Friday, May 17, 2013
Gwinnett County Board of Education adopts $1.763 billion FY2014 budget and tentatively adopts 1.30 mills increase in tax millage rate.
After holding the line in the face of declining revenue in recent years, the Gwinnett County Board of Education anticipates having to raise the tax millage rate to fund the FY2014 budget. The school board adopted a FY2014 balanced budget totaling $1.76 billion, a decrease of $12.8 million or .7 percent from the FY2013 budget at its meeting Thursday (May 16) at the Instructional Support Center in Suwanee. The board also tentatively adopted an increase of 1.30 mills in the tax rate. Despite “a tremendous downturn in the economy we’ve been able to have the millage rate unchanged for some time,” Rick Cost, chief financial officer for Gwinnett County Public Schools, said. This increase includes .55 mills for maintenance and operations (General …
Monday, May 6, 2013
A nationally known program comes to Lilburn's Mountain Park Elementary School. It aims to make fathers a consistent presence in the lives of children.
The statistics are not unheard of. Nearly two in three African-American children, one in three Hispanic children, and one in four white children live in a father-absent home. And, 2011 Census data also shows that 24 million children do not live with their biological father. There are at least two choices here: be the difference, or be the statistic. As part of Mountain Park Elementary's new Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program, a group of fathers is making a concerted effort to step up, and to step in. "Moms always seem to be at the school doing something," said one father in the program."We have a lot of kids (who) don't have male figures in their lives. It just gives us a chance to give back." Fathers in the program are at the…
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The students will spend four weeks on the campus of Valdosta State University, where they will be able to study subjects of their choosing.
Eight students from Berkmar High, Meadowcreek High and Parkview High will spend their summer as part of the state's Governor's Honors Program. In the program, the students will take a rigorous, in-depth look at an area of interest over the course of four weeks. It is geared toward gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors. In all, 96 students in Gwinnett County Public Schools will participate in the program. Across Georgia nearly 700 students were chosen for the program. The program takes place at Valdosta State University. And, there is no cost for the students to attend. Lilburn-area finalists for the 2013 Georgia Governor’s Honors Program are: Berkmar High: Kevin Bollo -- Communicative Arts Kwame Romero-Sackey -- Chemistry …
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
About 150 people participated in the event on April 27. Funds raised are forward to Gwinnett Relay for Life, and goes to benefit the American Cancer Society.
In its annual "I See a Cure" event, Gwinnett County Public Schools participants raised about $4,000 for cancer awareness and research, according to organizers. The event was held April 27 at the Gwinnett County Public Schools district offices in Suwanee. Some 150 people attended. Funds from the event are forwarded to Gwinnett Relay for Life, and go to support the American Cancer Society. "Despite a few sprinkles in the beginning, the race went very well and we all had a great time running/walking to support Relay for Life," said Patrice Pendergast, GCPS recruitment coordinator and an event committee member. "We honored cancer survivors, those who are currently battling and those who have lost the battle," Pendergast added. Besides GCPS …
Monday, April 29, 2013
Eighth-grade students at Trickum Middle School and Berkmar Middle School are among those schools with a high percentage of students in the "exceeds" category.
Trickum Middle and Berkmar Middle are among the state's best performers in the 2013 eighth-grade writing test, according to a press release from Gwinnett County Public Schools. When comparing the percentage of students scoring in the "exceeds" category, 11 area schools, including the two schools in Lilburn, landed in the state's top 25. At Trickum Middle, 20 percent of students exceeded the standard, making them No. 18 in the state. At Berkmar Middle 18.5 percent of students exceeded the standard, placing the school in the 20th spot. The No. 1 slot also went to a Gwinnett County school: Osborne Middle with 33.4 percent of eighth-graders exceeding the standard. Overall, the district’s average passing rate increased from 93 percent in 2012 …
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Gwinnett County Public Schools will split a $10,000 prize with Cobb County's Ford Elementary.
Gwinnett County Public Schools is among the nation's first school districts to be awarded a sustainability award from the U.S. Department of Education. The announcement came this week to coincide with Earth Day. In addition to Gwinnett County's honor, Ford Elementary in Cobb County was named a 2013 national Green Ribbon School. For their outstanding green principles, Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) and Ford Elementary will split $10,000 in award money from the Turner Foundation. "We are so proud that once again a Georgia school has been named a National Green Ribbon School,” said State School Superintendent John Barge. "We are equally proud of Gwinnett County Public Schools for being named as one of the first National Green Ribbon …
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Nationally, Parkview High School ranked in the top 500.
U.S. News and World Report has released its annual rankings of the nation's best high schools, and both Parkview High and Berkmar High made the list. According to the data released April 23, Parkview High and Berkmar High ranked No. 10 and No. 13, respectively, among schools in Georgia. Nationally, Parkview High ranked No. 489 and Berkmar High ranked No. 611. Here's what U.S. News said about the Lilburn schools: Parkview High: Berkmar High: Want more information? Learn how U.S. News calculated the Best High Schools rankings by clicking here. Have school news or story idea you want to share, contact Local Editor Joy L. Woodson at Joy.Woodson@patch.com or 404-539-9256.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Gwinnett County's school board has approved amendments to a state contract. Now, the district must submit this request to the state Board of Education.
The Gwinnett County school board voted unanimously Thursday to amend a state education contract that gives the district more flexibility to increase student performance. Known as IE2, the "Investing in Educational Excellence" partnership requires schools to meet annual performance targets throughout a five-year period, but gives flexibility in accomplishing those goals. In 2009, the state approved Gwinnett County's IE2 plan, which uses integrated courses, among other things to reach targets. Since then a few things have changed, including the addition of more than a dozen new schools and the use of end-of-course tests for high schools. Now, Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) wants to add those 16 new schools and the use of end-of-…
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Gwinnett County parents interested in the online learning option for their students have until May 3 to register for the upcoming school year.
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Thursday, April 18
(From Gwinnett County Public Schools) Gwinnett County parents interested in the online learning option for their students have additional time this spring to register for the 2013-2014 school year. A spring registration period for Gwinnett County Online Campus (GOC) began Monday, April 15, and closes on May 3. Gwinnett County's full-time, online learning option will expand next school year and serve students in grades 4-12. Because Gwinnett Online Campus is a system charter school, enrollment is open to all current school-aged children who reside in Gwinnett County. The school opened in 2011 as a full-time high school (Grades 9-12) and extended its reach in 2012 to offer middle school students (Grades 6-8) the opportunity to attend the …
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Leaders met at Meadowcreek High School, where they passed the first approval of the $1.8 billion budget for next school year. A final vote is planned in May.
The Gwinnett County Board of Education "tentatively" adopted a $1.8 billion budget for the 2013-2014 school year during a special called meeting Tuesday. Board member Louise Radloff made the motion to adopt the superintendant's recommended budget, which totals $1.76 billion. Board members then voted unanimously to approve it. The budget is a decrease of $12.8 million, or .7 percent, over the current year. Among the budget highlights are: There will now be two public hearings before the final adoption. The first public hearing is 7 p.m., May 9; the second public hearing is 6 p.m., May 16. Both meetings take place at the district headquarters in Suwanee. Final adoption of the budget is expected May 16, as well. The new millage rate will also…
Kelly
10:21 am on Monday, May 6, 2013
I love it and I wish they had something similar at Arcado! more ›