FCS Community Update for June 8, 2022

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June 7, 2022, Post-Meeting Update

The Fulton County School Board met on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, for its regularly scheduled work session at the North Learning Center. Following are highlights of some of the more highly discussed topics, with the full agenda available via BoardDocs. Summaries of Board actions can be found here, and Board policy updates can be found here.

Board Approves FY 2022-23 Budget

After a thorough, nine-month budget development process, the Board of Education approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2023 budget proposed by Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney. Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef introduced the motion by thanking the Board for their diligence and guidance. The budget was developed using the Board’s prescribed set of parameters, which include dedicating at least 75% directly to schools, following a zero-based budgeting process, and collaborating with FCS School Governance Councils.

Dr. Looney also thanked the Board and expressed his appreciation to Dereef and the Budget Services team for their diligent work, emphasizing how the resulting budget allows the district to achieve its goals without wasteful spending. Dr. Looney noted that revenue from state and federal officials increased this year through a fully funded state QBE formula and federal ARP/CARES grants.

Board President Julia Bernath thanked parents, staff and stakeholders for their input and expressed appreciation to taxpayers for their support and for passing ESPLOST, the one-penny sales tax that funds the district’s capital improvement programs. She noted the district has kept its millage rate the lowest among large districts in the metro Atlanta area. This budget continues the district’s history of decreasing the millage rate, with a proposed reduction in millage for a third time in five years.

The final budget reflects total appropriation amounts as presented, including budgeted salary schedules, all provisos, School Allotment Guidelines, a tentative millage rate of 17.49 (down from 17.59 mils) for Maintenance and Operations, and a five-year capital programs budget. The total appropriation amount for all funds is $1,636,599,593.

The millage rate will be finalized later this summer after confirmation of the Fulton County tax digest. More details on the approved budget can be found here.

Superintendent’s Report

Dr. Looney thanked students, staff, and parents for making the 2021-22 school year a success despite the challenges faced by the district. He reminded the community that Summer School begins June 8 with more than 11,000 students and 1,100 staff members coming together at 37 school locations.

Addressing recent national events, Dr. Looney shared that he attended a School Safety Roundtable this week held in conjunction with the Georgia Alliance of School Resource Officers and Educators (GASROE) summer conference. He, Governor Brian Kemp and other school and state leaders met with the goal of building best practices around school safety measures.

Some of the proactive safety protocols already employed by Fulton County Schools include continued work on the Safe Havens audit and the implementation of a district-wide threat assessment protocol, which takes a proactive stance when students exhibit threatening conduct. He added that the district will be more engaged this fall as it relates to personal device use during school and reminded students the school system monitors social media posts via technology and takes all threats seriously. Dr. Looney also announced he will reconvene the district’s safety committee this summer to review best practices and formalize additional input from stakeholders.

Continuous Achievement Policy Update

Ms. Amy Barger, assistant superintendent of Learning and Teaching, provided an update on the district’s Continuous Achievement framework and noted how the policy demonstrates the Board’s deep commitment to ensuring all students learn to their full potential.

Data shows school leaders have made meeting the academic needs of all students a priority during this time of academic recovery from the pandemic. New curricular resources have been updated and developed to support instruction of advanced and accelerated students. Currently, all kindergarten and first-grade students are enrolled in Enhanced Math which has increased the percentage of elementary students in Advanced/Enhanced or Accelerated math by 30% since 2020. During this same time, the percentage of elementary students in Advanced or Accelerated ELA/Reading has increased by 5%. In middle schools, the percentage of students in Enhanced/Advanced or Accelerated Math has increased by 9% since 2020 while students in Advanced or Accelerated ELA have increased by 6%. In addition, the school system continues to implement its Enhanced Math curriculum to ensure that all students can take Algebra I in Grade 8 by 2028. See the full presentation here.

Summer Offerings from FCS Mental Health Partners

School may be out for summer, but school-based mental health is always in! Summer is a great time for both students and parents to focus on mental health and relationships. Fulton County Schools has many community-based partners with incredible offerings available this summer, both in-person and online, to meet the needs of busy summer schedules. This is also a way to become more familiar with the school system’s partners and take advantage of all the support provided to students and families. Check out the unique partner opportunities offered this summer.