Student ‘gaps’ identified with grant funded program

Fulton County Board of Education met in regular session Jan. 28, in the Conference Room with Board members Brian Emmons, Rob Garrigan, Barry Patrick, and Perry Turner meeting in person and Kim Hagler via Zoom.

Rob Garrigan was re-elected Board Chairperson, and Perry Turner was elected as Vice-Chairperson.

During the Student Celebration portion of the meeting, High School Governor’s Cup winners were announced and Luke Jackson was honored for being selected to attend the HOBY Youth Leadership Program.

January Best Pilots on Board recognitions were presented to Board members Hagler, Garrigan, Turner, Emmons, and Patrick.

Interim Superintendent PaTrice Chambers reported she had hired Aletha Westbrooks, Specialized Special Education Assistant; Chelsea Wilson, School Counselor; Willie Campbell, substitute teacher; Eden Bailey, student bus monitor; Jade Eakes, high school Softball Coach, and Allison Tucker, substitute.

“I would like to thank Susan Taylor for donating masks and Jim Williams for helping in the transportation department. We have 587 students enrolled in the District, in grades K-12, 17 seniors who are Transition Ready, two students are ASE certified, and several middle school students placed in the Governor’s Cup,” Chambers said.

Chambers updated the Board on her recent activities including a ‘Coffee and Conversation’ with principals last week, and attendance at a Hickman County Board of Education meeting as part of Superintendent training.
In February, Chambers said she plans to have ‘Coffee and Conversation’ with District team members and Board members.

Leah Bona, Alexander Thompson Arnold representative, attended the meeting via Zoom and presented the 2019-2020 Audit Review.

“We have been waiting on COVID-19 guidelines to be released from the Federal government, and the deadline for the audit was extended from Nov. 15 to Jan. 15,” Bona said.

“The audit shows the overall net assets at $1,072,000, compared to 2019, $795,00, a change of $277,000. The Statement of Activities Change in Net Position for 2020 was $277,000, compared to $713,000 for 2019, a decrease of $436,000,” Bona continued. Board members voted to approve the 2019-2020 Audit Review.

Diane Owen discussed the District Benchmark Assessment Data via Zoom.

“We have purchased the iReady Diagnostic program with grant money, which also gives teachers a tool kit with resources to help identify kids’ growth,” Owen said.

“After students take the diagnosis it shows their gaps, based on the standards. This gives the teachers checkmarks if the student has met that standard. It also gives partial checkmarks if the student partially met the standard. This is a really good report for the teachers to go back and try to fill the gaps. With COVID-19, we have a lot of gaps,” Ellen Murphy, Principal at Fulton County High School said.

“Kids were tested in the Fall when they came back to school, and away from us since March. We are excited to see growth. The Reading rate showed reading level was a couple of grades behind. We did have 44% of students in this classification and now we have 19%,” Owen said.

“We wrote another grant this year and received $90,000 in the grant paying for the program for the next three years and it will not cost the District anything,” Owen concluded.

Board members approved the student Insurance Renewal; set the 2021 Graduation Date for May 28, and the last day for students for May 27.

The Board held the second reading of the 2021-22 School Calendar and approved a 170 day calendar, as well as the Spring Sports Schedule, with no more games to be added, but District games to be rescheduled, and approved the School Nutrition 2019-2020 Report Card, contact Tracing Stipend and the 2021-2022 Draft Budget.

Julie Jackson, Fulton County Schools Director of Operations reported “Football was so much easier because we were outside. Capacity was larger. Basketball has been a little more challenging. We started using GoFan. We don’t have to take money at the gate. I send information for the GoFan link to the visiting schools to purchase a ticket. This also helps with contact tracing.”

Jennifer Davis, Fulton County Schools Financial Officer, reported Year to Date Revenue actuals are $3,087,767.64, against a budget of $5,007,344, or 61.66% collected. She noted Last Year to Date Revenue actuals were $3,064,661,99, against a budget of $4,911,652.60, or 62.40%. Year to Date Expense actuals were reported at $1,603,944.84, against a budget of $5,007,344.00, or 32.03%. Last Year to Date Expense actuals were $1,839,513.26, against a budget of $4,911,652.60, or 37.45%.