Board Bulletin for 3/11/2026
The Fulton County Board of Education met on Tuesday, March 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 opened his report by noting that it is School Board Appreciation Week and expressing gratitude for the Board’s leadership. He shared that the district’s core values guide all of its work and emphasized that the Board demonstrates those values—teamwork, integrity, and accountability—in everything they do. He also thanked Board members for their steady leadership and service to the community.
FY2026 Mid-Year Budget Update
Dr. Looney then shared an update on the district’s budget at the mid-year point. He explained that Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has added a $2,000 one-time payment in the state’s mid-year budget, but because the state does not fully fund all district positions, Fulton County Schools (FCS) will cover about $8 million in addition to the state funding to ensure every eligible full-time employee receives it.
He also expressed appreciation to the Board for the way they continue to position the district for long-term financial success, thanking them for actively seeking and incorporating feedback from the community. He recognized staff across the district who have taken meaningful steps to reduce expenses within schools and departments. As a result of these collective efforts, Looney shared that the district will no longer need to consider a furlough day in May 2026, and employees will continue working the approved school calendar as planned.
AP Honors Awards
College Board has released the Georgia 2025 AP School Honor Roll, and FCS earned honors for 12 high schools, the second highest total in the state. In his report, Chief Academic Officer Brannon Gaskins shared the exciting news that two schools—FCS Innovation Academy and Northview High School—achieved the top platinum distinction, making FCS the only metro Atlanta district with schools at this level. Global Impact Academy was honored for the first time, and both Milton and Northview moved up to higher tiers.
To be named an AP Honor Roll school, a graduating class must meet College Board’s expectations for AP participation, performance, and the number of students challenging themselves with multiple AP exams. These recognitions reflect strong teaching, dedicated students, and schools committed to academic excellence.
Congratulations to all the honored schools: Alpharetta, Cambridge, Centennial, Chattahoochee, Global Impact Academy, FCS Innovation Academy, Johns Creek, Milton, North Springs, Northview, Riverwood, and Roswell. These recognitions highlight the district’s ongoing commitment to expanding opportunities, challenging students academically, and celebrating excellence across our schools. See the full list here.
2026-2027 Enrollment Projections
Executive Director of Operational Planning Tarika Peeks presented current enrollment trends and what they mean for the years ahead. District enrollment has been slowly declining since its peak in 2016–17, with a sharper drop during the pandemic and continued decreases since. This year’s enrollment is 85,475 students, about 1,579 fewer than last year.
Even with overall declines, the district is still seeing cohort growth, meaning that many grade groups gain students as they move from one grade to the next. This year, cohorts increased by 592 students, mostly in elementary grades, showing that families are continuing to move into the district and students are staying. However, because the district is graduating much larger senior classes than the number of students entering kindergarten, overall enrollment still trends downward.
The presentation also highlighted how grade level cohorts change over time. While some grades show modest increases as students advance, the largest jump continues to be between 8th and 9th grade, where over 1,000 new students typically join the district each year. Despite this, the number of students entering kindergarten remains too small to balance the size of graduating classes, leading to a continued overall decline.
Ms. Peeks summarized that FCS’ gradual enrollment decreases are driven primarily by shrinking kindergarten classes and larger graduating cohorts. At the same time, steady cohort growth and regional differences show that families are still joining the district, particularly in certain areas. These trends will guide planning and resource decisions in the years ahead. View the full presentation here.
State of Facilities Overview
Yngrid Huff, deputy chief operations officer, presented the State of School Facilities Report, outlining the condition of FCS buildings and the data guiding the upcoming Facility Master Plan. Ms. Huff highlighted the current state of district facilities, key findings from the assessment process, and the scale of capital needs over the next decade.
The report shows that most facilities are in good condition, though 43 schools need targeted upgrades. This information plays an important role in planning upgrades and ensuring that every student learns in a safe, well-maintained environment. The district is using national standards and expert analysis to ensure future investments are strategic, data driven, and focused on supporting student learning.
