Whitewater High School Principal Greg Stillions shows
off the school's new computers. He says the computer system will be up
and running when teachers arrive for their first day of work. Photo/Beth
Snipes.
When the school bell rings Monday, 21,409 Fayette County students will try
to shake off the serenity of their summer days.
Last year, the first day saw 21,223 students, so almost 200 new students
will call the county’s school system their new home.
The most noticeable change this year is the opening of Whitewater High School.
The $23 million structure opens for ninth and tenth graders next to Minter
Elementary School on south Ga. Highway 85 and features 78 classrooms that
will eventually house 1,500 students.
School workers have been frantically working to ensure the school opens
next week and construction supervisor Klaus Darnell does not see any major
problems.
“The only thing that probably won’t be ready is the auditorium,
but all the classrooms should be ready,” he said.
Parents and students need to be aware of some changes this year, said school
spokesman Melinda-Berry Dreisbach.
Dreisbach wants all parents to know that residency checks will be conducted
this year. The school spokesman said that all students will have to provide
proof of residency at the beginning of the 2004-2005 school year no matter
how long they have been enrolled in public schools. Students will have the
first 10 days of school to provide verification/proof of residency to his
or her attendance area school.
New students to the system must provide two forms of identification, which
can include an original recorded warranty deed (name and address of parent/guardian
must appear on deed), original signed lease agreement (name and address of
parent/guardian must appear on lease), current gas or electric bill (water,
telephone, cable, etc. will not be accepted).
Students who are currently enrolled in a Fayette County school must only
submit a current gas or electric bill.
These documents should be taken directly to the school. If two of the documents
listed above for new students cannot be produced, parents or guardians should
contact the registrar or records clerk at the school.
In order to enroll a student in a Fayette County school on an affidavit
of residency, parents or guardians must reside with a Fayette County property
owner who is willing to sign a verification of residency portion of the affidavit.
The same proof of residency requirements applies. All schools are equipped
with the appropriate forms that must be completed for an affidavit. School
personnel will provide information on this process.
Another major change concerns students’ attendance at school. A new
law passed by the General Assembly last year allows a student to have just
five unexcused absences. After that point, the parent could face a criminal
charge and time in jail, while the child could lose his drivers’ license
for up to a year. The parents would receive a fine of not less than $25,
possible imprisonment for 30 days or community service.
A student’s trip out of town on any school days, even with parents
on a family vacation, likely will be considered unexcused. After five such
absences, the law kicks in. The system will have to try and notify the parents
twice. If the attempts are not successful, certified letters will have to
be sent out, which creates another level of bureaucracy for the school system.
One of the quirks in the law is the formation of a protocol committee to
oversee the law. Robinson said the committee will include the chief judge
of the superior court, along with a representative from the district attorney’s
office, along with a school board member. But, Robinson added, the committee
is not required to be in place until June of 2005.
The state is also getting tough on students who drop out of classes. If
a student leaves school before age 18, she will lose her driver’s license
for a year.
All bus drivers will now be required to pass a certification test showing
that they have demonstrated safe driving skills.
Every year, drivers will be retested in different areas of bus safety in
order for them to maintain certification.
“This is an ongoing program to make sure that Fayette has the most
proficient drivers in the state,” says Transportation Coordinator Pam
Holt. “This is a positive step in getting the word out that that we
are taking steps to make sure our drivers are number one in all areas.”
Drivers will begin testing Sept. 1 through Oct. 1. Holt says her goal is
to have 100 percent of the drivers certified by the end of the calendar year.
Earlier this summer, the Fayette County Board of Education approved an increase
in lunch and breakfast prices for students and adults this fall.
Lunch and breakfast increased by 15 cents across the board. Elementary school
lunches jump from $1.65 to $1.80, while middle school lunches rise to $1.90.
Adults will now pay $2.50 for lunch.
Breakfast, which is served only in elementary schools, increases from $1
to $1.15 for students and rises to $1.35 for adults.
This is the first price increase in several years, and school officials
noted that Fayette gets very little in the way of supplements from the federal
government to assist with its meal programs.
New
school computers
