The forum will include a report on the school system from Superintendent Dr. Emily Lembeck and a presentation on the economics of education. Attendees will form small groups to discuss the current state and future direction of the school district.

Information gathered at the meeting will help a strategic planning team community members, parents, educators, local business leaders and elected officials develop a strategic plan for the school district.

A survey will be available on the Marietta City School Web site the week of August 24 for the community to download and provide their feedback on how they think the school system is doing. Surveys will also be available in the front office of each school. Information provided will be confidential.

For more information call 770-422-3500.

When I started that site back in January, I had no idea I’d be blogging about impactful layoffs right in Marietta, GA.

Today via the News outlet WSB Radio, we’ve gotten word that there will be reductions in state and local funding which are forcing the Marietta School Board to eliminate 58 full-time positions, including 38 teachers in the city school system.

The Marietta School board voted 5-2 Tuesday night to approve the job cuts, which will also reduce the number of certified part-time positions, such as paraprofessionals. Fewer teachers will mean a slight increase in class size.

The personnel moves and other changes to next year’s budget will save the district $3.2 million dollars. The teachers who will lose their jobs will be notified before contracts for the 2009-2010 school year are sent out in April.

Do you know of any other issues? We’d like to hear what you know >>

“Rodney Littlejohn is the son of one of our system educators. He began with Marietta City Schools in sixth grade and quickly established himself as a leader among his peers,” said Leigh Colburn, principal MHS. “Rodney has an engaging personality, a quick wit, and great potential. We are very proud of him.”

The National Achievement Scholarship Program is an academic competition established in 1964 to provide recognition for outstanding Black American high school students. Black students may enter both the National Achievement Program and the National Merit® Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) and meeting other published requirements for participation.

Before consideration for a National Achievement Scholarship, a Semifinalist must advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and other requirements. For more information, visit http://www.nationalmerit.org/nasp.php.

If received, the money would allow students to walk or ride their bikes to school instead of taking the bus, which will decrease traffic congestion and air pollution and improve bicycle and pedestrian safety in school zones.

Fewer than 15 percent of children walk to school, 25 percent ride the bus and more than 50 percent ride in family vehicles. Sidewalks would promote more students walking to school, improving their physical fitness while helping the environment in school zones.

The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grant is 100 percent federally funded and does not require city funding.
About the Safe Routes to School program

Safe Routes to School is an international movement that began in the early 1970s in Denmark. In 2005, the United States government created a national SRTS program.

The SRTS program allows communities to make walking and bicycling to school a safe and routine activity for students. Through the program, funding is available, which would build safer streets by constructing sidewalks, bicycle facilities and crosswalks, and develop programs encouraging and educating children and parents on walking and bicycling safely to school.

An efficient transportation system is a goal in the city’s vision statement.

For more information, call Marietta’s Development Services Department at 770-794-5631.

Principal Leigh Colburn said, “…now students caught texting to officers will not be reprimanded…“. I think this a great win for the Marietta City school system. Now students can easily help out with keeping the school safe while protecting their identity at the same time. The co-chairman of the school’s governance team, Tom Gukian, said according to the MDJ

“It’s going to give them an avenue, and I was asking my daughter today, ‘what have you heard about this?’ and she said, ‘Well, it’s quite simple. We’re going to be able to talk to these officers if we need to. Anybody who’s having a problem at home, if they know something about the community, not only are they going to be anonymous, but it’s going to give us an outlet without having to walk into a counselor or walk into having to see an officer.’”

This is great way that technology is helping to keep our schools safe. Great job with this initiative Leigh!

The Educator of the Year award is given by the Milken Family Foundation, of California. State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox and Dr. Jane Foley, Senior Vice President of the Milken Family Foundation, made the surprise announcement at an assembly at the school this past Tuesday morning.

The Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards provide recognition and unrestricted financial awards of $25,000 each to exceptional elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and specialists who are furthering excellence in our nation’s schools. This year, alone, a total of up to $2 million in Milken Awards will be presented to up to 80 of America’s finest elementary educators. New Milken Educators also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles to participate in the Milken National Education Conference focused on solutions to America’s pressing challenges in education today.

