Superintendent Jody Barrow has received the Jim Puckett Oustanding Educator Award from the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL).

Fayette County School System spokesperson Melinda Berry-Dreisbach said each year GAEL, a statewide umbrella organization for professional school leadership associations in the state, gives its seven affiliates an opportunity to select one person to receive the Jim Puckett Outstanding Educator Award.

The Georgia School Superintendents Association selected Barrow as its 2017 recipient. The honor goes to individuals who personify the leadership qualities modeled by GAEL’s third executive director, Jim Puckett.

Nominees must possess a record of service for the profession of educational leadership that is considered exemplary, and exhibit leadership characteristics that are a positive role model for others, said Berry-Dreisbach.

The selection team considers information submitted about the nominee that includes examples of effective leadership and management skills, how new ideas and projects have been implemented, contributions to the educational leadership profession, professional growth activities, membership in professional organizations and community involvement, Berry-Dreisbach said.

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Fayette graduation rate falls slightly but remains second highest in metro Atlanta, third highest in state

Fayette’s 2017 high school graduation rate remains strong at 89.3 percent, with the school system posting the second highest rate in the metro Atlanta area for the second consecutive year, according to Melinda Berry-Dreisbach, spokesperson for the Fayette County School System.

Compared to all school systems in the state with at least 1,000 students in the 2017 graduation class, Fayette has the third highest graduation rate. The school system’s rate is well above the state percentage of 80.6, Berry-Dreisbach said.

Fayette’s overall graduation rate took over a one percent dip from 2016 when it was 91.2 percent.

Ranked by graduation rate, the county’s leader is Starr’s Mill High, followed by Whitewater High, McIntosh High, Fayette County High, and Sandy Creek High.

Starr’s Mill High saw over a 2 percent increase in its graduation rate, posting 93.6 percent compared to 91.4 percent in 2016. The school has the 24th highest graduation rate in the state compared to other high schools with graduation classes of 300 students or more, Berry-Dreisbach said.

Graduation rates at Fayette County High (85.6 percent), McIntosh High (91.8 percent), Sandy Creek High (82.7 percent), and Whitewater High (92.3 percent) decreased by 1.7 percent, 1.6 percent, 2.1 percent, and 5.3 percent, respectively.

In a news release from the system, Berry-Dreisbach said:

High school principals and county administrators are analyzing information from last year’s graduation class to see what supports are needed to help graduation rates increase across the county.

Georgia calculates an adjusted cohort graduation rate as required by federal law. The four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate is the number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma divided by the number of students who form the adjusted cohort for the graduating class.

From the beginning of ninth grade, students who are entering that grade for the first time form a cohort that is subsequently “adjusted” by adding any students who transfer into the cohort during the next three years, and subtracting any students who transfer out.

While all states use the same calculation, each state sets its own requirements for students to earn a regular high school diploma. Georgia has some of the highest requirements in the nation for students to graduate with a regular diploma.

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The Coweta County School System has concluded four of its five planned “community conversations” with parents and citizens to discuss future school growth. The final meeting will be held at East Coweta Middle School.

School system spokesman Dean Jackson the meetings included the presentation of data pertaining to the current and anticipated future growth trends in Coweta schools. School system officials also solicited ideas about how best to meet the needs of enrollment growth and facilities planning.

Above, Coweta County parents attend a “Community Conversation” meeting to discuss future school system growth. Photo/Submitted.

The meetings were facilitated by the consulting group Education Planners, LLC. The group’s public presentation and collected data can be found on the school system’s website at www.cowetaschools.net

James Wilson of Education Planners outlined several local data trends that indicate increased student enrollment growth in county schools. He also noted for attendees that Coweta County’s growth is projected by the Atlanta Regional Commission to increase by nearly 100,000 residents by 2040, with an attendant impact on Coweta County schools, Jackson.

“Attendees at the meetings have discussed a number of possible approaches to meeting the needs of school growth, including new school construction, school additions, attendance districts and several innovative recommendations,” said Jackson.

Jackson said Education Planners has been tasked by the school system with developing data for school enrollment projections, current housing and population trends, school facility assessments available acreage, site plans, assessing school feeder patterns and comparing Coweta County to similar districts and schools.

