows the use of the main entrance loop on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard for car rider drop-off and pick-up and student drivers, with a separate entrance also on Reinhardt College Parkway for student drivers to access their parking areas.  The bus entrance will be on Reservoir Drive past the Teasley Middle School campus.  The current enrollment is 2,600 students with 260 employees.  The campus includes 946 parking spots for employees and students. 

At last month’s meeting, Board Chair Read Welch shared that she and Board Vice Chair Patsy Jordan had met with Canton City Manager Billy Peppers to discuss the traffic flow and the impact to the greater region.  The School Board has had an interest in the installation of a traffic signal at the main Cherokee High School entrance.  Mr. Peppers was invited by Chair Read Welch to this month’s work session to report on the City’s plans.

Mr. Peppers at Thursday’s work session detailed the City’s plans, which does not include the installation of a new traffic signal.  Instead, he said, the City this week will begin a 30-day project to install an RCUT (restricted crossing U-turn) concrete median directing main entrance drivers to exit to the right only; drivers who want to reach Riverstone Parkway would then turn left onto Reinhardt College Parkway.

School Board member Kelly Poole said the City’s plan to push traffic to the Reinhardt College Parkway intersection greatly concerns her, specifically the absence of a left-hand turn lane and protected signal. 

Mr. Peppers said the City has requested permission from the Georgia Department of Transportation for protected left turns to be added to that intersection’s traffic signal at least during peak traffic times. 

School Board member Erin Ragsdale asked about examples of where RCUTs are being used.  Mr. Peppers noted that Highway 20 includes several RCUTs in place between Canton Marketplace and Union Hill Road.

School Board member Chance Beam asked the City what would compel it to install a traffic signal at the main entrance of the new school.  Mr. Peppers said, once the school is open, the City would observe and evaluate traffic patterns and collect data to determine if a future signal installation is warranted. 

In response to questions from Mr. Beam, Mr. Peppers shared that the City has requested permission from the state to install radar and camera speed-detection systems in the school safety zone that will be established on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.  Mr. Peppers, in response to a follow-up question from Mr. Beam, noted signage will be installed for the school safety zones.

Chair Janet Read Welch asked about the impact of the multi-family development under construction across the street from the campus.  Mr. Peppers said the development includes about 280 housing units, with town homes still to be completed.  He noted that an entrance for that neighborhood will not be added to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard across from the main entrance to Cherokee HS. 

FUTURE OF CURRENT CAMPUS

The School Board in March voted to renovate the current CHS North building to reopen it in August 2028 as Canton Elementary School, and to appraise the main CHS campus and advertise for sale, with proceeds to support career readiness and other educational programs at high schools districtwide.  The update, which is online here, provided the Board with progress on timelines for both projects.

To provide the community with more information about the process to complete both projects, Frequently Asked Questions factsheets have been added to the district webpage focused on the transition at https://www.cherokeek12.net/divisions/support-services/once-always. 

Due to the complexity of the transition to the new campus and the planned sale of the current campus, use by outside groups and organizations at both CHS campuses, including athletic facilities, has been paused as of June 1.

KEY PRIORITIES REPORT

The school district’s 2025-26 Key Priorities are a continuation of the successful plan implemented last school year focused on four areas for district overall improvement.

Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis, during Thursday’s work session, shared the fourth and final quarterly progress report of the 2025-26 school year, which is online here.  

Informed by community insights and financial, operational and student performance reports, the Key Priorities drive CCSD’s work as an organization, with regular progress reports shared at School Board meetings by Superintendent Davis.

The four Key Priorities are to Elevate the Excellence in: academics and achievement for all students; in effective School Board-Superintendent Governance; in the district’s coordination and alignment of goals, systems, and processes; and by embracing a pervasive high-quality school environment defined by high standards, effective supports, and consistent practices.

The final quarterly report showcases the significant work accomplished over the past year, from the preparations to open the new Cherokee High School replacement campus and other major construction projects, to the development of new School Board Policies for grading and promotion, to the adoption of a budget with an increased investment in teacher and support staff salaries, to increasing teacher access to instructional resources, student academic performance screeners, and intervention and enrichment supports. 

Work continues on the development of a long-range strategic plan, Elevate 2032, set for the School Board’s adoption in July, as does work to finalize standard equipment and furniture lists for schools and office, implement a comprehensive employee celebration and retention plan, introduce school leader leadership competencies, and consolidate teacher communication tools.

Two action steps were paused earlier this year and postponed to next school year: upgrading the bus routing and parent communication (bus locator app) system; and solicitation, selection and acquisition of science and social studies resources.

“I appreciate all the work that actually has gone into that,” School Board Chair Janet Read Welch said of this school year’s Key Priorities-guided work.  “It really is making a difference not only in our district, but it’s helping out teachers, it’s helping out kids, it’s helping out parents to know what path we’re on.”

WOODSTOCK HS IMPROVEMENTS

The School Board on Thursday approved a contract for additional facility improvements at Woodstock High School to update Career Pathways classrooms.

