Board Bulletin for 5/6/2026

 

The Fulton County Board of Education met on Tuesday, May 5, 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

At the start of his report, Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney recognized the Superintendent’s Advisory Council, highlighting the group as an exceptional cohort of students who are tenacious, intelligent, and talented, and who consistently advocate not only for themselves but for their peers. Click here to see the full list of participants.

Dr. Looney also announced Fulton County Schools (FCS) will present a disposition of property plan in June. The plan will outline how the district intends to handle buildings it no longer needs – such as selling, repurposing or demolishing them – and will include timelines, recommendations, and required approvals.

The properties under consideration include buildings for the former Conley Hills Elementary School, Independence High School, Parklane Elementary School, the Instructional Technology Center (former Westlake High School), and Teaching Museums North and South. Board members will begin sharing information within their respective communities as part of the initial discussion process, with the plan scheduled to come before the Board for approval in June.

Strategic Plan Update | Strategy and Technology Division

In his presentation to the Board, Dr. Joe Phillips, the district’s Chief Strategy and Technology Officer, highlighted how the division is becoming a more connected, intentional function focused on improving student performance and strengthening safety and operations. Rather than emphasizing activity, the work centers on alignment—how decisions, structure, and investments drive real impact.

This shift is reflected in a unified division that brings together strategy, data, and technology to operate as one system, enabling clearer execution and accountability. With that foundation, key efforts this year have included data system advancements, AI tools, security, and infrastructure upgrades, improving both visibility into student outcomes and overall reliability.

Strategic Plan Improvements Update | Strategy and Technology Division

The strategic plan itself is not changing; priorities and direction remain the same. The focus is on improving how the plan is executed across the system. Feedback shows the strategy is well understood, but execution is hindered by unclear expectations, too many priorities, manual processes, and limited tools for tracking progress.

To address this, the district will simplify processes, clarify roles and goals, and provide better tools for monitoring progress. Key changes include clearer distinctions between priorities, goals, and metrics, stronger accountability, and allowing teams to focus only where they have the greatest impact rather than forcing alignment.

Overall, these operational improvements are designed to reduce complexity, strengthen implementation, and ensure the strategic plan functions as an effective, system-wide framework for delivering results.

Looking ahead, the focus remains on scaling these efforts sustainably. Together, this positions Strategy and Technology as a strategic capability that supports instruction, improves operations, and prepares the district for the future. See the full presentation here.

Zone 2 Update

Zone 2 Superintendent Dr. Jason Stamper provided an update highlighting the zone’s progress and clear path forward in serving a diverse student population. Despite high levels of economic disadvantage, Zone 2 remains focused on ensuring every student has access to high-quality instruction, meaningful opportunities, and strong post-secondary pathways.

Zone 2 continues to show steady progress with growth in academics and improved attendance, even in the face of economic challenges. Strong leadership and collaboration across schools have supported success in academics, arts, and athletics, while expanded programs such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), career, technical, and agricultural education (CTAE) pathways, and the Promise Career Institute provide meaningful, real-world learning opportunities.

Moving forward, the zone remains focused on strengthening instruction, increasing student engagement, and ensuring all students are prepared for college, careers, and life after graduation. See the full presentation here.

Capital Plan 2032: Auxiliary Services, Funding and Financing Options

Continuing last month’s Capital Plan 2032 discussion, Chief Operations Officer Noel Maloof presented the safety and security, transportation, and auxiliary services plans. Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef then outlined financing options for the estimated $1.27 billion needed to fund Capital Plan 2032 strategies.

Mr. Maloof emphasized the ongoing safety investments designed to protect students and staff, including security and surveillance systems, visitor management solutions, emergency communication tools, automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and police equipment. The safety plan continues these efforts to strengthen prevention and emergency response capabilities across all district buildings and school campuses.

