Board Bulletin for 8/18/2023

 

The Fulton County Board of Education (FCBOE) met on Thursday, August 17, 2023, for its regularly scheduled Board meeting at the South Learning Center. The full agenda is available online. All items approved are available via BoardDocs. Meetings are streamed live on the district's homepage. Recordings will be available within 48 hours.

Superintendent's Report
As we close on the second full week of the school year, Dr. Mike Looney thanked staff members for the successful opening of school this year, calling it a testament to the hard work and dedication of our employees. He reported the district added 1,400 students since the first day of school and trending data says more students will continue entering the district through Labor Day. He also spoke of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) one-cent sales tax, which enables the district to refurbish, replace, and build new schools. Of the many projects happening throughout the district, Dr. Looney mentioned two schools benefitting from SPLOST: the new Conley Hills Elementary School, which will soon have a groundbreaking, and S.L. Lewis Elementary School, which is scheduled for replacement. He closed his presentation by asking Board members for their consent to move forward with plans to begin the necessary work involved with rebuilding that school.

"Every Child Reads" Year 2 Evaluation
The "Every Child Reads" (ECR) campaign has paved the way for Fulton County Schools (FCS) to embark on a transformative learning journey rooted in the Science of Reading. According to Chief Academic Officer Brannon Gaskins, at the elementary level, the ECR initiative prioritizes purposeful instruction based on the five pillars of reading, which is reinforced by Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) professional learning initiatives, textbook and program adoptions, and district curricular documents. For secondary education, the focus is on standards-based reading instruction and explicit instructional strategies, which are also supported by professional learning efforts, textbook and program adoptions, and district curricular documents.

Amanda Swerdlow, director of Program Evaluation, shared crucial insights about the initiative's impact on elementary and secondary education based on feedback from teachers and literacy leaders obtained through longitudinal focus groups and surveys. The study revealed a range of valuable findings, which you can explore further by clicking here. The evaluation brief will be posted on the district's website next month. After the presentation, Dr. Looney, who is responsible for bringing the program to FCS, reassured Board members that based on the evidence reflected in the presentation, the ECR initiative will work if we stay the course and parents help by having their students read at home.

New Hires and Promotions
The following individuals were approved as school principals at the special called Board meeting on July 25 and at the August 10 Board meeting:

• Michael Scheifflee | Principal, Alpharetta High School
• Johnathan Hall | Principal, Global Impact Academy
• LaTosha Gray | Principal, Ocee Elementary School
• Brandi Nichols | Principal, Parklane Elementary School

2023-24 Community Meetings with Board Members
Each member of the Fulton County Board of Education sponsors a monthly meeting open to all members of the community. 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.

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