K-12 Education
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from public policy organizations influencing the debate on education policy.
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Three Albemarle County Public Schools Honored With 2023-2024 Exemplar Performance Awards
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, May 1 -- Albemarle County Public Schools issued the following news release:
Three Albemarle County public schools were recently honored by the Virginia Board of Education with a 2023-2024 Highest Achievement Award for outstanding assessment performance and practices during the previous school year. Community Lab School, Ivy Elementary School, and Virginia L. Murray Elementary School were among 64 schools recognized by the board as part of the state's Exemplar School Recognition Program. This year's Exemplar Performance Awards recognized 37 Virginia schools with the Highest
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, May 1 -- Albemarle County Public Schools issued the following news release:
Three Albemarle County public schools were recently honored by the Virginia Board of Education with a 2023-2024 Highest Achievement Award for outstanding assessment performance and practices during the previous school year. Community Lab School, Ivy Elementary School, and Virginia L. Murray Elementary School were among 64 schools recognized by the board as part of the state's Exemplar School Recognition Program. This year's Exemplar Performance Awards recognized 37 Virginia schools with the HighestAchievement Award and 27 schools with the Continuous Improvement Award.
According to the Virginia Department of Education, recognition in the Exemplar Awards program is one of the highest achievements a school can receive in the Commonwealth. Schools receiving the Highest Achievement Award have demonstrated high levels of success across all school quality indicators, including success in narrowing achievement gaps.
"These schools exemplify excellence in education and serve as models for others to follow," said Dr. Matthew Haas, Superintendent for Albemarle County Public Schools. "We are immensely proud of the hard work and commitment demonstrated by the staff, students, and community members of Community Lab School, Ivy Elementary, and Virginia L. Murray Elementary."
In order to earn the Board of Education's Highest Achievement Award, a school must achieve Performance Level One for reading, mathematics and science based on the student pass rate for the "all students" group in the school, as well as for each student group. The school also is required to achieve Level One in the Chronic Absenteeism, Graduation and Completion Index, and Dropout Rate school quality indicators.
More specifically, schools that receive the Highest Achievement Award must be accredited and meet the state pass rate benchmarks in reading, math and science (75% for reading and 70% for math and science) on state assessments. All student groups within the school must meet those state benchmarks in reading and math. Additionally, for schools with two student groups, there can be no more than five percentage points between the lowest performing group and all other students in the school, and for schools with three or more student groups, there can be no more than 10 percentage points between the lowest performing group and all other students in the school. The school must also demonstrate a chronic absenteeism rate of 15% or lower.
For schools with a graduating class, such as Community Lab School, two additional criteria apply. The school must demonstrate a Graduation and Completion Index of 88 points or higher, as well as a dropout rate of 6% or lower.
"I commend the faculty, students and families of these schools for their dedication to academic excellence and continuous improvement," said Haas. "Their achievements reflect the collective effort and solid commitment to student success within Albemarle County Public Schools."
For more information about Albemarle County Public Schools' performance, visit the division's Virginia School Quality Profile (https://schoolquality.virginia.gov/divisions/albemarle-county-public-schools).
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Original text here: https://www.k12albemarle.org/our-departments/communications/news-board/~board/newsroom/post/three-albemarle-county-public-schools-honored-with-2023-2024-exemplar-performance-awards
FCPS Students Take Top Honors at Virginia FBLA State Leadership Conference
FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, May 1 -- Fairfax County Public Schools issued the following news:
Twenty four Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students won first place awards at the 2024 Virginia Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference held recently in Reston. More than 100 students placed in the top four in their event and qualified to compete in the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Orlando in June. A complete list of winners is below.
Diane Donkor from Edison High School was installed as an FBLA State Officer (vice president from the Northern Virginia region).
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FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, May 1 -- Fairfax County Public Schools issued the following news:
Twenty four Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students won first place awards at the 2024 Virginia Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference held recently in Reston. More than 100 students placed in the top four in their event and qualified to compete in the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Orlando in June. A complete list of winners is below.
Diane Donkor from Edison High School was installed as an FBLA State Officer (vice president from the Northern Virginia region).Kedar Krishnan from Robinson Secondary School received the Michael Mills Learn to Lead Scholarship, and Michelle Wang from Lake Braddock Secondary School received the L. Marguerite Crumley Scholarship.