The Community Conversations are intended to share findings, and to gather community input and suggestions to develop recommendations for facilities planning to the superintendent and the Coweta County Board of Education, said Jackson.

For an overview of school system growth visit http://cowetaschools.net/images/2017/School_Growth_Community_Conversation_Presentation_2017.pdf.

For a deeper look at community and school growth data and school-by-school statistics visit http://cowetaschools.net/images/2017/School_Growth_Education_Planners_Data_by_School.pdf.

The final meeting will be held in the cafeteria at East Coweta Middle School, 6291 Ga. Highway 16, just west of Senoia, on Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m.

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E-SPLOST 3 (education-special purpose local option sale tax) Citizens Advisory Committee Chairman Neil Sullivan on Sept. 18 updated the Fayette County Board of Education on the group’s efforts pertaining to the initiative on the November ballot.

Sullivan in his comments spoke about the importance of continuing the E-SPLOST.

Above, Neil Sullivan speaks about E-SPLOST. Photo/Ben Nelms.

“This isn’t different. It continues,” Sullivan said of the upcoming E-SPLOST vote serving as a continuation of the past two. “And in the past it helped get our financial house in order.”

Sullivan, citing the work of the Fayette Citizens for Children organization in supporting the initiative, suggested that a potential problem for E-SPLOST 3 could be a lower voter turnout that usual, given that the November vote comes on an off-year where only municipal elections are held.

Sullivan spoke on the accomplishments of the school system, parental expectations and state funding issues that impact local school systems.

The Fayette Citizens for Children organization has a website with information on E-SPLOST 3. For more information visit http://yesfayetteesplost.com.

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Coweta County School Superintendent Steve Barker has been selected as one of four finalists for 2018 Georgia Superintendent of the Year.

School system spokesman Dean Jackson said Barker is among four finalists selected for the honor by the Georgia State Superintendent’s Association (GSSA). The other three finalists include Samantha Fuhrey of Newton County Schools, Michael Duncan of Pike County Schools, and Wes Taylor of Lowndes County Schools.

Above, Coweta Schools Superintendent Steve Barker. Photo/Submitted.

The finalists were “singled out for their leadership abilities and their excellent skills in working with their boards, staff and local communities,” said GSSA Executive Director John Zauner. “They all face challenges and do so with high integrity and dynamic and supportive leadership styles. They all strive to create a kinetic and innovative educational environment for their students to be successful.

Commenting on the selection, Coweta County Board of Education Vice-Chair Amy Sees said, “Dr. Barker is very deserving of this recognition. Many parents are unaware of the hours he spends advocating for the students here in Coweta County. As a parent, he is genuinely concerned for the success of this district, and as its leader he strives for greatness.”

Barker has served as the Superintendent of the Coweta County School System since 2011. He began his career in the school system in 1990 at Evans Middle School, and served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal at Coweta County elementary, middle and high schools during the 20 years before he became Superintendent, said Jackson.

“Coweta County is fortunate to have Dr. Barker serve as our Superintendent of the Coweta County School System,” said school board Chairman Larry Robertson. “He is totally committed to the success of each and every student within our school system, and that success is the end goal in everything he does.”

Barker earned his B.A. in Education with an emphasis on Social Studies from Shorter College, his Master’s from the State University of West Georgia and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

Barker was nominated by the seven members of the Coweta County Board of Education for GSSA Superintendent of the Year. In their nomination, board members said that Barker “has maintained an incredible level of respect from our educators and has continued to bring fresh and innovative ideas into our district” as Superintendent.

“For the past seven years, Dr. Barker’s main goal is student achievement. He strives to see our students succeed,” board members said, noting Barker’s academic support for schools, his steady leadership in managing Coweta County’s academic program and accountability, and his support of community involvement and innovative practices to raise student achievement. Board members also cited Barker’s open communication with stakeholders, wide community involvement, strong management style, and conservative financial stewardship in support of his nomination.

