By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

The positives and negatives of Fayette County schools were addressed Saturday morning by about 50 educators, community leaders and parents invited by Dr. John DeCotis, school superintendent.

He initiated the round table discussion as a first step in establishing a strategic plan for the school district.

DeCotis met and greeted each person on the sidewalk leading into the Lafayette Education Center before presenting the agenda, which focused on three key questions: “What do we do well? What do we need to do better?” and “Things you would like to see.”

The last strategic plan for the school district was drafted in 1988-89 and was used up to a point. “We got away from the plan and now it's outdated,” DeCotis said. He compared the lack of a current strategic plan to floundering around like a fish out of water.

After counting off and breaking into four groups, the attendees talked about the pluses, minuses and efforts needed to maintain and improve the facilities and instruction in the county's public school system. The morning concluded with the groups combining their laundry list of answers, which in many cases were similar. “A meeting like this was long overdue,” said Tyrone town council member Ronnie Cannon.

What do Fayette County schools do well? According to a sample of answers, the schools turn out a good product and produce good test scores, they have managed growth, and they encourage and receive parental involvement. “They have spent money in the right places,” added Fayetteville City Councilman Al Hovey-King.

Other strengths included the county's special ed programs, effective communication with parents and staff, a high priority on safety issues and the existence of an evening high school and alternative school for students who don't fit into the traditional school setting.

What does the school district need to do better? “More central communication on a wider scale, perhaps on a web site,” said Amy Riley, parent activist. “Vocational training; it's not just wood shop anymore,” said Tate Godfrey, chairman of the Peachtree City Development Authority. Additional advice included more consistent delivery of programs from school to school and consistent academic expectations between schools, better facility maintenance, better preparation of students for the workplace, and an expansion of vocational education.

Things participants would like to see include a higher percentage of parental involvement in the schools, a grant writer, stronger discipline policies for the disruptive child, and improved partnerships among public, private and homeschoolers.

Paul LeTourneau, a Tyrone Town Council member, said he would like to see Fayette County test scores rank tops in the state and be competitive in the nation.

“Stronger ties with the business community,” Godfrey said. An ROTC program for all high schools, televised board meetings, more technology, and more exposure to fine arts programs were two more of the lengthy list of recommendations made.

Following the discussion, participants were asked to sign up for one of five advisory committees that will begin meeting next school year. The committees include communications, curriculum and instruction, growth and organization, personnel and human resources and support services.