The

positives and negatives of Fayette County schools

were addressed Saturday morning by about 50

educators, community leaders and parents invited

He

initiated the round table discussion as a first

step in establishing a strategic plan for the

school district.

DeCotis

met and greeted each person on the sidewalk

leading into the Lafayette Education Center

before presenting the agenda, which focused on

three key questions: "What do we do well?

What do we need to do better?" and

"Things you would like to see."

The

last strategic plan for the school district was

drafted in 1988-89 and was used up to a point.

"We got away from the plan and now it's

outdated," DeCotis said. He compared the

lack of a current strategic plan to floundering

around like a fish out of water.

After

counting off and breaking into four groups, the

attendees talked about the pluses, minuses and

efforts needed to maintain and improve the

facilities and instruction in the county's public

school system. The morning concluded with the

groups combining their laundry list of answers,

which in many cases were similar. "A meeting

like this was long overdue," said Tyrone

town council member Ronnie Cannon.

What

do Fayette County schools do well? According to a

sample of answers, the schools turn out a good

product and produce good test scores, they have

managed growth, and they encourage and receive

parental involvement. "They have spent money

in the right places," added Fayetteville

City Councilman Al Hovey-King.

Other

strengths included the county's special ed

programs, effective communication with parents

and staff, a high priority on safety issues and

the existence of an evening high school and

alternative school for students who don't fit

into the traditional school setting.

What

does the school district need to do better?

"More central communication on a wider

scale, perhaps on a web site," said Amy

Riley, parent activist. "Vocational

training; it's not just wood shop anymore,"

said Tate Godfrey, chairman of the Peachtree City

Development Authority. Additional advice included

more consistent delivery of programs from school

to school and consistent academic expectations

between schools, better facility maintenance,

better preparation of students for the workplace,

and an expansion of vocational education.

Things

participants would like to see include a higher

percentage of parental involvement in the

schools, a grant writer, stronger discipline

policies for the disruptive child, and improved

partnerships among public, private and

homeschoolers.

Paul

LeTourneau, a Tyrone Town Council member, said he

would like to see Fayette County test scores rank

tops in the state and be competitive in the

nation.

"Stronger

ties with the business community," Godfrey

said. An ROTC program for all high schools,

televised board meetings, more technology, and

more exposure to fine arts programs were two more

of the lengthy list of recommendations made.

Following

the discussion, participants were asked to sign

up for one of five advisory committees that will

begin meeting next school year. The committees

include communications, curriculum and

instruction, growth and organization, personnel

and human resources and support services.

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