School delayed two days
All Blairsville schools now begin August 14
By JARED PUTNAM

Workers are putting the finishing touches on the new middle school facility.

Union County students attending Blairsville schools will have a few extra days to rest, and odds are, none of them will complain about it.

Classes were originally scheduled to resume Thursday, August 10, but due to construction on the new Union County Middle School, the start date for all schools except Woody Gap has been pushed back until Monday, August 14. Students attending Woody Gap will stay on the original calendar, beginning classes August 10. Teachers for all Union County Schools will still report August 7. Athletic schedules will not be affected either.

The reason for the delay of all the Blairsville schools is due largely to the school bus routes, which deliver to all the schools. "We can't really close one school without closing them all," said Union County School Superintendent Tommy Stephens.

Because Woody Gap School does have their own separate bus route, they can be on a different schedule without it affecting the other schools. Stephens also pointed out that Woody Gap students typically miss more days than other Union County Schools, so even though they will start two days ahead of the other schools, it may actually help keep everyone on the same calendar.

Stephens said that there are no current plans to adjust anything such as fall break, Thanksgiving break, or Christmas break. "We always have to adjust our calendar throughout the year [due to

weather, etc.]. We're not even going to deal with it until on into the school year. If we have a mild winter like we have been having, it probably won't affect us at all."

The new middle school facility will house seventh and eighth grade students. Construction on the building is almost complete, including the paving done this week. However, school officials wanted to give teachers an extra two days to insure they will have enough time to move into their new classrooms.

The only thing that should not be finished when school begins is the new middle school gymnasium. Stephens said they are expecting that building to be finished in September. In the meantime P.E. teachers will still have access to the old gymnasium.