School Lunch Money Goes Mobile

Will you use the new app to pay for your kids' lunches at Cobb County Schools?

Lunch money just got smart. Just in time for the kickoff of a fresh school year at Cobb County Schools, the app that turns a parent’s iPhone or iPad into a mobile payment system for their child’s school meals has hit the Apple App Store. The free app MyPaymentsPlus was designed to help busy parents and guardians make on-the-go meal payments with just a few keystrokes. The app also enables parents to see what foods their children choose in the cafeteria, a feature that can be helpful for parents seeking to instill healthy eating habits. Through the app, parents can check their children’s account balances, review recent transactions and add money using a credit card, debit card, savings account or checking account. Each account can be …

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How Much Have You Spent on 'Back-to-School?'

With school districts across the metro area now officially back-to-school, we begin a series of weekly questions, which, today, is focused on the subject of spending.

Now that Cobb schools are back in session, many parents have spent countless hours at local stores helping their students find the right pencils, perfect "first day" outfits and fill school supply lists. The National Retail Federation projects that parents of children in grades K-12 will spend nearly $689 on their children's back-to-school needs, almost $85 more than last year. Georgia shoppers didn't pay sales tax on any back-to-school items within a certain dollar amount this past Friday and Saturday. But some criticized the tax holiday as being too little, too late. Bringing us to our questions of the week: Don't miss any of the news you care about. Subscribe to our free newsletter, "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

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Photos: Cobb Kids Head Back to School

Classes started Monday for the second largest school system in Georgia, which has an enrollment of more than 106,000.

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Back to School Road Safety Reminders

Cobb Police have provided the following tips for motorists and students as a new school year approaches.

The following information has been adapted from the August edition of the Cobb Police Department's Precinct 4 PENS (Police E-Mail Notification System) Dispatch: Take time and be patient Although the summer season is far from over, summer vacation for most metro Atlanta area students is coming to an end. And as we all know, the school year comes with a substantial increase in morning traffic. Please allow an extra 10 or 15 minutes for their morning commute. The extra time will not only reduce stress but help keep our roads safer. Drivers are less likely to speed or engage in other dangerous driving habits when they aren’t running late. School bus stop-arm enforcement beefed up One of the most dangerous traffic law violations a driver can …

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Sales Tax Holiday Set For Today, Saturday

For the first time since 2009, Georgia shoppers will not have to pay taxes on back-to-school items.

Prevent Back Pain With Backpack Safety Tips

You and your child can work together to ensure a successful school year without back pain.

It's about time to start buying school supplies for your child. Although it's easy to pick out pens, paper and markers, other choices must be made with greater considerations. Take, for example, the backpack (or bookbag). You may buy your child a backpack because it has his or her favorite super hero or princess on it, or maybe it has your child's favorite color. However, improper use of the backpack can lead to back pain in your child and start habits of bad posture that carry on into adult life. I remember a conundrum I had in sixth grade. I couldn't figure out how to work the combination lock on my locker, so I ended up lugging my heavy textbooks around in my backpack every day. This wrecked my back. I still have some lower back pain, …

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Sneak Peek: School Open Houses, Orientations

Here's a rundown of when open houses and orientations are scheduled at schools in Kennesaw

Big Shanty Intermediate School Meet-and-Greet Date: Thursday, Aug. 9 Time: 10:30 a.m.-noon Bullard Elementary School Sneak-a-Peek Date: Friday, Aug. 10 Time: 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Chalker Elementary School Sneak-a-Peek Date: Thursday, Aug. 9 Time: 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Hayes Elementary School Sneak-a-Peek Date: Thursday, Aug. 9 Time: 8 a.m.-9 a.m., last names A-H; 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. last names I-Q; 11 a.m.-noon, last names R-Z Kennesaw Elementary School Sneak-a-Peek Date: Thursday, Aug. 9 Time: 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m. Lewis Elementary School Sneak-a-Peek Date: Thursday, Aug. 9 Time: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. McClure Middle School Sneak-a-Peek Date: Thursday, Aug. 9 Time: 1 p.m., new 6th, 7th and 8th graders; 5 p.m.-7 p.m., returning students Palmer Middle …

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Cobb Schools Bus Practice is Aug. 10

Parents of rising kindergartners are invited on a trial run of their child’s routes.

Parents of rising Cobb County kindergartners are invited on a trial run of their child’s bus route Friday, Aug. 10. “The district offers this opportunity to help families introduce Cobb's youngest students to the school bus and make our first day on Monday, Aug. 13 run more smoothly,” the school system says in a news release. The district asks that only kindergarteners and their parents participate in the trial run because of space limitations. Parents are asked to arrive at their child’s bus stop five minutes before pickup. Bus drivers will complete the entire route to and from school before dropping passengers off at their stops. Parents can find their child’s bus route, bus stop and pickup time using the Cobb County School District’s …

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State Sales Tax Holiday Set for Aug. 10-11

For the first time since 2009, Georgia shoppers will not have to pay taxes on back-to-school items.

Cobb County schools will start the Monday after parents and caregivers across the state get a sales tax holiday on back-to-school items. Georgia's sales tax holiday for education goods is set for Friday and Saturday, Aug. 10-11. Local schools start back Monday, Aug. 13. The last time Georgia had the sales tax holiday was in 2009. According to the Department of Revenue, sales tax will be suspended on general school supplies with a sales price of less than $20 per item, clothing and shoes worth $100 or less, and computers and computer accessories with a sales price of $1,000 or less. The tax exemption excludes a number of items, such as jewelry, handbags, umbrellas, cellular devices, furniture, envelopes and more. See the attached paper for …

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