Two hundred students from FCPS high schools competed in 55 events ranging from 3-D Animation and Accounting to Cyber Security, Computer Problem Solving, and Public Speaking. FBLA is the largest career and technical student organization in the world. Each year, the organization helps over 200,000 members prepare for careers in business. More information about FBLA is available online (http://www.fbla.org/).
Name ... Category ... School ... Place
Steven Montoya ... Accounting I ... South Lakes High School ... $5
Taivan Bayasgalan ... Accounting II ... Marshall High School ... $5
Vedansh Garg ... Accounting II ... Marshall High School ... $4
Emma Hering ... Agribusiness ... Hayfield Secondary School ... $2
Chapter Project ... American Enterprise Project ... Centreville High School ... $5
Chapter Project ... American Enterprise Project ... Robinson Secondary School ... $4
Shaan Agarwal ... Banking & Financial Systems ... Robinson Secondary School ... 3
Duykhang Nguyen ... Banking & Financial Systems ... Robinson Secondary School ... 3
Nathan Estep ... Banking & Financial Systems ... Marshall High School ... 4
Aadya Reddy ... Broadcast Journalism ... Westfield High School ... 3
Thanh Nguyen ... Business Calculations ... Annandale High School ... 2
Carolyn Tai ... Business Ethics ... Westfield High School ... 1
Harika Valluri ... Business Ethics ... Westfield High School ... 1
Kedar Krishnan ... Business Ethics ... Robinson Secondary School ... 4
Shriman Senthil ... Business Etiquette ... Liberty Middle School ... 9
Arjun Malghan ... Business Plan ... Oakton High School ... $5
Emily An ... Business Plan ... McLean High School ... 2
Chelsea Gong ... Business Plan ... McLean High School ... 2
Jeasmitha Rajesh ... Business Plan ... Westfield High School ... 3
Angela Sun ... Business Plan ... Westfield High School ... 3
Cassidy Lindenberg ... Business Plan ... Robinson Secondary School ... $4
Lily Staton ... Business Plan ... Robinson Secondary School ... 4
Aubrey Swenson ... Business Plan ... Robinson Secondary School ... 4
Ruby Bang ... Career Research ... Rocky Run Middle School ... 2
Praharsha Gopanapalli ... Client Service ... Westfield High School ... 1
Carmela Wendel ... Client Service ... Robinson Secondary School ... 2
Rohit Paka ... Coding & Programming ... Chantilly High School ... 1
Vishwa Solaiappan ... Coding & Programming ... Chantilly High School ... $1
Chapter Project ... Community Service Presentation ... Glasgow Middle School ... $5
Chapter Project ... Community Service Project ... Robinson Secondary School ... $1
Chapter Project ... Community Service Project ... Chantilly High School ... $4
Hang Tang ... Computer Applications ... Falls Church High School ... $2
Aditya Harimurti ... Computer Game & Simulation Programming ... Centreville High School ... $2
Rishan Reddy ... Computer Game & Simulation Programming ... Centreville High School ... $2
Sidharth Dusanapudi ... Data Analysis ... Centreville High School ... $2
Jack Koo ... Data Analysis ... Centreville High School ... $2
Shisir Vadrevu ... Data Analysis ... Centreville High School ... $2
Justin Anand ... Database Design & Applications ... Westfield High School ... $1
Rachel Neathery ... Digital Animation ... Chantilly High School ... $1
Katherine Bergersen ... Digital Animation ... Centreville High School ... $2
Ruby Bang ... Digital Citizenship ... Rocky Run Middle School ... $8
Audriana Jay ... Digital Video Production ... South Lakes High School ... $3
Clara Landeryou ... Digital Video Production ... South Lakes High School ... $3
Amelia Pimentel ... Digital Video Production ... South Lakes High School ... $3
Eric Stone ... Economics ... Chantilly High School ... $2
Benita Xavier ... Economics ... Falls Church High School ... $4
Connor Johnson ... Entrepreneurship ... South Lakes High School ... $1
Vikas Kotla ... Entrepreneurship ... South Lakes High School ... $1
Aneesh Mandapati ... Entrepreneurship ... South Lakes High School ... $1
Miriam Stavlund ... Exploring Business Issues ... Glasgow Middle School ... $2
Andreas Kolazas ... Financial Statement Analysis ... Fairfax High School ... $1
Anwita Mittal ... Future Business Educator ... Westfield High School ... $5
Valerie Woronicak ... Future Business Educator ... Robinson Secondary School ... $4
Sachika Mann ... Future Business Leader ... South Lakes High School ... $3
Jeasmitha Rajesh ... Health Care Administration ... Westfield High School ... $1
Jacqueline Dougherty ... Health Care Administration ... Robinson Secondary School ... $3
