Cherokee Schools To Reduce Furlough Days

The Cherokee County School District will reduce its number of furlough days from eight to six, restoring two calendar days for students.

School Board Members Spar Over Proposed Policy Changes

A divided Cherokee County School Board on Thursday debated policy changes that address previous points of contention.

Three policy changes proponents say would strengthen the Cherokee County School Board's governance were the subject of a lengthy debate during the board's meeting on Thursday.  The board spent roughly an hour hashing out three proposals that would reiterate a current policy, and add two more regulations for the board to abide by.  The first reading of two policies, which spell out the job descriptions and responsibilities of the school board chair and vice chair and stipulates the superintendent of schools is responsible for establishing ad hoc committees, were approved 4-3, with members Michael Geist, Kelly Marlow and Rob Usher rejecting.  Board members could not come to an agreement on the third proposed change, which states school board…

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Cherokee Schools To Reduce Furlough Days

The Cherokee County School District will reduce its number of furlough days from eight to six, restoring two calendar days for students.

An additional two classroom instruction days will soon return to the Cherokee County School District. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo announced during Thursday's work session that the district will restore two days to its calendar for the 2013-14 school year. Petruzielo said the district was able to perform the restoration due to the increase in the county's tax digest.  That would get the district's instructional calendar from 175 days to 177 for students. Before furlough days, the district operated on a 180 day calendar for students. The tax digest increased by 2.8 percent for school portion of tax assessments. The entire digest increased by 3 percent.   After exemptions and appeals are applied, the school district is …

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Cherokee School Board Will Talk 2013-14 Budget

The school board will review the final preparations to its tentative 2013-14 budget during its work session.

Cherokee County School Board members will review the final preparations for its tentative fiscal year 2013-14 budget during its work session tonight. The work session will start at 6 p.m. at the historic Canton High School/School Board Auditorium in Canton. Its regular meeting will follow at 7 p.m.  The school district's fiscal year runs between July 1 and June 30. District staff originally expected no change in the financial outlook for the upcoming fiscal year. However, the gross tax digest for 2013 has increased by around 2.8 percent for the district and the district is in the midst of reworking its numbers to see what the increase could mean for its bottom line.  The board will also consider approving a proposed contract to make …

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Cherokee School District Announces Summer School Programs

Students who need to recover credits or who wish to get a jump start academically are eligible to participate in the program.

Although most students feel that the words "school" and "summer" should never be used in the same sentence, the Cherokee County School District is offering summer school programs for students who need to make up failed classes or those who want to earn extra credits. In-class summer school will be offered at Woodstock High School for all high school students needed initial credits or credit recovery. Courses will be offered based on demand. The sessions will last from June 3-21, from 8 a.m. to noon or from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. each day. Attendance is mandatory for each classroom day. Registration for these classes will be held at Woodstock High School on May 30 from 8 a.m. to noon. The cost for these classes is $200 per half credit. Online …

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Sewer Line Relocation Could Bring New Softball Field at Cherokee High

The Cherokee County School Board will award a contract to perform the work, which is expected to cost $450,000.

The Cherokee County School Board will consider awarding a contract to relocate sewer lines at Cherokee High School during its meeting tonight. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at the historic Canton High School/School Board Auditorium. The project will be funded with Special Purpose Local Option Sales Taxes, or SPLOST, and will cost $450,000. The relocation of the infrastructure will allow the district to use property to build a new girls' softball field on the school campus.  Board members will also recognize 2012-13 elementary, middle and high school social studies fair winners, state and region champions and Todd Miller as Region 7-AAAAA athletic director of the year. Board members will consider approving resignation, appointments, …

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Canton Students Recognized as Key Scholars

134 juniors in Cherokee County earned the prestigious recognition due to their exceptionally high PSAT scores.

Petruzielo: State Budget Numbers Given To Cherokee Chamber "Inaccurate"

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo is questioning the accuracy of numbers State Rep. Calvin Hill provided to the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce's board of directors.

Cherokee Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo has raised concerns about numbers distributed by State Rep. Calvin Hill (R-Hickory Flat) that say the state has increased funding to education. In a memo, Petruzielo contradicts the report Hill distributed to the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors that no reductions to Quality Basic Education funding, or QBE, were made for Georgia's fiscal year 2014 budget. Petruzielo writes in his memo that the Cherokee County School District recently learned it will have to once again swallow $24.8 million in austerity cuts for the 2013-14 school year. He also notes the county's equalization grant, which totals $500,000 has been eliminated. The superintendent goes on to say …

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Canton Students Recognized as Key Scholars

134 juniors in Cherokee County earned the prestigious recognition due to their exceptionally high PSAT scores.

Cherokee County juniors who scored in the 90th percentile or above on their PSATs were recently named Superintendent’s Key Scholars by the Cherokee County School District. The program is a district-wide initiative that begins in elementary school and recognizes students who exceed the averages on standardized tests such as the ITBS. “Our Key Scholars represent the top 10% of all students in the Nation who took the PSAT exam in October, and that’s a major accomplishment for which each of them and their families should be very proud,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo said in a school district release.   “As academic leaders, these outstanding students have the potential to continue distinguishing themselves as high school …

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Cherokee School District Custodian: "I'm Begging For My Job"

The Cherokee County School Board heard from two custodians who oppose the district privatizing its grounds and custodial services.

Two custodians pleaded with the Cherokee County School Board to keep its grounds and custodial employees in-house. The board on Thursday took comments from two men, William Exton and Ronald Carey, who opposed the board's decision to explore privatizing both grounds and custodial services.  Exton, who said he's aware of the economic downturn's impact on the Cherokee County School District, added he isn't seeing the district consider cutting salaries of school administrators or central office employees. Carey, another custodian, added he was "begging for my job." The possible outsourcing, he added, was "disgusting to me."  "They are not the cause of this board having a problem with their economic situation," he added of his co-workers.  …

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