When Is The First Day of School in Roswell?

Sign up for the Roswell Patch newsletter!

---

The 2015-2016 school year starts on Monday, August 10, for thousands of children in Fulton County.

The Fulton County School System continues to be the fourth largest school district in Georgia with a projected 2015-2016 enrollment of about 96,200 students – an expected increase of about 700 students from the previous school year.

The system includes 101 schools – 57 elementary schools, 19 middle schools, 17 high schools and eight start-up charter schools.

Here’s a rundown provided by the system of what students, parents, teachers and administrators will see once classes resume next month.

New schools

• New Elementary Schools. Four new elementary schools open this fall – Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School (3353 Mount Olive Road, East Point), Heards Ferry Elementary School (6151 Powers Ferry Road NW, Atlanta), College Park Elementary School (2075 Princeton Avenue, College Park) and a temporary site for Esther Jackson Elementary School (1201 Alpharetta Street, Roswell).
• Esther Jackson Elementary School is being temporarily relocated while a replacement facility is built on its current site in Roswell. Next August, when construction is complete, Esther Jackson will move back to its former location and the school at 1201 Alpharetta Street will reopen with a new name and student body. This strategy was successfully used for Mount Olive Elementary School (now renamed Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School) while its new building was built. The new College Park Elementary School now is reopening on its original Princeton Avenue site.
• Charter Schools. Two new charter schools open this fall in the former Oak Knoll Elementary campus in East Point – the Latin Grammar School, a kindergarten through fifth-grade elementary school, and the Latin College Preparatory School, a sixth- through eighth-grade middle school. They will serve approximately 120 students each this first year and are expected to grow as new grades are added. In addition, Main Street Academy, which previously leased classroom and office space in College Park, has purchased the former Harriet Tubman Elementary School property and will start the school year at that location.

New teachers and principals. By the summer’s end, Fulton County Schools will have welcomed nearly 800 new teachers for 2015-2016. This will bring the district’s total teaching force to about 6,770

In addition, as veteran principals have retired or moved to different posts, it’s inevitable that school leaders will shift in Fulton County. The following north Fulton County schools have new principals this year.

• Barnwell Elementary School: Catherine White (interim)
• Lake Forest Elementary School: Taylor Barton
• State Bridge Crossing Elementary School: Bridgette Marques
• Woodland Elementary School: Tara McGee
• Autrey Mill Middle School: J.E. Trey Martin
• Elkins Pointe Middle School: Kindra Smith
• Chattahoochee High School: Tim Corrigan (interim)
• Johns Creek High School: Jimmy Zoll
• Amana Academy: Cherrise Campbell

New Programs and Curriculum Offerings

Achievement zone. Fulton County Schools is committed to the academic success of its students and therefore has established an Achievement Zone to provide additional supports and resources to students and address the district’s most challenged schools. The 2015-2016 school year marks the first full year of the implementation of this effort.

The Achievement Zone is a geographic area in South Fulton that makes up Banneker High School and its feeder elementary and middle schools. The 10 schools within this area experience a greater rate of mobility, more poverty and a higher risk of community crime as well as more limited academic supports for struggling students. As a result, the Achievement Zone will provide specific resources to help the students in these schools.

Banneker High School was identified for support because of its lower graduation rate and struggling academic progress. But in order to address these issues at the high school level, students in younger grades must first be reached through the neighboring elementary and middle schools.

The schools making up the Achievement Zone are: Banneker High School, McNair Middle School, Woodland Middle School, Bethune Elementary School, Brookview Elementary School, College Park Elementary School, Feldwood Elementary School, Heritage Elementary School, Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School and Love T. Nolan Elementary School.

The Achievement Zone’s strategic plan outlines a number of strategies designed to focus on creating a culture of high expectations, recruiting high quality staff and providing high quality teaching and learning for all students.

New career and technical education programs. Fulton County Schools strongly believes in preparing students for life beyond high school, and a robust career and technical program helps students discover their interests and develop their skills. New programs that are beginning this fall include:

• Cambridge High School – Veterinary Science
• Banneker High School – Junior Achievement-Magnet Business Academy (JA-MBA)
• Bear Creek Middle School – Graphic Design and Audio-Technology, Video and Film
• Chattahoochee High School – “Design It” Computer Programming, Gaming, and Apps
• Centennial High School – Healthcare Science/Emergency Medical Responder
• Crabapple Middle School – Business and Computer Science
• River Trail Middle School – Engineering
• Milton High School – Healthcare Science/Surgical Tech and Sports Medicine
• North Springs Charter High School – Healthcare Science/Health Information Management/Medical Office
• Haynes Bridge Middle School – Engineering
• McNair Middle School – Engineering
• Westlake High School – Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security/Fire and Emergency Services
• Tri-Cities High School – Law, Public and Safety, Corrections and Security and Healthcare Science

CBI Expansion at four schools. Fulton County Schools will begin the year with three new community-based instruction programs at Chattahoochee High School, Cambridge High School and Tri-Cities High School, along with an expansion of the program currently at Langston Hughes High School.