Adama Sawi ... Help Desk ... Centreville High School ... $1
Sydney Chu ... Hospitality & Event Management ... Marshall High School ... $2
Apoorva Navale ... Hospitality & Event Management ... Marshall High School ... 2
Zubin Kumar ... Hospitality & Event Management ... South Lakes High School ... 4
Matthew McArthur ... Hospitality & Event Management ... South Lakes High School ... 4
Akshat Rout ... Hospitality & Event Management ... South Lakes High School ... 4
Aidan Martin ... Insurance & Risk Management ... Marshall High School ... 2
Siddarth Rekhi ... International Business ... Centreville High School ... 1
Yusra Ahmed ... International Business ... Robinson Secondary School ... 2
Jacob Ayers ... International Business ... Marshall High School ... 3
Ethan Bong ... International Business ... Marshall High School ... 3
Tyler Burbano ... International Business ... Marshall High School ... 3
Erik Hyde ... Interpersonal Communication ... Liberty Middle School ... 4
Manas Puri ... Introduction to Business Concepts ... Lake Braddock Secondary School ... 1
Chrysostomos Tsiglifis ... Introduction to Business Concepts ... McLean High School ... 2
Maneesh Vaddi ... Introduction to Business Procedures ... Westfield High School ... 1
Alexandra (Ally) Price ... Introduction to Business Procedures ... Robinson Secondary School ... 2
Sienna Wade ... Introduction to Business Procedures ... Robinson Secondary School ... 4
Anisha Upadhyayula ... Introduction to Event Planning ... Westfield High School ... 5
Atiksh Gupta ... Introduction to Information Technology ... Westfield High School ... 5
Ramy Alridge ... Introduction to Information Technology ... Hayfield Secondary High School ... 4
Manas Puri ... Introduction to Marketing Concepts ... Lake Braddock Secondary School ... 2
Seo Yun Noh ... Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure ... Centreville High School ... 1
Maneesh Vaddi ... Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure ... Westfield High School ... 5
Ethan Kimulli ... Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure ... Robinson Secondary School ... 4
Sahir Abrar ... Introduction to Programming ... Centreville High School ... 5
Rohith Pedda ... Introduction to Programming ... Centreville High School ... 5
Ritesh Phuyal ... Introduction to Programming ... Centreville High School ... 5
Diego Lowe ... Introduction to Public Speaking ... McLean High School ... 3
Suryaa Kalyan ... Introduction to Social Media Strategy ... Centreville High School ... 3
Sean Kim ... Introduction to Social Media Strategy ... Centreville High School ... 3
Ishan Rekhi ... Introduction to Social Media Strategy ... Centreville High School ... 3
Cyrus Sharafi ... Job Interview ... Marshall High School ... 2
Christine McAfee ... Journalism ... Edison High School ... 5
Michelle Wang ... L. Marguerite Crumley Scholarship ... Lake Braddock Secondary School ... 1
Erik Hyde ... Leadership ... Liberty Middle School ... 3
Ella Tran ... Leadership ... Liberty Middle School ... 7
Shriman Senthil ... Leadership ... Liberty Middle School ... 5
Dmitry Kornilov ... Local Chapter Annual Business Report ... Chantilly High School ... 3
Ajitesh Bontagarla ... Local Chapter Annual Business Report ... Chantilly High School ... 3
Arnav Jadhav ... Local Chapter Annual Business Report ... Chantilly High School ... 3
Ajitesh Bontagarla ... Management Information Systems ... Chantilly High School ... 2
Nimal Muthukumar ... Management Information Systems ... Chantilly High School ... 2
Emma Tukhi ... Management Information Systems ... Robinson Secondary School ... 3
Justin Anand ... Management Information Systems ... Westfield High School ... 5
Chris Park ... Management Information Systems ... Westfield High School ... 5
Kedar Krishnan ... Michael Mills Learn to Lead Scholarship ... Robinson Secondary School ... 2
Sanjayram Vempati ... Mobile Application Development ... Westfield High School ... 3
Nii Annan ... Multimedia & Website Development ... Glasgow Middle School ... 3
Samuel Mulat ... Multimedia & Website Development ... Glasgow Middle School ... 3
Nishanth Kolakalapudi ... Networking Infrastructures ... Westfield High School ... 3
Rishabh Malkani ... Organizational Leadership ... Westfield High School ... 1
Charles Barrios ... Parliamentary Procedure ... Edison High School ... 2
Taylor Erickson ... Parliamentary Procedure ... Edison High School ... 2
Christopher Lastrape ... Parliamentary Procedure ... Edison High School ... 2
