Click here to view the October Work Session Agenda. 

Click here to view the October Board Meeting Agenda. 

The Tift County Board of Education encourages the constructive involvement of community members and school system employees on matters affecting Tift County Schools. 

Current matters for which the Board is seeking public review and comment are listed on the rightside of this screen.  Comments should be submitted via the Google Form link below.

Click here to review policies and provide comments.

DRAFT: 2025 - 2030 Tift County Strategic Plan

At its regular monthly meeting this evening, the Tift County Board of Education approved the 2025 Millage Rate for the School System.  The digest, provided by Chad Alexander, Tax Commissioner for Tift County, calculated the school system’s rollback rate at 14.0036 MILLS, which is higher than the 2024 rate of 14.000 MILLS.  Instead of adopting the rollback rate, the Board of Education elected to set the Millage Rate at 12.275 providing a 12% reduction in taxes for Tift County Property owners.  To facilitate this tax relief, the Board of Education is utilizing reserve funds, which are essentially funds in the school system’s savings account, to balance this year’s budget.

Superintendent Gore explains, “The Tift County Board of Education has adopted a millage rate that prioritizes taxpayer relief over accumulating substantial cash reserves. This decision will result in the school system utilizing some of its fund balance (aka cash reserves) to balance the budget in order to pass along a tax break to its citizens.  The system will maintain approximately 1.9 months of operating costs in its fund balance. The Board members, recognizing their role as the second-largest employer in Tift, believe this current fund balance offers essential stability for employees and operations. This stability is crucial should an economic downturn necessitate using the fund balance to offset revenue losses.”

“The Board remains committed to maintaining a level of stability that enables us to serve our students and community responsibly. Despite rising living expenses, increasing school operating costs, and the growing complexity of preparing students for a rapidly changing world, the Board has made the conscious decision to reduce the millage rate beyond the rollback rate. This choice reflects a careful balance providing meaningful tax relief for our citizens while ensuring that Tift County Schools continue to have the resources necessary to educate and support our children for the challenges ahead” Deputy Superintendent of Business Operations, Klinton Guess, said.

Tift County Schools is dedicated to providing a quality education at a good value. In 2024, with 180 school systems in the state, there were only 19 school systems that spent less dollars per pupil on education, yielding Tift a high financial efficiency rating.  

Property owners should contact the Tift County Tax Commissioner’s Office for information on when property taxes will be due or an updated tax bill reflective of the newly adopted MILL Rate.

TIFT COUNTY SCHOOL'S HISTORICAL MILLAGE RATES FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS: 

On Monday, October 27th, the Board of Education hosted a Community Conversation at J T Reddick Elementary for the purpose of engaging the community in discussion about future planning decisions. Following a presentation by Superintendent Natalie Gore related to the conditions and needs of facilities, current and future projected enrollment trends, and funding by the state related to how we are currently utilizing our facilities.  Following the presentation, attendees were given the opportunity to provide feedback related to facility planning. Specifically, the following questions:  

The board has been examining multiple options for school and grade configurations. No decisions have been made. If there were to be additional school closures (beyond Northside and G O Bailey), that decision would not be made for another 2-3 years. 

On August 20, 2025, the State Board of Education approved $20,000 for each middle and high school to support student mental health services and interventions—resulting in a total allocation of $60,000 for Tift County Schools. This funding is designed to help schools remove non-academic barriers to learning while ensuring parents remain active participants in the service-delivery model. The overarching goal is to provide consistent, school-based mental health supports that help students remain engaged and in the classroom.

During the Board of Education work session, Lee Watson, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, provided an overview of the allowable uses of these funds as well as the required reporting components associated with the grants. She outlined the processes used to review and select a qualified service provider, emphasizing alignment with state requirements, parent involvement, and the district’s commitment to supporting the whole child.

Following the review period and completion of all preparatory steps at the school level, Tift County Schools will communicate available mental health services to all stakeholders, with a targeted implementation date of November 1. This investment represents another step in the district’s ongoing efforts to strengthen student well-being, enhance access to support, and ensure that every student has what they need to be successful—both academically and personally.

The Board of Education set the dates for all regular scheduled work sessions and board meetings for 2026. Board Meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month, unless there is a conflict due to a holiday. The work session is held on the preceding Tuesday. All meetings are held at 6:00pm at the Administrative Office located at 506 W. 12th Street.

There were no student and staff recognitions during the October board meeting. 

The Beyond the T Award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the success of our students, staff and community.

Do you know someone who deserves recognition for going 'Beyond the T'? Click here to submit a nomination.