Augusta, GA

Richmond County schools look at ‘modified year-round’ calendar

Published

12 months ago

January 18, 2024

Richmond County schools look at ‘modified year-round’ calendar

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County School System is considering what it’s calling a “modified year-round calendar” – although the plan would still have a 7½-week summer break.

The longer school year would last from July 24, 2025, to May 29, 2026.

“Overall, I attended year-round school myself as a child and I think it’s just a better option,” said parent, Corina Ludwig.

She has an 8th grader at Belair k-8 and says the system would be great for working parents.

“I know some parents aren’t as fortunate as me. I work from home, I have a really flexible schedule, so we can make due with whatever decision is made but some parents don’t have that option.”

But nothing is set in stone.

“We’re just dropping the line in the water, seeing if anybody bites on it,” said school board president, Charlie Walker. “The main goal of this was to get feedback. Not only from the board, but mostly the community; the parents, teachers, possibly students.”

It would include a weeklong “intersession” period each semester for “intervention and enrichment.” In other words, students whose grades are perilous would need to go to class in those weeks, while other students wouldn’t.

“I think it’s a good idea, instead of waiting until the summer, pass or fail, ‘Oh, my child failed and now they’ve got to go to summer school’, instead of going that option, they are going that route of giving them that extra two weeks,” said Ludwig.

The intersession periods would adjoin a weeklong break for all students.

Students who don’t need extra help would get two weeks off.

Only some teachers would need to work during the intersession periods.

Modified year-round calendars are gaining favor across the CSRA, although they’ve made more inroads on the South Carolina side of the state line. Aiken and Edgefield counties are the largest districts in the CSRA to have adopted them so far.

The schedule, labeled Option 2, is one of two proposals the district is looking at.

Option 1 would follow a more traditional school calendar but would include a few online learning days.

Both options were outlined at Tuesday’s meeting of the Richmond County Board of Education, which is seeking public input before making a decision in March.

The proposals are posted online at https://rcboe.info/25-26RCSSCalendar, where the public can offer input until Feb. 15.

Here’s a closer look at both plans:

Option 1

The school year would be from Aug. 4-5, 2025, to May 22, 2026.

It would include four digital learning days, where students complete assignments at home on their school-issued devices. On these days, parents and guardians would be able to meet with school staff.

The summer break would last 10 weeks.

Highlights:

Pre-planning for teachers: July 28 through Aug. 1.
Staggered start dates: Aug. 4 and 5, 2025.
Four online learning days.
Three professional training days for teachers: Oct. 9, Jan. 2 and Feb. 13.
Fall break: Oct 9-14: Two days off for staff, three days off for students.
Thanksgiving break: Five days.
Christmas/winter break: Nine days.
Spring break: Seven days including Masters Monday.
Last day of school: May 22, 2026.
Post-planning for teachers: May 26-27.
Summer break: 10 weeks.
Summer school: June 2-30.

Richmond County School System Option 1(Contributed)

Option 2

Highlights:

Pre-planning for teachers: July 17-23.
First day of school for all students: July 24, 2025.
No online learning days.
Three professional training days for teachers: Sept. 2, Jan. 5 and Feb. 13.
Fall break: Oct. 6-17.
Five intersession days: Oct. 6-10.
Thanksgiving break: Three days.
Christmas/winter break: 10 days.
Spring break: 10 days (no Masters Monday).
Five intersession days: March 30-April 3.
Last day of school: May 29, 2026.
Post-planning for teachers: June 1-2.
Summer break: 7½ weeks.
Summer school: June 4-July 2.

Richmond County School System Option 2(Contributed)

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Augusta, GA

Store employee fatally shot in Augusta robbery; suspect arrested

Published

7 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

Store employee fatally shot in Augusta robbery; suspect arrested

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – One person was fatally shot in an armed robbery on Lumpkin Road, according to authorities, and a suspect has been arrested.

The victim was identified as 29-year-old Abdallah Rubeha of Augusta.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office said the incident happened at the Smoke Shop at 2303 Lumpkin Road around 9:30 p.m. Friday.

Deputies say they arrived to find Rubeha, an employee, had been shot at least once.

He was taken to Wellstar MCG Hospital, where he died at 7:35 a.m. Saturday, according to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen.

After the robbery, deputies were able to identify three suspects and their vehicle.

The vehicle was registered in Burke County, and Richmond County deputies reached out to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office with the information, according to officials.

Burke County deputies say they attempted a traffic stop at 11:25 p.m. Friday at Savannah Avenue and East 17th Street in Waynesboro.

Deputies in Burke County pursued the vehicle in a high-speed chase, which turned into a foot pursuit, officials say.

The driver, 22-year-old Terrance Walker, was arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime in Richmond County.

One person was arrested in connection to armed robbery and homicide on Lumpkin Rd.(WRDW)

According to Burke County deputies, another person was in the passenger’s seat and is believed to be connected to the robbery.

Burke County deputies say they also found a black Taurus G2C 9 mm handgun believed to have been stolen during the armed robbery.

Walker faces additional charges in Richmond and Burke counties, including driving under the influence, according to jail bookings.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Rubeha.

The year is off to a deadly start in Augusta; this is already the third homicide of 2025.

The slayings come amid a nearly three-year outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed around 200 lives.

Communities large and small have been affected on both sides of the Savannah River, but as the region’s largest city, Augusta has been hit hard.

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Augusta, GA

Crosstown showdown rescheduled: Augusta and USC-Aiken to play Sunday

Published

19 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

Crosstown showdown rescheduled: Augusta and USC-Aiken to play Sunday

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The basketball doubleheader featuring both Augusta University and University of South Carolina Aiken has been moved to Sunday.

The two were originally slated to play on Saturday afternoon.

The women’s game will tipoff at 1:30 p.m., and the men’s will follow at 3:30 p.m in the USC Aiken Convocation Center.

Both the Pacers and Jags men’s team last played on Feb. 10 2024.

AU climbed to a 5-point lead in the final period, winning 98-93.

Prior to their last meeting, USC Aiken had a four-game win streak over the Jags.

Sunday will mark the 89th meeting between the two programs.

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Augusta, GA

Winter weather causes crashes across CSRA on slick roads

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Winter weather causes crashes across CSRA on slick roads

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Multiple cars crashed due to winter weather conditions on I-20 in the CSRA early Friday morning, according to authorities.

On I-20 in Augusta, the road conditions at the Washington Road exit were hazardous, according to our reporter on the interstate.

Our reporter saw another wreck on the Bobby Jones overpass from I-520 to I-20 at 10:35 a.m. We’ve reached out to learn more.

Across the river, on I-20 westbound just before mile marker 4, multiple vehicles were pulled over after a car carrier crash around 10 a.m. in Aiken County.

On I-20 westbound just before mile marker 4, multiple vehicles were pulled over after a car carrier crash around 10 a.m. in Aiken County.

We have reached out to learn more.

Dispatch told us crews were on the scene of a multiple-car crash on I-20 eastbound at the Walton Way extension ramp at 9:25 a.m.

Officials say at least two vehicles were involved, but more were reported, and they are unsure how many exactly.

They did however say more vehicles became involved after sliding on the road from weather conditions.

Dispatch says they are unsure of any injuries or if any lanes were blocked.