Anamaria Reyes-Panchame ... Parliamentary Procedure ... Edison High School ... 2
Chapter Project ... Partnership with Business Project ... Centreville High School ... 2
Shri Bala ... Public Service Announcement ... Falls Church High School ... 1
Jessica Nguyen-Tran ... Public Service Announcement ... Falls Church High School ... 1
Aayush Shivashankar ... Public Speaking ... Chantilly High School ... 3
Ella Tran ... Running an Effective Meeting ... Liberty Middle School ... 3
Angeline Montilla ... Sales Presentation ... Lake Braddock Secondary School ... 2
Prabhav Patibandla ... Securities & Investments ... Westfield High School ... 4
Giri Allamsetty ... Social Media Strategies ... McLean High School ... 1
Sophie Zhang ... Social Media Strategies ... McLean High School ... 1
Natasha Lennon ... Sports & Entertainment Management ... Robinson Secondary School ... 3
Maria Smith ... Sports & Entertainment Management ... Robinson Secondary School ... 3
Caitlin Seiler ... Supply Chain Management ... Chantilly High School ... 2
Sohan Chigurupati ... UX Design ... Westfield High School ... 3
Samantha Leal ... UX Design ... Centreville High School ... 5
Amirah Racine ... Website Coding & Development ... Robinson Secondary School ... 5
Akshara Rajagopal ... Website Design ... Westfield High School ... 4
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Original text here: https://www.fcps.edu/news/fcps-students-take-top-honors-virginia-fbla-state-leadership-conference-0
JPS School Board Approves Demolition of Three Closed Schools
JACKSON, Mississippi, April 30 -- Jackson Public Schools issued the following news on April 29, 2024:
At its regular meeting on April 18, 2024, the Board of Trustees approved a recommendation from Superintendent Dr. Errick L. Greene and the administration for the demolition of the following closed school sites:
* Baker Elementary, located at 300 E. Santa Clair Street
* French Elementary, located at 311 Joel Avenue
* Woodville Heights Elementary, located at 2930 McDowell Road Extension
After several weeks of deliberation by the Facilities Repurposing Advisory Committee (FRAC), it was recommended
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JACKSON, Mississippi, April 30 -- Jackson Public Schools issued the following news on April 29, 2024:
At its regular meeting on April 18, 2024, the Board of Trustees approved a recommendation from Superintendent Dr. Errick L. Greene and the administration for the demolition of the following closed school sites:
* Baker Elementary, located at 300 E. Santa Clair Street
* French Elementary, located at 311 Joel Avenue
* Woodville Heights Elementary, located at 2930 McDowell Road Extension
After several weeks of deliberation by the Facilities Repurposing Advisory Committee (FRAC), it was recommendedthat the aforementioned buildings be demolished due to a lack of interest from potential buyers for redevelopment, primarily attributed to their location. Superintendent Greene stated, "We determined that the economic value and condition of those properties were not strong after a Request for Interest was issued. We can no longer afford the carrying costs for maintaining the upkeep of the buildings, which have become victims of vandalism." The district's inability to ensure the vacant buildings' security further contributed to the recommendation.
A demolition date has not been scheduled yet. The district will be seeking input from the community on what to do with the empty spaces once demolition is completed. Some options could include green spaces or neighborhood walking trails or community gardens.
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Original text here: https://www.jackson.k12.ms.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=779&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=45733&PageID=1
Fairfax County Public Schools Names New Chief Human Resources Officer
FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, April 30 -- Fairfax County Public Schools issued the following news on April 29, 2024:
Superintendent Dr. Michelle C. Reid has named William Solomon, who currently serves as executive director of Talent Acquisition in Houston Independent School District (ISD), to the role of chief human resources officer, effective June 3.
An experienced education executive, Solomon comes to FCPS with a track record of transformative leadership in Houston, one of the largest school divisions in the country. His leadership accomplishments demonstrate creative responses to divisionwide challenges.
