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Board Chair Ben Straker urges Class of 2027 to 'finish strong'
Summary
Ben Straker, chair of the Clayton County Board of Education and District 9 member, opened the meeting with a message to students — including the class of 2027 — to start strong and 'finish strong'; he reminded the community of the upcoming 2026–27 school year.
Ben Straker, board chair and school board member for District 9, opened the welcome remarks by addressing students directly and naming the graduating cohort: "This is your year," he said. Straker repeated his call to action for scholars to "get out there and get a good start" and urged them to "grind hard" and "finish strong."
Straker framed his comments as an encouragement to students returning for the 2026–27 year and specifically referenced the class of 2027. The remarks were ceremonial and intended to set a positive tone ahead of the first day of school.
