FCBOE Board Meeting- October
The Fulton County Board of Education held their monthly board meeting at 6 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2021. 
The FCS Board of Education begins with the Pledge of Allegiance and approves the agenda for tonight’s meeting.
Dr. Looney begins student recognition, Martin Dereef highlights student artwork that will be featured in the 2020 FCS financial report.
The Board opens up to public comment, which is not aired. Meeting will resume shortly.
The board members highlight positives in their community. District 5 Board Member Linda McCain highlights Johns Creek high schools and the city of John Creek, which is hosting an online and in-person panel on how to deal with stress after traumatic events.
On Saturday Oct. 22, the Johns Creek Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration is hosting a Prescription Take Back event at the Kroger in Alpharetta, where residents can dispose of expired prescriptions.
Board President and District 7 Board Member Julia Bernath recognizes National School Principal Month.
Dr. Mike Looney recognizes National Bus Driver Appreciation Week.
Chief Academic Officer Cliff Jones delivers a report regarding ACT results and graduation rates to the Board.
Jones recognizes Northview as the second best high school in Georgia in terms of composite ACT results.
Fulton County Schools (FCS) students scored above the state average and national average on the ACT.
FCS experienced a 2.2% increase of graduation rate from 2020 to 2021. FCS has the third highest graduation rate in the Metro Atlanta area. This is the highest graduation rate in FCS history.
For more information, view the presentation below.
Graphics courtesy of Fulton County Schools
Looney presents the monthly COVID-19 update.
According to the epidemiology report from Monday Oct. 18, there are 162.2 cases per 100,000 residents.
District employees are eligible for COVID booster vaccines.
Starting Nov. 1, individual schools where more than 1% of students and staff are COVID-19 positive must follow mask mandates.
If less than 1% of students and staff at a school are COVID-19 positive, masks will be optional.
Thirty days after vaccines become available for all elementary school children, masks be optional in elementary schools.
Looney also shares positive cases and positive test rates compared to enrollment numbers. For more information, view the presentation below.
Graphics courtesy of Fulton County Schools
The Board raises questions about the new mask policies and the COVID-19 matrix.
Looney answers District 4 Board Member Franchesa Warren’s questions about COVID-19 and the flu season. He says the district is monitoring the situation.
District 5 Board Member Linda McCain recalls a meeting she had during which parents in her district voiced concerns about the personal choice to wear a mask and a lack of transparency.
District 3 Board Member Gail Dean asks how the mask rules may differ with the upcoming holidays and colder weather.
Looney addresses the Board’s concerns about masks, saying the district is monitoring the COVID-19 situation and making any necessary changes.
Masks will be continue to be required on school buses in accordance with the federal mandate.
Looney states that personal protective equipment (PPE) will continue to be available at schools for students, staff, and visitors, whether masks are optional or not.
District 2 Board Member Katie Reeves notes that hospitalization rates should be taken into account when making a decision to continue mask mandates during the holiday season and colder weather.
Looney addresses District 1 Board Member Katha Stuart’s questions about how FCS will proceed with visitor risk mitigation. He states that visitors will still fill out the COVID-19 visitor survey before entering FCS buildings.
Board President and District 7 Board Member Julia Bernath acknowledges the concerns of students who are uncomfortable removing their masks and says the district is trying to accommodate everyone.
Looney emphasizes that the district will not tolerate bullying of students based on their decisions on whether to wear masks or not.
Deputy Chief of Academics Dr. Gyimah Whitaker gives the nine week FCS bridge update.
Principals of elementary, middle, and high schools in FCS highlight the policies their respective schools are using to mitigate pandemic achievement gaps.
For more information, view the presentation below.
Graphics courtesy of Fulton County Schools
District 6 Board Member Kimberly Dove’s asks about the district’s plans regarding summer school, extended day instruction, and Saturday school.
District 4 Board Member Franchesca Warren asks about the learning gap in reading and how the district is encouraging student reading.
Whitaker addresses questions about how to track the academic achievement plans used for different students and whether students and parents are allowed to choose a certain achievement plan.
Chief Operations Officer Noel Maloof updates the Board regarding the search for land to build a replacement elementary school for Conley Hills.
The Board members express their disappointment over the district’s failure to acquire the land to replace Conley Hills. They also express their commitment to finding land for the building.
Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef motions for the Board to approve the Oct. 2021 budget adjustments, the banking resolutions, and the October employee travel report, all of which carry unanimously.
The Board votes to approve the agenda set during the September meeting unanimously.
The meeting is adjourned.
