FCBOE Work Session - March

The Fulton County Board of Education met for their monthly work session at 3:30 p.m. on March 9, 2021.

• Supt. Looney calls on Executive Director of Operational Planning Yngrid Huff to go over enrollment projections. Find the presentation below.

Graphics courtesy of Fulton County Schools

• Huff highlights a drop in enrollment because of the pandemic. This is the lowest drop in enrollment that the county has ever had.

  Executive Summary

  90,376 students enrolled in Fulton County Schools for the 2020-21 school year.  This enrollment total was 3,310 students below the expected enrollment and reflected an annual decline of 3,572 students, the largest population decline on record.  This substantial drop in enrollment can be attributed to implications caused by the COVID19 global pandemic.  The purpose of the enrollment projection report is to detail where growth/decline occurred in each region and level and review the accuracy of the forecasted enrollment.  Data is also shared to determine where enrollment is expected to occur in the future and enrollment implications for the school system.  Enrollment projections are provided for the next 5 years.

  In North Fulton, 46,764 students were enrolled, a regional decrease of 2,348 students from last year.  Elementary enrollment declined by 1,836 students, middle by 522 and high schools increased by 10 students.  Cohort growth in the region was negative for the first in history.  Cohort totals decreased at twelve of the thirteen grade-levels, with ninth grade being the exception.  These data elements have been adjusted where possible to moving forward to counter the hopefully one-time impact of enrollment decline due to COVID-19.

  The Sandy Springs region experienced declines in both enrollment and cohort movement to reach 9,693 students.  Elementary school totals declined by 368 students, high schools by 76 students while middle schools increased by 22 students.  Cohorts declined by 365 students.  Redevelopment and affordability in the region are having an impact on future enrollment while private school return at 9th grade appears to be the positive driver for enrollment.

  Enrollment in South Fulton County declined by 802 students to reach 33,919 students.  Elementary totals declined by 1,076 students, middle schools declined by 81 students while high enrollment grew by 355.  Cohorts in the region declined by 948 students.  The region continues to have a strong housing market which is having a positive impact on enrollment.

  Historical Context

  Enrollment forecast are imperative for planning purposes and budget development.  Short range estimates identify needed resources such as staffing, textbooks, buses, groceries, and classroom needs such as modular or portable classrooms.  Long-range estimates inform and guide the capital construction plan and help inform the timeline for delivery of construction projects. 

  Key Accomplishments

  System forecast for the 2020-21 school year was 93,686. At the first month count, 90,376 students were enrolled, a difference of 3,310 students. The projections were 3.53% below enrollment. Projections were developed preCovid which did not include assumptions for social distance and enrollment anxieties and fears associated with the pandemic.

  Key Challenges/Opportunities

  Population decline due to Covid19 is not only affecting enrollment totals but cohort sizes as well.  Development is on the rise, particularly in South Fulton; however, all areas continuing to see active communities on the horizon.  Enrollment has been reset to assume kindergarten and first grade enrollment will return to preCovid levels.  Adjustments have been made for the opening of 3 district-wide schools, Global Impact, Innovation Academy and Fulton Academy of Virtual Excellence.

  Priorities going forward…

  Enrollment trends will be monitored for the duration of the 2020-21 school year and during summer pre-registration periods.  As adjustments in the enrollment estimates are identified, staff will work with appropriate personnel to ensure efficient allocation of resources for the start of school 2021.

- BoardDocs

• Supt. Looney calls on Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef to talk about the FY2022 Forecasted Revenue Projections. Find the full presentation below.

Graphics courtesy of Fulton County Schools

• Dereef provides context for the economic situation in the lens of the pandemic.

• He notes that the financial stress level was high at the beginning of the pandemic. 

• Supt. Looney introduced Doug Carey Director of Capital Planning and Architecture to present the State of Facilities Reports. Find the full presentation below.

Graphics courtesy of Fulton County Schools

• Cindy Raford, a building assessor, discusses the timeline and process of their project and calls Sam Mandola, the program director at Parsons Corporation, up to discuss facility condition and the Facility Condition Index.

  • Carey talks about next steps and prioritization after the State of Facilities Reports.

• District 3 Board Member Gail Dean asks whether the data is this relevant to other Fulton schools or schools across the nation.

• District 3 Board Member Gail Dean asks whether the data is this relevant to other Fulton schools or schools across the nation.  

  • Raford responds that the schools they went through were only instructional facilities in Fulton and were compared against the local specifications. 

• District 1 Board Member Katha Stuart asks Carey if previously approved projects are not included in the report. 

  • Carey answers that this report is only about future projects, but it takes already approved projects into account when making the prioritization list. 

• District 4 Board Member Franchesca Warren asks Carey who will get the survey about what schools need and what questions they are getting.

  • Carey answers that the surveys will go out in their individual communities, and will get the Board more information on that.

• District 5 Board Member Linda McCain asks Mandola about whether or not the assessors knew which schools have systems that were redone.

  • Mandola says these schools were incorporated into the system and prioritization list. 

• Board Vice President and District 6 Board Member Kimberly Dove asks if the assessors found a difference between the schools the assessors did before and after COVID-19 hit.