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FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, April 30 -- Fairfax County Public Schools issued the following news on April 29, 2024:
Superintendent Dr. Michelle C. Reid has named William Solomon, who currently serves as executive director of Talent Acquisition in Houston Independent School District (ISD), to the role of chief human resources officer, effective June 3.
An experienced education executive, Solomon comes to FCPS with a track record of transformative leadership in Houston, one of the largest school divisions in the country. His leadership accomplishments demonstrate creative responses to divisionwide challenges.He spearheaded projects that had a positive impact on teacher recruitment, such as improving the accuracy of vacancy projections, decreasing the time to hire, expanding the use of visa programs, and increasing the volume of role-qualified applicants.
Solomon's leadership improved pre-employment services for more than 10,000 new hires and employee transfers annually, including onboarding. He championed the implementation of an enhanced salary scale for special education teachers, and has broken department silos and streamlined cross-functional workflows. His work in strategy and innovation will be an asset as FCPS begins work on a comprehensive Human Capital Management (HCM) system.
Additionally, Solomon implemented and sustained a paid summer internship program, giving students access to real-world work experiences within departments throughout the school division. Solomon was also instrumental in the development of the school division's nationally-recognized COVID-19 safety plan, providing a safe return to in-person learning and work.
"As one of the largest school divisions in the U.S. -- and one of the largest employers in Virginia -- Fairfax County Public Schools is uniquely positioned to transform the lives of students, employees, parents and caregivers, and the broader community," Solomon said. "I'm honored to join FCPS, and look forward to ensuring that all students have access to the high-quality, high-impact professionals they need to reach their highest promise and fullest potential. I'm grateful for the trust being instilled, and excited about the equity-driven work ahead."
Solomon has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Supply Chain Management, with a minor in Human Resources Management. He also earned an MBA with a concentration in Human Resources and Law from the University of Houston.
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Original text here: https://www.fcps.edu/news/fairfax-county-public-schools-names-new-chief-human-resources-officer
Albemarle County Public Schools Announces 2023-24 Teacher of the Year, Classified Employee of the Year
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, April 30 -- Albemarle County Public Schools issued the following news release:
Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) is delighted to name the 2023-24 Teacher of the Year and Classified Employee of the Year.
Sarah Reyes, an English and geometry teacher and the English Learners (EL) Department Chair at Albemarle High School (AHS), has been awarded the distinction of ACPS 2023-24 Teacher of the Year.
According to AHS Assistant Principal Leilani Keys, Sarah Reyes is the true embodiment of the goals of ACPS. In fact, she attributes the school's decrease in chronic absenteeism
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, April 30 -- Albemarle County Public Schools issued the following news release:
Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) is delighted to name the 2023-24 Teacher of the Year and Classified Employee of the Year.
Sarah Reyes, an English and geometry teacher and the English Learners (EL) Department Chair at Albemarle High School (AHS), has been awarded the distinction of ACPS 2023-24 Teacher of the Year.
According to AHS Assistant Principal Leilani Keys, Sarah Reyes is the true embodiment of the goals of ACPS. In fact, she attributes the school's decrease in chronic absenteeismin part to Reyes and her team's work with students.
"When other teachers or staff members cannot get ahold of students and parents to address barriers to attendance, Sarah Reyes' outreach is often instrumental in increasing student and family engagement," Keys said. "When we sit in student success meetings to strategize around improving attendance and achievement, Sarah is always there to say, 'I'll call them; I have their number,' or, 'This family needs support; here's what we can do.'"
In addition to her work directly with families and students around absenteeism, Reyes has also helped form several cultural groups within the school community, including the Latinx Club, the Latino Mentorship Program, and Latino Family Forums since she began teaching at AHS more than seven years ago.
"In our strategic plan, Learning for All, ACPS commits, in part, to developing a culturally responsive environment that respects and champions the diversity of life experiences of all," Superintendent Dr. Matthew Haas said. "Ms. Reyes is a shining example of a teacher who is ensuring that we uphold this commitment to our community, and we are grateful to spotlight the work that she's done toward this goal."
Reyes' passion, she said, is to do what she can to lower the dropout rate of EL learners. According to the United States Department of Education, the EL dropout rate nationally is about 29%. Many factors can contribute to a student's decision to drop out, Reyes said, like financial issues, family issues, or a lack of knowledge of the education requirements in the United States.
