Board Bulletin for 9/11/2026

 

The Fulton County Board of Education met on Thursday, September 10, 2026, for its regularly scheduled Board Work Session at the North Learning Center. The full agenda is available on Simbli, a website that provides the Board agenda and all supporting documents online. Meetings are streamed live on the FCS homepage, with recordings available within 48 hours.

Superintendent’s Report 

Dr. Mike Looney began his report by requesting a moment of silence to honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001. He emphasized that our shared values unite us and reminded us that we are one nation strengthened by our common humanity and commitment to one another.

Continuing the theme of supporting and caring for one another, Dr. Looney noted that September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. He encouraged anyone feeling lonely, overwhelmed, or in emotional pain to seek help and remember that they do not have to face their challenges alone.

Turning to district business, Dr. Looney provided an update on the tax digest, saying that the district has not yet received the tax digest and, at this time, does not have a timeline for when it will become available. He expressed appreciation for the Board's commitment, diligence, and leadership as it works to identify solutions to this complex issue. As soon as additional information becomes available, it will be shared with the community to ensure everyone remains informed.

Board Vice President Katie Gregory Announces Resignation

At the Board meeting, Vice President and District 3 representative Katie Gregory announced her resignation, effective Sept. 18, 2026.

“Serving our students and community alongside my talented and dedicated colleagues on the Board has been an honor and an incredible experience,” Gregory said. “I want to thank all of our amazing teachers, school leaders, students, parents and community members. I am leaving because of a professional opportunity that I will announce soon.”

“We appreciate Ms. Gregory’s service and will miss her presence on the Board. She represented her community well and brought a valuable perspective to our work. We are grateful for the time and dedication she has given to Fulton County Schools,” said Board President Kristin McCabe.

The Board will follow its policy for appointing a replacement to serve the remainder of Ms. Gregory’s unexpired term. Additional information about the timeline and appointment process will be announced at the September 17 Board meeting.

District 3 includes portions of College Park, East Point, Hapeville and Sandy Springs.

Attendance and Discipline Update 

Chief Academic Officer Brannon Gaskins shared the August attendance and discipline data with the Board, noting that attendance remained generally stable at the start of the 2026-2027 school year, though absenteeism increased slightly compared to the same time last year. 

Discipline data show an encouraging start to the school year, with fewer incidents and reductions in both in-school and out-of-school suspension days. High schools continue to experience the greatest attendance and discipline challenges. 

Mr. Gaskins emphasized ongoing efforts to strengthen restorative practices, positive behavior supports, and early intervention strategies to promote safe, supportive learning environments. See the full presentation here.

2026 Georgia Milestones Update 

Mr. Gaskins presented an update on 2026 Georgia Milestones results, which showed overall improvement across mathematics, science, and social studies. District proficiency rates increased in all three subject areas, with the strongest gains seen in mathematics. Students demonstrated growth across most grade levels, reflecting the district's continued focus on high-quality instruction and student achievement.

District and school leaders have analyzed the results to identify strengths and opportunities for growth. During the 2026-2027 school year, schools will place additional focus on strengthening middle school mathematics performance and supporting students who receive special education services. Planned efforts include targeted instructional support, ongoing data review, staff training, and expanded resources to help all students reach their full potential. 

Student performance continues to trend upward across core subjects, and the district is using assessment data to guide targeted strategies that support academic success for every learner. See the full presentation here.

Strategic Plan Update: Safety and Operational Efficiency 

Chief Operations Officer Noel Maloof provided an update on operational initiatives supporting the district's strategic priorities of safety, operational efficiency, and effective fiscal management. Highlights included strong performance across transportation, facilities, capital programs, school nutrition, and operational planning.

Transportation achieved a 93% on-time arrival rate, the district's highest performance since COVID, while maintaining a preventable accident rate below benchmark goals. Facilities & Maintenance completed more than 61,000 work orders with an average closure time of less than seven business days and maintained custodial inspection scores above district targets. Capital Programs delivered major renovations and facility upgrades across multiple schools, while operational planning continues to support enrollment forecasting, capacity analysis, staffing, and long-range facility decisions.  

The presentation emphasized continued focus on operational excellence, workforce readiness, safe learning environments, and strategic resource allocation to support student success and district effectiveness. See the full presentation here.

Zone 7 Update  

Dr. Kibbey Crumbley, Zone 7 Superintendent, presented an overview of Zone 7 schools, highlighting student demographics, academic performance, community engagement, fine arts achievements, and areas for continued growth. 

Zone 7 serves 17,039 students across Alpharetta, Milton, and Sandy Springs, supported by 1,788 staff members across 17 schools. The zone reported an internally calculated graduation rate of 97.9%, up from 97.1% the previous year, and celebrated numerous accomplishments, including five GHSA state championships, a National Jimmy Award for Best Actor, and multiple Shuler Awards.

Academically, Zone 7 has demonstrated consistent growth in tested subjects over the past five years. The percentage of students performing at the distinguished level increased by 10.9 percentage points, while students in the beginning/developing categories decreased significantly. 

The presentation also highlighted the zone’s exemplary community engagement efforts and its Fine Arts programs, which have earned recognition at the state, national, and international levels. 

Zone 7 continues to build on a tradition of excellence through strong academic growth, exceptional student achievement, meaningful community engagement, and a steadfast commitment to continuous improvement. See the full presentation here.

Capacity and Utilization Planning Regions A & C

As enrollment continues to decline across Fulton County Schools, district staff are recommending the initiation of planning processes to address underutilized facilities, balance school capacity, and ensure resources are aligned with projected student enrollment. Lauren Malekebu, Executive Director of Operational Planning, provided both recommendations to the Board.  

• Region A (South of Atlanta): Staff recommends beginning a middle school redistricting process tied to the opening of the replacement Camp Creek Middle School facility in 2027. Elementary and high school attendance zones would not be affected. See the full presentation here.
   
• Region C (North of the Chattahoochee River): Staff recommends reviewing elementary and middle school attendance boundaries and potential consolidation options to address underutilized facilities and aging schools. See the full presentation here.

Both regional initiatives will include a series of community forums during fall 2026 to gather input and review draft proposals before any recommendations are brought back to the Board for consideration. More information about these meetings will be available on the district’s website soon. No boundary changes, consolidations, or closures are being approved at this time. 

Pre-Work Session     

Fulton County Schools’ pre-work session is a public meeting held before each monthly work session. It allows 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 EF Data Management
• Board Policy EFB Data Collection and Retrieval Methods
• Board Policy FDC Naming Facilities

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 recognized at the meeting:

• Lynne Meadows was named the Georgia School Nurse Administrator of the Year by the Georgia Association of School Nurses (GASN)
• Forty-Four Fulton County Schools were named to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's List of America's Healthiest Schools for 2026
• Banneker, Northview, and Tri-Cities high schools earned National Magnet Certification through Magnet Schools of America (MSA)

2026-27 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.