By PAT NEWMAN
pnewman@thecitizennews.com

Twenty thousand students are expected to fill the classrooms of Fayette County's 23 elementary, middle and high schools this Monday as another year of classes begins.

“We plan to focus on increasing academic achievement through our local school improvement program,” said Fayette County School Superintendent John DeCotis, noting one of the system's key goals for the 2000-2001 academic year. “We will also be implementing the new character education program mandated by the state,” he added.

Words like respect, dependability, compassion, fairness, self control and responsibility will be incorporated into the curriculum as a means of instilling values into students in kindergarten through 12th grades.

Fayette County schools have had a character education program in place for years at the elementary and middle school levels and will expand it to high schoolers this term, primarily during home room time. Character education is now a requirement for all Georgia public schools. As of July 1, the state Department of Education mandated the 27 terms to be taught.

“Character education is linked to better discipline,” said Stuart Bennett, Fayette's assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, at a recent board meeting. “I've never been a fan of legislation regulating curriculum, but this is truly a good thing.”

The local school improvement program, according to DeCotis, is a collaboration of state, regional and local resources designed to upgrade specific areas of weakness in a school. “All of them [schools] are participating,” DeCotis said, “with some schools receiving more help than others.”

Another program that seeks to improve students' skills is the Pay For Performance program. Grants are available from the state, offering financial rewards to schools for meeting predetermined goals. DeCotis said several Fayette County schools are currently enrolled in the program.

Another area of concern for DeCotis and the Fayette County Board of Education is determining how to accommodate student population. A meeting of the board's facilities advisory committee was scheduled Tuesday night and DeCotis was optimistic that some recommendations might be forthcoming.

Fayette County starts the school year with 50-plus portable classrooms. J.C. Booth Middle School and Fayette County High School will use between 10 and 12 trailers apiece to accommodate the student overload. Mike Satterfield, the school system's facilities director, said approximately 30 portables have been relocated around the county during the summer to meet demand.

With the expansion of North Fayette Elementary School completed, that school's portables have been removed. Flat Rock Middle School also was able to release its trailers following a classroom addition completed early in the year. Fayette and Rising Starr middle schools each have about 10 portables on the grounds for classroom and athletic use. Satterfield said work on middle school additions at Booth, Fayette and Whitewater middle schools is expected to begin by October.

School transportation director John Thompson said his drivers will be running 155 routes starting Monday. “The best thing for people to do on Monday is be patient. We'll be taking a little extra time with the elementary routes,” he predicted. Thompson advised drivers to “pay attention” on the road, especially with more cars and parents at the schools on the first day.