The new CBI programs provide students with disabilities the opportunity to learn academic, community, daily-living, and career skills within the communities where they currently live, work, and shop. Over the summer, Fulton modified all three buildings to ensure campus accessibility and provide renovated and appropriate classrooms, home-living centers, sensory/therapy rooms and restroom facilities.

CBI programs already are in place at Centennial High School, Banneker High School, Roswell High School and Alpharetta High School, and expansion will occur during the 2016-2017 school year to North Springs Charter High School, Johns Creek High School, Milton High School and Westlake High School.

The district also has formed a new partnership with Georgia State University to develop a transition program for students ages 18-22 who have completed four years of high school and could benefit from career exploration and intensive vocational training.

The program has three primary components: (1) Customized Career Exploration – work experiences will be designed for each student based on their strengths, abilities, and interests; (2) Skill Development – students will build skills in communication, employability, and problem solving, along with job specific skills. The students will utilize these skills to become independent in a supported employment environment; and (3) Outcome of Employment – work experiences will provide situational assessment information to the student, families, and team members in order to make realistic career choices that lead to meaningful employment.

Move On When Ready dual enrollment program. With the passage of Senate Bill 132, Georgia legislators have streamlined Accel, Hope Grant Dual Enrollment and the old Move On When Ready program into one statewide dual enrollment program now collectively called Move On When Ready. Also, with the passage of Senate Bill 2, a new Move On When Ready program will be offered to students. This new High School Graduation Option will provide students a high school diploma, and any applicable college credentials, if specific requirements are met.

Rosetta Stone language program. The school district’s ESOL Department has purchased the new web-based version of Rosetta Stone Foundations and the advanced version to instruct English Language Learners on language related to career readiness. This version will be used in grades 6-12 and all ESOL teachers will receive specialized training.

IB Primary Years Programme candidacy. Three elementary schools – Heards Ferry, High Point and Lake Forest – have been selected as candidates for the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme. The International Baccalaureate’s Middle Years Programme (grades 6-10) and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (grades 11-12) are currently offered at Ridgeview Charter School and Riverwood International Charter School in Sandy Springs, where the three elementary schools are located, making it a natural progression for students.

Renovations, Maintenance and New Technology Funded through eSPLOST

Personalized learning through mobile devices. This fall, Fulton County Schools will take the first step in a districtwide project that pairs students with mobile learning devices. Funded through eSPLOST, the one-penny sales tax approved by the taxpayers of Fulton County, the district will implement programs that provide classroom sets of mobile devices to elementary schools, where students will use them on their own or share with a classmate during class, or for middle and high schools, where students will have their own device and be allowed to use it at school and home.

While mobile device’often implies a tablet, the definition also includes laptops. Three vendors and their products were selected after an RFP process: Apple Inc. (iPads), Dell Computers (Chromebooks and Latitude laptops) and PC Specialists (Microsoft Surface tablets). The operating software used by the devices are iOS, Microsoft Windows and Google Chrome.

The district’s schools were divided into five groups to make roll-out of the initiative smoother and more manageable. Schools in Groups 1 and 2 will begin their roll-out this fall. To be selected, schools first had to show their readiness by creating a personalized learning plan that details how the devices will be used to support instruction, how professional development will be provided for teachers, and how information and communications will be shared with parents and the community. Students and parents also must demonstrate their readiness as they will be required to take a mini-module on digital citizenship. The module will instruct on etiquette and responsible use of the device and online resources. It also will explain how to properly care for the device so it is safeguarded and remains in good condition.

Construction and maintenance projects. Thanks to eSPLOST, the summer months have been extremely busy. Construction and maintenance crews are working on more than 26 school projects throughout the county including three new elementary schools, a new middle school and six building additions. Playgrounds also were replaced at 33 elementary schools.

In South Fulton, the staff and students of Mount Olive Elementary School have been relocated from College Park to their new school in East Point named Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School. College Park Elementary School is being reopened to serve its permanent student body, and the McNair Middle School replacement is nearing completion with a spring semester opening scheduled. Also under construction is a new elementary school on Derrick Road, and a Career Technology and regional administrative office building at Banneker High School. Both facilities are set to open in 2016.

In North Fulton, the staff and students of Esther Jackson Elementary School have been relocated to the new elementary school on Alpharetta Street/Highway 9 in Roswell as their school is replaced. Also opening this summer is the new Heards Ferry Elementary School at 6151 Powers Ferry Road NW, located adjacent to the recently opened Administrative Center. Additions are being completed at Hopewell Middle and are progressing at Autrey Mill, Taylor Road and Sandy Springs middle schools. A career technology emphasizing veterinary science is under construction at Cambridge High School.

Renovations will be finished at more than 14 schools in the district. Schools are having their mechanical systems replaced and their finishes improved to enhance the students’ comfort and enjoyment of their school. For perspective, Fulton County Schools’ renovation program is one of the largest programs in the Southeast with daily manpower peaking at 2,000 tradesmen.

This summer, 25 new portable classrooms were installed at 10 different schools and 62 were removed. An additional 36 portable classrooms are planned for removal when construction projects are completed at Hopewell, Taylor Road, Autrey Mill and Sandy Springs middle schools.