All four Superintendent of the Year finalists will be recognized at GSSA’s fall conference, held in Athens in October. GSSA will choose a single state Superintendent of the Year from among the finalists by Nov. 1. The state honoree will compete through the national School Superintendent’s Association to represent the nation as the 2018 Superintendent of the Year.

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The Fayette County Commission on Sept. 28 agreed to have county staff approach the Fayette County School System about using a portion of the existing trails behind Inman Elementary School to establish the Fayette County Equestrian Park and Trails.

The approval to begin discussion with the school system came on a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Charles Rousseau opposed.

Rousseau said he was not opposed to riding trails but could not support a park, at this stage, without a number of “unknowns” being answered.

Long-term possibilities for the area would include additional parking spaces and, perhaps, a structure on the property.

County Recreation Department Director Anita Godbee said the conceptual plan calls for providing parking for 10 horse trailers and bringing trails up to standard. Funding for the potential project’s initial phase was approved at $25,000.

Godbee noted that the motion essentially gives the county the ability to begin discussions with the school system to determine if the project is feasible.

It was noted during the discussion that the trail area behind the school was determined in years past not to be buildable.

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So, what projects are included in the proposed continued E-SPLOST (education special purpose local option sales tax) question on the Nov. 7 ballot that the Fayette County Board of Education on July 24 unanimously approved ?

Project categories for the current E-SPLOST include facilities and additions, technology equipment, safety and security equipment, furniture and equipment, transportation equipment, textbooks and instructional material and debt service.

The potential allocation of $74 million includes renovations and improvements at Fayette County High School, Peeples Elementary, Booth Middle,Inman Elementary and the former Fayetteville Intermediate School currently used as the Center of Innovation. Also included are classroom additions to McIntosh High, a gym and stage at Oak Grove Elementary, classroom additions at Sandy Creek High and Whitewater High. The most expensive of the E-SPLOST costs, the individual projects range from $1.5 million to $21.5 million.

Still other projects include upgrading band towers, upgrading kitchen equipment, stadium track and field upgrades, middle and high school locker replacement, restroom renovations, classroom painting and parking lot resurfacing and repairs across the school system. Those projects run from $50,000 to $2 million.

Other projects of less cost include film classroom and equipment at $250,000, culinary classroom renovation and upgrades at $500,000 to expand the program and ceramic kiln replacements at $250,000.

Running into the millions is the replacement of furniture, science lab equipment, outdoor cameras, phone and intercom system upgrades.

The E-SPLOST would also provide up to $10 million for school bus purchases, $6 million for textbooks and $5 million in debt service.

The E-SPLOST ballot language also includes the ability of the school district to be authorized to issue general obligation debt in the principal amount of up to $25 million.

Revenue for E-SPLOST III comes with anticipated maximum revenue of $145 million, up from the potential $107 million under the current ESPLOST II. The increase is a sign that sales tax revenues are expected to continue to rise.

The current E-SPLOST expires in March 2019.

A detailed list of E-SPLOST projects can be viewed at the school system website by visiting www.fcboe.org.

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Whitewater High School has been named Georgia’s first high school to receive the University of Georgia’s inaugural Director’s Cup, an award acknowledging the high school whose students have the highest cumulative grade point average (GPA) at the completion of their first year at the university.

Above, present for the Director’s Cup award presentation were, from left, Superintendent Jody Barrow, Fayette County school superintendent, former Whitewater High Principal Roy Rabold, associate vice president of UGA undergraduate admissions Patrick Winter and Whitewater High Principal Steve Cole. Photo/Submitted.

Fayette County School System spokesperson Melinda Berry-Dreisbach said 14 students from Whitewater who enrolled at UGA in fall 2016 achieved a 3.69 first-year cumulative GPA, higher than any other high school with 10 or more students from the 2016 class.

“This is a great achievement for the Whitewater community. It is rare for first-year students at UGA to have such high grade point averages at the end of their freshmen year. This says a lot about the quality of education students receive at Whitewater High,” said Patrick Winter, associate vice president of undergraduate admissions at UGA.

High schools must have 10 or more students enrolled at UGA in order to be considered for the award. Whitewater was number one out of 125 high schools in Georgia that qualified, said Berry-Dreisbach.

