09/16/2026
Dear Twiggs County Alumni and Community,
Homecoming is a special tradition in Twiggs County. It is a time for our students, families, alumni, and community to come together, reconnect, and celebrate the history and pride that unite us.
After careful discussion with the Twiggs County Board of Education, the district has decided not to host, sponsor, or fund the alumni tailgate this year. We understand that some members of our community will be disappointed, and we sincerely regret that this change affects a tradition many people have enjoyed.
This decision is part of the district’s larger responsibility to address our current financial condition and respond appropriately to recent audit findings. As part of that process, we must strengthen our financial controls, improve expenditure documentation, and carefully review how public funds are used throughout the district.
School district funds must be used for their intended educational and operational purposes. Every expenditure must clearly support our students, employees, schools, and essential district services.
In previous years, the district spent approximately $7,000 to support the alumni tailgate. These costs included security, entertainment, employee overtime, portable restrooms, trash services, and cleanup. Given our current financial position and the corrective actions we are taking in response to the audit findings, continuing this expense would not be a responsible use of the district’s limited resources.
We must also consider the safety and supervision concerns experienced during previous tailgates, including issues involving alcohol and ma*****na use on school property. We recognize that these concerns do not represent most of our alumni, who attend simply to reconnect and enjoy fellowship. However, the district must consider the full financial, safety, and operational responsibility that comes with sponsoring the event.
Our decision does not lessen the importance of our alumni or their place in the Twiggs County family. Instead, it reflects our commitment to making homecoming a student-focused celebration. We want to concentrate our planning, staff time, and available resources on activities that enhance the experience of our high school students and celebrate our student-athletes, band members, cheerleaders, student organizations, and the entire student body.
Going forward, an established alumni organization will need to organize, sponsor, and fund an alumni tailgate. Any future event would also need to follow applicable district requirements concerning facility use, safety, security, insurance, and cleanup. The district is willing to communicate and work cooperatively with alumni leaders who may wish to explore that possibility for future homecomings.
We warmly invite our alumni to attend the homecoming game, reconnect with classmates, enjoy fellowship, and help us celebrate and encourage our students. Your history, support, and school pride remain important to Twiggs County.
Our roots remain strong. By working together and making responsible decisions today, we can continue creating new growth for the students and community we serve.
