Board Bulletin for 2/20/2026
The Fulton County Board of Education met on Thursday, February 19, 2026, for its regularly scheduled School Board meeting at the South 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.
Superintendents Report
Dr. Looney gave a brief report and quoted Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in celebrating Black History Month. He also offered a standing ovation to Fulton County Schools’ employees in appreciation of their service and commitment to students.
Fulton County Tax Update
Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef introduced presentations from Fulton County Tax Commissioner Dr. Arthur Ferdinand and Chief Appraiser Roderick Conley from the Fulton County Tax Assessors’ Office.
Dr. Ferdinand reported that the county has collected the vast majority of property taxes this year and expects to maintain a strong overall collection rate through the end of the collection cycle. He also shared an analysis of proposed state legislation. The changes under consideration could result in significant revenue impacts for Fulton County Schools related to homestead property taxes.
Mr. Conley provided an update on homestead exemption filings, reviewed the implementation of new senior tax exemptions, and answered questions regarding the property assessment process and timelines.
Board Policy Update
The following policies were approved by the Board:
Board Policy FDB – Long Range Needs Determination
Board Policy FDB creates a structured, region-based, multi-year process for considering school closure, consolidation, or repurposing in alignment with the district’s five-year Facilities Master and Capital Plans. Geographic regions serve as the primary lens for identifying potential underutilization before evaluating individual schools. The policy emphasizes commitment to transparency, community engagement, and final Board approval before any action is taken.
Board Policy IFCB – Field Trips and Excursions
Board Policy IFCB explains the difference between school-sponsored field trips and trips that are not officially connected to the school. It sets clear rules for approval, supervision, safety, and communication for school-sponsored trips to ensure students are well cared for. This policy also makes sure students cannot be excluded because of financial hardship and requires clear communication about any trips that are not school-sanctioned, which cannot use district resources for promotion or operation.
Board Policy IHF – Graduation Requirements
Board Policy IHF updates the Accelerated Career Diploma requirements to align with changes from the Technical College System of Georgia starting in 2025.
Regulation IHA – Grading Systems: Selection of Valedictorian/Salutatorian
Regulation IHA updates how valedictorians and salutatorians are determined, clarifying eligibility and outlining transcript requirements for transfer students. This regulation will take effect beginning with the 2026–2027 school year for the determination of Valedictorian and Salutatorian.
2026-2027 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 are accepted 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 projected budget gap
Click here to see the budget parameters.
Fulton Academy of Science and Technology Charter School Renewal
The Fulton County Schools Charter School Department has completed a comprehensive review of Fulton Academy of Science and Technology's (FAST) charter renewal petition and supporting performance data. Based on this review, FAST has been granted a five-year charter renewal with an enrollment cap of 720 students.
Chattahoochee Hills Charter School Renewal
The Fulton County Schools Charter School Department has completed a comprehensive review of Chattahoochee Hills Charter renewal petition and supporting performance data. Based on this review, Chattahoochee Hills has been granted a three-year probationary charter renewal with an enrollment cap of 540 students.
New Hires & Promotions
The following individuals were approved for a new position at the Board meeting:
- Kim Richards | Executive Director of Strategy and Data Intelligence
- Flandecia Richards-Boyles | Director of District Applications
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 received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from GFOA.
- The Financial Services team behind the report was honored with an Award for Financial Reporting Achievement and an Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award.
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.
