Oconee School Board to Consider Resolutions to Support Augmentation of Some Class Size Maximums for 2013-14

Here's the agenda for today's 5 p.m. work session at 34 School Street in the Central Office Meeting Room, according to the Board of Education's website:

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. AGENDA APPROVAL

III. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

IV. PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

A. MBES Duplicator

B. Operations and Student Services Update

C. NOHS/OCHS FBLA Chapters Field Trip Request

D. Resolution to Support Class Sizes (see attachments)

For the 2013-2014 school year, the State Board of Education has allowed flexibility for school districts to adjust class size to meet the financial and staff constraints that school districts are experiencing. The State of Georgia continues to experience an unprecedented downturn in its economy. This downturn has caused and will continue to cause declines in local revenue collected to fund public education at the local school district level. The results of such a precipitous decline may mean a local board of education will not be able to comply with class size maximum requirements. O.C.G.A. § 20-2-244 (h) authorizes the State Board of Education to allow local school systems to exceed regulatory class size maximums in the event of financial exigency.

This exemption is effective for the 2013-2014 school year only. In addition, local school districts will be required to submit a local board resolution to the Georgia Department of Education if class size maximums will exceed the requirements in current statute and State Board Rule 160-5-1-.08 Class Size. The local board resolution must be approved at a local board meeting. The purpose of the locally approved resolution is to ensure that all stakeholders are informed about the local school district's decisions regarding increases in class sizes. Lastly, local boards of education must continue to meet all federal and state accountability requirements.

E. Teaching and Learning Report

Information Items:
1. 8th Grade Writing Assessment Results
2. Media Regulation and Exhibits

Action Item for April 15, 2013 Board of Education meeting
1. Backup and Disaster Recovery RFP

V. ACTION ITEM

A. OCHS AP Calculus Field Trip Request

VI. EXECUTIVE SESSION

VII. RECONVENE

A. Personnel Recommendations

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

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