09/30/2014 – State Of The System
State Of The System Address (page 10)
Improved School Support and Services
The district has addressed organizational effectiveness and efficiency by addressing services that directly impact our students.
Improved Transportation Services
Improved operations and efficiency of bus transportation including change in management. The Transportation Department upgraded the school bus radio system to provide improved communication with bus drivers. Management changes included the replacement of four supervisors and two managers, and two additional routers.
Deployed 10 new diesel buses in March 2014. These new buses were assigned to bus drivers for the 2013-2014 school year.
Deployed, first-ever, two compressed natural gas (CNG) buses in October 2013 County-District natural gas-fuel partnership. More CNG buses in the future. (Note: 1 bus damaged in November field-trip accident. Driver not at fault. Driver and teacher protected students)
Board approved the purchase of 62 new low emission diesel school buses under our voter-approved SPLOST program and 31 new buses leveraging State Bus Bonds for the 2014-2015 school year.
Approved and installed the GPS vehicle tracking system. This system provides real-time location of all school buses and service vehicles with field testing of new GPS system in spring 2014. GPS technology has been installed on all school buses and facilities vehicles. Transportation and facilities staff are being trained (July 2014) on the new technology. GPS technology was implemented district-wide in August of 2014.
Secured a 1% raise for School Bus Drivers and Bus Monitors.
Moved Bus Drivers and Bus Monitors from 5 hours per day to 6 hours of pay per day.
Supported the largest appreciation luncheon ever for School Bus Drivers and Bus Monitors with a complete BBQ chicken lunch for each one.
Recognized and honored drivers for their heroic efforts while taking care of their students and assuring that they made it safely back to their families after a snow/ice storm.
Improved Public Safety
More than $7 million of additional funds in the FY2015 budget for student and school safety including six school resource officers for elementary schools, training for school crossing guards, new uniforms, 10 police cars, new security cameras and electronic security access.
Only school system in metro Atlanta with SROs designated for elementary schools.
One hundred percent (100%) of all schools and centers in the District have completed the mandated Safe School Plan. The Safe School Plan ensures that each campus is prepared to respond to acts of violence, hazardous materials, radiological disasters, natural disasters and acts of terrorism during the school day. The DeKalb County School District Safe School Plan has been approved by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency for the 2014-2015 school year.
Currently, we have 115 Campus Security Personnel who serve all secondary schools and several elementary schools and receive training in First Aid/CPR/AED and CPI (Crisis Intervention Institute) annually. Our Campus Security Personnel are also required to pass a physical agility test each year to safeguard students, staff and other stakeholders while patrolling the campus grounds.
Improved Technology
Implemented the DeKalb App- The DeKalb App improves communication with parents, families, and stakeholders
Enhanced Wireless Access Infrastructure Project – The Information Technology Division completed the Wireless Access Infrastructure Project in all 137 schools, centers, and departments. The project started in February, 2013, and was completed in November, 2013.
Placed Active Boards in Every Teaching Classroom for Students – Will improve learning productivity by developing, integrating and implementing innovative 21st century learning environments that work.
Installed 19,000 Brand New Computers in all Classrooms for Teachers and Students – The new desktop technology will equip our students and teachers with the latest technology tools to prepare them for the future.
Implemented a New Student Information System and Parent Portal – This system is the latest information system that will serve our community, students, teachers and stakeholders while fostering an environment for collaboration.
Parent Logins (Hits) -320,854
Student Logins (Hits) – 146,760
Developed and Implemented a District Records Retention Schedule and Central Records Center – Created a schedule for records to be discarded along with a center that will house all records centrally for our staff and community.
Increased Internet Bandwidth from 2.5 gig to 10.5 gig. – Improves our internet speed for state mandated online testing and assessments. (The highest bandwidth among all large metro area districts)
Implemented the Office 365 Student Advantage Program. – Provides every student in the county with 5 free downloads of Microsoft Office for their home and device of choice.
Developed a 21st Century Framework (PER SACS). – Provides a shared vision for innovated technology integration that supports teaching, learning and assessment.
