Board Bulletin for 4/17/2026

 

The Fulton County Board of Education met on Thursday, April 16, 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 extended his sincere gratitude to the district’s Media, Educational Technology, and Innovation professionals (METIS) for developing and leading a reading challenge with the ambitious goal of reaching 10 million minutes of reading this school year. As of this week, participants have exceeded that goal. Congratulations and thank you to all staff who participated and made this success possible.

Attendance and Student Discipline Update

Chief Academic Officer Brannon Gaskins presented the first in a new series of monthly reports aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability around districtwide attendance and discipline. Overall, the data reflects clear, systemwide progress.

Attendance outcomes show meaningful improvement compared to last year. The percentage of students with satisfactory attendance is approximately six percentage points higher than at this time in the 2024–2025 school year, while chronic and severe chronic absenteeism has declined from 19.0% to 16.7%. Gains are evident across elementary, middle, and high schools, signaling a coordinated district focus on keeping students present, engaged, and positioned for success.

Discipline data also indicates positive trends. Total discipline incidents and out-of-school suspension days are lower than at the same point last year. An increase in in-school suspension days reflects a strategic shift toward less exclusionary practices that allow students to remain in structured learning environments. While elementary schools saw a slight increase in incidents and suspensions, rates remain significantly lower than secondary levels. Middle schools emerged as a notable bright spot, with reductions across all major discipline measures, highlighting the impact of targeted efforts to improve student engagement.

Together, these trends demonstrate steady improvement in student attendance and behavior and suggest that districtwide strategies are contributing to healthier, more supportive learning environments. See the full presentation here.

Summer Learning Update

Yasmine McKenzie, the Director of Applied Learning and Design, presented an update on the Summer Learning program, highlighting high-impact improvements implemented in 2025 and continuing into 2026. These changes, informed by feedback from families, teachers, and school leaders, underscore Fulton County Schools’ (FCS) commitment to accountability, fiscal stewardship, instructional excellence, and broad student access to academic support throughout the year.

FCS continues to strengthen its Summer Learning program, with more than 5,300 students participating in summer 2025, a 6% increase from the previous year. This growth reflects rising family engagement and confidence in the district’s summer offerings. Students also maintained steady performance in reading and math, even as participation increased, demonstrating the program’s strong instructional quality.

Building on these positive academic outcomes, the district expanded learning options to better meet student needs. High school students benefited from multiple summer learning pathways, including virtual, in-person, and self‑paced programs, helping more students earn credits, recover coursework, and stay on track for graduation regardless of their learning preference.

To support this work, improved staffing efforts played a key role in program success. Increased teacher interest, stronger staffing alignment, and a high return rate among summer educators helped ensure stable, high-quality instruction across sites.

Overall, these results highlight a Summer Learning program that expands access, strengthens instruction, and continues to improve each year in support of student success. For more information, visit the FCS Summer Learning website. See the full presentation here.

FY2027 Budget Presentations

Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef set the stage for three presentations representing the district planning and budgeting processes that are currently underway: FY 2027 Special Revenue Funds, Capital Plan 2027, and Capital Plan 2032.

FY 2027 Special Revenue Funds

Kicking off the first presentation, Executive Director of Budget Services Tracy Watson shared a comparison of current and projected grant funding for FY2027, which supports key programs such as Prekindergarten, special education, school safety, and instructional support.

Overall, grant funding is expected to decrease slightly by about $719,000, mainly due to changes in federal funding and reduced carryover funds. While Title I and special education grants show modest declines, prekindergarten funding is increasing by more than $700,000, reflecting additional state support. District leaders will continue to monitor final state and federal awards to ensure students continue receiving essential services with minimal impact.

Pension Fund - Retirement Services

Retirement Services Director Charles Robinson said the district’s pension fund is in a very strong financial position and is fully funded, and the district has enough money set aside to pay all current and future retirement benefits for plan members.

Because the pension system is financially healthy, long-term financial risk for the district is reduced, and there is less strain on the General Fund. This helps preserve district resources for classrooms, student services, and instructional support.

Strong investment performance, expense management, and consistent district contributions have allowed the district to plan responsibly for the future while continuing to meet its commitments to current employees, retirees, and vested members.

School Nutrition Fund

Alyssia Wright, Executive Director of School Nutrition, shared an update on the program, which serves 12.7 million meals each year across district schools. These meals support students’ health and readiness to learn and are funded through meal sales and federal programs.

Through careful planning, the program has reduced costs, removed less popular menu items, and limited the use of reserve funds. The district also continues to offer fresh, locally sourced foods and maintains strong staffing, with the highest hourly pay for school nutrition staff in Georgia.

