Residents curious about community development in the city of McDonough, how wastewater is treated or where their tax dollars go can be schooled in a comprehensive seven-week course on all things government.

The city is launching its first ever McDonough 101 Academy beginning Sept. 11, during which 20 residents will learn about the various aspects of government during two-hour sessions each Tuesday evening through October.

This academy is an initiative of City Manager Frederick Gardiner, who brings over the idea from the city of Griffin, where he worked prior to coming on board in McDonough in the spring of this year.

The initiative is being carried out by Taffini Guffie, executive assistant to the city manager and city clerk, who spent an entire day with Griffin city officials modeling the McDonough Academy after the city’s own, which has been ongoing for six years.

“She’s done an outstanding job organizing this,” McDonough spokesperson Casey Case said.

Guffie said she has been working on getting together the program since June, after it received support from the mayor and council.

She said department heads have jumped on board, and resident feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

Not only will the academy give participants a better idea of how government works, but it also opens up lines of communication and fosters government transparency.

“It gives citizens a better understanding of how taxpayer dollars are spent,” she said.

Guffie said she believes word of mouth will spark even more interest in additional academies, which she said will occur on an annual basis. Her long-term goal is to take the academy into middle and high schools to educate students in local government.