In 2002, Toni Lujan-Greene, a West Side Elementary teacher was named a Georgia National Milken Educator of the Year.

From Left to Right: State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox , Jill Sims, Principal of Sawyer Road Elementary, Susan Grigg, 2008 Milken Award Winner at Sawyer Road Elementary, Dr. Emily Lembeck, Marietta City Schools Superintendent, Emily Jennette, MCS 2008 Georgia teacher of the Year, and Dr. Jane Foley, Senior Vice President of the Milken Family Foundation

McEachern’s Terrell Mitchell caught four passes for two touchdowns and 100 yards. King was spot on at QB Friday night (at least in the second half) and completed 9/20 passes for 154 yards. Behind the line O-line, McEachern’s Quenten Martin amassed 110 yards on 21 carries to help in the 19-16 McEachern victory over the Marietta Blue Devils (2-3, 1-3) on Friday night.

The Blue Devils did look strong, however. Running back Greg Franklin had 27 carries and rushed for 168 yds. Franklin to the ball to the end zone twice during the performance. The Blue Devils pushed the bar early when Franklin scored on a 44-yard run with just 5:25 left in the first quarter. The point after was missed and the the Blue Devils took a 6-0 lead. Early in the second half, the Blue Devils scored to make the contest 13-0. After an interception with just 1:56 remaining in the third quarter, the Blue Devils started to lose control of the game. McEachern stepped up and took control driving in the last minutes to the 19-16 victory.

The students were en route from Marietta High School and the route she was driving wasn’t an easy task according to Mitchell, “They knew it was a troubled route when they gave it to me,” Mitchell said. According to an investigative report, Mitchell didn’t contact transportation officials soon enough after the incident.

According to the AJC

Mitchell stopped the bus in the turning lane of Roswell Road to document a few students’ misbehavior. School officials have said some students got impatient, and this led to more misbehavior.

Rather than continuing the route, Mitchell said she pulled into the shopping center because she thought it was the safest place to stop.

Several students were disciplined, including five who were removed from riding the school bus for the remainder of the school year.

In May, Mitchell was ticketed by the Georgia State Patrol for an unsafe lane change while driving the bus on a field trip. The lane change caused a multi vehicle accident, but no injuries.

Veteran board member Jeanie Carter, who cast the vote against firing Mitchell, wouldn’t comment on the incident.

But she did raise the issue of school buses needing monitors to assist with discipline issues on the bus.

Carter asked outloud, “What makes you think they’re gonna be angels on that bus if they’re not in the classroom?”

Marietta, GA – Marietta High School (MHS) Alumni Society has selected Marietta High School Principal, Leigh Colburn as the recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Alumnus Award. Colburn will receive the award October 12 at the MHS Alumni House “Open House”, and she will be recognized during the MHS 2008 Homecoming Game at Northcutt Stadium on October 17 at 7:30 p.m. The annual Distinguished Alumnus Award recognizes an outstanding MHS graduate chosen by a selection committee made up of Alumni Society members.

“We congratulate Leigh on her well deserved recognition. Her dedication to education, as well as her commitment to her community demonstrate that she is worthy of this honor,” said Marietta City Schools Superintendent, Dr. Emily Lembeck.

As a teacher, Colburn discovered her passion for curriculum, pedagogy, and the institution of schools. As an educator with 20 years experience, eight of those as an administrator in elementary and secondary education, she continues her studies – learning as she mentors and leads others in the quest of continuous school improvement.

“Leigh exemplifies everything a Distinguished Alumnus should. She gives back to the community, the school system and is always there for her students,” said, Beverly McAfee, President of MHS Alumni Society. “She is a true example of a Distinguished Alumnus. Her enthusiasm makes her a great asset to Marietta.”

Colburn is a graduate of the Marietta High School class of 1983. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Kennesaw State University, a Master of Education in Curriculum Development and Specialized Instruction from the University of Mississippi, and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership and School Improvement from the University of Alabama.

“As one of Ms. Colburn’s teachers, her beginnings at Marietta High School in 1979, gave one the impression that she cared a great deal about her beloved school. She is blue devil born, and blue devil bred,” stated Cheryl Love, MHS Teacher.

Map to the Marietta Middle School…

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