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.