The district has addressed organizational effectiveness and efficiency by addressing services that directly impact our students.
Improved Transportation Services
Improved operations and efficiency of bus transportation including change in management. The Transportation Department upgraded the school bus radio system to provide improved communication with bus drivers. Management changes included the replacement of four supervisors and two managers, and two additional routers.
Deployed 10 new diesel buses in March 2014. These new buses were assigned to bus drivers for the 2013-2014 school year.
Deployed, first-ever, two compressed natural gas (CNG) buses in October 2013 County-District natural gas-fuel partnership. More CNG buses in the future. (Note: 1 bus damaged in November field-trip accident. Driver not at fault. Driver and teacher protected students)
Board approved the purchase of 62 new low emission diesel school buses under our voter-approved SPLOST program and 31 new buses leveraging State Bus Bonds for the 2014-2015 school year.
Approved and installed the GPS vehicle tracking system. This system provides real-time location of all school buses and service vehicles with field testing of new GPS system in spring 2014. GPS technology has been installed on all school buses and facilities vehicles. Transportation and facilities staff are being trained (July 2014) on the new technology. GPS technology was implemented district-wide in August of 2014.
Secured a 1% raise for School Bus Drivers and Bus Monitors.
Moved Bus Drivers and Bus Monitors from 5 hours per day to 6 hours of pay per day.
Supported the largest appreciation luncheon ever for School Bus Drivers and Bus Monitors with a complete BBQ chicken lunch for each one.
Recognized and honored drivers for their heroic efforts while taking care of their students and assuring that they made it safely back to their families after a snow/ice storm.
Improved Public Safety
More than $7 million of additional funds in the FY2015 budget for student and school safety including six school resource officers for elementary schools, training for school crossing guards, new uniforms, 10 police cars, new security cameras and electronic security access.
Only school system in metro Atlanta with SROs designated for elementary schools.
One hundred percent (100%) of all schools and centers in the District have completed the mandated Safe School Plan. The Safe School Plan ensures that each campus is prepared to respond to acts of violence, hazardous materials, radiological disasters, natural disasters and acts of terrorism during the school day. The DeKalb County School District Safe School Plan has been approved by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency for the 2014-2015 school year.
Currently, we have 115 Campus Security Personnel who serve all secondary schools and several elementary schools and receive training in First Aid/CPR/AED and CPI (Crisis Intervention Institute) annually. Our Campus Security Personnel are also required to pass a physical agility test each year to safeguard students, staff and other stakeholders while patrolling the campus grounds.
Improved Technology
Implemented the DeKalb App- The DeKalb App improves communication with parents, families, and stakeholders
Enhanced Wireless Access Infrastructure Project – The Information Technology Division completed the Wireless Access Infrastructure Project in all 137 schools, centers, and departments. The project started in February, 2013, and was completed in November, 2013.
Placed Active Boards in Every Teaching Classroom for Students – Will improve learning productivity by developing, integrating and implementing innovative 21st century learning environments that work.
Installed 19,000 Brand New Computers in all Classrooms for Teachers and Students – The new desktop technology will equip our students and teachers with the latest technology tools to prepare them for the future.
Implemented a New Student Information System and Parent Portal – This system is the latest information system that will serve our community, students, teachers and stakeholders while fostering an environment for collaboration.
Parent Logins (Hits) -320,854
Student Logins (Hits) – 146,760
Developed and Implemented a District Records Retention Schedule and Central Records Center – Created a schedule for records to be discarded along with a center that will house all records centrally for our staff and community.
Increased Internet Bandwidth from 2.5 gig to 10.5 gig. – Improves our internet speed for state mandated online testing and assessments. (The highest bandwidth among all large metro area districts)
Implemented the Office 365 Student Advantage Program. – Provides every student in the county with 5 free downloads of Microsoft Office for their home and device of choice.
Developed a 21st Century Framework (PER SACS). – Provides a shared vision for innovated technology integration that supports teaching, learning and assessment.
“Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.”