To help offset rising food and labor costs, a 25‑cent increase in student and adult breakfast and lunch prices is proposed for the 2026–2027 school year. Even with this change, meal prices will remain similar to those in other metro Atlanta districts.

Overall, the program remains focused on providing nutritious meals that students enjoy while managing funds responsibly to ensure long-term sustainability.

Title I, Part A - Federal Programs

Director of Federal Programs Catherine Harper shared an update on the proposed Title I, Part A budget, which is federal funding used to support students who need extra academic help. Title I funds are designed to help close learning gaps and ensure all students have access to strong instruction and supportive resources.

For the 2026–27 school year, the proposed Title I budget is just over $24 million. Most of this funding will go directly to schools, which is almost $1 million more than last year. This allows principals to use the funds where they are needed most, based on their school’s specific student needs. Schools may use these funds for additional instructional support, family engagement activities, and staffing.

The budget prioritizes early allocation of funds to schools to support staffing and instructional planning. It also reflects program refinement, including a reduced summer camp allocation following program evaluation, while continuing to direct family engagement funds to schools and provide targeted academic supports for students experiencing homelessness, foster care, or living in residential centers.

Overall, the proposed Title I, Part A budget reflects a balanced approach to fiscal responsibility, statutory compliance, and student impact—ensuring resources are strategically focused on strengthening instruction, supporting schools, and improving outcomes for the district’s most vulnerable students.

Title II, Part A - Professional Learning and Leadership Development

The FY27 Title II, Part A budget proposal was presented by Executive Director of Professional Learning and Leadership Development Brian Keefer and reflected stable federal funding with allocations remaining nearly consistent with FY26 levels. Budget projections are based on historical federal funding trends, with final district allocations typically released by the Georgia Department of Education in July. Unspent funds from the prior fiscal year are carried over and added to the annual allocation.

Title II, Part A funds support teacher endorsement programs in Gifted, Teacher Leadership, and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages); new teacher induction through GO TIP; and educator pipeline programs, including QUESTT (Quality Educator Staffing for Today and Tomorrow), Go Teach and Go Bridge. Leadership development initiatives supported by these funds include new principal coaching, Tier I and Tier II leadership certification through Georgia State University, and leadership preparation programs through the Fulton Leadership Academy.

The proposed FY27 budget continues to fund positions within the Academics and Human Resources divisions that support the implementation and administration of Title II, Part A programs districtwide.

Prekindergarten - Early Childhood

Interest in the district’s Pre-K program continues to grow. For the 2026–27 school year, more than 2,900 applicants applied through the Pre-K lottery, underscoring the strong demand for early learning opportunities.

The district will offer 1,842 Pre-K seats, including general education and inclusion classes, ensuring access for students with diverse learning needs.

Funding for the program is primarily provided through the Georgia Bright from the Start Pre-K Program, with an estimated $12.2 million in state support for the upcoming year. These funds cover instructional staff, benefits, classroom operations, classroom materials and supplies, and transportation. Additional district funding ensures that certified Pre-K teachers and paraprofessionals are paid according to Fulton County Schools’ salary schedules, maintaining high-quality instruction.

Overall, continued investments in Pre-K supports student readiness, strengthens families, and provides young learners with a strong foundation for future success.

Title VI-B (IDEA) - Services for Exceptional Children (SEC)

SEC Director Mary Kay Berry shared an update on next year’s special education budget, which pays for important support and services for students with disabilities. For the 2026–2027 school year, funding from the federal government is expected to decrease by approximately $1.18 million, falling from $19.1 million to $17.9 million. This change is mostly due to one-time funds from last year no longer being available, versus a major change in ongoing funding.

Even with this reduction, the district has planned carefully to make sure students continue to receive the support they need. Some staff positions were moved to other funding sources, and adjustments were made to keep up with rising salary and benefit costs. The district also received a $400,000 waiver, which provides more flexibility and helps reduce the impact of the funding decrease.

Most of this budget continues to be spent on staff who provide direct services to students, which is expected and necessary. Overall, the district remains fully compliant with federal requirements and is committed to continuing high-quality services and supports for students with disabilities.

Safety and Security

Rounding out the FY 2027 Special Revenue Funds presentation, Department of Safety and Security Director Paul Hildreth shared an update on how school safety funds are being used to support a comprehensive, layered approach to student safety and wellbeing while carefully protecting sensitive operational details.

Investments have focused on both prevention and response, including providing all schools with lifesaving resources such as the opioid-reversal medication Narcan, enhancing school police mobility and response capacity through vehicle investments, and expanding camera coverage in targeted areas based on identified needs.

