The Fulton County Board of Education met for their monthly board meeting at 2 p.m. on Aug. 11, 2022.

Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney calls on Chief Academic Officer Cliff Jones to give a presentation on future portfolio schools, the K-8 STEAM academy. 

Chief Academic Officer Cliff Jones presents the K-8 STEAM academy which will focus on the student transition from elementary to middle school while integrating the STEAM principles. The school will be flexible and allow for students to learn about real world situations. 

Chief Operations Officer Noel Maloof talks about how Palmetto elementary school is the current candidate for the K-8 STEAM program. He also talks about the redistricting meetings that are planned to take place within the next couple months. 

Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney confirms that the school district is not trying to move families intentionally, they are following a very thorough process. 

District 4 Board Member Franchesca Warren expresses her excitement for the K-8 STEAM program to be added to the Palmetto elementary school. She asks if current 5th graders will have the opportunity to join the program. 

District 3 Board Member Gail Dean talks about her excitement for the the k-8 program. She then says where people of the community can get their questions answered. 

Chief Operations Officer Noel Maloof says that on the website there are options to submit questions. 

District 5 Board Member Linda McCain expresses her interest for a K-8 STEAM academy added to her district, as well as all parts of the county. 

Board Vice President and District 6 Board Member Kimberly Dove also talks about her excitement for the program to be added to Fulton County schools. She also urges the community to join the meeting for redistricting Thursday, Sept. 15. 

District 2 Board Member Katie Reeves talks about her excitement for the K-8 program and the community discussions that will come from it. She also tells the community members to get their comments in before midnight today. 

District 1 Board Member Katha Stuart encourages everyone to stay involved in the redistricting process and to get their comments in before the window closes tonight. 

District 3 Board Member Gail Dean announces her retirement from the Fulton County Schools Board of Education. 

District 5 Board Member Linda McCain thanks Dean for everything she has done for the board especially her skills going over the fiscal budget. 

District 4 Board Member Franchesca Warren expresses her appreciation for Deans honesty and her guidance to Warren. 

District 1 Board Member Katha Stuart thanks Dean for her commitment to the board and everything she has done. 

District 2 Board Member Katie Reeves says that Dean has made the board fun and she is leaving behind fingerprints. 

Board Vice President and District 6 Board Member Kimberly Dove wishes Dean a happy retirement and talks about her commitment to the schools they share. 

Board President and District 7 Board Member Julia Bernath says that Dean has been a good board member who has lead them through issues and always done what as right for the kids. 

Suzann Wilcox describes the rules following a retirement. She says that the term ends at the end of 2024 and the board has the power to nominate a candidate to fill the unexpired term. 

Board President and District 7 Board Member Julia Bernath says that the board is accepting applications and the applicate must live in district 3 and have lived there for one year. 

Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney says that the board has continued to work on the school safety. 

Director of Safety and Security Paul Hildreth goes over what the committee has focused on in their meetings. He then recognizes the members of the committee and what they have done for Fulton County Schools. 

District 3 Board Member Gail Dean thanks all the members who have worked on the committee. She asks what the next steps are for financial recommendations and prioritization.

Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney says that this information will be gone over throughout the meeting. 

District 2 Board Member Katie Reeves asks for someone to go over what is on the agenda for these items.

Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney says the items that are on consideration are cameras reading license plates, door alarms, and finally the request to get additional police vehicles. 

District 4 Board Member Franchesca Warren asks if the recommendations will be talked about with principles because they are the first people to see the safety issues. 

Director of Safety and Security Paul Hildreth says that various principles have been talked to over making the items. 

Board Vice President and District 6 Board Member Kimberly Dove thanks for the school nurse items and the addition of mental health aid training. 

District 5 Board Member Linda McCain expresses her thanks for the MOU with municipalities at schools. 

Director of Safety and Security Paul Hildreth tells the board about the MOUs that have crossed the finished line. 

Board President and District 7 Board Member Julia Bernath thanks Hildreth for the recommendations and expresses her excitement for them. 

Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney acknowledges the suicide September month and what Fulton County Schools does to be there for students. He says this information is available on the website and also available at schools. 

Chief Operations Officer Noel Maloof reads the motion statement. 

Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney reads the following motion statements. 

Chief Academic Officer Cliff Jones presents item 6.01 which goes over new textbooks for the healthcare science pathway. 

The item goes to consent.

Chief Academic Officer Cliff Jones presents item 6.02 which is for students to go through a vision test. 

The item goes to consent.

Board President and District 7 Board Member Julia Bernath presents items 7.01 and 7.02.

These items go to consent. 

Executive Director of Strategy and Governance Dr. Ryan Moore presents item 7.04 which gives the calendar for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years. 

District 2 Board Member Katie Reeves comments that having multiple virtual days to be limited to one per semester. 

District 5 Board Member Linda McCain says the wording for the parameters need to be changed to have less virtual days throughout the year. 

District 4 Board Member Franchesca Warren asks if they will be receiving feedback from the community on the calendar. 

Executive Director of Strategy and Governance Dr. Ryan Moore says he will be happy to have the community feedback. 

District 2 Board Member Katie Reeves says that the calendar needs to be put in place as soon as possible so the parameters need to be put in place. 

This item goes to consent. 

Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney goes back to item 7.03 which will change the board meeting schedule dates. They propose to move the May date to Wednesday rather than Thursday. 

This item goes to consent. 

Executive Director of Strategy and Governance Dr. Ryan Moore presents item 7.04. 

This is accepted for consideration. 

Item 7.05 goes to consent. 

Chief Operations Officer Noel Maloof presents item 7.07 which is the proposal of non-profit organization partnership. 

This item goes to consent. 

Item 7.08 will change the trail at River Trail Middle school.

This item goes to consent.

Item 7.09 request board approval for the capital outlay program funding application. 

This item goes to consent.

Item 7.10 requests for the board resolution for certificate of completion for Evoline C. West renovation project. 

This item goes to consent. 

Reeves asks if the different pieces of the projects will be looked at together. 

Chief Operations Officer Noel Maloof says this will be paid attention too. 

Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef goes over item 7.11 where various items are financial items. 

This item goes to consent. 

Item 7.12 is a continuation of the internet catalog ordering for educational supplies. 

This item goes to consent. 

Item 7.13 is an amendment to the previous item. 

This item goes to consent.

Item 7.14 is a contract to purchase and replace vehicles. There will be 30 equipped vehicles. 

This item goes to consent. 

Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef presents item 7.15, 7.16, 7.17, 7.18, and 7.19 which is the financial recap of the past year. The county still has their triple A credit standing. 

District 2 Board Member Katie Reeves thanks Dereef for the in depth report and the timeliness of the report.

District 3 Board Member Gail Dean says she is excited because of the changes that have been made over the past 20 years. 

Items 7.15 and 7.16 are given to consent. 

Items 7.17, 7.18, and 7.19 are held off for next meeting. 

The meeting is adjourned.