Schools

Fulton County Schools Chief Starts Plan to Visit All Schools

Superintendent Robert Avossa says no furlough days are planned this year.

Riverwood High School was bustling, Tuesday, both with students in for orientation and Fulton County Schools Superintendent, Robert Avossa.

The new schools head was there for the first of regular monthly briefings on the school system’s outlook. He plans to visit all 100 schools by the Christmas break.

“I’m most excited about Aug. 15, which we will be welcoming back 93,000 students,” said Avossa.

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Technology is an important and careful focus, Avossa said. He’s watching how other school districts manage investments in iPads and new technology, while also working to make sure students have a competitive edge when they graduate.

“When you think about the fact that today we are in 2011, we are helping children prepare for jobs that have yet to be created,” he said.

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The school system’s budget is $819.5 million with $8,797 per student.

High school seniors will be offered advanced calculus and mathematics classes this year. Other new initiatives include an English-Language Arts pilot program.

“We’ll have selected teachers in our schools participating, K-12,” said Dr. Linda Anderson, deputy superintendent of instruction. “We have not had a new adoption of our English-Language Arts program for about eight years. We have more books coming on line, electronic textbooks and additional materials that we can use to strengthen that program.”

In a separate pilot program, students at select elementary and middle schools will receive progress reports so parents can know if their children are on track with required standards, which must be met by the end of the school year.

The school year begins with 513 new teachers, 17 new principals and 18 assistant principals. However there are still 69 teacher and two principal vacancies.

There are no planned furlough days this year.

Avossa indicated that one of his challenges is to bridge the gap between north and south Fulton schools. Concerned parents in south Fulton believe there is a disparity in student achievement outcomes, he said.

“Resources are provided to schools in a formulaic method,” he said. Still reports across the nation show there can be disparities in SAT and other standardized test scores, he added.

“One of the reasons why this district for me was so appealing was folks here are having the hard conversations,” Avossa continued. “People…want improvement to occur. We’re willing to step up to the plate and make that happen.”


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