Friday, February 21, 2003

Board of Education adopts curriculum for 2003/2004

The Fulton County Board of Education met for its Pre-Board work session on Feb. 11 and Board legislative meeting on Feb. 13. All members were present.

The board made recommendations or took action on the following agenda items:

Language Arts adoption. Publishers were recommended for K-8 language arts curriculum adoption, including support materials for special education. The action follows two years of review from staff and parents. Staff will be trained on the new curriculum prior to its implementation. Highlights of the adopted curriculum include emphasis on grammar, spelling, and phonics instruction.

Charter school petition. The board gave conditional approval to the Spalding Drive Elementary School conversion charter petition. The petitioners will have to show that they have met the conditions outlined by the board and school system administration in order to receive final board approval next month. The Academy of Fulton charter petition vote was delayed for 30 days.

Budget calendar. The 2004 budget calendar was approved and will be posted to the school system's web site. Key dates include public hearings on Feb. 20 and April 24, and Budget Workshops on April 2, April 23, May 1, and a tentative workshop on May 19.

Board calendar. Proposed 2003-2004 meeting dates for the Board of Education were presented for information. The tentative calendar continues alternating meetings between the Administrative Center and Dunwoody Springs Elementary School, but changes the starting times to 4:30 p.m. for Pre-Board and 6:30 p.m. for Board.

Attendance zones. The 2003-2004 attendance zones for south Fulton elementary schools were approved, while the north Fulton middle school attendance lines were presented for third reading. A vote for the north Fulton lines is expected in March.

Policies and procedures. The Board received three policies and procedures for information: IHAGrading and Promotion, JBCDTransfers and Withdrawals, and KJAdvertising in the Schools

School design. Architectural plans for the Oakley Township elementary school site for south Fulton were approved. The site will include a Sheltering Arms child care center on the property.

Personnel appointments. Gregory King, principal of Atlanta Public Schools' Towns Elementary School, was named principal of the new Langford Parkway Elementary School in East Point. Ann Ferrell, principal at Sandy Springs Middle School, was named principal to the new Old Alabama Road Middle School in Alpharetta.

Both schools open in August 2003. Earnest Killum, Westlake High School interim principal, was named permanent principal to the school. He was McClarin High School's principal prior to the appointment. The appointments are effective beginning next school year.

Other matters. The revised organizational chart reflecting the position of Chief Information Officer and job title changes as a result of the 2001 compensation study received approval.