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A Fayette County School System tribunal in early October resulted in an appeal to the state and pending legal action filed on behalf of a 16-year-old girl whose attorney said she suffered a sexual assault by a 16-year-old male at Fayette County High School and has not received the justice she deserved.

Attorney Suri Chadha Jimenez is representing the 16-year-old girl in the expected legal proceeding. Jimenez said his client was expelled for reporting a sexual assault.

“Had she not reported the assault, she would not have faced disciplinary action,” said Jimenez. “This is a violation of (federal) Title IX (equal access to education) and she was never even contacted by a Title IX coordinator in the district to investigate the matter.”

Jimenez said the incident occurred in an alcove area at Fayette County High School on Aug. 23. Occurring after school, Jimenez said the girl was in an extra-credit classroom when she received a text from the boy asking her to meet him. The girl had a crush on the boy and met him, the attorney said. The two were in the alcove area for approximately an hour and a half, Jimenez said.

During the incident, the girl was coerced and, at one point, performed oral sex for 2-3 seconds, said Jimenez, adding that the boy choked her twice with his hands, and on the second occasion she fell to the floor.

During the time in the alcove, a teacher, a janitor and a number of students walked by the area, Jimenez said, adding that the teacher the next day spoke with the girl and could tell something was wrong, insisting that she go to a counselor.

“My client didn’t want to get him in trouble. She was ashamed and couldn’t talk about it, and she wrote the word ‘head’ on a piece of paper,” said Jimenez, noting that the confidentiality the girl was promised was not forthcoming.

Jimenez said the girl, who is learning disabled, was not referred for help. After writing the word on the paper, Jimenez said school administration was informed.

“They suspended both, and said they could go to the alternative school. We said, ‘no’ and wanted a (tribunal) hearing,” said Jimenez.

The tribunal occurred in early October, with Jimenez saying that during the proceedings it was stated bu school officials that “she wanted to do it, it was consensual and hence a violation, and that she wanted to give him a birthday present.”

“She can go to the alternative school, but the mom is absolutely not willing to do that,” Jimenez said. “We want the school to be held accountable.”

Jimenez said that accountability will come in the form of a Title 9 proceeding and the expectation that the school system will pay for a private school for the girl.

The bottom line, said Jimenez, is that “She sought protection from counselors and they betrayed her trust. The principal had a duty to protect (her), but he instead demeaned her during the discipline hearing by saying that she was giving the other student a birthday gift without any evidence to support this statement. There was no evidence of consent or intent by (the girl), and the school, therefore, had no evidence to justify an expulsion. According to the code of conduct, her expulsion was excessive and equivalent to the punishment a student would receive who committed a sexual battery.”

Contacted Saturday, Superintendent Jody Barrow said he could not comment on the issue, citing confidentiality requirements.

The tribunal results are being appealed to the State Board of Education.

Contacted about the incident, Fayetteville Police Department spokesman Chad Myers said the first the police heard of the incident was when a reporter arrived at the school last week. The school resource officer, a Fayetteville police officer, was not made aware of the issue when it occurred or since that time, Myers said.

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A complaint by the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) about East Coweta High School football coach John Small praying with players after a recent game was followed by school system employees receiving guidance clarifying federal law, stating that employees cannot participate in any student-initiated or student-led prayer.

The issue began, according to FFRF, when a concerned community member reported to FFRF that coach John Small had made it a habit to pray with his team, which was filmed at a recent game.

School system spokesman Dean Jackson said Small after a recent football game walked up to a group of students engaged in prayer with a community coach, and prayed with them. A video was recorded and provided to FFRF, Jackson said.

Jackson said nothing has been banned. Rather, school system employees have been provided with relevant legal guidance on the issue, following Superintendent Steve Barker receiving a legal opinion from school board attorney Nathan Lee following the FFRF complaint.

“Representatives of the school cannot participate in any student initiated/student- led prayer or worship while acting in their official capacity,” Lee said, citing federal law.

FFRF initially sent a letter to the Coweta County School System stating that it is illegal for public school athletic coaches to further personal religious beliefs by leading their teams in prayer. Coach-led prayers equate to a government advancement and endorsement of religion, a stark violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, FFRF said on its website.

