Board Bulletin for 6/11/2025

 

The Fulton County Board of Education met on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, for its regularly scheduled Board Meeting at the North Learning Center. The full agenda is available online via Simbli, a website replacing the district's former BoardDocs, which makes the School Board agenda and all supporting documents available online. Meetings are streamed live on the FCS homepage, with recordings available within 48 hours.

Superintendent’s Report

2025 Summer Learning Program

Dr. Mike Looney invited Assistant Superintendent of Learning and Teaching Dr. Shannon Kersey to provide an update on the Summer Learning program, which helps students grow, stay on track, and prepare for the new school year. The program supports the district’s Strategic Plan and offers flexible options including face-to-face instruction, Fulton County Credit Recovery for students making up credits, and Fulton Virtual for independent learners. Participation is required for students below grade level in reading or math and for high schoolers who did not pass key courses. All instruction is standards-based and focused on a strong start.

Dr. Kersey reported growth across the board, with more than 5,300 students enrolled in person, up nearly 6% from last year. Enrichment was expanded to more elementary schools, and every high school hosted college readiness programs. Fulton County Credit Recovery, now in its second year, enrolled over 1,100 students and cut costs by 45% with a shortened schedule and streamlined staffing. Fulton Virtual saw more than 7,000 course enrollments, most of them for acceleration, with new offerings in honors English Language Arts (ELA), world languages, and career pathways. Click here to see the full presentation.

FY 2026 Final Budget Adoption

The Board approved the budget for Fiscal Year 2026, totaling just over $2.46 billion across all funds. This action follows months of detailed budget planning, including workshops with the Board, discussions with school leaders, and review of public input.

The district’s financial plan continues to prioritize classroom instruction while adjusting to a challenging economic landscape. Several key factors are impacting its revenue outlook, including declining student enrollment, which reduces state funding. While the district remains financially strong, it is not immune to rising costs from inflation, healthcare, and state-mandated retirement contributions. The FY 2026 budget reflects a proactive approach to navigating financial uncertainty while continuing to prioritize high-quality education. The focus remains clear: supporting students and protecting classroom instruction.

The General Fund budget for FY 2026 is $1.47 billion. This amount supports day-to-day operations across the district, including salaries, academic programs, transportation, and student services. In addition to the General Fund, the finalized budget includes:

• $803.5 million for capital improvements, funded through E-SPLOST
• $65.7 million in special revenue funds
• $59.4 million for school nutrition
• $43.2 million for the pension fund
• $16.7 million for student activity funds

Based on historical spending patterns, the year-end fund balance for FY 2026 is approximately $287 million, which represents nearly 20% of the General Fund budget.  The approved FY 2026 budget is based on a tentative maintenance and operations (M&O) millage rate of 17.080  for the 2025 property tax year—striking a balance between current needs and long-term sustainability.

Detailed information on all aspects of the budget is available on the district’s website and in the official budget book. Please click here for more information on School Allotment Guidelines. For more detailed information about the Capital Plan for FY 2022 and 2027 click here. Finally, the proposed FY 21026 tentative budget can be found here.

Personal Device Use Policy Update

Fulton County Schools (FCS) is updating its electronic communications policy, which relates to personal electronic devices, to align with Georgia’s House Bill 340, the Distraction-Free Education Act, and to support student well-being and consistent academic environments across all schools.

The Board was presented a policy for adoption that would prohibit students in grades K-8 from using personal electronic devices during the school day. High school students (9-12) would be restricted from using personal electronic devices during instructional time. The policy will be voted on at the June 18 Board meeting.

The following outlines the details of the proposed policy:

• Establishes guidelines for the appropriate use of personal electronic devices in schools to reduce distractions, improve academic outcomes, and promote meaningful student interactions.
• Defines personal electronic devices as any portable devices that transmit, receive, or access communication, data, or media, including smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops, and more.
• Prohibits the use of personal electronic devices for students in grades K-8 during the school day and for students in grades 9-12 during instructional time, except where required by law.
• Details the consequences for misuse of electronic communication devices, including recording and sharing inappropriate content, bullying, or harassment, in alignment with the FCS Student Code of Conduct.

2025–2026 Student Code of Conduct

Dr. Kevin Scott, director of student discipline, presented updates to the Student Code of Conduct for the 2025–2026 school year. The changes aim to make expectations clearer, reduce suspensions, and promote student success and safety. This year, out-of-school suspension days dropped by more than 5,300, reflecting the district’s shift toward more proactive discipline strategies.

The Code outlines behavior expectations, consequences, student rights, and procedures for reporting concerns. New rules are being added to address emerging issues and ensure more consistent responses across schools. These updates are part of the district’s ongoing effort to create safe, supportive learning environments for all students. Click here to see the full presentation.

Strategic Plan Update: The Future is Fulton!

Dr. Ryan Moore, executive director of strategy and governance, presented exciting news related to the first year of implementation of the FCS Strategic Plan. Across nearly all strategic plan goal areas, schools are showing strong, positive momentum. Student attendance continues to improve, with more students consistently present and fewer identified as chronically absent. At the same time, behavioral incidents and suspensions have dropped significantly, reflecting our district’s commitment to supportive learning environments and a strong school culture.

Employee engagement is also on the rise, with increased staff retention and growing job satisfaction reported across schools. Families are noticing progress too with student and parent satisfaction levels trending upward, especially in our elementary schools. Behind the scenes, our School Governance Councils are more active and aligned than ever, helping to drive school improvement through focused planning and community involvement. Click here to see the full update.

Program Evaluation: Dual Language Immersion (DLI)

Amanda Swerdlow, director of program evaluation, shared an update on the Dual Language Immersion program, which gives students a strong foundation in both English and Spanish. Led by specially trained teachers certified in their content areas and in English learner instruction, the program is designed to support academic success and bilingual development.

While students are showing high engagement and strong ownership of their learning, the program faces challenges. Barriers related to communication, enrollment, and staffing remain, and the district is actively working to address them.

To close the presentation, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Dr. Chris Matthews reviewed next steps, which included a plan to sunset the program at Lake Forest and Mimosa elementary schools. The district will continue providing comprehensive English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services and strong Tier 1 instruction in literacy and math to improve achievement for all students. Click here to see the full presentation.

Proposed Revision to Board Meeting Calendar

A proposal is being made to change the 2025-2026 board meeting calendar. The following changes are requested:

• Move the August Board Work Meeting from August 21 to August 19
• Move the September Board Work Session from September 9 to September 10

Click here to see the revised 2025-2026 Board Meeting Calendar.

Pre-work Session 

• Program Evaluation: Specialized Instruction for Students with Disabilities
• Board Policy BCBI Public Participation in Meetings
• Board Policy BCAE Public Hearings
• Board Policy FDB Long-Range Needs Determination – Closure and Consolidation

New Hires & Promotions

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

• Ayanna E. Demery | Principal, Brookview 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:

• North Springs High School’s (NSHS) Modern Music Masters honor society has been named the 2024-2025 Tri-M Music Honor Society National Chapter of the Year by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the Music Honor Society Advisory Council.