Free breakfast and lunch at selected schools. Fulton County Schools is expanding the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) to 22 schools this year, providing students in those schools access to free breakfast and lunch. To qualify, a school must have 40 percent or more students eligible for free meals over a four-year period.

The qualifying include: Asa G. Hilliard Elementary, Bethune Elementary, Brookview Elementary, College Park Elementary, Conley Hills Elementary, Feldwood Elementary, C.H. Gullatt Elementary, Hamilton E. Holmes Elementary, Hapeville Elementary, Heritage Elementary, Lake Forest Elementary, Seaborn Lee Elementary, S.L. Lewis Elementary, Love T. Nolan Elementary, Parklane Elementary, Camp Creek Middle, McNair Middle, Paul D. West Middle, Woodland Middle, Banneker High, McClarin High and Tri-Cities High.

Meal price increase. To continue compliance with the USDA federal regulation, “Equity in School Lunch Pricing,” the school board approved a 10-cent increase to student and adult lunch meal price. Elementary lunch is now $2.35 and middle/high school lunch is $2.60. Adult-priced lunch is $3.35 and the reduced price for qualifying students is $0.40. Breakfast meal prices remain the same – $1.05 (elementary), $1.20 (middle and high), $1.55 (adults), and $0.30 (reduced price for qualifying students).

Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program. Fourteen Fulton County elementary schools were selected by the Georgia Department of Education to participate in the USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. This allows the School Nutrition Program to provide a free fresh fruit or vegetable snack to all students outside of the breakfast or lunch meal. The program introduces school children to a variety of free produce that they otherwise might not have the opportunity to sample, while also providing a nourishing snack to help fuel the students’ brain and growing body during the school day. The 14 elementary schools selected are: Asa G. Hilliard, Brookview, Campbell, Conley Hills, Feldwood, Gullatt, Hamilton E. Holmes, Hapeville, Heritage, Lake Forest, Mimosa, Love T. Nolan, Parklane, and College Park.

Bus Transportation

Bus fleet readiness. School buses are an icon of the back to school season, and their return to the streets signals the start of school. Routes and bus stops will be finalized and posted to the FCS website on August 1, and mechanics are finishing inspections, repairs, and refurbishing to ensure fleet readiness.

Nearly 100 new bus drivers are being trained, and during the week of August 3-6, all 800+ drivers will begin their week of in-service trainings. These include bus safety workshops, real-time dry runs for all routes, driver proficiency skills, supervisor meetings, CPR/emergency first aid training, Green Cross defensive driving, and new this year, PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Supports) training to provide a new level of student management techniques. Twenty-four new buses, funded by eSPLOST, have been added to the fleet.

Additionally, targeted areas are being identified to add school bus stop arm cameras, to further enhance student safety during loading and unloading.

Technology

Upgraded technology. The smooth integration of technology is vital to the success of the school system’s daily operations. Over the spring and summer, the Information Technology Division completed several technology initiatives to help students and teachers learn and work more effectively.

Microsoft Office 365, which houses software programs in the cloud instead of on the machines, is now available to all employees, and the school system is implementing a faster, improved 10G internet system for all network users. In addition, Phase 2 of the Classroom Interactive Projector Plan is being rolled out to replace old projectors with new ones.

New Fulton County Schools app. Fulton County Schools is launching its own app to help connect its stakeholders with the district. Available for free from the Apple and Google Play stores, the app provides access to school websites, social media sites, district news, and calendars. It also has a password-protected parent portal that connects to Home Access Center and a parent notification feature that integrates with SchoolMessenger. Users also can receive push notifications where they opt in to receive information from a specific school.

eSchoolPlus improvements and mobile app. The eSchoolPlus student information database also has been upgraded, and a new eSchool app is being rolled out to allow parents access to their students’ schedules, attendance and grades. The app is available for free from the Apple and Google Play stores.

New VOIP system. New VOIP phone systems have been installed in 24 schools with remaining schools scheduled for installation throughout the school year. With the new system, all schools and administrative buildings will transfer to new area codes and prefixes beginning with 470-254_xxxx. While 470 may seem new, the area code actually was launched in metro Atlanta in 2013 and is a local, non-long distance area code.

Mobile access to SAP. SAP is the program Fulton County Schools uses to manage many of its business and human resources functions. Employees soon will be able to use a mobile version of SAP to view their paystubs, benefits information, and enter their working time and leave requests.

Improved network security. Principals, teachers/staff, and central administrative staff are receiving internet security awareness training to keep networks more secure.

Health Initiatives

Partnerships to Improve Community Health Grant. As part of the Partnerships to Improve Community Health (PICH) grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fulton County Schools is working with the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness, the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Health Policy Center to improve moderate to vigorous physical activity among Fulton County students ages 5-13.

The targeted sites are elementary and middle schools in the Central and South Learning Communities in Fulton County. Funds will support professional development for health and physical education teachers, technical assistance and evidence-based curriculum in schools who volunteer to participate.

---

Image via Shutterstock