“Coach Small’s conduct is unconstitutional because he endorses and promotes his religion when acting in his official capacity as a school district employee,” FFRF Legal Fellow Christopher Line said in an Oct. 25 letter to Barker.

FFRF said the school district promptly responded, notifying FFRF in an Oct. 26 letter that Barker had met with the principals of all three high schools to inform them that neither school staff nor volunteer staff may lead or participate in religious activity before, during or after high school football games.

Coach John Small also weighed-in on the issue.

“I knew this was an amazing community here in Coweta County when I got here, but what’s amazing is this situation has made this community even stronger and better. There is so much support for our students and our schools in this great community. We have some amazing young people in our schools that desire to lead in many ways and through all of this we can already see the leadership of our students grow. The last time I checked, that is exactly what we all want is for the students to become better leaders for our future.

“We understand there are laws in place and we follow them to the best of our knowledge. Are we perfect? No, but no one is and we are always learning and trying to be better each day. Our county and the leadership from our Superintendent Dr. Barker is second to none here in this county. We appreciate the support and guidance from our superintendent on a daily basis. We will continue to grow and become stronger from this as a community.”

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Coweta County School Superintendent Dr. Steve Barker has been named the 2018 Georgia Superintendent of the Year by the Georgia School Superintendent’s Association (GSSA).

Last year’s recipient of the award was Fayette County School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Barrow.

The honor was announced on Friday afternoon at the GSSA Awards Luncheon at the Waverly Renaissance Hotel in Atlanta. He will now be entered into consideration for National Superintendent of the Year, said school system spokesman Dean Jackson.

He was selected for the honor from among four finalists.

“Dr. Barker is very deserving of this recognition,” said Coweta County Board of Education Vice-Chair Amy Dees. “Many parents are unaware of the hours he spends advocating for the students here in Coweta County. As a parent, he is genuinely concerned for the success of this district, and as its leader he strives for greatness.”

Board Chairman Larry Robertson agreed, saying, “Coweta County is fortunate to have Dr. Barker serve as our Superintendent of the Coweta County School System. He is totally committed to the success of each and every student within our school system, and that success is the end goal in everything he does.”

Barker will serve as Georgia’s nominee in the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) National School Superintendent of the Year competition, according to Jackson.

Barker has served as the Superintendent of the Coweta County School System since 2011. He began his career in the school system in 1990 at Evans Middle School, and served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal at Coweta County elementary, middle and high schools during the 20 years before he became Superintendent, Jackson said.

Barker earned his B.A. in Education with an emphasis on Social Studies from Shorter College, his Master’s from the State University of West Georgia, and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, said Jackson

Barker was nominated by the seven members of the Coweta County Board of Education for GSSA Superintendent of the Year. In their nomination, board members said that Barker “has maintained an incredible level of respect from our educators and has continued to bring fresh and innovative ideas into our district” as Superintendent.

“For the past seven years, Dr. Barker’s main goal is student achievement. He strives to see our students succeed,” board members said, noting Barker’s academic support for schools, his steady leadership in managing Coweta County’s academic program and accountability, and his support of community involvement and innovative practices to raise student achievement. Board members also cited Barker’s open communication with stakeholders, wide community involvement, strong management style, and conservative financial stewardship in support of his nomination.

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86 more students this year than last

A recently released enrollment report by the Fayette County School System shows a slight uptick in student enrollment numbers compared to last year. The report also noted the losses and gains by school compared to a year ago.

In total, the school system on Nov. 9 had a student enrollment of 20,146. That compares to 20,060 students enrolled on Nov. 9, 2016. The figures represent 86 additional students this year.

The report in providing enrollment numbers by school showed that four of the system’s 14 elementary schools have fewer students than last year. Enrollment was also down at three of the five middle schools and at two of the five high schools.

