Officials: Schools ready for new year By Ken Stanford GAINESVILLE - The final touches are being put on schools in the Gainesville and Hall County systems as they get ready for the first day of the new school year. Classes resume in both systems Friday with the county opening three new schools - two high schools and one elementary. The city system opens two new elementary schools next year, but superintendent Steve Ballowe says, based on population growth estimates, it won't be long before the city needs another middle school. Hall County expects an enrollment this year of 21,500, compared to the 1 "And, that's right scary when (we hear projections) that we'll hve 8,000-9,000 students in less than ten years." Dr. Steve Ballowe 8,000 on the books when superintendent Dennis Fordham came here five-and-a-half years ago. Dr. Fordham says the county system is growing at the rate of about three-and-a-half percent to four-and-a-half percent per year. "We're growing 600-800 students a year," he said. Dr. Ballowe expects enrollment in the city to jump to 4,300 - compared to 3,800 last year. "And, that's right scary when (we hear projections) that we'll have 8,000-9,000 students in less than ten years," Dr. Ballowe said.

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