Staff will continue gathering community feedback to help determine which facility needs should be prioritized. This input—along with the findings from the facilities report—will guide the district in finalizing project priorities. In the coming weeks, staff will also share major parts of Capital Plan 2032, which outlines future facility needs and planned investments across the district. View the full presentation here.
Zone 3 Update
As part of this year’s zone updates, Zone 3 Superintendent Ronald Maxwell presented an overview of the zone’s progress to the Board. Serving more than 13,000 students across 15 schools, Zone 3 continues to support many families facing economic challenges while working to provide strong academics and meaningful opportunities for students.
The zone reported several positive outcomes, including a 95.4% graduation rate—with Global Impact Academy reaching 100%—along with steady academic gains and improved attendance. Community partnerships have also strengthened school support, providing new programs, resources, and facilities that benefit students and families.
Zone 3 high schools offer a wide range of Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) pathways that prepare students for high-demand careers through hands-on learning and industry-aligned coursework. Looking ahead, the zone will continue improving instruction, expanding strategies from the district’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program and increasing student engagement to ensure all students are prepared for success in school and beyond graduation. See the full presentation here.
Tax Allocation District Annual Update 2024-2025
Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef and Deputy Chief Financial Officer Greta Tinaglia provided an update on FCS’ participation in local Tax Allocation Districts (TADs), which use future property tax growth to support community redevelopment projects.
The College Park Airport Gateway TAD (Six West) continues to develop but is behind schedule for required reporting. While the project has generated funds and all previous payments have now been received—including a corrected $651,000 repayment—the district is still waiting for the city to provide updated financial reports.
The East Point Commercial Corridor TAD, which was expected to support the Downtown Commons redevelopment, has been canceled. About $2.5 million in FCS tax increment was collected for the project, but only $365,000 has been returned so far. The district is working to recover the remaining funds and may formally end participation in this TAD.
FCS will continue monitoring both projects to ensure taxpayer funds are protected and used appropriately. See the full presentation here.
East Point TAD Project Participation Termination
Ms. Tinaglia then described how East Point TAD has reached an assessed value of $100 million and collected $2.5 million, but the redevelopment project it was intended to support has been canceled. As a result, the funds must be returned to FCS. One payment of about $365,000 has been received, and the district is working to recover the remaining balance. The Board voted to end participation in this TAD.
Ms. Tinaglia closed by noting that FCS will continue monitoring these districts closely and pursuing all required reports and reimbursements to ensure taxpayer funds are protected.
Reduction in Force - Central Office
According to Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Gonzalo La Cava, district leaders recently conducted a comprehensive review of central office operations to ensure the organization remains efficient, financially sustainable, and aligned to student needs. As part of this work, Cabinet is recommending a reduction of approximately 40 central office positions, which would generate approximately $4.8 million in savings for the FY 2027 budget.
This recommendation is part of the district’s broader G.L.I.D.E. initiative, a strategy focused on cost savings, efficiency, and long‑term financial stability in response to rising operational costs, enrollment shifts, and changing funding levels. After reviewing multiple options, the Superintendent concluded that these reductions were necessary to responsibly balance the budget while protecting school‑based services and classroom instruction.
While every role contributes to our work, some positions cannot be sustained under the district’s current structure and financial outlook. If only part of a department is reduced, decisions will be based first on performance and then on seniority. Impacted employees will be able to apply for other available roles through June 30 before any separations take effect.
Notifications and staffing adjustments will take place between March and June 2026, alongside other cost‑saving measures already included in the Superintendent’s recommended budget, totaling $50 million in savings and revenue impact.
The goal of this restructuring is to ensure the district remains fiscally responsible while continuing to prioritize students, staff, and classroom learning.
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:
New Hires & Promotions
The following individual was approved for a new position at the Board meeting:
- LaTonya Davis | Director of Science
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:
- Lynne Meadows, director of District Health Services, was inducted into the 2026 Georgia Nursing Hall of Fame
- The Tri-Cities High School dance team won the 3A – 5A Georgia High School Association (GHSA) State Championship
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.
