The Hall County School District (HCSD) Tuesday announced the completion of newly enhanced
learning commons at Flowery Branch High School, West Hall High School, and Wauka Mountain
Elementary. Construction on Johnson High School’s new learning commons will begin
this spring and will be ready in the fall.
These new spaces, made possible through a $100,000 donation from the Melvin Douglas and Victoria Kay Ivester Foundation, have been designed to “foster creativity, collaboration, and student-centered learning,” according to HCSD spokesman Stan Lewis. Each school received $25,000 to modernize its learning commons, creating dynamic environments that inspire innovation.”
In honor of those close to the foundation who have left a lasting impact on the community, each learning commons has been named accordingly:
Flowery Branch High School – The Diane Darby Learning Commons
West Hall High School – The Amanda Griffith Learning Commons
Johnson High School – The Mary Jane Murray Learning Commons
Wauka Mountain Elementary School – The Alana Rochester Learning Commons
Additionally, the Ivester Foundation provided $1.5M to enhance three Dual Enrollment Career
Ready labs at Lanier College & Career Academy, equipping students with real-world skills and
hands-on learning experiences. These labs have been named in honor of individuals who have
made significant contributions to the foundation and its on-going support of education the
Gainesville-Hall County community:
Advanced Manufacturing Lab – Named in honor of Brian Rochester
Auto Collision Repair Lab – Named in honor of Oliver “Tuffy” Murray
Design and Media Lab – Named in honor of Swinton A. Griffith III
A celebration for the opportunities these spaces provide students–and for the individuals for
which they are named–was held Tuesday morning at the Bistro at The Oaks on the Lanier College
and Career Academy campus.