Fulton BOE Approves Changes To 2018-19 School Calendar

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — The Fulton County School Board at its Aug. 16 meeting proposed changes to the school system's 2018-18 school calendar.

The changes, which were recommended by Superintendent Dr. Jeff Rose, will change Nov. 6, the date of the upcoming General Election, from a regular school day to a teacher work day. Additionally, March 8, 2019, has been changed from a teacher work day to a regular school day.

The decision alleviates safety concerns raised by some parents and staff, allows for additional staff training on safety protocols, and maintains instructional time for Fulton students, the system said.

“The board’s decision is consistent with other commitments they have made to ensure that our campuses remain safe at all times,” Rose said. “It’s also important that our students and staff feel safe, and we want to assure parents and our employees that as a district, we continue to focus on safety and security."

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The changes will not have an impact on how many instructional days Fulton County students will have for the 2018-19 school year. According to the system's summary of the proposal provided to the board at the Aug. 16 meeting, staff members two months ago began working on a "pragmatic solution to manage safety and security on Election Day."

Multiple options were considered, but the recommendation put forth by Superintendent Rose will "alleviate student safety concerns" and allow the system to train its staff on necessary safety protocols. The school board notes it has an interest in addressing a long term solution through the legislative process.

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