"It's a topic close to my heart, as I empathize with the pressures faced by newly arrived students who must navigate a new country with significant responsibilities," she said. "As a lifelong innovator, I strive to create solutions, alternative routes, and enhanced support systems to ensure students receive the best education despite challenging circumstances."
In addition to receiving the distinction of the ACPS 2023-24 Teacher of the Year, Reyes will move forward as the ACPS nomination for the Virginia Department of Education's Teacher of the Year competition.
Carla Dodson, Fiscal Administrator I at Virginia L. Murray Elementary School (MES), has been selected as ACPS 2023-24 Classified Employee of the Year.
"In every organization, there are individuals whose contributions go beyond the ordinary. Someone who has a unique set of skills and qualities and who can create an atmosphere of unparalleled support," Heather Solga, a teacher at MES and a colleague of Dodson, said. "For Murray Elementary, Carla is that person."
Dodson, who has been with ACPS since 2011, when she began her time at ACPS as a bus driver, and at Murray since 2014 as an office support staff member, goes the extra mile for her community, according to the colleagues and parents who nominated her for this distinction.
Leslie Ratan, a parent of students at MES and a member of the school's PTO, recalled meeting Dodson for the first time in 2014 when she and her son made an unscheduled stop at the school to drop off enrollment paperwork.
"On that day, Carla kindly stopped what she was doing and took a few minutes to show [my son] around the school," Ratan said. "Unsurprisingly, this made him feel welcome and much more confident in starting a new school in a new state."
"Ms. Dodson's unwavering dedication to our students, our staff, and our community embodies the mission, vision and values of ACPS," Haas said. "We are so fortunate to have her on our team and are thrilled to honor her contributions to our community in this way."
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Original text here: https://www.k12albemarle.org/our-departments/communications/news-board/~board/newsroom/post/albemarle-county-public-schools-announces-2023-24-teacher-of-the-year-classified-employee-of-the-year
JPS Celebrates Grand Opening of New Baseball, Softball Field Complex
JACKSON, Mississippi, April 27 -- Jackson Public Schools issued the following news:
Jackson Public Schools is excited to announce the completion of a new baseball and softball field complex situated at the Hardy Hughes Athletic Complex.
Dozens of athletes, educators and community leaders attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the milestone.
The field features modern design and engineering. The baseball diamond has groomed infield dirt and outfield grass with new dugouts and seating and scoreboard. The softball field, adjacent to the baseball diamond, mirrors the same level of quality
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JACKSON, Mississippi, April 27 -- Jackson Public Schools issued the following news:
Jackson Public Schools is excited to announce the completion of a new baseball and softball field complex situated at the Hardy Hughes Athletic Complex.
Dozens of athletes, educators and community leaders attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the milestone.
The field features modern design and engineering. The baseball diamond has groomed infield dirt and outfield grass with new dugouts and seating and scoreboard. The softball field, adjacent to the baseball diamond, mirrors the same level of qualityand attention to detail, featuring a well-maintained playing surface and seating for spectators.
"The addition of these facilities not only elevates the athletic programs within the District but also serves as a focal point for community pride and involvement," said JPS Athletic Director, Darryle Jones.
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Original text here: https://www.jackson.k12.ms.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=779&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=45731&PageID=1
FCS Board Bulletin for April 26, 2024
ATLANTA, Georgia, April 27 -- Fulton County Schools issued the following news on April 26, 2024:
The Fulton County Board of Education (FCBOE) met on Thursday, April 25, 2024, for its regularly scheduled Board meeting at the South Learning Center. The full agenda is available online (https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/fcss/Board.nsf/Public). All items approved are available via BoardDocs (https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/fcss/Board.nsf/Public). Meetings are streamed live on the district's homepage (https://www.fultonschools.org/). Recordings will be available within 48 hours (https://www.fultonschools.org/boardvideos).
Superintendent's
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ATLANTA, Georgia, April 27 -- Fulton County Schools issued the following news on April 26, 2024:
The Fulton County Board of Education (FCBOE) met on Thursday, April 25, 2024, for its regularly scheduled Board meeting at the South Learning Center. The full agenda is available online (https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/fcss/Board.nsf/Public). All items approved are available via BoardDocs (https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/fcss/Board.nsf/Public). Meetings are streamed live on the district's homepage (https://www.fultonschools.org/). Recordings will be available within 48 hours (https://www.fultonschools.org/boardvideos).
