Board of Education

Next up: Redraw Fayette schools’ attendance boundaries

The work of the Fayette County School System’s redistricting committee is about to get underway again. The committee will meet Jan. 24 and will present a redistricting plan for the potential closure of four schools to the Fayette County Board of Education on Jan. 28. A final decision on the closure of three elementary schools and one middle school will likely not be made until March. Read More»

Potential Fayette BoE cuts: 220 staffers, 4 schools

On the chopping block: 100 teachers and other certified positions, 100 parapros; Brooks and Tyrone Elem. may close; board trying to deal with $15 million budget shortfall Read More»

Question for Career Academy: ‘Where’s the money?’

Fayette County Board of Education members at the recent discussion about the CCA. From left, Barry Marchman, Mary Kay Bacallao, Leonard Presberg, Chairwoman Marion Key and Bob Todd. Photo/Ben Nelms.

The Jan. 7 meeting of the Fayette County Board of Education saw no shortage of representatives from local businesses and the community advocating for the school board to consider operating a College and Career Academy (CCA). Perhaps more significant than any variable related to the idea of establishing a CCA, and in the midst of upcoming historic budget cuts, is that the new program’s cost is not yet established. Read More»

Key elected as chair of BoE

Veteran Fayette County Board of Education member Marion Key, newly elected as board chair. File photo.

Fayette County Board of Education member Marion Key received a unanimous vote Monday night to serve as school board chairman during 2013 while board member Bob Todd, also on a unanimous vote, will serve as vice-chairman.

The election of the chair and vice-chair came with essentially no discussion. New board member Mary Kay Bacallao made a motion that Key serve as chair. The motion passed by unanimous vote. Read More»

Decision time arrives for Fayette BoE cost-cutting

When it comes to academics the Fayette County School System is in fine shape. But in terms of finances, 2012 was the year that saw a majority vote by the Fayette County Board of Education to kick the fiscal can down the road for the last time. And 2013 will be the year the new school board will have to pick up the pieces and make historic cuts that will take effect July 1. Read More»

2 incoming BoE members pray for Newtown victims

New Fayette County Board of Education members Mary Kay Bacallao and Barry Marchman were joined by nearly a dozen elected officials, community members and Fellowship of Christian Athletes representatives Dec. 21 for a prayer service outside the school system’s central office building. The prayer service was held to remember the victims in the Connecticut shooting and for the local school system and school board. Photo/Ben Nelms.

Cold winds Friday afternoon did not stop two new members of the Fayette County Board and Education and nearly a dozen community members from conducting a prayer service in the parking lot of the school system’s central office building in downtown Fayetteville.

The group formed a prayer circle as they prayed for the families of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings and for the Fayette County School System. Read More»

Forecast for Fayette schools: $15 million more in cuts

One of the dozens of schoolbuses operated by the Fayette County School System. Photo/Maggie Zerkus.

The Fayette County School System has been saving money by not filling some vacated positions and watching expenses since the school year began in August. But, as expected, the final report from the cost-cutting committee at the Monday night meeting of the Fayette County Board of Education showed the need in the coming months to plan for approximately $15 million in cuts so the school board in June can adopt a balanced budget for the 2013-2014 school year. Read More»

Proposed school cuts to be aired Dec. 17

A Dec. 17 presentation before the Fayette County Board of Education on the findings of the school system’s cost-cutting committee is likely to contain unsettling news for many system employees and parents.

Cuts faced by the school board in coming months represent what are arguably the largest single-year cuts in the history of the school system. Read More»

Fayette BoE picks interim superintendent

New interim Fayette County School Superintendent Dan Colwell. Photo/Special.

Longtime Fayette County resident and former Clayton County School Superintendent Dan Colwell was appointed Monday night as interim superintendent with the Fayette County School System. Read More»

Bearden gets top job with Rome City Schools

The second time around for Fayette County School Superintendent Jeff Bearden was a charm. Bearden has been hired to be the new superintendent at Rome City Schools in Floyd County.

The Rome City Schools Board of Education on Wednesday named Bearden to the school system’s top job, according to the Rome News-Tribune. The school board vote was unanimous. Read More»