The $970,000 contract with MEJA Construction will make improvements to accommodate the relocation for next school year of aviation and cybersecurity programs from the ACTIVE Academies campus.

These improvements follow the construction of a new building for the campus, which will open for the new school year, to allow for the expansion of the Career Pathway programs.  The three-story, 40,800-square-foot addition includes 20 classrooms and provides enough learning space that all mobile classrooms will be removed from the campus. 

The addition allows Woodstock HS to begin offering the popular Career Pathway healthcare science program available at all other CCSD high schools.  The expansion provides a larger classroom, complete with ambulance simulator, for the fire and emergency services Career Pathway.  With the shift of math classes to the addition, some Special Education programs will expand to larger classrooms in the main building.

NEW LEADERS

As part of its approval of the monthly human resources employment recommendations, the School Board also appointed new school and district leaders for next school year.

Clatrina Lane, a 27-year educator who currently serves as an assistant principal for Clark Creek ES STEM Academy, will serve as Woodstock Elementary School’s next principal.  A past fourth-grade teacher and grade-level lead teacher, Ms. Lane also has served as a reading and math interventionist, school behavior coach, Multi-Tiered System of Supports administrator, and school improvement literacy coach.

Six assistant principal appointments also were approved for next school year:

• Natalie Deviez, a specialist in the CCSD Special Education department, will serve as an assistant principal for Ralph Bunche Center;
• Donnetta Harike, the instructional lead strategist for Little River ES, will serve as an assistant principal for Sixes Elementary School;
• Amy Long, a teacher on special assignment at Avery ES, will serve as an assistant principal for Clark Creek ES STEM Academy;
• Holly Miller, an assistant principal at Sixes ES, will move to the same role for Oak Grove ES STEAM Academy;
• Tiffany Wilson, a Gifted teacher at Liberty Elementary School, will serve as an assistant principal there.

Dr. Shannon Carroll, a 28-year educator who currently serves as director of technology field services, will advance to the role of executive director of technology operations. 

Mary Shea, who brings 25 years of experience and currently serves as coordinator of human resources services, will advance to the role of supervisor of payroll operations.

Nicholas Garcia, a 16-year educator who currently serves as curriculum specialist for social studies and world languages, is advancing to the coordinator for social studies and world languages. 

Emily Henderson, a 16-year educator who currently serves as a Career Pathway – Work Based Learning teacher at Cherokee High School, will serve as the coordinator for career, technical and agriculture education.

The School Board also:

• Heard School Board member announcements including remarks of appreciation from School Board Chair Janet Read Welch, Vice Chair Patsy Jordan and Dr. Susan Padgett-Harrison for the work by Support Services to complete the new Cherokee High School replacement campus on time and within budget and for the collaboration by the district and Principal Andy Hall to present a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house event attended by approximately 4,000 community members;
• Heard Student Delegate remarks from Lili DeFiore of Sequoyah High School.  Each Delegate takes a turn at the dais, on a rotating basis, and shares remarks on behalf of the group, adding an opportunity for student insight at every Board meeting.  Lili reflected on the Delegates’ pre-meeting work session that focused on the district’s Technology Division, where they learned how the team protects student and staff data, solves technology issues, and prepares equipment and infrastructure to support schools.  “Some may compare our school district technology division to a road system,” she said. “There are so many layers, and it is such a complex operation.  One aspect that makes this division so effective is they are always preparing for the worst so they can act quickly if something happens, which was evident in their response to the recent Canvas breach.”   
• Heard the monthly financial report, which is online here;
• Heard the monthly capital outlay report, which is online here.  All projects, including construction of the new replacement Cherokee HS campus and improvements to River Ridge, Sequoyah, and Woodstock High School campuses, are on schedule and within budget;
• Heard the monthly strategic plan development report, which is online here.  The Elevate 2032 long-range strategic plan will be developed for School Board adoption using stakeholder feedback gathered through focus groups meetings, a community forum, and an online survey.  Community engagement in March and April gathered insights from 4,475 stakeholders.  A draft strategic plan will be presented in June for the School Board’s consideration for adoption in July;
• Recognized Yes I Can Award winners.  Learn more here;
• Recognized Georgia Scholars.  Learn more here;
• Recognized FLEX Program top 3 winners Learn more here;
• Recognized State, Regional Social Studies Fair winners.  Learn more here;
• Recognized Georgia High School Association State and Region Champions.  Learn more here;
• Recognized Exemplary ESOL Teacher of the Year & Exemplary EL Student of the Year.  Learn more here;
• Recognized PTA Reflections Fine Arts Contest state winners.  Learn more here;
• Recognized Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition region winners.  Learn more here;
• Recognized CCSD Elementary School Academic Bowl winners.  Learn more here;
• Recognized Don Stevens and Bob Burns Memorial Scholarships winners.  Learn more here;
• Recognized the Student Delegates to the School Board, as pictured below.  Learn more here; and,
• Approved the renewal of the Partnership Agreement with Child Advocacy Council.