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The purpose of this e-mail newsletter is to help keep the District’s stakeholders informed of education-related issues. The Board of Education appreciates your support of excellence in education and building a community with a passion for learning.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT:
Cobb Eighth Graders Perform Well
On New Georgia Writing Assessment

Eighth graders in the Cobb County School District had a strong showing on the new Georgia writing assessment administered earlier this year. Cobb students had an average scale score of 215, compared to the state average of 207 and a metro average score of 209. District administrators were especially pleased to see that 77 percent of all Cobb students met or exceeded standards, a higher rate than their metro and state peers’ performance of 69 percent and 67 percent, respectively. The new writing assessment includes information about student performance in different aspects of writing, including ideas, organization, style, and conventions.

While Cobb’s overall scores were strong, one concern with the results is the gap that continues to exist between the performance of regular education students and students in special populations (Special Education or English Language Learners). This same gap is apparent on other assessments at both the state and district levels. The percentage of students meeting and exceeding standards in both groups was significantly smaller than in the regular education program. Read more...

SPLOST UPDATE:
The good news story of SPLOST continues for Cobb County taxpayers. In March 2007, the school board:

• Authorized the extension of a Request For Proposal to purchase server hardware from Dell Computers from June 1, 2007 to May 31, 2008 as part of the SPLOST II Refresh Servers initiative. The estimated cost of the contract is $1.4 million.

• Authorized a Performance Incentive Payment to The Facility Group in the amount of $125,000 for meeting performance targets as program manager of SPLOST II projects.

• Awarded a contract to Ingersoll-Rand Security Technologies in the amount of $6,490,631.28 to provide access control systems for all elementary schools. The access control systems will increase security at elementary schools as part of the SPLOST II Safety & Security initiative.

• Approved a contract with Lexmark International, Inc., in the amount of $4,694,380 to purchase replacement printers for schools and offices throughout the District over the next three years as part of the SPLOST II Refresh District Printers initiative.

• Approved a contract with Apple Computer, Inc., in the amount of $4,337,500 to refresh Apple computers at schools that use Apple computers (approximately 7 percent) as part of the SPLOST Refresh Obsolete Workstations initiative. The contract includes warranty, onsite installation and the CCSD approved image/software.

• Awarded contracts to purchase markerboards for two groups of schools. For Group 1 (Awtrey Middle School, and Big Shanty and Frey elementary schools) the contract was awarded to Davidson Southern, Inc., of Marietta in the amount of $121,075. For Group 2 (Chalker, Clay, Keheley, Nicholson and Rocky Mount elementary schools) the contract was awarded to Platinum Visual Systems of Corona, Ca., in the amount of $123,825.

• Awarded a contract for paving improvements at five schools (Bells Ferry, Davis, Garrison Mill, Kincaid and Rocky Mount elementary schools) to Blount Construction of Marietta in the amount of $961,242.70.

• Awarded a contract for paving improvements at five schools (Baker, Bryant, Compton, and Eastvalley elementary schools, and Fitzhugh Lee school) to Blount Construction of Marietta in the amount of $938,811.92.

• Awarded contracts for re-roofing at three schools (Davis and Ford elementary schools, and Pine Mountain Middle School). The contract for Davis Elementary to re-roof the entire facility was awarded to Ben Hill Roofing and Siding Company, Inc., of Douglasville in the amount of $563,357. The contract at Ford Elementary to re-roof the original building was awarded to Nations Roof of Powder Springs in the amount of $524,902. The contract at Pine Mountain Middle School to re-roof the entire facility except the addition under construction was awarded to Ben Hill Roofing and Siding Company, Inc., of Douglasville in the amount of $764,274.

These projects were part of the SPLOST II program approved in 2003. To view the agenda items for the projects, please click here.

DISTRICT NEWS:
District Brings Cobb Leaders Together For Cobb Leadership Summit June 4
Superintendent Fred Sanderson will moderate a panel discussion by key business, government and education leaders from Cobb County during the Cobb Leadership Summit on June 4. The panel includes Senator Johnny Isakson, Cobb Commission Chair Sam Olens, Kennesaw State University President Dr. Dan Papp, Southern Polytechnic State University President Dr. Lisa Rossbacher, Marietta Daily Journal publisher Otis Brumby, Don Johnson of State Farm Insurance and Jeri Barr, CEO of the Center for Family Resources.

The Summit will take place at Kennesaw State University's new convocation center and includes a keynote address from noted leadership expert Dr. John Maxwell. Individual tickets are available online for $35, with options for group discounts. Visit www.unitingcobb.org for more information, including the event schedule. All proceeds from the Summit will benefit the Cobb Schools Foundation.

FOUNDATION NEWS:
Cobb Schools Foundation Names 2007 Academic Scholarship Winners and Teacher IMPACT Grants
The Cobb Schools Foundation announced the winners of its 2007 Academic Scholarships and Teacher IMPACT Grants this month. The Foundation annually awards two $1,000 scholarships to recipients at each of the 15 high schools in the Cobb County School District. See the full list of winners on the Cobbcast news blog.

The foundation also awards Teacher IMPACT Grants up to $2,500 to teachers with innovative and creative ideas for the classroom. More than 90 applications were submitted by Cobb educators this year. The foundation awarded more than $20,000 total to the winning teachers, who will receive the grants at a special awards reception at Marietta Country Club later this spring. See the full list of grant winners on the Cobbcast news blog.

For more information about the Cobb Schools Foundation, visit the foundation Web site.

DISTRICT NEWS:
Board Appoints New Members To Facilities & Technology Committee
In March, the school board appointed five new members to the Facilities & Technology Review Committee. The committee is comprised of local citizens appointed to assess district facility and technology needs and review SPLOST projects. Board Member Betty Gray appointed Barbara Hickey; Board Member John Abraham appointed Dave Amend and Chad Massaker; and Board Member John Crooks appointed Mike Russell and Virginia Gregory.

'Teach Cobb' Teacher Recruitment Campaign Launched

The District's Human Resources department lanched its new 'Teach Cobb' campaign in April, targeting the best and brightest new teachers for teaching jobs in Cobb. The fresh, dynamic campaign focuses on the District's record of success and broad support for teachers' professional development. Visit the Teach Cobb Web site for more information.

Allatoona High, Pickett's Mill Elem. Redistricting Forums Begin May 1
Public forums regarding the redistricting for Allatoona High and Pickett's Mill Elementary begin Tuesday, May 1. Maps showing the proposed redistrictings were presented to the school board on April 11 and can be viewed here, along with continous updates on the schools' construction.

Allatoona High School
2nd Board Public Forum
Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.
Harrison High School

Pickett’s Mill Elementary
2nd Board Public Forum
Thursday, May 3, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.
Harrison High School

Pickett’s Mill Elementary
3rd Board Public Forum
Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.
Hillgrove High School

Allatoona High School
3rd Board Public Forum
Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 7:30 p.m.
Hillgrove High School

Allatoona High and Pickett’s Mill Elementary Attendance Zone Approval
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Central Office Board Room - 7:30 p.m.

Cobb County Board of Education
Lindsey Tippins, Chairman • Betty Gray, Vice Chairman
John Abraham • Holli Cash • John Crooks • Johnny Johnson • Teresa Plenge, Ph.D.

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