Board Bulletin for 2/11/2026

 

The Fulton County Board of Education met on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, for its regularly scheduled School Board meeting at the North Learning Center. The full agenda is available online via Simbli, a website that makes the Board agenda and all supporting documents available. Meetings are streamed live on the FCS homepage, with recordings available within 48 hours.

Superintendent’s Report 

Dr. Mike Looney began his report with an important update regarding Tuesday’s incident at Palmetto Elementary School saying that law enforcement has confirmed that the suspect has been apprehended and is now in custody. School will resume Wednesday as a normal school day.

To support our students and staff, there will be an increased staff and safety presence on campus, and the district’s CARE Team will be available throughout the day to provide counseling and emotional support to any student or staff member who may need it.

Dr. Looney also expressed his gratitude to Fulton County Schools Police Chief Mark Sulborski and his team for their leadership, professionalism, and swift action in keeping our school and community safe throughout this event.

Superintendent’s Recommended Budget for FY 2027

Like many school districts nationwide, Fulton County Schools (FCS) is navigating rising operational costs, declining student enrollment, and changes in state and local funding, resulting in a projected $90 million shortfall in the coming years. Through the G.L.I.D.E. (Growth Opportunities, Lean Operations, Investment in Innovations, Diversified Revenue and Enhanced Efficiency) process, the district has identified opportunities to reduce expenditures and generate new revenue to help address the budgetary gap.

Before presenting his FY 2027 budget recommendations, Dr. Looney discussed a proposed FY 2026 mid-year budget adjustment. The proposal includes shortening the 2025-2026 instructional calendar by one day, with employees furloughed on that day. He also shared details on the $2,000 one-time employee supplement proposed by Governor Brian Kemp. While the Governor’s current proposal does not cover all FCS employees, the district is proposing to extend the supplement to all eligible full-time staff.

Dr. Looney then presented the G.L.I.D.E. strategies he is recommending for inclusion in the FY 2027 budget process. He also outlined strategies still under consideration, as well as strategies no longer being pursued, which may be revisited if financial conditions change. The full list of recommendations is available on the G.L.I.D.E. website.

Dr. Looney encouraged employees and community members to remain informed and engaged. Feedback may be submitted through the “Let’s Talk” personal assistant widget on the district website or by emailing questions@fultonschools.org. An FAQ section is in development on the G.L.I.D.E. website and will be updated regularly. Click here to see Dr. Looney’s full presentation.

Strategic Plan Update: Strengthen Employee Engagement

Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef shared a Strategic Plan update focused on strengthening employee engagement and improving the services that support our students and families. The Financial Services Division team highlighted improvements in communication, training, and customer service, along with recognition for staff who consistently go above and beyond. Mr. Dereef also emphasized the district’s engagement strategy, which is anchored in four key drivers:

• Be Involved: Increasing collaboration, participation, and ownership
• Open Communication: Ensuring clarity, transparency, and consistency
• Notice Excellence: Recognizing staff who demonstrate outstanding service
• Develop Leaders: Increasing training, skills development, and leadership readiness

The district has expanded resources like clearer benefits information, easier payroll support, time manager training, and more opportunities for employees to connect through town halls, wellness events, and new teacher orientation. The Retirement Services department offers seminars and one-on-one guidance to help employees plan their futures.

Overall, the update reflects steady progress and a continued commitment to supporting the staff who support our students every day. Click here to see the presentation.

Zone 6 Update

Zone 6 Superintendent Brian Downey shared an update showing strong progress across all 15 schools. Nearly 79% of students are scoring Proficient or Distinguished on state tests, and the graduation rate remains high at 97.5%, with steady academic growth over the last three years.

Attendance is improving as well, with several high schools reducing chronic absenteeism. River Trail Middle School leads the district in satisfactory attendance, and State Bridge Crossing Elementary School has the lowest chronic absenteeism among elementary schools.

The update also emphasized the strong support Zone 6 receives from the City of Johns Creek through programs like “Worth It Wednesday,” active City Council partnerships, and the One Johns Creek initiative—creating a close, connected school community.

Students continue to have access to robust career and technical education options, from early exposure in elementary school to 10 career clusters and 30 pathways in high school.

Together, FCS remains committed to helping every Zone 6 student thrive. Click here to see the full presentation.

Budget Parameters

The School Board plays a key role in shaping the organization’s financial performance by establishing budget guidelines before the management team and staff begin preparing the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The following Budget Parameters for Fiscal Year 2027 have been developed and presented as follows:

• Continue to seek alternative funding sources 
• Continue to maximize revenue from State QBE via improving FTE count coding 
•  Allocate at least 75% of the General Fund to schools 
• Identify opportunities for cost efficiencies 
• Maintain a competitive compensation structure 
• To the extent possible, be revenue neutral as defined by the tax rollback form 
• Maintain at least two months of fund balance 
• Continue with a transparent Modified Zero-Based Budgeting process 
• Continue to demonstrate sustainability related to budget recommendations 
• Propose cost reduction and revenue-generating options to address the projected budget gap

Click here to see the full report.

Pre-Work Session   

Fulton County Schools’ pre-work session is a public meeting that takes place before each monthly work session. It is an opportunity for the Board to receive policy drafts, provide feedback, give presentations, or focus on topics of interest. Audio recordings of the pre-work session are available within 48 hours. Topics discussed at this week’s session include:    

• Board Policy IC Curriculum Resources
• Board Policy ICFA Curriculum Guides and Course Outlines
• Board Policy FEAE Community Involvement in Project Planning

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:    

• The Budget Services Department has received the distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).
• The Fulton County Board of Education (FCBOE) received a Certificate of Achievement (COA) for Excellence in Financial Reporting from GFOA.
• The Financial Services team behind the report was honored with an Award for Financial Reporting Achievement (AFRA) and an Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting (PAFR) Award.

2025-26 Community Meetings with Board Members     

Each member of the Fulton County Board of Education sponsors a monthly meeting open to the community. 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.