YR in Review: Franklin County Schools Lose Superintendent to Cancer

In our final review of the big stories of 2022, Franklin County Schools lost their school superintendent Chris Forrer to cancer.

Forrer passed away Friday, November 11 at his home after a long battle with cancer.

Franklin County Acting School Superintendent Chuck Colquitt and Board of Education members paid tribute to Forrer at their regular meeting in November.

Board of Education Chair Robin Cato said when Forrer came for his interview it was clear he knew what he was talking about.

“When he came to interview, he was not like anything we thought we were going to hire,” Cato recalled. “We didn’t know what to expect. We started interviewing him and he was big and tall and quirky and funny. He could talk for hours about school, student achievement, and testing for hours with no notes in front of him, nothing. He could just drill down for hours and just talk and talk and talk. And it was so clear in the first interview and the second interview that he knew what he was doing and he wanted to change Franklin County.”

Cato said Forrer told her later that Franklin County was the only school he applied to because he knew he could make a difference and he did.

“I don’t appologize for crying because he was so special to us and he changed the way franklin County schools work. He changed our budget. He changed the testing. He changed the way we looked all the data and all of these things were so important because every bit of it ended up helping kids. And that’s what he was for,” she said.

She added that the School System can run seamlessly even though Forrer is gone because of the changes he put in place.

Colquitt said he lost his best friend. He said he met Forrer when they were both in the Madison County School System and they became good friends. He said Forrer always made his decisions based on what was best for kids.

“He dearly loved kids. And one abiding thing we always went by was, ‘What is best for kids?’ Not what is best for teachers. Not what is best for Chuck or Melanie or anybody in the Board office. Not what is best for parents. What we think as educators is best for kids. And we all know he lived by that,” Colquitt said.

A Celebration of Life Service in memory of Chris Forrer was held December 4 at Emmanuel College’s Shaw Athletic Center.

Donations in Forrer’s memory may be made to the Franklin County Special Olympics at Georgia Special Olympics or ESP/Extra Special People.