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The 2007-2008 school year calendar has similar start
and end dates as this year, with one major
difference. Next year’s calendar includes five early
release days where students will attend school for
half a day. The remaining portion of the day will be
used in professional development for staff, allowing
valuable schoolwide training without having to call on
substitute teachers or asking teachers to give up
personal time.
Many parents and students moving into Fulton from
other parts of the country, or even the metro
Atlanta area, already are familiar with early release.
It’s been a common practice in many school districts
for years. The concept also is familiar to parents in
the Alpharetta/Milton cluster of schools and in several
Fulton County charter schools. Acting on
recommendations from parents, the 13 schools in the
Alpharetta/Milton area are piloting early release this
year, with extremely positive results from the first
three release days. Feedback from the pilot’s first
three early release days was instrumental in deciding
to implement the program systemwide. Many
afterschool providers already have indicated a
willingness to provide extended hours for students of
working parents, at a nominal charge.
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The Fulton County School System is adding
thousands of new students each year with new
schools being built to accommodate this growth.
Three south Fulton schools open in August 2007 –
Oakley Township elementary site in Union City, Jones-
Hall Road middle site in Fairburn, and the replacement
Woodland Middle School in East Point. As a result,
existing south Fulton elementary and middle
attendance zones must be modified to accommodate
these new schools and to relieve overcrowding at
existing schools.
In January, the Board of Education reviewed
proposed new school
boundaries.The boundaries are expected to be
approved in February and impacted students and
their families would be notified of new school
assignments in the spring. This year’s rezonings
impact more than 3,300 students, 13 elementary
schools and all six middle schools in the southern
region of the county. Next year, a similar process will
be undertaken to accommodate the opening of a new
south Fulton high school, a new north Fulton high
school, the replacement Westlake High School, a new
Sandy Springs elementary school and a new north
Fulton elementary school.
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Parents and teachers have until January 25 to review
proposed mathematics textbooks being considered
for adoption in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Two textbook series and supporting materials are
available at all elementary and middle schools for
your review. Reviewers will be asked to complete
evaluation forms ranking the two textbooks.
The Fulton County Schools Mathematics Textbook
and Materials Adoption Committee reviewed
textbooks from various vendors and narrowed the
selection to the final two options. The committee
included staff and parent representatives from each
grade level. The adopted textbooks support the new
Georgia Performance Standards math curriculum in
kindergarten through eighth grade, which begins
implementation next school year.
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You already know that the Fulton County School
System is a great place for students. What you
might not know is that it also is a great place to
work. Competitive salaries, outstanding benefits and
a supportive environment are all perks of a job with
the Fulton County School System.
The system’s continuing growth means new job
opportunities. If you are a certified teacher,
counselor or media specialist, and are interested in
working for Fulton, be sure to take part in the
system’s Teacher Job Fair, February
16, at the Georgia International Convention Center.
For other vacant job postings, click here.
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For almost 10 years, Fulton County students have
benefited from the proceeds of a Special Purpose
Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). This one-penny
sales tax was first approved by voters in March 1997
and renewed in March 2002.
Using SPLOST revenue, the Fulton County School
System has built 29 new schools and additions at
18 other schools. SPLOST also lowered property
taxes through debt relief and funded millions of
dollars in technology upgrades, new school buses and
purchases of new classroom furniture and equipment.
On March 20, 2007, Fulton citizens will vote on
whether to continue SPLOST for an additional five
years. If approved, SPLOST III would fund: 7 new
elementary schools, 3 new middle schools, 4 new
high schools, major additions at 7 elementary
schools, major additions at 4 high schools, air
conditioning of elementary school gymnasiums, middle
school and high school athletic field improvements,
safety and security upgrades, technology upgrades,
new instructional equipment and school buses, and
renovations and modifications at existing schools.
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It only requires a quick click of the mouse to keep up
with the actions of the Fulton County School Board.
All Fulton School Board meetings now can be
watched live from a computer screen thanks to new
videostreaming technology used by the Fulton
County School System. Viewers must have Windows
Media Player loaded on their computer to view live
meetings or archived files.
Board meetings are re-broadcast on Fulton County
Schools' cable television station – FCSTV – on
Comcast Channel 24. Meetings air beginning the
Monday following the meeting and run daily for seven
days at noon, 6 p.m., and 10 p.m.
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2007-08 hardship transfer requests to a school other
than a student’s home school are being accepted
through February 15, 2007. This deadline also applies
to renewal of an existing hardship transfer. Hardship
transfers are considered for curriculum differences,
medical reasons, day care, charter schools and
employee child placement. Applications are available
at all Fulton County schools and at the Fulton
County Schools Administrative Center, located at 786
Cleveland Avenue SW in Atlanta. They also can be
downloaded online. Parents with questions or who
need more information about hardship transfers can
contact the Fulton County Schools’ Student
Placement Office at 404-763-6801 or visit the web
site below.
Students currently in the Majority-to-Minority
program (M-to-M) do not need to complete a new
application unless the student is changing from
elementary to middle school or from middle to high
school. The M-to-M program is only open to siblings
of students who are currently enrolled in the program.
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'Connections' is an informational publication produced by the school system’s Communications Department. Your email address came from information you supplied to your child’s school. This information will not be shared or provided to any organization outside the Fulton County School System without your permission. If you change your email address, please notify the data clerk at your local school.
Fulton County School System | 786 Cleveland Avenue SW | Atlanta | GA | 30315 |
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