The Decatur County Schools and Grace Christian Academy will be welcoming students for the first day of classes this Friday.

Miller County Schools start back on Thursday, while Seminole County Schools — which are on a year-round schedule — started back on July 26.

Open house at each Decatur County school will be Thursday afternoon, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Georgia is not holding a “back-to-school” sales tax holiday this year. Florida is holding a sales tax holiday from Aug. 12-14, applicable to clothing, footwear, certain accessories and school supplies.

Once school starts back for Decatur County, there won’t be a holiday until Sept. 5, when Labor Day is observed.

More helpful information for parents can be found in the “Back to School” special section that was included in the July 30 issue of The Post-Searchlight, which is on sale at the newspaper’s office at 301 N. Crawford Street downtown.

The school system’s Web site is www.dcboe.com.

School zone safety

With children returning to school over the next few weeks, the Georgia State Patrol is reminding drivers to be alert when traveling in school zones and near school bus stops.

Georgia law requires vehicles to stop when overtaking or meeting a stopped school bus that is loading or unloading passengers. Vehicles are required to stop in both directions for a stopped school bus that is displaying its red stop lights and has the stop arm activated, except on a controlled-access highway or when the highway is divided into separate roadways. After stopping, drivers may proceed only when the school bus resumes motion or when the flashing lights are no longer activated.

The GSP also cautions motorists to be alert for children waiting at bus stops, especially during the early morning hours when visibility is reduced.