The Hall County School District is proud to announce the completion of newly enhanced learning commons at Flowery Branch High School, West Hall High School, and Wauka Mountain Elementary School. Construction on Johnson High School’s new learning commons will begin this spring and will be ready in the fall of 2025. 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. Each school received $25,000 to modernize its learning commons, creating dynamic environments that inspire innovation.

In honor of those close to the Ivester 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 this morning at the Bistro at The Oaks on the Lanier College and Career Academy campus. Principals from the benefiting schools were in attendance, expressing their gratitude.

Superintendent Will Schofield expressed his gratitude for the foundation’s continued investment in Hall County students. “We are incredibly grateful to the Ivester Foundation for their commitment to providing world-class learning environments for our young people. These new learning commons and Career Ready labs will have a lasting impact, equipping students with the tools and experiences they need to succeed in an ever-changing world.”