Highlights from the Fulton County Board of Education's meeting last Thursday included:

Spotlight and recognitions: This month's Spotlight on Achievement featured the eight-step instructional process being followed in 26 Fulton County schools.

Students and staff from Tubman and Northwood elementary schools explained how the process has led to significant gains in student achievement.

Staff and school recognition: Centennial High School teacher Tom Washburn and Seaborn Lee Elementary teacher Michael Stewart received recognition for their selection to the 2000 Atlanta Journal Constitution Honor Teacher Program.

Washburn was a finialist in last spring's program, receiving $5,000. Stewart was named an honor teacher and received $10,000 from the paper. Nominations for this year's program are now being selected.

Honors continue for Chattahoochee High, most recently named a National Blue Ribbon School. The award comes from the U.S. Department of Education.

A team from the school traveled to Washington, D.C. for the official recognition ceremony.

Superintendent and board honors: The board congratulated Superintendent Stephen Dolinger on being named the 2001 Georgia Superintendent of the Year.

The award comes from the Georgia School Superintendents Association in recognition of Dolinger's leadership and accomplishments.

Board members received certificates from state School Superintendent Linda Schrenko for successfully completing the Georgia Department of Education's Leadership Academy.

Vice President Janet Forbes received thanks for her eight years of service on the Board of Education. Her fellow board members presented Forbes, whose term expires Dec. 31, with a sculpture.

New rules for special education: Nan Hughes, executive director of services for exceptional children, presented an overview of new Georgia Board of Education rules affecting special education services.

One major change involves reducing the number of days allowed for evaluating and developing individual education plans from 90 to 60. The new regulation also presumes that the least restrictive environment for students with special needs will be the general education classroom.

Pilot network program: Information on a Cisco Networking Academy was presented for first reading. Tri-Cities High School has asked to pilot this program during the 2001-2002 school year. The four-semester program covers principles and practices of designing, building and maintaining computer networks and is taught both through the Internet and hands-on learning activities.

Naming of facilities: The board accepted for first reading the following naming recommendations for five schools opening in 2001. Committees from each of the five sites presented three recommendations for review. The board will vote on these names next month.

Big Creek Elementary School Site Stoney Creek, Clear Springs, Creek View.

Hembree Road Elementary School Site Hembree Springs, Hembree Oaks, Hembree Park.

Scott Road Elementary School Site Knights, Nesbitt Valley, Hillside.

Hembree Road Middle School Site Elkins Pointe, Great Oaks, Elkins Corner.

Rogers Circle Middle School Site McGinnis Crossing, River Trail, River Plains.

Other instruction items: Extensions until February were granted for Woodland Elementary and Fulton Science Academy Charter School petitions.

Attendance zones set: Last December the board approved new zone lines for elementary and middle schools in north Fulton, effective with the 2001-2002 school year.

Last month, the school system administration presented fine-tuning recommendations for these zone lines. This month the board approved those administrative recommendations with modifications.

Personnel actions: The board approved the personnel action report and the superintendent's recommendations for employment, reclassification and separation including:

New hire Felicia A. Hedgebeth, software integration specialist for business computer applications, to technical support specialist II for technology services promotions.

Retiring Sandra M. McKittrick, College Park Elementary assistant principal.