By Barbara Augsdorfer, editor for the Effingham Herald

At its first regular meeting of 2025, the Effingham County Board of Education held a swearing-in ceremony for two returning and one new board member.

Board Chairperson Vickie Decker was sworn in for her fifth term representing District 5 and was also re-elected to be the board chairperson by her fellow board members.

Jan Landing was sworn in for a second term as board member for District 2; and Troy Allen was sworn in as board member for District 3.

All three school board members were sworn in by Judge David Zittrouer.

Among the many items on the agenda was the announcement of the name for the new elementary school which is scheduled to open to students for the 2026-2027 school year.

The school district opened suggestions for the new school on its Facebook page last fall. The page offered suggestions based on the area’s history, local landmarks, and geographical features. According to Superintendent Dr. Yancy Ford, suggestions were reviewed by a committee and suggestions would be presented to the board.

“Dashers Creek is a small waterway that flows through Rincon. It's also a part of the area's natural landscape,” Dr. Ford said. “I'm not even sure how many names that were provided to us through this survey and feedback process.”

Dr. Ford noted potential names ranged from Allen all the way to Zipperer.

“We reflected on this as a cabinet -- my six-member cabinet team -- we looked and dissected all the comments that the public provided to us, and the name that we came up with that we thought reflected the area with the creek that's in the back that flows through Rincon and on the back of our property. I would like to make a recommendation that we name the school Creekside Elementary School.”

The board liked the recommendation and voted on the new name 5-0.

Dr. Ford added that between now and the end of the school year, he hopes to get students involved in selecting a mascot and school colors.

The new school will be the ninth elementary school in the district. It is modeled after Rincon Elementary and will have room for 1,200 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

In other action, the school board:

·       Recognized Rincon Elementary as a recipient of a Title I Distinguished School – an award it has received for the past 20 years;

·       Recognized South Effingham and Effingham County high school fall sports teams for their advancement in their regional playoffs;

·       Heard presentations from some of the ECCA STEMposium project teams;

·       Received recognition as a Georgia School Board Association Exemplary School Board.

·       Elected District 1 Board Member Lynn Anderson as vice chairperson.

The next school board meeting is Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. at the BOE building, 405 N. Ash St., Springfield.