Catoosa County superintendent highlights rising health-care costs, facility projects and student achievement at teacher assembly

Superintendent Chance Nix addressed several hundred Catoosa County Public Schools employees at a teacher appreciation assembly, saying the district would protect teachers amid state budget uncertainty and describing how rising employee health‑insurance costs, facility work funded by E‑SPLOST and short‑term borrowing affect the district’s finances.

Nix opened by praising classroom staff as “the closest to the kids,” and repeatedly used the district motto, “Every child, every day, without exception,” to frame updates on student achievement, facilities and operations.

NUT GRAF: The meeting combined celebratory recognitions — district graduation and school award results, a new LEAP Academy and CCRPI honors — with practical updates about operations: a nearly completed lead‑testing program for water fixtures, changes to middle school planning time, a short‑term tax anticipation borrowing in fall 2024, and a doubling of state‑mandated employee health‑insurance rates that district leaders say is creating immediate budget pressure.

District achievements and programs: Nix and staff listed multiple recent accomplishments. For 2024 the district’s four‑year graduation rate was reported as 90.81%, above the cited state average of 85.4%. Four secondary schools were named math leader schools by the Georgia Department of Education, three high schools gained AP honor status with a reported 25% or greater…