Since our last report, we have seen significant changes at the state and national level that will have a lasting impact on our schools. The No Child Left Behind Act puts national emphasis on the importance of the success of every student we serve — a focus that is appropriate and will require serious effort at every level to ensure we are successful in fulfilling the Act’s intent. As a state, we have been fortunate to have leadership that recognized the importance of education and placed it in the forefront of public policy debates. It is clear that the focus on educational improvement in Georgia will continue, and that we may well enjoy more collaborative efforts that will help all our schools move to the next level of excellence.

The economic downturn has had an impact on our Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) revenues, but we still will be able to complete SPLOST I and all the major projects that were promised. To date, the SPLOST program has been a tremendous success, adding 12 new schools and more than 1,000 new classrooms, all built on time and cost efficiently. We plan to ask the voters for their support in a renewal of the SPLOST that will support the district’s facility needs through the 2010-2012 timeframe. The details for the SPLOST renewal plan are being refined, but will include nine new schools and will complete projects that remain from the original SPLOST.

The academic performance of all our schools continues to show solid improvement. Our school board’s support for expanding the wide area network (WAN) and local area network (LAN), purchasing a new Student Information System (SIS), and the installation of an educational database to improve student analysis and instruction will enable greater gains in the future. We have completed the new science adoption and will present the language arts adoption this spring. The quality of the system continues to attract outstanding teachers and administrators to Cobb County. The key to continued success will be the great performance of the people who serve in our schools and classrooms.

The district has always prided itself on the range of activities it offers our students. Our athletic teams have continued to enjoy great success at the regional and state level. Our music programs are outstanding at all levels. We are all very proud of the Lassiter Marching Band winning the national championship for the second time and for Kennesaw Mountain’s band finishing seventh in the nation in only their third year of competition. Excellence doesn’t happen by chance. It is a product of hard work, planning and discipline and the opportunity to be in an environment that is nurtured by supportive parents, an involved business community and citizens who value education.

We will face a number of challenges in the near future, but with your continued help and support, our schools will continue their path to the next level of excellence. Visit your local school, feel the energy and help us make a difference in the futures of the young men and women of Cobb County!

Joseph J. Redden
Superintendent