Board of Education

Tea Party hears push for charter vote OK

State Rep. Jan Jones (R-Milton). Photo/Ben Nelms.

State Rep. Jan Jones (R-Milton) at the Sept. 27 meeting of the Fayette County Local Issues Tea Party had her say on the upcoming Nov. 6 statewide referendum on the charter schools amendment. Jones is largely responsible for the having the proposed amendment included on the ballot. Read More»

Public shut out on why Bearden, BoE split up

Fayette County taxpayers are paying for Superintendent Jeff Bearden’s attorney’s fees in the secret clash that led to his “mutual termination agreement” with the Board of Education Sept. 19, plus a year’s salary and benefits while he looks for another job.

But don’t ask why. Bearden and the board also agreed to keep secret why Read More»

BoE begins search for superintendent

The Sept. 19 announcement of a “mutual termination agreement” between the Fayette County Board of Education and Superintendent Jeff Bearden was followed Oct. 1 by a unanimous vote by the school board to have the Georgia School Boards Association conduct the search process for a new superintendent. Read More»

Questions on the Fayette BoE/Bearden termination agreement go unanswered

Anyone wanting an explanation for the “mutual termination agreement” Wednesday between the Fayette County Board of Education and Superintendent Jeff Bearden will not get it. That is the position of the Fayette County School System and its attorney Phillip Hartley. The Thursday press release authored by Hartley gives no indication of the reasons behind the unexpected action that came after a three-hour executive session. Read More»

Fayette BoE votes 4-1 on Bearden’s ‘mutual termination’ agreement

UPDATED Thursday, Sept. 20, 6:40 p.m. — A press release just issued by the Fayette County School System has shed no light on the reason or reasons for the "mutual termination agreement" between Superintendent Jeff Bearden and the Fayette County Board of Education. The text of the press release is provided below. Read More»

Sup’t. Bearden out; BoE votes 4-to-1 for ‘mutual termination’

One Fayette County Board of Education executive session item at 6:03 p.m. today — Superintendent Jeff Bearden is gone as of Jan. 1, 2013. Details here.

Redistricting group gives first report to Board of Education

Fayette County School system redistricting committee chair and former school system employee Mike Smith gave his first report to the Fayette County Board of Education Monday night. While the committee’s work to propose new school boundaries stemming from the two school closure options is still in its initial stages, Smith said the committee is progressing with its work. Read More»

Fayette schools’ budget committee: No ‘sacred cows’

An in-depth look at cost-saving measures for the Fiscal Year 2014 Fayette County School System budget is underway.

Assistant Superintendent and budget committee chair Sam Sweat at the Sept. 17 meeting of the Fayette County Board of Education reviewed the group’s mission to recommend a variety of cuts that will reduce next year’s operating budget by up to $20 million. Read More»

Robertson named to vacant Coweta BoE post

Robertson named to vacant Coweta BoE post

The search to fill the unexpired term of Coweta County Board of Education at-large member April Parker has come to an end. East Coweta resident and community volunteer Larry Robertson was appointed on Aug. 21 to serve on the school board through December 2014.

Robertson earlier this week was appointed by the school board to fill the unexpired term of at-large board member April Parker, who resigned earlier this summer, said school system spokesman Dean Jackson. The school board took the action after reviewing a number of applicants for the open position, Jackson added. Read More»

Fayette BoE agrees to 2 options for closing schools

Option-cutting topped the agenda Monday night for the Fayette County Board of Education.

At Superintendent Jeff Bearden’s urging, the board without a vote agreed to cut the school closing options from five to two — Bearden’s original proposal plus one more.

The second option puts the elementary schools in Tyrone and Brooks on the chopping block. Read More»