The Fulton County Board of Education (FCBOE) met on Thursday, October 19, 2023, for its regularly scheduled work session meeting at the South Learning Center. The full agenda is available online. All items approved are available via BoardDocs. Meetings are streamed live on the FCS district homepage. Recordings will be available within 48 hours.

Superintendent's Report

Dr. Mike Looney began his report with some exciting news, thanking Fulton County Schools (FCS) employees, students, and families who worked hard to attain the highest graduation rate in the district’s history. The Georgia Department of Education released new data showing FCS with a 90.3 percent graduation rate, achieving the highest ever recorded graduation rate for the third year in a row. A total of 14 FCS high schools were over 90 percent, with three schools above 97 percent and six schools over 95 percent. Dr. Looney also acknowledged National Bus Safety Week and thanked the bus drivers and aides who work so hard to make sure the students get to school safely every day.

CSI/TSI Update Zone Superintendents Dr. Cherisse Campbell and Dr. Tamara Candis co-presented an update on the district’s Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) and Targeted Support Improvement (TSI) schools. According to Dr. Campbell, there are currently five traditional schools on the state-identified list. One school, College Park Elementary School, is classified as a Tier IV CSI school, and the other four schools (Bear Creek Middle School, Hamilton E. Holmes Elementary School, Love T. Nolan Elementary School, and Tri-Cities High School) are targeted support schools based on their 2021-22 Georgia Milestones results. During that school year, FCS had students going in and out of remote instruction, many of whom attended these schools. The performance levels from the Spring 2023 administration of the Georgia Milestones indicate that most schools are on a positive trajectory.

Dr. Candis then provided an update on how elementary, middle, and high schools are being supported as well as strategies being implemented in Relationships and Routines, Tier I Instruction, and Interventions. According to Dr. Candis, Tier I instruction for all students is continuing to improve despite the large number of vacancies in these schools last year, thanks to a teacher incentive for hard-to-staff schools along with intentional efforts to be fully staffed at the beginning of the year. Notable interventions include new mentoring programs in several schools while attendance teams and social workers work together to increase student attendance. Additionally, the Academics Division is continuing in-school academies and extended learning time. Much progress has been made, and the district looks forward to continued success through collaboration with all stakeholders. See the full presentation here.

Speed Detection Camera Installation
The Board authorized Superintendent Looney to grant permission to city municipalities, within Fulton County Schools boundaries, to apply for speed detection camera installation in school zones. The speed cameras are designed to reduce speeding in school zones and provide children with a safer area around schools. Citations and fines would be levied by the municipality, not the school system, with the revenue retained by the municipality.

2023-24 Community Meetings with Board Members
Each member of the Fulton County Board of Education sponsors a monthly meeting open to the community. The sessions provide an opportunity for direct contact with community members and give board members a chance to listen to local issues and concerns. Click here to see the meeting schedules of all Board members.