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Board Bulletin for 1/24/2025

Board Bulletin for 1/24/2025
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The Fulton County Board of Education met on Thursday, January 23, 2025 for its regularly scheduled Board Meeting at the South Learning Center. The full agenda is available online via simbli, a website replacing the district's former Boarddocs, that makes the School Board agenda and all supporting documents available online. Meetings are streamed live on the FCS homepage, with recordings available within 48 hours.

Superintendent’s Report

In response to the recent severe weather that led to school closures and remote learning this past week, Dr. Mike Looney outlined the district’s decision-making process for weather-related closures. The district collaborates closely with local and state weather agencies to forecast conditions and assess potential risks. Two primary factors guide these decisions: the ability to safely transport students via school buses and the capacity to operate school campuses safely.

Dr. Looney expressed gratitude to the district’s bus drivers and maintenance staff for their efforts, as well as to Fulton County’s municipalities for working alongside the district to ensure roads were as safe as possible for transportation.

Update on GaDOE Recognitions

Chief Academic Officer Brannon Gaskins announced that the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) has recognized three Fulton County schools for outstanding academic progress and achievement:

  • Evoline C. West Elementary School: Named a Title I Reward School, ranking among the top 5% of Title I schools in Georgia for content mastery improvement between 2021-2023.
  • Conley Hills Elementary School: One of 52 CSI schools making progress, with at least a 5% increase in the CCRPI Content Mastery score (2023-2024) and a score of 80+ in another component like progress, closing gaps, or readiness.
  • Fulton Academy of Virtual Excellence (FAVE): Improved its graduation rate from 64% in 2023 to 70.9%, exiting the Comprehensive Support & Improvement (CSI) graduation rate designation. 

Recommendation for School Closure/Consolidation

The Board accepted, for first read, the agenda items that propose closing Parklane Elementary in East Point and Spalding Drive Elementary in Sandy Springs and consolidating them with nearby schools through redistricting. “First read” means the information was presented publicly for discussion, with a final vote taken later. As part of the closure process, two public hearings will be held on February 11 at the Board work session and February 20 at the Board meeting.

The Board’s vote comes after Dr. Looney’s recommendation at the January 14 work session that both schools be closed due to consistently low enrollment and aging facility conditions. While sympathetic with requests to keep the schools open, he reinforced the district’s obligation to prudently manage taxpayer funds, as the schools have become operationally inefficient and costly to manage. Should the Board vote in February to close the schools, the revised attendance zones will take effect in August 2025 for several schools in Sandy Springs and south Fulton.

School Allotment Guidelines

Each fiscal year as directed by the Board, FCS develops allotment formulas and guidelines for all schools within the district. School-based budget outputs are based on these allotment guidelines, which are developed with principal input.

Last month, the School Board approved the School Allotment Formulas and Guidelines with the exception of addressing the magnet formulas. The Magnet programs are funded to support specialized learning experiences designed to foster student success, creativity, and college and career readiness. At the meeting the Board approved changes to the Magnet Formula and Guidelines to align policy and operating guidelines and more uniformity in funding.

Magnet Programs

The Board approved two key items related to magnet programs. First, the funding model for these programs was finalized and will be incorporated into the school allotment guidelines for the 2025-26 school year. Additionally, the Board approved the list of magnet programs for the upcoming year.

Per Board Policy IJ, the Fulton County Board of Education oversees decisions regarding new programming options at FCS schools. Schools seeking to add unique programs utilize the Value-Added Flexibility Process to submit their requests.

The full list of approved magnet programs can be found here, along with details on how they will be funded and their inclusion in the school allotment guidelines here.

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.

This month, staff is recommending a waiver for all retest requirements for students who fail their Georgia Milestones Assessment. Board Policy IHE Promotion and Retention was presented for first read and will be voted on next month.

New Hires & Promotions

The following individuals were approved for a new position at the Board meeting: 

  • Haaris Quraishy | Principal, Northwestern Middle School
  • Stephanie Haga | Principal, Crabapple Middle School 

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. The following teams and individuals were honored at the meeting:

  • Milton High School boys' cross-country team won the Georgia High School Association 5A State Championship
  • Alpharetta High School volleyball team won the Georgia High School Association 6A State Championship
  • Cliftondale Elementary School beta club students won first place win at the Georgia Elementary Beta Club State Convention

2025-26 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.

 

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