The start of a new school year in Hall County Friday marks the beginning of the end for two schools and the beginning for another.
This will be the last school year for two of the oldest remaining schools in the county system: McEver and Oakwood elementary. Both will close at the end of the school year and merge into a new school being built on McEver Road near West Hall Middle School. That school is expected to open a year from now.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the county, Friday marked the first day of classes at the new Sandra Dunagan Deal Elementary School (pictured) which is off Georgia 365 near Ramsey Road. It replaces Riverbend and White Sulphur elementary schools and is named for the late Sandra Deal, former Georgia first lady and former Hall County teacher, who died two years ago.