Superintendent'sReport
The Thursday meeting started with Fulton County Schools (FCS) Supt. Dr. Mike Looney presenting his budget recommendation for the 2025 fiscal year to the Board. Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef then delved into the specifics of this recommendation during Budget Markup #2. Further details regarding Mr. Dereef's report are included in this email below.
Dr. Mike Looney also took a moment to acknowledge Administrative Professional's Day on April 24, emphasizing the crucial role their support plays in the district's operations. He then introduced Chief Academic Officer Brannon Gaskins for a Summer Learning update and Chief Communications Officer Brian Noyes for an update on the 2024 Georgia legislative session.
Election Day Calendar Change
State law requires FCS to allow voting in their facilities when requested by the Fulton County Department of Registrations and Elections. The calendar parameters approved by the Board in October 2023 state that FCS will utilize remote learning for state/national elections or other emergency situations. Therefore, the Board voted to adjust the current school year calendar to make May 21 a remote day for students as it is a state election day. The district administration is working with schools to create alternative plans for student activities already scheduled at schools designated as polling sites. See the updated calendar here (https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/fcss/Board.nsf/files/D4DTTV788D17/$file/23-24CalendarDraft_BWS_4-24_MayElectionDay.pdf).
Superintendent's FY2025 Budget Recommendation
Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef and Chief Human Resources Officer Gonzalo La Cava presented the Superintendent's General Fund budget recommendation for FY25. Thanks to the leadership of Dr. Looney and the cooperative and diligent leadership efforts in district departments and at schools, with School Governance Council support, FCS has a budget recommendation that aligns with the parameters adopted by the Board in October and November 2023.
With school enrollment down, several factors in addition to inflation have contributed to an increase in the FY25 budget, including rising health insurance compensation and teacher retirement system rates. For the General Fund, which is the primary operating fund, projected revenue is $1.3 billion with recommended expenditures at $1.4 billion. Mr. Dereef stated that 78% of the General Fund budget is allocated directly to schools and noted one major service not included in that 78% is student transportation, which is an additional 5.18% of the total budget.
Consistent with the Board-directed budget parameters, the district has found a transitional path to address the end of federal support once Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, also called the American Rescue Plan (ARP), sunset in September 2024. This funding was instrumental in executing our Bridge to Success plan. To continue some of the key initiatives like our literacy work and Summer Learning, the district is planning for $24 million to return as a General Fund expense.
Mr. Dereef also offered trend data that help determine budgeting processes and assure long-term sustainability. Budget sources presented by Mr. Dereef include an increase in local fair share and currently assumes a millage rate reduction to 17.13, one of the lowest rates compared to other school districts in metro Atlanta. With school enrollment down, several factors in addition to inflation have contributed to an increase in the FY25 budget, including a rise in health insurance, compensation, and Teacher Retirement System rates. In summary, the budget request is a 2.56% increase from the current budget.
Upon completion of Mr. Dereef's presentation, Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Gonzalo La Cava shared the major highlight for the FY25 budget, which is the compensation recommendation for district employees. He began his presentation by stating that over the past three years, the Board, along with Superintendent Looney, have demonstrated unwavering commitment by approving raises exceeding 12% for all FCS staff. This has enabled our district to remain highly competitive within the metro Atlanta market, further illustrating a consistent effort by the FCBOE and district leadership to positively impact the earnings of all FCS employees over the past decade. This strategic approach to providing competitive wages has yielded significant results, particularly in the recruitment and retention of teachers. Last year, the district began the school year with 99% of vacancies filled and maintained this above-industry-standard level throughout the year. Notably, district-priority schools witnessed a 96% fill rate for vacancies, accompanied by a reduction in turnover.
Dr. La Cava then presented seven recommendations developed with various factors including market data, cost of living, stakeholder feedback, and current budget constraints. The first recommendation proposes a 4.5% salary increase and a step increase for all eligible FCS staff. Given the district's unwavering commitment to safety and security, the second recommendation aims to develop a salary schedule that increases police officers' base pay by $5,000. The third recommendation seeks to close the salary gap between the Pre-K and K-12 salary schedules, which he says will help recruit and retain staff for Pre-K programs.
To enhance operational efficiency in schools, the fourth recommendation proposes increasing the workdays of assistant principals and athletic directors to 235. The final recommendations he proposed are instrumental in refining the district's recruitment strategy, including recruitment incentives. These recommendations, along with hiring and retention incentives, equate to $59.5 million in the FY25 General Fund.
