By ANDY DENNY
Director, Public Information Coweta County Schools

The big, yellow buses will roll again early Thursday morning, Aug. 12, as the Coweta County Schools open for the 1999-2000 school year.

Forty-two of those buses will be brand new — just one aspect of many new and exciting changes this year. From new buses, new teachers, new schools, renovations and dress codes to full time resource officers in the middle schools, the Coweta schools are constantly changing in efforts to keep our schools as safe, effective, efficient and productive as possible.

Growth is one key change agent, as the Coweta schools reflect the county's booming population increase. The system closed the 98-99 school year with a final enrollment of 15,473 in 23 schools. Projected opening enrollment for the `99-'00 year is 15,800 in 24 schools. More than 130 new teachers have been added to accommodate retirement and growth.

Two new schools are scheduled to open this year. Arbor Springs Elementary School will open immediately, alleviating crowded conditions at Canongate and also serving students formerly in the Northside attendance area. This new elementary facility is at 4840 U.S. Highway 29 North. School administrators are principal Mark Ballou and instructional lead teacher Sherry Lott. The counselor is Pam Wilbanks.

A second new school, Smokey Road Middle School, will not be ready for occupation until later in the fall of 1999. The exact opening date is impossible to determine due to weather and other working conditions. This new middle school will replace the current Central Middle School, serving those students as well as some students formerly in the Evans Middle School attendance zone. The current Central Middle School administrators will serve the new Smokey Road School.

The county's five middle schools will experience a few specific changes designed to enhance safety and maximize the overall learning environment. A new middle school dress code will be enforced this year with specific, detailed attention to shorts and skirts length, sleeve requirements, appropriately sized pants, shoes, and exclusion of certain items such as camouflage clothing, chains, hats, other head gear, clothing with inappropriate pictures, symbols or language, and depictions of drugs and alcohol.

The new dress code will be discussed with students and parents when school opens and will be available soon in detail on the school system's web site at www.coweta.k12.ga.us.

Another change affecting middle schools is the addition of a school resource officer at each middle school. The SRO's have been in the local high schools since 1995 and have been extremely beneficial in the prevention and handling of problems related to behavior, traffic, crowd movement, safety training and all law-related concerns.

Affecting all middle and high schools is the requirement of mesh or clear book bags beginning second semester. This move is an attempt to better monitor items brought into schools in an effort to specifically prevent weapons. Detailed information will be provided to students and parents before the January date at which the new regulation becomes effective. Local merchants are already stocking these items for students' use.

The three high schools will begin their second year using the modified four by four block scheduling model, in which students enroll in four courses each semester with 90 minute classes as opposed to the traditional six, 50-minute period day. This change occurred in 1998 when the state board of education raised graduation requirements. Block scheduling has been successful in many areas and will be continued indefinitely. The high schools will also enjoy new foreign language labs this year.

The Coweta County Schools have changed physically for the new year, with many renovations and improvements. Roofing improvements are completed or well under way at Atkinson and Elm Street. Newnan High School's locker rooms have been renovated and HVAC improvements have also been made. Classroom additions to Newnan Crossing are under way, and the Transportation facility has had paving improvements. Proposed classroom additions are in the works for Arnco-Sargent, East Coweta Middle, Eastside, Moreland, Newnan High, Northgate High, and Northside. These jobs will be bid in September 1999.

One important change yet to be finalized is the anticipated opening of the Central Education Center in the fall of 2000. The charter for this unique school was approved earlier by the Georgia Board of Education. The CEC will be a special school in conjunction with area technical schools in which high school students will gain valuable work-oriented skills in classes specially designed by business and industry experts.

The mission of the CEC is to provide a seamless approach to transitioning students from high school to either college, vocational-technical school, or the world of work. The CEC is the result of long, detailed collaboration with local business/industry personnel and educators.

If you have questions regarding the Coweta County Schools, please contact your student's school or the appropriate system staff member at 770-254-2800. Watch the local newspapers for information related to registration dates and requirements and other information.

All schools will have open house soon after school starts in order to give you the opportunity to meet your student's teachers. In addition, you can find valuable and interesting information by visiting our web site at www.coweta.

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