CCSD Plans Bus Stop-Arm Cameras, Reviews Clean Financial Audit

<p><em>Woodstock Community News| Woodstock, GA</em></p><p>The Cherokee County School Board announced plans to install stop-arm cameras on all district buses to penalize drivers who illegally pass stopped vehicles, a safety initiative highlighted during the board’s January 15 meeting alongside a review of the district's 12th consecutive clean financial audit.</p><p>CCSD Police Chief Buster Cushing reported that during a one-day audit last school year, 262 drivers were recorded illegally passing stopped buses while students were loading or unloading. To address this, cameras will be installed on the exterior of all buses later this semester. The installation will come at no cost to the district, as the vendor will retain a portion of the fines collected. In Georgia, illegally passing a school bus is a high and aggravated misdemeanor carrying a minimum fine of $1,000.</p><p>During the financial portion of the meeting, the board reviewed the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, which confirmed a clean audit with no findings for the 12th year in a row. Looking toward the 2026-27 budget, officials project a 4% growth in the local tax digest, generating an estimated $11.9 million. However, this growth is expected to be offset by declines in state and federal funding and rising retirement system costs. Residents can participate in the budget process during public millage rate hearings scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on April 2 and April 16, and at 6:30 p.m. on April 16.</p><p>The board also addressed a state-mandated external financial audit required by House Bill 845, which carries a projected cost of $3.28 million over five years. Board members voted unanimously to table the approval of the audit's scope of work. Board Chair Janet Read Welch and Vice Chair Patsy Jordan intend to meet with the state legislative delegation to ensure the proposal aligns with legal requirements and the delegation's intended outcomes before the district commits taxpayer funds.</p><p>Several Woodstock-area achievements and personnel changes were recognized during the meeting. The board celebrated the Woodstock High School flag football team as state champions, the Woodstock Elementary School math team as overall district winners, and Woodstock Middle School student Eden Amosa as a regional essay contest runner-up. Additionally, the board approved the upcoming retirement of Etowah High School Principal Robert Horn, effective at the end of the school year.</p>