Each school year our Superintendent James Wilson tapes a special "welcome back" video message for all employees. Schools are encouraged to show the video to all staff members so that everyone can get "on the same page" and be aware of our system's direction and goals. It's important to move into the new school year with a shared vision and focus. We work best as a team rather than as an assembly of individuals.

For those who missed the opportunity, the video can be watched online.

Over the summer, the state Department of Education released Adequate Yearly Progress results. Since many employees were on summer break, we were unable to properly give the kudos that our schools deserve.

Fulton decreased the number of schools not making AYP from 18 to 13. It's clear that our schools are facing their challenges head-on and are using strategies that work.

Data released today by The College Board show that Fulton County is again a state leader in SAT scores. While the state and nation have shown slight declines this year, Fulton has shown a nine-point increase.

The systemwide score is 1589 -- a combined score of 525 for critical reading (formerly called Verbal), 538 for math, and 526 for writing, a new section first reported last year. The new SAT measures on a 2400-point scale rather than a 1600-point scale.

The Fulton County School System is home to the brightest and most talented educators in Georgia -- and the nation!

Each month teachers and staff members receive awards or other honors that bring pride and recognition to their schools as well as the school system.

Science fiction author William Gibson once said, "The future is here. It's just not widely distributed yet." The same could be said for Fulton County Schools as it transitions to a new business system.

The A+ Project's Training Team has begun "distributing the future" to all Fulton employees. A first-rate lineup of technology educators is delivering the best practices of the new SAP system.

Shortly after the school year ended in May, the School Board approved a $940.5 million operating budget for the 2007-08 school year.

As employees are seeing in their paychecks, the FY2008 budget is providing a 3% pay raise to everyone as well as step increases to those who are eligible. The budget also grants full experience credit to teachers with teaching experience outside of Fulton County, with the adjustment reflected in the September paycheck.

The first of five systemwide Early Release Days arrives next month on September 19. Even though parents were notified of this calendar change last year, there may be some who still do not fully understand the importance or impact of an early release day.

Schools are doing an excellent job of notifying parents, but school-based staff can help remind them that special arrangements should be made on these days so that children are not unsupervised or alone unnecessarily. Teachers also can help parents understand why Early Release Days are so important. Your professional development makes you a stronger educator and a better learning role model for their student.

In August, the Fulton County Board of Education moved to a meeting format that condenses several monthly meetings into one daylong work session followed by an action meeting the following week.

The new meeting format better utilizes time by eliminating the need to travel to multiple meetings in different areas of the county.

It's likely that you've heard some surprised responses to a new residency initiative this fall required of all students. Parents may be confused or even a little frustrated about having to sign yet another form, but when faced with the facts, this new residency requirement makes good sense.

You can help by making sure parents have accurate information about the new residency requirement.

Just about all of us use Microsoft Outlook on a daily basis to send and receive email, schedule meetings, and manage our day-to-day lives.

But how many of us are aware of the "Public Folders" that also exist in Outlook? Within these folders you'll find commonly shared information such as telephone directories, work-year calendars, and payroll schedules, as well as frequently requested forms and documents.

Take a look within the Public Folders to see what you've been missing!

As an employee of one of the county's largest employers, you may benefit from discounts offered by certain local and national merchants. These programs are approved by the school system's Contracting Department and/or the Partners & Volunteers Office.