The Fayette County Board of Education is embarking on a process that could lead to the group being named a Board of Distinction.

Board spokesperson Melinda Berry-Dreisbach said the board will vote on an advisory committee at next Monday’s meeting that will help the board achieve the goal.

“The committee will have two board members, two administrators and three people from the community,” she added.

According to the Georgia School Board Association’s website, only 43 system have met the stringent guidelines to earn the distinction since the program was started in 2002. Neighboring Fulton County earned the distinction in 2002, while Coweta received the honor in 2004.

In order to achieve the designation, the website lists the following criteria:

• Meet criteria of Standards for Local Boards of Education.

• Implement GSBA Governance Accountability Self Assessment.

• Formalize superintendent evaluation incorporating district goals.

• Provide a copy of, or a web link to, the board’s goal-setting model and listing of district’s goals.

• Maintain a web link to posting of monthly board meeting agendas online.

• Offer a web link to the local district’s policy manual that is posted on the Internet.

• Create a statement to identify the budgeted amount that has been targeted for student improvement strategies. Define how local, state and federal dollars are being used, specifically how local, state or federal dollars are being redirected, if at all.

• Implement a plan for technology integration at the school board governance level of the local district. This refers to school board members and how the board is integrating technology in their governance operations.

After the board receives the designation, it must go through a re-certification process every two years to keep the honor.

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