In addition, the district has prioritized training and partnerships to strengthen overall safety efforts. This includes wellness‑informed safety training for staff and officers, specialized training for clinical assistants, mental health training for school police, and expanded partnerships with community organizations to deliver counseling and intervention services. Together, these investments reflect a balanced strategy that strengthens physical security while prioritizing mental health, prevention, and student wellbeing. See the full presentation here.

Capital Plan 2027 Budget

As Fulton County Schools enters the final year of Capital Plan 2027, the focus is on completing commitments while preparing for the next capital planning cycle. This phase marks an important transition, ensuring that investments made over the past five years create a strong foundation for the upcoming Capital Plan 2032.

Dr. Joe Phillips, the district’s Chief Strategy and Technology Officer, shared that technology within Capital Plan 2027 has been guided by a clear objective: to develop a robust, sustainable, and secure technology environment that supports teaching, learning, and operational excellence. In this final year, the district continues to advance key priorities across three strategic areas: access, infrastructure and security, as well as information and instructional tools.

Within access, efforts are concentrated on sustaining the district’s 1:1 device environment, completing classroom modernization initiatives, enhancing specialized instructional spaces, and ensuring comprehensive wireless connectivity. Within infrastructure and security, the focus has shifted toward long-term resilience, including strengthening cybersecurity protections, completing system-wide infrastructure refreshes, and expanding technical support capacity at the school level. In the area of information and instructional tools, the district is finalizing investments in data integration and analytics systems, enabling more effective, data-informed decision-making across the organization.

From a financial perspective, the district has maintained a disciplined and strategic approach to technology resource allocation. The total adjusted investment is approximately $306.3 million, with a Year 5 funding request of $113.5 million to support the completion of critical initiatives. Funding priorities remain aligned to Tier 1 technology investments, ensuring that essential systems supporting instruction, safety, and operations are fully implemented.

Chief Operations Officer Noel Maloof provided an update on Capital Plan 2027 expenditures for transportation, furniture and equipment, safety and security, and facilities. He shared that significant external challenges have occurred throughout the course of the five-year plan, including a rise in construction costs of nearly 48% due to labor market pressures and economic conditions. In response, the district has implemented cost management strategies, including standardized project prioritization, value engineering practices, competitive procurement processes, and strategic project timing. These actions have effectively mitigated financial risk while preserving the integrity and scope of planned projects.

ESPLOST, the current funding source for Capital Plan projects, has reserves in the ESPLOST V and VI programs totaling approximately $286.4 million. When combined with projected ESPLOST revenues, these funds are sufficient to complete the remaining $205.1 million in planned facility expenditures. This ensures that Capital Plan 2027 will be delivered successfully as intended. See the full presentation here.

Capital Plan 2032: Technology

Dr. Phillips continued the discussion by outlining the technology priorities established for the proposed Capital Plan 2032. Building on Capital Plan 2027’s focus on access to devices and connectivity, the next five-year plan aims to create an “Intelligent Technology Ecosystem” where systems are connected, data is actionable, and classrooms are not constrained by fixed infrastructure. Current devices, networks, software, and safety systems often operate independently, which creates inefficiencies, inconsistent user experiences, and increased risk.

Dr. Phillips shared that stakeholder input, I.T. support trends, infrastructure reviews, and external audits all pointed to similar findings: technology systems are aging, experiences are uneven, and support demands are rising. Additionally, much of the district’s technology operates on a five-year lifecycle and requires a planned refresh and reinvestment.

The technology plan represents a $300 million investment from 2027-2032 across four key areas:

1. Access, which focuses on providing reliable, modern tools through standardized device refresh cycles and role-based packages, while replacing aging projectors with 4K interactive flat panels ($105 million);
2. Infrastructure, which focuses on strengthening system reliability through upgrades to network capacity, cybersecurity, and cabling, thereby enabling next-generation technologies without major construction ($45 million);
3. Information and instructional tools, which focuses on modernizing core systems by migrating ERP and HCM platforms to the cloud, upgrading software, creating a centralized A.I. data environment to improve efficiency and decision-making, and implementing a unified “One Card” system that creates a student ID card for bus ridership, building entry, attendance, and meals ($110 million); and
4. Integrated safety and audio/video systems, which focus on enhancing campus safety and communication by deploying unified, IP-based systems ($40 million).

Collectively, this plan positions the district to move from fragmented systems to a fully integrated technology environment that strengthens instruction, improves operations, and enhances safety. The construction and facilities portion of the proposed Capitol Plan 2032 will be presented at future Board meetings. See the full presentation here.

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 FEAE Community Involvement in Project Planning
• Board Policy JBCBA Tuition
• Board Policy IFBI Artificial Intelligence
• Board Policy LE School-Community Organizations Relations

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:    

• Chattahoochee High School Beta Club has been selected as a 2025-2026 recipient of the John W. Harris Leadership 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.