For transportation, Capital Plan 2032 focuses on maintaining a reliable and modern vehicle fleet through a replacement cycle of 10 years plus a two-year buffer. The plan includes purchasing 72-passenger buses and wheelchair lift buses for students with special needs, with continued use of propane and clean diesel vehicles to balance efficiency and environmental considerations. In addition to new buses, the transportation plan supports maintenance, warehouse, safety/police, and other support vehicles. Planned upgrades also include improvements to the automated fuel management system, GPS systems, shop equipment, tires, and bus camera and communication systems.

The auxiliary services portion of the plan focuses on furniture and equipment needed to support instruction and operations. This includes allocations for curriculum-related needs as well as the replacement of classroom, custodial, and office equipment that has reached the end of its useful life.

Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef presented preliminary cost estimates for Capital Plan 2032 totaling approximately $1.27 billion. This includes about $713 million for construction projects such as school replacements, renovations, critical system updates, athletics, and reserves; $300 million for technology investments including devices, software, networks, and safety systems; and $260 million for other needs such as textbooks, transportation, furniture and equipment, and program reserves. These figures are for initial planning purposes as of April 2026.

Mr. Dereef also reviewed several financing options to support a capital plan of this scale. ESPLOST, the one-penny sales tax for education, has been the district’s primary capital funding source for many years and is again recommended because it is a pay-as-you-go option with no interest cost. Other funding options include voter-approved bonds, annual construction notes, and millage rate increases. These options typically involve interest costs and/or a greater impact on taxpayers.

The facilities master plan is the final piece of Capital Plan 2032 and will be presented at the June 9 work session, followed by a vote on all five components of the full plan. A funding resolution is expected June 18, with community engagement continuing through the fall and a public referendum in November. See the full presentation here.

2026-27 Closure of Independence High School Instructional Facility

In December 2025, the Board approved the 2026–27 School Allotment Guidelines, which include the elimination of the Independence High School program as part of the district’s G.L.I.D.E. strategy and FY2027 budget planning. After much consideration, including two public hearings, Independence High School will close for instructional purposes at the end of the current school year, with students transitioning to their home schools for 2026–27.

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:  

• Strategic Plan Update
• Discipline Code of Conduct Updates
• Board Policy LE School-Community Organizations Relations
• Board Policy IFBI Artificial Intelligence

FY 2027 Public Budget Hearings

The Board of Education held the first of two public budget hearings on Tuesday, continuing its commitment to a transparent and inclusive budget process. Community input remains an important part of this work, and residents are encouraged to share their feedback.

The second public budget hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 12 at 6 p.m. at the South Learning Center. Have questions about FCS policies and what do they mean? Join our upcoming virtual Policy Office Hours to learn how to navigate Simbli and understand Board policies. Click here to view the FY2027 budget calendar.

Board Reviews Policy Updates

The Board of Education reviewed several proposed policy updates, including accounting and reporting, board officer elections, community involvement in project planning, and tuition for out of district students.

Community members and staff are encouraged to learn more and share feedback by attending upcoming virtual Policy Open Hours. These sessions provide an opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with staff experts on these and other policy topics.

May 13, 2026
4:00-5:00 PM
Join the meeting now

June 10, 2026
9:00-10:00 AM
Join the meeting now  

New Hires & Promotions

The following individual was approved for a new position at the Board meeting:   

• Patrick Wright | Principal, Cogburn Woods Elementary 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:    

• Minakshi Chilagani of Northview High School won first place in the High School category of the 2025 Cybersecurity Awareness Poster Contest
• Johns Creek High School Career, Technology, and Agriculture Education (CTAE) students were named Top Ten Finalists in Samsung’s 16th Annual Solve for Tomorrow competition
• Fulton County Schools’ College and Career Academy won 2026 Georgia High School Aviation Challenge three years in a row
• Senior Ava Kassebaum was awarded the Aurora Theatre Internship at the 2026 Shuler Awards
• Mr. Tarik Rowland, Tri-Cities High School Music Teacher and Band Director, Wins Best Music Direction at the 2026 Shuler Awards
• FCS’ School Nutrition staff earned multiple honors at the 2026 Georgia School Nutrition Association (GSNA) annual conference

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.