The Hall County School District is proud to announce the completion of four newly enhanced learning commons at East Hall and North Hall Middle and High Schools, made possible through the generous support of the Melvin Douglas and Victoria Kay Ivester Foundation. The $100K donation, with $25K allocated to each school, has transformed these spaces into modern hubs of learning and innovation.

This morning a dedication ceremony was held at East Hall High School to honor this significant contribution. Principals and media specialists from the benefiting schools were present to express their heartfelt thanks to the Ivester family. They shared inspiring stories of how these new learning commons are already enhancing the educational experiences of their students, fostering creativity, collaboration, and a love for knowledge.

Assistant Superintendent for Technology, Dr. Aaron Turpin, spoke at the event, explaining the concept of learning commons and how these spaces are designed to support dynamic, student-centered learning environments. He emphasized the importance of such facilities in preparing students for the challenges of the future.

Board Chair Craig Herrington and Board Member Dr. Debra Smith also expressed their deep gratitude for the Ivester Foundation’s ongoing commitment to education in the Hall County/Gainesville area. They highlighted the Ivester family’s strong ties to both the North Hall and East Hall communities, noting that Douglas Ivester is an alumnus of North Hall, and his wife Kay graduated from East Hall.

In recognition of Kay Ivester’s steadfast belief in empowering students through knowledge and literacy, each of the four new spaces has been named The Victoria Kay Ivester Learning Commons.