Looking ahead, Mr. Dereef gave some examples of how the district will continue lean operations, including streamlining processes to be as efficient as possible, looking for opportunities to share resources, investments in innovation, diversification of revenue stream and maximizing funding to minimize the burden on taxpayers.
Comprehensive information about the budget, including the budget book, is available on the FCS website (https://www.fultonschools.org/budgetservices) for the public to review before the first budget hearing on May 7, followed by the second hearing on May 16. After that, the Board will vote to adopt the tentative budget. The final adoption of the FY2025 Budget is scheduled for June 11. See the full budget recommendation here (https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/fcss/Board.nsf/files/D4NLTN57F8F2/$file/FY25%20Superintendent%20Budget%20Recommendation%20042524.pdf).
Summer Learning Update
The district is planning for more than 10,000 students both face-to-face and virtually this summer, according to Chief Academic Officer Brannon Gaskins, who presented the 2024 Summer Learning overview to the Board. School will be held June 5 through July 3 for grades 3-8 and high school students. Students enrolled in Fulton Virtual will participate in Summer Learning from June 5 through July 10. All grade levels will observe the Juneteenth and Independence Day holidays (Wednesday, June 19 and Thursday, July 4 respectively.)
Each year, efforts are made to rotate the Summer Learning locations within each zone; however, schools undergoing significant renovations over the summer are unable to host. The feeder patterns for each summer site can be viewed at fultonschools.org/summerlearning. Parents have already received notification from their child's school if Summer Learning is required and directions for registering or opting out of required Summer Learning.
Based on the Summer Learning 2023 evaluation results, FCS has implemented two changes for summer 2024. All elementary students will attend school for a full day, receiving direct instruction in English language arts, reading, and mathematics in the morning. In the afternoon, students will take four week-long enrichment courses. The course options will vary by school but include courses such as exploration in visual arts and music as well as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), career technical agricultural education (CTAE), instructional technology, design thinking, physical activity, Spanish culture, and language.
There are no changes to the middle school model. Each student will take an English language arts and a math class. Finally, high school students will have three options for summer learning based on how they learn best including face-to-face, credit recovery, or Fulton Virtual. See the full presentation here (https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/fcss/Board.nsf/files/D4NSSL74185F/$file/Summer%20Learning%20Board%20Presentation%204.25.2024.pdf). High School students will participate in End of Course Milestones testing on July - July 11.
2024 Legislative Update
During the 2024 Georgia legislative session, a series of impactful bills were passed that directly affect local schools. Chief Communications Officer Brian Noyes delivered a comprehensive overview to the Board, highlighting the major changes arising from these new laws.
One of the most critical aspects discussed was the state budget, which stands as the cornerstone of education-related legislation passed annually. Mr. Dereef provided insights into the budget changes during his budget recommendation, although specific details are still undergoing refinement.
In terms of policy, numerous significant bills were passed, and Governor Kemp has already signed several into law. These bills covered a broad spectrum of topics, including the introduction of vouchers for private schools, initiatives to enhance bus safety, measures for social media monitoring in educational settings, and exemptions for local taxes impacting school funding.
These legislative changes can mark a significant shift in how schools operate and receive funding in Georgia. Mr. Noyes indicated staff will be taking a more in-depth look at the specific implications and nuances of these new laws, providing stakeholders with a detailed understanding of what to expect in the future. See the full presentation here (https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/fcss/Board.nsf/files/D4NNE65F86AE/$file/Legislative%20Bills%20Presentation%20APR%202024.pdf).
Update to 2023-24 Student Code of Conduct
Due to a recent decision by the State Board of Education, FCS proposed an update to Rule 21: Off-Campus Misconduct in the district's Student Code of Conduct & Discipline Handbook. Action was taken by the Fulton Board of Education to revise the language at their April 25 meeting. The approved changes can be found here (https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/fcss/Board.nsf/files/D4GL7F547DFF/$file/OperatingGuidelineJD_CodeofConduct_4-19-24.pdf).
New Hires & Promotions
The following individual was approved for a new position at the Board meeting:
Stanetress Evans | Principal, Dunwoody Springs Elementary School
2024-25 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 (https://www.fultonschools.org/communitymeetings) to see the meeting schedules of all Board members.
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