The Construction department oversees all Cobb County School District building projects throughout the school system. During SPLOST I (Special Purpose Local Options Sales Tax), CCSD completed more than 1,000 construction projects. The progress made possible by SPLOST II continues to show with the opening of three new schools in summer 2006, Hillgrove High School, Lovinggood Middle School and McClure Middle School.
Additions and renovations also were completed at Walton High, Dodgen, Griffin, Lost Mountain and Smitha middle schools, and Fair Oaks and Sedalia Park elementary schools.
Construction is under way for the final two facilities paid for by SPLOST II, Allatoona High School and Pickett’s Mill Elementary, both opening in Acworth in 2008. To ensure taxpayer dollars are spent effectively and efficiently, the Construction Department works directly with The Facility Group, the District’s program manager.
The Facility Use department has the responsibility of coordinating use of school facilities, both inside areas and fields, by community groups. In the past year, the department processed approximately 319 contracts for 220 different groups, including youth and adult sports leagues, homeowners’ associations, churches, language schools, boy scouts and girl scouts, police and fire departments, civic groups, and numerous others.
The District’s Department of Public Safety is responsible for ensuring that all Cobb County Schools are provided with a safe learning environment. The department includes 37 certified Law Enforcement Officers who patrol Cobb’s high school and middle school campuses, as well as a K-9 unit with dogs trained to detect drugs and explosives. Cobb’s force works in a coordinated effort with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement agencies within the county.
Maintenance Services is responsible for maintaining 126 facilities with 15,314,598 square feet of floor space. The department maintains 2,815 acres of land.
Transportation Services provides safe reliable transportation for 78,000 students to and from school on a daily basis, traveling 56,754 miles per day. This division includes Fleet Maintenance, responsible for the repair and maintenance of the District’s 1,336 vehicles, as well as the annual inspection of the fleet by the Georgia Department of Public Safety.
Planning Operations performs a variety of research and development functions that help the Cobb County School District grow. The office develops and maintains District attendance zone maps for all required boundaries, including creation of new attendance zone maps and data for redistricting. Planning performs extensive research on growth and development patterns in the county to determine future impact on the District, as well as assisting in plans for SPLOST initiatives.
During the 2005-06 school year, Planning Operations developed numerous map proposals and provided pertinent data for two major redistricting efforts. Modified attendance zones for Dodgen and Dickerson middle schools in east Cobb were developed in late 2005 and approved by the Board of Education in December 2005. In spring 2006, the office worked in compliance with new legislation to develop attendance zones for west Cobb to accomodate the new Hillgrove High, Lovinggood Middle, and McClure Middle schools.
Project Services provides project management support for SPLOST-funded projects and District-sponsored programs. Furnishing and equipping of new schools, additions and renovations, portable classroom relocations, new technology implementation and technology refresh programs are included in the scope of Project Services’ responsibilities. These services allow educators to focus on instruction rather than logistical tasks.
In 2005-06, Project Services provided services supporting the opening of the District’s three new schools. The department is currently managing projects that includes installation of access control and video surveillance systems, issuance and management of teacher laptops, and refreshment of computers, copiers and printers throughout the District.
During the final years of SPLOST II, Project Services will manage the opening of Allatoona High School and Pickett’s Mill Elementary School, as well as additions and renovations at five existing schools.
Food and Nutrition Services operates 107cafeterias that provide meals meeting state and federal requirements. More than 90,000 Cobb students participate in the school lunch program daily.
Interscholastic athletics programs in the Cobb County School District are an important part of the educational process. They provide opportunities for learning experiences which are difficult to duplicate in other school activities, emphasizing team play and cooperation.
Policy, Planing & Student Support
Organizing the Present, Establishing the Future
The Policy, Planning & Student Support division is responsible for many key administrative functions in the day-to-day operation of the School District, as well as fulfilling a significant role in several District long-range planning and improvement initiatives. The Division has two areas of responsibilities:
Policy & Planning
• Implementing, maintaining and interpreting Board of Education Policy and Administrative Rules;
• Coordinating updating of existing and development of new Board Policies and Administrative Rules.
• Coordinating, updating and monitoring the District’s Strategic Plan;
• Facilitating the District-wide process of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (AdvancED);
• Facilitating the development and distribution of District calendars;
• Coordinating the Monitoring Report development process of review and Board submission.
• Facilitating responses to student issues, including enrollment, transfers, custody, immunizations, and legal matters;
• Facilitating appropriate interpretation of all student policies;
• Facilitating response to appeals of school policy interpretations related to discipline;
• Conducting student disciplinary due process hearings;
• Overseeing all athletics, including scheduling and compliance with Title IX.
Policy, Planning & Student Support
Student Support
• School Health Program - Comprehensive nursing services are provided to both special needs and mainstream students in all schools. Services include:
- Assistance with the administration of medication and provision of skilled nursing procedures;
- First aid for injuries;
- Identification and management of students with suspected or actual communicable diseases;
- Prevention of transmission of communicable diseases through communication, education and exclusion;
- Collaboration with parents/guardians, teachers, administrators and health care professionals to develop a plan of care for students with chronic illnesses;
- Participation in health screenings, including hearing, vision, scoliosis and B/P;
- Assessment and referral of students to appropriate personnel/agencies as necessary.
• School Social Workers - Each school in the District is served by one of 36 School Social Workers, who assist both the at-risk and mainstream population to achieve maximum academic success. Services include:
- Provide counseling and crisis intervention to students and families;
- Assist parents/guardians and school staff in better understanding students’ social and emotional needs and their impact on academic success;
- Assist families with basic needs such as referrals for eyeglasses, health care, dental care, food and/or clothing;
- Serve as a liaison between the school, student/family and community resources;
- Facilitate groups with students addressing such issues as grief and loss, peer pressure, alcohol, drugs, health related issues and problematic behavior;
- Develop community resources to provide assistance to schools, students and their families;
- Initiate student/parent/guardian conferences and make home visits to assess environmental factors impacting students’ achievement;
- Encourage and monitor regular attendance and punctuality of students;
- Develop and implement truancy prevention programs.
• The Prevention Intervention Center - The Prevention Intervention Center, Federal Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Program (Title IV), was awarded a National Program of Excellence Award in 2002 by the National Association of Student Assistance programs. The following services and programs are offered by each school in the District:
- Crisis response to schools when deaths, natural disasters, or accidents occur;
- Prevention programs designed to address high-risk behaviors and encourage healthy lifestyle decisions;
- Research-based Drug and Violence Prevention Curriculum;
- Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation (teaching students how to resolve conflicts without the use of violence);
- Confidential consultation with specialists trained in drug-use prevention and intervention for students exhibiting high-risk behaviors for drug use and suicide.
