Board Bulletin for 11/22/2024
Board Bulletin for 11/22/2024
The Fulton County Board of Education met on Thursday, November 21, 2024 for its regularly scheduled work session at the South Learning Center. The full agenda is available online via BoardDocs. Meetings are streamed live on the FCS homepage, with recordings available within 48 hours.
Superintendent’s Report
In this season of giving thanks, Dr. Mike Looney expressed his appreciation to the Board, district staff members, school leaders and their team members for everything they do to support our schools.
Bridge to Success Update
FCS Director of Grant Services Montreal Bell and Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef presented the final financial and program update for the district’s Bridge to Success plan. As a reminder, in March 2020, the federal government provided funding to states to provide emergency relief to schools and communities impacted by the global pandemic.
The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds were provided in three rounds with specific purposes. The guidance for this funding included improving readiness for future emergencies, addressing learning loss by investing in summer and extended learning programs, investing in career and technical education expansion, supporting the social, emotional and mental health needs of students, providing programs and supplies for disadvantaged students, investing in technology improvements for online learning and employee recruitment and retention efforts.
The district was awarded more than $168.9 million dollars to fund the Bridge to Success plan and utilized 99.99% of the funding to implement seven initiatives:
- Every Child Reads
- FOCUS
- Expanded Program Options
- Textbook Adoption
- Student Safety
- Leadership Development
- Business Continuity
Some of the plan’s performance outcomes, which exceeded the 20% learning loss requirement, included recovering from learning disruption, recording the highest growth averages in metro Atlanta, and demonstrating fidelity of implementation for all tiers of instruction. Financial reports and school board presentations are housed on the Bridge to Success website. See the full presentation here.
CSI Update
Zone 1 Superintendent Dr. Cherisse Campbell provided an update on College Park Elementary School, which is a state identified Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) school. CSI schools are low performing schools that represent the bottom 5% of all schools. The presentation reviewed the supports and focus areas of work to ensure College Park is on track to be removed from the state list at the end of the three-year designation period.
By demonstrating an improvement in Content Mastery, ELA achievement, mathematics achievement, or science achievement, College Park is on a positive trajectory to exit the CSI list. However, the school continues to face challenges like the destabilizing effects of mobility and a high percentage of students experiencing the impact of poverty.
The presentation outlined some of the next steps to ensure the school is receiving the appropriate support to move towards greater success, some of which include providing transportation for Saturday and after school tutoring for study skills and ensuring that all programs and interventions are designed to enhance student outcomes. See the full presentation here.
Proposed 2026-2027 Instructional Calendar
This month, staff presented a draft of the 2026-2027 instructional calendar, which aims to honor the instructional calendar parameters voted on by the Board in October 2024. The following list highlights the instructional calendar draft:
- 179 total instructional days
- Pre-planning begins on July 27, 2026
- First day for students is Monday, August 3, 2026
- Full fall break for students and mid-break for staff in September
- Full winter break for students and mid-break for staff in February
- 11 Professional Development and Teacher Workdays (includes pre- and post-planning)
- Last day for students is May 27, 2027
The calendar will remain on the Board's agenda for the next few months as the Board continues gathering community feedback.
Policy Update
The Board is committed to establishing and maintaining policies, procedures, and operating guidelines that maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of all district divisions. The following policies were approved for action at the Board meeting:
Board Recognitions
Each month the Board recognizes outstanding students, staff, and schools honored at the state, national, or international level. Honorees must have placed first at the regional or state level or be among the top finishers at the national or international level.
- Thomas Bussey, a fifth-grade English/Language Arts teacher at Hapeville Elementary School, was recognized as a Curriculum Associates Extraordinary Educator by the Georgia Department of Education (GDOE). Read more here.
- Scottie McKinzie, a foreman for Bus Transportation North, was selected as a 2024 Garage Star by School Transportation News (STN). This prestigious recognition honors fleet management professionals who demonstrate exceptional leadership skills in their bus garages and the local community. Read more here.
2024-25 Community Meetings with Board Members
Each member of the Fulton County Board of Education sponsors a monthly meeting open to all community members. The sessions provide an opportunity for direct contact with community members and give Board members a chance to listen to local issues and concerns. Click here to see the meeting schedules of all Board members.