The report showed:

2017        2016    Difference

Braelinn Elem.      543          514           29

Cleveland El.          448         514          -40

Crabapple El.         605         621           -16

F’ville Elem.           467         463             4

Huddleston            592         626              -34

Inman                      634        631                3

Kedron                    615         607               8

North Fayette        628        615                13

Oak Grove              543        540                33

PTC                          497        503                -6

Peeples                    705        703                 2

Burch                       539        520                 19

Minter                      736        708                  8

Elem. Total          8,268        8,199              69

Bennetts Mill

Middle                       987        933                54

Flat Rock                  788        792                  -4

Booth                       1,196        1,183               13

Rising Starr               898        927               -29

Whitewater                886        895                 -9

Middle Tot.              4,755        4,730             25

Fayette County

High                           1,322        1,262              60

McIntosh High        1,674        1,637               37

Sandy Creek             1,115        1,189                -74

Starr’s Mill               1,398        1,434               -36

Whitewater              1,439        1,414                 25

High Sch. Tot.         6,948        6,936                12

The school system’s alternative, open campus, Mainstay and REACH programs had a net decrease of 20 students during the period.

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Parents of students who will be eligible to attend the Fayette County Public School System’s state-funded Pre-K program for the 2018-19 school year can register their children for a lottery drawing beginning Jan. 16.

Pre-K programs are being offered at Cleveland, Crabapple Lane, Fayetteville, Huddleston, Inman, Kedron, North Fayette, Oak Grove, Peachtree City, Sara Harp Minter, Spring Hill, and Robert J. Burch elementary schools. Students must be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2018, to be eligible for the program.

Registration for the lottery drawing will be held Jan. 16- Feb. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the schools offering Pre-K programs. Parents must present residency information (visit www.fcboe.org for acceptable documents) and their child’s birth certificate to register for the drawing.

The lottery drawing will be held on March 1 at the participating schools. Parents only (no children) may attend the lottery drawing. A total of 22 students will be selected for each class. School personnel will notify parents of those students whose names are drawn.

If there are vacancies at the end of the first day of school, and there are no students in the school attendance zone on the waiting list, students residing in any Fayette County school zone will be drawn from a second waiting list. In this case, parents are responsible for transportation to and from school.

Upon notification of admission, parents will need to provide the required enrollment documentation for registration. These documents are posted on the school system’s website, www.fcboe.org.

For more information about the school system’s pre-K program, contact the local school or Kim Herron at 770-460-3990, ext. 168, or Tina Evans at 770-460-3990, ext. 186. Additional information about the state funded Bright from the Start Pre-K program can be found at www.decal.ga.gov.

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The Fayette County Board of Education on Dec. 11 approved the purchase of 20 school buses for a price not to exceed $2 million using SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) funds.

Awarded to Rush Truck Center, of Atlanta, the purchase includes 15 buses with a 72-person capacity and five buses with a 54-person capacity.

The purchase included a number of extended warranties. — Ben Nelms.

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Survey responses by more than 2,000 Fayette County students and more than 850 parents showed that Film and Creative Arts and Computer/Information Technology survey areas carry significant interest to students and parents.

The survey, released in mid-December by the Fayette County School System, had 2,163 respondents in grades 8-12 and 869 parent respondents. The school system will use the survey results to determine if additional course offerings should be added to the career pathways.

Students taking the survey showed a strong interest in Computer/Information Technology and Film and Creative Arts career pathways. Computer-Information Technology, Civil Engineering and Architecture are part of the overall engineering category.

Approximately 23 percent of students taking the survey indicated an interest in the two categories.

Parents responding to the survey said the Engineering and Film and Creative Arts categories, both by a wide margin, would be of the greatest interest to their child.

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The 2018 Best Schools in America rankings have been released, and Fayette County Public Schools has made the list.

The school system has been ranked ninth out of 183 systems in Georgia by Niche, the largest website for researching public and private K-12 schools, according to school system spokesperson Melinda Berry-Dreisbach.

Every month, millions of families use Niche’s rankings, reviews, and data to choose the right schools for their children, Berry-Dreisbach said.

“In the metro Atlanta area, Fayette has been ranked sixth out of 34 school systems, and nationally is ranked in the top 14 percent out of 10,574 school systems,” said Berry-Dreisbach.

