January 28, 2008
FORSYTH COUNTY - A new grading policy proposal failed to pass with the Forsyth County Board of Education.
A suggestion made by board member Mike Dudgeon Jan. 17 to develop a grading policy was defeated by 3-2 margin with Dudgeon and Ronnie Pinson voting for and Ann Crowe, Nancy Roche and Tom Cleveland voting against.
Before the vote was taken Dudgeon said grading was crucial in education.
"Grading goes to the core of instruction," he said.
Crowe called the suggestion 'micromanaging' and said, "Grading is secondary to curriculum and teacher excellence."
The county will stay with the grading procedure developed by school staff.
In other news, Candy Norton spoke about revisions to "Leaves and Absences" policy. The revisions recommend that all 12 month employees receive an extra 5 days leave.
Dudgeon said this will bring Forsyth County in line with other Atlanta school systems.
"This will bring the county up to the level of the rest of Metro Atlanta in terms of vacation days," he said.
If the revisions are passed at the next meeting the effective date for the changes will be July 1, 2008.
Brenda Schulz gave the board an update on the education of homeless students. As a part of the "No Child Left Behind" Act, homeless children must be given adequate access to education, with homeless being defined as a lack of permanent nighttime sleeping arrangements.
Schulz told the board that there are currently 277 students in the Forsyth County school system who meet the qualifications for homelessness.
Superintendant Buster Evans updated the board on the proposed policies of the Georgia General Assembly including a proposition by Gov. Sonny Perdue to raise teacher's salaries by 2.5 percent and progress on House Resolution 900, also known as "The GREAT Plan for Georgia."
The next board meeting will be held Feb. 21 at 6 p.m.
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