Bulletin Board
August 2021 - CSD Board of Education
Excerpts from the Regular Meeting of the City Schools of Decatur
Board of Education held on August 10, 2021
Board Spotlight: Talley Street Upper Elementary School
BOARD ACTIONS
Consent Agenda Items
Personnel Report
The Board approved the CSD personnel report.
School Nutrition
The Board approved the CSD school nutrition report.
Financial Reports
The Board approved CSD financial report.
Approve Contract for Additional Student Devices
Given the ongoing uncertainty about community health and our instructional delivery model due to COVID-19, Information Services believes it is prudent to bolster our supply of student devices. An enhanced equipment pool can better support students' access to technology within the schoolhouse (and at some sites, help minimize physical movement and equipment sharing). Discussions between schools and Wilson Center leaders about the appropriateness and strategic impact of expanding this kind of distribution are ongoing, but a bolstered equipment stock would make the realization of a broader, deliberate 1:1 distribution easier to implement and sustain while still providing the necessary level of access to modern equipment within each school. Student access to a connected device is a necessary component to support learning, even when school operates under traditional circumstances. The Board unanimously approved the contract to purchase additional student devices.
Approve Career and Technical Education FY2022 State and Federal Grants
City Schools of Decatur earns funds based on Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)* generated by Career and Technical Education programs in the Decatur Career Academy. These funds are used to go above and beyond the basic needs of each pathway available to students. Each year funds become available on July 1 and must be approved by the local board of education. The Board unanimously approved the receipt of Career and Technical Education FY2022 State and Federal Funds.
*Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) refers to data collected for Quality Basic Education funding and is based on student enrollment and the education services provided by local school systems to students.
ACTION/INFORMATION/DISCUSSION
Future Governance Training, Board Priorities, Legislative Priorities, Board Policy Monitoring Calendar [FOR DISCUSSION]
GaDOE requires school board members to attend individual and whole board training each year. These training sessions help boards focus on areas they would like to strengthen. Each year, the CSD Board of Education identifies Board and legislative priorities for the upcoming legislative session. The Board engages in dialogue and community engagement with both legislators and the community regarding these priorities. Dr. Fehrman shared that the district has secured the services of Mr. Don Bolia with Peachtree Government Relations to assist us with legislative priorities. Mr. Bolia represents Marietta and Fulton school systems. He will be invited to the August 24 work session to discuss the legislative priorities for CSD. Once priorities are identified, Mr. Bolia and his team will advocate for CSD when the legislative session begins.
School Board members also discussed the Board’s policy monitoring calendar. The Board constantly monitors progress toward district goals and has monthly reviews from departments in order to monitor performance.
2021-2022 Review of Code of Conduct and Restorative Practices Handbook Updates [FOR DISCUSSION]
The Board heard an update on the changes to the Code of Conduct and Restorative Practices Handbook (Code) that was updated as a part of the annual review process. The review process included two stakeholder engagement meetings with student, parent, staff, and community member representation. The Code was finalized after legal review. Based on the input of the review committee and CSD administrators, the key changes focused on making the Code easier to understand, reducing the number of rules, and increasing transparency related to processes and procedures.
Parents were provided with access to the current Code of Conduct and Restorative Practices through the annual student update process. It is also available on our website.
Approve 2022 - 2023 School Calendar [FOR DISCUSSION]
The 22-23 CSD School Calendar was moved from Consent Items to “Action, Information, Discussion”. The 22-23 school calendar will be discussed and voted on at the next Board meeting on September 14. This will allow the Board time to review any updates to the 22-23 school calendar.
Preliminary Enrollment Report [FOR INFORMATION]
Ms. Heidi Whatley, Director of Research and Analytics, submitted a preliminary enrollment report. The Enrollment Update was presented to the Board as information only. The presentation was a summary of CSD August enrollment captured on August 3, 2021. Additionally, enrollment is ongoing throughout the year. The enrollment numbers are expected to change. Official enrollment is captured during the October and March student counts. The numbers at that time are considered to be more stable and are used as the basis of CSD projection work.
District Improvement Plan Update [FOR INFORMATION]
Dr. Fehrman updated the Board on the District Improvement Plan (DIP). She shared a two-page infographic and a presentation with the community explaining the DIP and its benefits to the District.
Full Board Agenda
- Go to the top right of the home page
- Click on "Meetings" then "Meetings Listings"
- Click on "Date-Time", enter the date(s)
Board Information
Did you know the monthly Board Meetings for this upcoming year are listed on the district's calendar, https://www.csdecatur.net/calendar? Board meeting information can also be found on the District homepage https://www.csdecatur.net under Announcements. The next Board Regular Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 14, 6:30 PM.
The City Schools of Decatur Board of Education meeting schedule for 2021-2022 are posted on the district website. City Schools of Decatur Board meets on the second Tuesday of each month. The meetings are held at 6:30 PM in the Board Meeting Room, 125 Electric Ave., Decatur, GA 30030.
All regular meetings are open to the public, with the exception of the executive session portion of the meetings as outlined in the Open Meetings Act. The public is invited to attend the meetings to learn more about the work of the Board and the District. Board meeting information, including agendas and recordings of meetings, can be found on the CSD webpage https://www.csdecatur.net/boardmeetings.
Letters and email are effective ways to make your views known. Email addresses of school board members are listed below. You may also email the entire Board at board@csdecatur.net. Letters written to the Board should be addressed to the board chair, who will see that all five board members receive a copy.
Tasha White, Chair......twhite@csdecatur.net
Heather Tell, Vice-Chair......htell@csdecatur.net
James Herndon.....jherndon@csdecatur.net
Jana Johnson-Davis......jjohnson-davis@csdecatur.net
Lewis Jones.....lbjones@csdecatur.net
Dr. Maggie Fehrman, Superintendent & Board Secretary......mfehrman@csdecatur.net
Mailing Address
City Schools of Decatur
Attn: Board of Education
125 Electric Ave.
Decatur, GA 30030
Public Notice of Elections
Board of Education candidates should file a notice of his or her candidacy and the appropriate affidavit in the office of the Election Superintendent at City Hall, 509 North McDonough Street, Decatur, Georgia. The opening dates for qualifying will start Monday, August 16, 2021, beginning at 8:30 A.M., and continuing until Wednesday, August 18, 2021, at 4:30 P.M. The qualifying fee for Board of Education members is $35.00. Payment of the qualifying fee may be made with cash, check, or credit card.
CSD Board of Education
Email: board@csdecatur.net
Website: csdecatur.net
Location: 125 Electric Avenue, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: (404) 371.3601