School Safety...Your Thoughts and Concerns

In response to the recent school shootings,
President George W. Bush called on the National
Sheriffs’ Association to lead the effort in identifying
promising practices for ensuring the safety of our
nation’s schools and the protection of our children.
On October 10, 2006, President Bush participated
in a panel discussion on school safety at a national
“Conference on School Safety.” President Bush
asked how federal, state, and local governments
can work together with schools, communities, and
families to help ensure our schools are safe places
for students to learn.

How would you rate student safety in your district?

What are your thoughts on improving student safety in your district?

Schools and diabetic students....a growing concern

Diabetes is quickly becoming a health epidemic among school-aged children. As most schools have to do more with less, the number of kids with diabetes increases while the number of nurses keeps dwindling. This can make routine care for diabetes difficult--leaving it up to the teachers, secretaries or parents to administer the daily tests and injections or to even have adequate time to assist the student in managing diabetes during the school day.

Please share your thoughts, experiences, and concerns.

Teacher Pay for Performance

A hot teacher motivation topic is Pay for Performance.There is a lot of opinion about this topic---on both sides of the coin.Teachers, administrators, policy makers, and the public all have strong opinions on this issue.For the YES group, supporters say that it is a positive incentive to recruit and keep the best teachers. This group believes that we are losing our brightest educators to the world of business where they can get more pay for the same (ad sometimes less) work.For the NO group, the problems raised include disparity in student enrollment, teaching situations, and experience. Is it fair to use PFP when one teacher has a special ed group and another gifted? High free and reduced lunch over high socio-economic group?Many questions, many concerns.

Year-Round School

Many school systems in Georgia have converted to a year-round school calendar. There are definitely pros and cons. What are your thoughts?

One Track Diploma

Georgia is considering the adoption of a one track diploma in the next few years. This will eliminate the College Prep and Career/Technical Prep seals.
What are your thoughts?