Berry-Dreisbach said the school system achieved the rankings by scoring highly on a variety of factors including test scores, student-teacher ratio, and reviews from students and parents. Niche’s data team analyzed this data from thousands of schools across the country to create their 2018 Best Schools rankings.

Niche gathers data from the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Civil Rights Data Collection and Niche’s school survey and K-12 student and parent surveys.

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City to buy school system HQ land for $3.1 million; building cost, funding source not disclosed; old FCHS campus to be new central office

By this time next year, Fayetteville could be breaking ground on a new city hall.

The Fayetteville City Council voted unanimously June 25 to purchase a nearly 10-acre tract on Stonewall Village to kick-start development in downtown Fayetteville. The revamped plan for downtown Fayetteville includes a new city hall where the current Board of Education office is located.

Above, Downtown Development Director Brian Wismer. File photo.

The city is paying the school board nearly $3.1 million for the nearly 10-acre site that currently houses the school board building. Downtown Development Director Brian Wismer said the funding will come from SPLOST proceeds for greenspace and the city’s fund balance.

There was no estimate given by the city for either the proposed cost of the new city hall nor any public mention of where the council expects to get the money to pay for it.

The city passed the land purchase agreement Thursday night, and the Board of Education is expected to confirm the contract this week. Superintendent of Education Jody Barrow said the system expects to move out of the property by the end of the year and into offices at the Lafayette Education Center, the old Fayette County High School campus on Lafayette Avenue in Fayetteville.

For years, city officials have been focusing on revitalizing downtown and creating a destination for residents and visitors.

The latest vision by Haddow and Company features three “pods” of development. Pod A is 5.6 acres between Lafayette and Lanier Avenue. Pod B is 5.9 acres between Lanier and Stonewall and Pod C is 10.5 acres bounded on the north by Stonewall Avenue and occupied by the Board of Education.

The Pod A development, which is billed as a private initiative, and not a city-led project, would feature 188 apartments and townhomes along with 11,300 sq. ft. of commercial and retail.

Pod B would feature commercial buildings totalling 32,300 sq. ft. on the current county lot on the southwest corner of Stonewall and Glynn Street.

The new 37,000 sq. ft two-story city hall would be located on the school board property in Pod C and feature fountains, lawns and greenspace south of the new building. It would also feature 51,000 sq. ft. of office space.

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The Fayette County Board of Education on Jan. 22 unanimously approved the granting of easement related to the coming construction of a multi-use tunnel on Redwine Road to serve the Starr’s Mill school complex.

Above, a cart path tunnel in another part of Peachtree City. File photo.

Designed to serve Peeples Elementary School, Rising Star Middle School and Starr’s Mill High School, the Fayette County-funded tunnel is likely to be installed during summer break in 2019, though there is a possibility of having the work done in summer 2018, said Fayette County Public Works Director Phil Mallon.

The tunnel will be situated just south of the Panther Pass entrance to the school complex.

The tunnel has been in the planning stages for some time. Providing recent data, Mallon told school board members that a 2017 survey showed more than 600 golf cart trips per day at the location, with more than half the trips originating on the west side of Redwine Road and crossing at Foreston Place.

A multi-use path is currently installed on the east side of Redwine, with plans for a second path to be installed on the west side of the road near Foreston Place. It is currently unknown if the county or the school system will fund the cost of the new 600-foot path.

The project will negate the need for a crossing guard, which is not sustainable and provides assistance for brief time periods during school days, Mallon said.

The tunnel will provide a safe alternative with no vehicular traffic impacts on Redwine Road, Mallon noted.

The unanimous vote provided 65,340 sq. ft. of temporary easement for the project and 1,042 sq. ft. of permanent easement.

Once constructed, the school system will provide routine maintenance such as cleaning, painting and landscaping.

The project is being funded by the county’s 2017 SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax).

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The Fayette County Board of Education at the Feb. 26 meeting got an update on safety initiatives. The update came in the wake of the most recent school shooting in Florida.

Safety, Discipline and Athletics Coordinator Ted Lombard said six or seven digital cameras are installed in each elementary school, with approximately 30 cameras in middle schools and approximately 60 in high schools.

Above, stock photo of array of school surveillance cameras.

