Fulton Co. Schools’ reopening plan Sept. 9 draft underway

Patrice Chambers attended her first meeting at Acting Superintendent of Fulton County Board of Education during their regular meeting July 16.

Board members Brian Emmons, Rob Garrigan, and Barry Patrick were in attendance. Members Kim Hagler and Perry Turner attended via Zoom.

The Mission Statement for the School District was read as follows, “In partnership with and in service to our community, the Fulton County Board of Education provides leadership, acquires, and allocates resources that enable all students to achieve a productive life through quality education.”

Supt. Chambers notified the Board of the following personnel: hired, Tia Bradley, substitute bus driver, LaDevin Fair, third Assistant High School Football coach, Kelly Sipes, Cross Country Assistant coach, Patrice Chambers, Acting Superintendent, Ellen Murphy, Interim Director of Pupil Personnel, and Deena Anderson, Interim Attendance Audit Data Technician; and accepted the following resignations, Tia Bradley, full time bus driver, Emily Mullins, Preschool teacher, Tracy Ellegood, Middle School Volleyball Assistant coach, and Aaron Collins, Superintendent.

Acting Superintendent Chambers said, “I’m honored to be here as Acting Superintendent in my own home district of school. I’m looking forward to the 2020-2021 school year and have been working with my ‘power team,’ on a regular basis, discussing COVID-19 and other things. Last week I attended Superintendent training in Frankfort, which was valuable and in two weeks I will go to Louisville for more Superintendent training. I have been working with Jennifer Davis with finance.”

Among items given board approval were Fulton County Schools 2020-2021 Behavior Expectations (Code of Conduct Handbook), with minor changes and 2020-2021 Fulton County Elementary School (FCES) Handbook, with minor changes.

The Board was made aware that effective this school year, student drop off at Elementary/Middle School will take place at the front door. Faculty and staff will assist in walking Preschool and Kindergarten students to their classrooms.

Added to the handbook was that facemasks and coverings, when social distancing is not possible by students and staff, will be included in the student dress code guidelines, and the Title 1 parent contact would be added to the handbook.

Several changes were included in the 2020-2021 Fulton County Middle School (FCMS) Handbook and 2020-2021 Fulton County High School (FCHS) Handbook.

Teachers have gone to 60% summative on grades and 40% formative. The major change at the high school will be no use of cell phones at all this year with cell phones and earbuds to be put away whenever at school.

No large backpacks or bags will be allowewd in the classroom and all students are required to purchase a FCHS agenda for $10 and a calculator for their Math class.

In regard to the 2020-2021 Athletic Handbook, a parent contact form has been added to the book for parents to sign.

No major changes were added to the 2020-2021 Employee Handbook, or the Coaches Handbook.

Extra Services Supplements designated included adding Interim Superintendent, Interim DPP, Attendance Data Technician, and Interim Middle School Sports.

Chambers was added to the District Checking Account.

Chambers updated the board on her Professional Growth Plan.

“I’m focusing on two areas. The first will be ‘culture’. With COVID, the teachers and kids are in a frenzy and I want to promote a positive culture. We will make it through this. The next one is ‘finance’. I want to become a better Superintendent,” Chambers said.

Board approval was given for the engagement of English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley, LLP, a law firm to help with the Superintendent search.

“With the COVID, it has been requested for the Auditors not to be inhouse. We would scan items and email to them, or if it is something too large to email, we would meet them somewhere and let them take the items out of the building, with our approval, temporarily. Most everything we can scan and email to them,” Jennifer Davis, Financial Officer, said.

“Financials are not closed and in the books. This is the biggest majority of everything that is done,” Davis said.

Revenues actual are $5,024,885.92, against a budget of $4,911,652.60. We have collected 102.31% of the budget. Last year’s revenues were $4,750,608.44, compared to $4,644,540.22, or 102.28%, almost the exact percentage for both years,"Davis reported.

Expenditures were reported at $4,027,896.77, against a budget of $4,911,652.20, or 82.01%. Last year the budget was $3,898,657.50, against a budget of $4,644,540.22, or 83.94%.

“I anticipated being under because we had fewer expenses because of kids not in school for two months. We saved a little in electricity, and diesel fuel. We ran the buses to deliver meals, but we charged food services for running the buses. Insurance, payroll is the same. We had almost a two percent savings over last year,” Davis said.

Reopening Plan for the 2020-2021 school year was discussed.

Chambers stated, “It is changing every day. The biggest thing will be the faculty, staff, and student safety. We are taking every measurement we can, so when we come back on Sept. 9. We want to come back in full speed, with five days of class. Maybe on Friday, release early so the custodians can do some deep cleaning, and teachers can prepare for the next week. Again, this is a draft. We are looking to see what other schools are doing so we can be safe and will follow the Governor’s plan. My power team will meet Monday to get some more stuff in stone.”

The Board went into Closed Session pursuant to KRS 61.810(1)(f) and returned to open session with no action taken.