Schools

Parents have their say at first school redistricting meeting

A group of more than 400 parents turned out Aug. 30 to have their say on what school boundaries lines should look like if the Fayette County Board of Education later this year votes to close several schools in the county.

Held at Fayette County High School, the meeting began with Superintendent Jeff Bearden providing an overview of the economic conditions that led to the two current options for school closures. The majority of the time was spent with small groups Read More»

Sup’t. Bearden to conduct public hearing Thursday night on school cuts

If you want to have your say on which Fayette County schools should be closed to cut costs — and which should remain open — here’s your chance.

The first of two public hearings for parents and the community to provide input on the potential closure of several Fayette County schools will be conducted Thursday night at Fayette County High School.

School system spokesperson Melinda Berry-Dreisbach said the first public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. in the Fayette County High School cafeteria on Aug. 30. Read More»

Fayette Commission hears pitch for local college-career academy

The Fayette County Commission was briefed last week on efforts to bring a “College and Career Academy” to the county.

The goal is to not just offer dual enrollment classes for high school students to get an early jump on college credits, but also to help local industries get a trained local workforce, said Peachtree City Councilwoman Kim Learnard, who is spearheading the effort. Read More»

Fayette student numbers level out

The large drop in student enrollment seen last year in the Fayette County School System may be leveling out. While enrollment numbers for the beginning of the second week of school showed 185 fewer students than in May, that loss represents a far better number than the 700 students lost a year ago.

The school system near the end of the first week of school reported 19,988 students. But an attendance count from the second week showed 20,252 students, according to information provided by Fayette schools. Read More»

Starting off going backwards

Starting off going backwards

Whitewater’s Jay Ashley (1) gets knocked back by the Coffee defense in the Wildcats’ 41-3 loss last Friday. For a preview of this week’s games, see the story on Page B1. Full team previews are available online at www.thecitizensports.com. Photo/Maddie Mercer.

Smokey Road’s Barron named national principal of the year

Coweta Schools Assistant Superintendent Marc Guy, left, just congratulated Smokey Road Middle School Principal Dr. Laurie Barron for being named the 2013 National Middle Level Principal of the Year by MetLife and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. At right are Coweta County Board of Education Chairman Sue Brown and Coweta Superintendent Steve Barker, who helped announce Barron’s honor at the school on Aug 21. Photo/Special.

For a middle school principal it is an honor like no other. Smokey Road Middle School Principal Laurie Barron on Aug. 21 was named the 2013 MetLife/NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals) National Middle Level Principal of the Year. Read More»

Pollock is charter academy's new principal

Pollock is charter academy's new principal

The Coweta Charter Academy at Senoia has a new principal. The departure last month of Terry Stollar led to the selection of 18-year educator Tiffany Pollock to head the charter school for the 2012-2013 school year. Pollock taught at the Charter Schools USA sister-school in Cherokee County last year and, prior to that time, served in various teaching and administrative positions in the Marietta City School System, in Muscogee County and Greenwood, South Carolina. Read More»

Sandy Creek scrimmages with Starr’s Mill

Sandy Creek scrimmages with Starr’s Mill

Sandy Creek hosted Starr’s Mill in a scrimmage last Thursday night and moved the ball well against the Panthers. Both teams start the 2012 season next week, while Whitewater is the only local team kicking off this Friday night. They will host Coffee at 8 p.m. For a preview of that game, see the Wednesday print edition of The Citizen. The 2012 football preview will run in next Wednesday’s paper. Photo/Michael Boylan.

Sup’t. Bearden warns Fayette schools facing up to $20 million in cuts for next year

In a somber “Welcome back” letter to faculty and staff on Aug. 17, Fayette County School Superintendent Jeff Bearden asks for input in figuring out how to slash up to $20 million — or nearly 12 percent — from an already austere school budget for the 2013-14 school year.

The budget for the current school year calls for spending about $177 million but receiving only $163 million in tax revenue. The shortfall this year is being made up by spending almost all the system’s cash reserves. Read More»

Crabapple Lane teachers go for the gold

Crabapple Lane teachers go for the gold

Faculty and staff at Crabapple Lane Elementary spent the first day of preplanning having some Olympic size fun. They were divided into countries and competed against each other in team-building events that included a ping-pong tournament and trivia contest on historical facts about the Olympic Games and Crabapple Lane Elementary, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. Gold medal trivia winners representing team Mexico (L-R) Mary Kate Smith, Denise Hubbard, Ashley Fannin, Kim Wisener, Pat Costa, Suzie Gibbs, (bending) Michelle DuBois, Charmaine Courtney and Elizabeth Sulkowski. Read More»