The school system is planning for approximately 150 additional cameras to be installed during the 2018-2019 school year.

Lombard said access control systems are installed for all schools and some administrative buildings, along with access control readers and back-up power supply batteries being installed in all schools.

Lombard said two hard-wired lockdown buttons are installed in all schools and most administrative buildings. A special lockdown warning tone can be activated in all school intercom systems and are tested each semester during required drills.

Security also translates into everyone in the school, students and staff, maintaining an awareness of the critical job of ensuring safety. Citing an example of how security can be by-passed, one board member noted an experience where a student at one of the high schools propped a rock in a door that made entry into the school for other students a simple matter.

In terms of enhancing school security, board member Diane Basham said, “This is a perfect opportunity to get the students involved. The students need to buy in.”

Lombard said he will be meeting with principals to address the various security issues and to get their ideas on security measures that might be specific to individual schools. Those measures will include school-level exercises at various times of the day.

Another aspect of of emergency planning deals with the reunification of students with their parents. Lombard said the school system is working on a plan, including off-site facilities, that would serve as locations to reunite parents with their children.

The Room Verification Status Program (RSVP) has now been updated for mobile phones and tablets. Linked to law enforcement and the county 911 center, RSVP shows the individual school layout and all rooms in the buildings.

Lombard said schools and the school system are continuing to tighten-up visitor management, vendor access and key control, while conducting emergency training and exercises. He said Fayette has a robust SRO (student resource officer) program, with a memo of understanding signed by all law enforcement agencies.

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Fayette Board of Education considers aging school’s needs; $12 million or $24M?

Should Booth Middle School in Peachtree City receive needed a renovation at $11-12 million or should the school be replaced for about $24 million? That question is on the minds of the Fayette County Board of Education and will likely be addressed in the near-term. Booth began as a junior high school more than three decades ago on its campus on Peachtree Parkway South.

Above, J.C. Booth Middle School in Peachtree City, off South Peachtree Parkway. Photo/Ben Nelms.

School board members at the February work session heard a presentation from Facilities Director Mike Satterfield on replacing the gym and addressing a number of other concerns at the facility. That discussion led to the idea of, perhaps, constructing a new school. When it comes to replacing the school, the $11-12 million in renovation costs would likely turn into approximately $24 million to scrap the school and build a replacement on the site.

Satterfield noted numerous existing issues that included the current gym and its support facilities being undersized, a cafeteria that seats 400 with a student population of 1,200, an undersized fine arts area, narrow hallways compared to other schools and the loading dock for the kitchen located on the front of the school.

While Booth has square footage comparable to the other middle schools, it is not laid-out as well, said Satterfield.

Satterfield said the initial idea was to take care of existing issues by building a new gym in the current bus loop area, relocating the bus loop behind the school, relocating the cafeteria to the old gym and adding a new kitchen and loading dock. That way, the existing cafeteria could be used for fine arts and it would free-up eight or nine classrooms, Satterfield said.

In all, the project would cost $11-12 million, he said.

Satterfield noted that comments from some on the school board referenced the potential constructing a replacement building instead of renovating.

A replacement school on the Booth property could include a one- or two-story building. In terms of potential location, the school building could be located where the ball fields are currently situated, with the future fields essentially changing places with the building, said Satterfield.

The preliminary estimates cost of replacing the school could be approximately $24 million.

Funding for the replacement school could be accomplished by a bond or by using SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) funds, though doing so would require foregoing other SPLOST projects.

“To throw more money to fix part of a substandard building seems foolish from a long-term perspective,” said board member Leonard Presberg in advocating for potentially replacing the school.

Some others on the board tended to agree with that position, with Superintendent Jody Barrow saying that he expected additional conversations on the renovation and replacement options.

Board member Diane Basham questioned “putting $11-12 million into what we (currently) have to give some level of functionality.” Like Presberg, Basham called renovation a band-aid approach.

Pertaining to the idea of relocating the school, Satterfield said he had not spoken with anyone about acquiring land for that purpose. Chairman Barry Marchman added that there are land-swap opportunities to be considered.

Barrow at the end of the discussion again noted that the school board will continue to discuss the options.

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