🌱 Bill Passes For $6K Educational Vouchers + Boathouse Update

Hi there, Gainesville! I'm here in your inbox per usual to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Mostly sunny, nice and warm. High: 78 Low: 55.
• Friday: Periods of sun. High: 80 Low: 60.

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Here are the top three stories today in Gainesville:

1. Georgia's House Education Committee has passed a bill that would provide $6,500 in educational vouchers to students who would otherwise attend low-performing schools, a long-held goal of Georgia conservatives. The revised version of Senate Bill 233, which includes education savings accounts for private school tuition, homeschooling supplies, therapy, tutoring, and early college courses, was sent to the full House for further action. The nationwide GOP wave for education savings accounts has been driven by supporters' arguments that the vouchers would benefit students who are not well-served by poorly performing schools. (Access WDUN)
2. The Gainesville City Board of Education has approved the naming of a golf suite after Tommy Aaron, a former student of Gainesville High School who won the 1973 Masters golf tournament. The suite will be named in honor of Aaron's contributions to the Gainesville community and his success as a golfer. The suite, located in the high school's Student Activities Center, will house the girls' and boys' golf teams. (Access WDUN)
3. City officials have reported significant progress on the $21 million boathouse construction at Lake Lanier Olympic Park, which will provide additional meeting space, conferences, and events. The boathouse is currently framed, and the city plans to open the new building by March of next year, with the exterior finishes to be completed in July. The three-level boathouse will offer 17,000 square feet of meeting space, a ballroom with a seating capacity of 400, and an outdoor terrace with a fireplace and lake views, among other features. (The Times)

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Today and tomorrow in Gainesville:

Thursday, March 23

• Live Music – The Woodys At Pelican Pete's Tiki Bar And Grill (5:00 PM)
• Board Of Commissioners Voting Meeting At Hall County Government Center (6:00 PM)

Friday, March 24

• Hiring Event At Gardens Of Gainesville (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• New homes have been listed for sale in the Gainesville area! Get all the property details at the link. (Gainesville Patch)
• Welcome to the Gainesville City School System, Steven-Kyle Jefferson! Announced on Monday, Jefferson will become the new principal of the Centennial Arts Academy. (Gainesville City School System via Twitter)
• The American Legion Post 7 is hosting Freedom Beer Fest on Mar. 25! The event will feature live music, food trucks, and, of course, a whole lot of beer. Admission is $3 upon entry. (Explore Gainesville)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all soon for another update!

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is an Editor for Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in journalism. She was previously a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.