On May 16, 227 Fulton County Schools employees were honored for their years of service to schoolchildren and the education profession. The event drew an overflowing crowd of fellow employees, friends, and family at the Atlanta History Center's Grand Overlook Ballroom. The annual dinner and reception was sponsored by Fulton County Schools and the Fulton Education Foundation.

Frederick Green, a paraprofessional at Randolph Elementary School, is the School Professional of the Year, and Duane DeBruler, a bus driver for Shakerag Elementary School and River Trail Middle School, is the Support Professional of the Year. Mr. Green and Mr. DeBruler will be recognized, along with the Teachers of the Year, at the Employees/Partnerships of the Year event next fall.

Last month, Basil Lee from Banneker High School was named Fulton's 2007-08 Fulton County Overall Teacher of the Year. Karen Sperber from Abbotts Hill Elementary School was named Fulton County's Elementary School Teacher of the Year, and Eric Huston from Haynes Bridge Middle School became the Fulton County Middle School Teacher of the Year.

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.

The Fulton County Board of Education has given tentative approval to the 2007-08 budget, including a 3% pay raise for employees. In addition, step increases of approximately 2.8% were granted for eligible employees, meaning that the majority of Fulton staff members will receive pay increases of approximately 5.8% for 2007-08.

While many Fulton County Schools employees are about to take a well-deserved break for the summer, many others will spend the next few weeks preparing not only for the start of the 2007-08 school year, but also for the first "go-live" milestone of our new business system, known as the A+ Project.

This three-year project will eventually replace every current business system, including personnel administration, payroll, pension administration, purchasing and inventory control and will impact every employee.

If you have not already done so, don't forget to participate in the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) survey evaluating what teachers like or dislike about teaching. The online survey is available through the end of this month.

While SPLOST III funds future construction projects, work is continuing on new schools and renovations funded through SPLOST I and II. In August, the school system opens a new elementary school in Union City (pictured), a new middle school in Fairburn, and a replacement building for East Point's Woodland Middle. Connected Academy, Fulton County's first system-sponsored start-up charter school, also opens in Alpharetta.

Additions will be completed this summer at Woodland and High Point elementary schools in Sandy Springs and at Roswell High School. New science wings also will be completed at six middle schools. Summer work projects include front office renovations, roofing and general contracting work across the district. All of the projects are expected to be complete before staff return in August.

Approximately two years ago Rapport ceased operations as a printed publication. In its place came Rapport Online, an e-newsletter aimed to reach employees more quickly and efficiently. It was redesigned this year to be more reader-friendly.

We hope you enjoy reading Rapport Online. The Communications Department takes great pride in using this newsletter to keep employees informed about their school system and about each other. It's our belief that information and communication helps everyone to perform their jobs more effectively - which, in turn, helps our students achieve and our system to run smoothly.

Drop the Communications Department a quick line with your thoughts about Rapport Online. Just remember - Rapport Online is geared toward employees. We know you are proud of your students, but Rapport Online should be focused on you and issues affecting employees!

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.