• Raford answers that they did not. 

• Dove asks Raford whether she was able to utilize Fulton County’s high tech security cameras.

• Raford responds that the assessors did go into the building and socially distance with the administrator guiding. She says they had many questions because they could not see what the rooms were being used for.

• District 2 Board Member Katie Reeves asks Carey about the possible increase of prices of machinery. 

• Carey answers that there are national pricing indexes that the assessors use and that they track costs very closely according to their process.

• Board President and District 7 Board Member Julia Bernath acknowledges a request for a break and the Board takes a break.

• The meeting resumes, and the Board does the pledge of allegiance and moves onto board matters.

• District 1 Board Member Katha Stuart thanks the Sweet Apple Elementary School PTO for supporting their staff during the pandemic.

• District 2 Board Member Katie Reeves says a student at Northwestern Middle School was presented with the Yes I Can Award after demonstrating their excellency in many different ways.

• District 3 Board Member Gail Dean congratulates Tri-Cities High School, which is going to compete in the 5A state championship for basketball. She also says the women’s fencing team at North Springs High School placed fourth at the state fencing championship.

• District 4 Board Member Franchesca Warren congratulates Westlake High School’s basketball team, which will also be competing in the state championship.

• District 5 Board Member Linda McCain says 41 students at River Trail Middle School qualified for the District Honors Band. She also says eight students at Chatahoochee High School won awards from the National Center for Women & Information Technology.

• Supt. Looney calls up Chief Talent Officer Ron Wade to give a COVID-19 update in Fulton County. Find the presentation below.

Graphics courtesy of Fulton County Schools

• Chief Academic Officer Cliff Jones rises to speak about summer school and summer programs for Fulton County students.

• District 3 Board Member Gail Dean asks whether the program will be face-to-face or remote.

• Jones responds that the registration process is the same. He says the remote summer school experience will last a little bit longer than in-person summer school.

• District 4 Board Member Franchesca Warren asks whether parents will be able to send on-level students to summer school just to get them back to the swing of school. 

• Jones answers that there will be different levels in the summer program and will be available for students of all types.

• Jones recognizes three Milton High School students who were named Regeneron scholars and their science teacher. He also recognizes teachers who recieved awards for their dedication. The Board watches videos of these teachers speaking about their work.

• The Board welcomes public comments, which are not aired publicly.

• The board approves all executive items unanimously.

• Jones presents three course proposals from Fulton County schools, all of which pass. 

  • Milton High School proposed Greek (Classical) II, in which students continue studies from Greek (Classical) I, learn Attic (Classical) Greek, explore daily life in Athens in the 4th century BC, and recognize the significance of classical study to the modern world.

  • Creekside High School proposed the semester-long elective Introduction to U.S. Latinx Studies, in which students explore the culture, history, art, accomplishments, and the march towards societal and political equality as they relate to the lives of Latinx people in the United States.

  • Sandtown Middle School proposed Media Arts/Grade 8, which offers opportunities for students to learn about animation, broadcast, film, graphic design/illustration, photography, and web design.

• Jones reviews the possible options for new textbooks for AP World History. 

  • Fulton County Schools has selected two books, 1200 Update Ways of the World with Sources for the AP Modern Course (Bedford, Freeman & Worth) and World Civilizations: The Global Experience, Since 1200 (Savvas), to be reviewed by all teachers and the public from March 22-April 23.

• The board reviews the February Board Meeting minutes and approves the 2022-2023 Board Meeting schedule. 

• The board is presented with the second read of Bill of Rights for parents and students.

• District 2 Board Member Katie Reeves asks if Supt. Looney is going to put reference points at the bottom to provide more information and if he already presented the bill to the school governance council.

• Supt. Looney says yes to both questions.

• The board is presented with first reads of the March Board Policy Schedule, Board Policy DFAA Tax Allocation District, IHE - Promotion and Retention, and ID - Curriculum Development, Delivery and Evaluation. 

• District 4 Board Member Franchesca Warren asks about how information regarding these items is presented to parents.

• Chief Operations Officer Patrick Burke presents action items 7.08-7.13.

• Carey presents agenda item 7.14 Schematic Design Update for Alpharetta HS, Milton HS, and Northview HS. Find the full presentation below.

Graphics courtesy of Fulton County Schools

• Carey proposes that Northview bring its fitness center (the weight training building) into Capital Plan 22, build a new black box theatre, and expand its art room and 3DE spaces. 

• Northview will start renovations in fall of 2021 and finish by fall of 2022.

• Burke and Dereef present action items 7.15-7.28. Dereef addresses proposed budget adjusments for summer school in action item 7.28. Find the full presentation below.

Graphics courtesy of Fulton County Schools

• Dereef presents action items 7.29-7.31. He discusses tax allocation in the City of College Park as part of action item 7.31. Find the full presentation below.

Graphics courtesy of Fulton County Schools

• The Board moves all action items to consent, with the exception of 7.29 and 7.31, which will be on the agenda of the March 18 board meeting.

• The meeting is adjourned.