2 20 27 https://ivanallen.iac.gatech.edu/mayoral-records/traditional/files/original/9c8c2db81bce35460d80421fdd92a4ad.pdf 1aa44401aa0fda700826866ee45c4911 Scripto Transcription A written representation of a document. SECTION IV RETIREMENT PLAN The Retirement Plan for City of Atlanta employees was initially adopted in 192 7. The Pension Act for the employees of the Fulton County Board of Education first was passed in 1937. Since both plans were originally adopted they have undergone several changes, the most recent major revision occurring in 1962 for both Plans. The Plans have been contributory s i nce their inc ept ion with th e policy tha t th e res p ectiv e Boa rds match the amount s contributed by the employees , Hi s toric a lly, each incr ease in benefit s h as gen e r at ed a co r resp on ding increase in t h e rat e of emp l oy ee contributions. Furth er , in order to receive t he higher b enefit s ac tiv e employees have had the option of " repaying " contributions they would h ave pa id had the curr ent contri bution l evel existed since the employee was hir ed, Since active employees do not have to accept increased b enefits (and " make up " back contributions ), the present Retirement Plan covers employees at several different benefit levels with diff er·ent rates of employee contributions, However, since the majority of employees who w ere active in 1962 have opted to take the increased benefits and all employees hir ed since 1962 automatically are covered for those benefits, we will discuss the provisions of the Retirement Plan as they currently exist. -20- 'l.'OWERS, PERRIN, FORSTER & CROSBY �Comparison of Plans The provisions of the Retirement Plans of both Fulton County and the City of Atlanta are almost identical. The following description w ill p oint out where differences exist in Plan provisions. Normal Retireme nt Date: Employees are eligible to retir e on full unr e du ce d p e n s ion afte r compl e ting 2 5 years of service and attaining age 60. Employe es may w ork to a ge 65 at their option. Early Retirement Date: E m ployees ar e e lig ible to r e tir e e arly o n a r e du ced p e ns i o n a t a n y ti me aft er comp l e ting 2 5 y e ar s of s ervi c e and attaining a ge 55 . Pensio n is reduce d 1 / 1 2 th of 2% for each month th e empl oyee i s l ess t h an 60 . Normal Retireme nt B e nefit : 2 % of f i r s t $3 00 of monthly Ear nings , p lus 1 1/ 2% of m o nthl y Earni ngs in excess of $300 times years of 11 credita b l e 11 service. Earnings equal average of h i ghest five years of earnings during employme nt. -21- TOWERS, PERRIN, FORS'l'ER & CROSBY �- - -- - - - - - - - -- In no event will normal b e nefit plus Maximum Benefit: Primary Social Security exceed 75% of Earnings on which benefit is determined. After 10 years service benefit accrued to Disability Benefit: date is payable. Pre-Retirement Death Benefit: If employee is killed in the line of duty during first five years of employment, his beneficiary receives 1 / 5th of full 25 year service pens i on ; after five years , p r o-rata portion of full serv ic e pen s ion. (Fulto n County• s Plan apparently do es not co n t a i n t h is p r ovi s io n, ) Pos t- Reti r eme n t D eath Benefit : C ert ai n eligible depe n dents are entitled to 50% of the b e n efit being r ec e i ve d b y the pensioner, If the b eneficiary is more t h an five years younger t h an the pensioner, such benefi ci ary• s pension is reduced 1 /12th of 2% for each month that she is m o re than five years younger than the pensioner . No reduction if beneficiary is age 60 or over. - 22 - TOWERS, PERRIN, FOHS'.r'ER & CROSBY �Employee Contributions: 5% of Earnings; 6% of Ear nings if desire post-retirement death benefits. Termination of Employment: Return of all employee contributions. Minimum Benefit: If a pensioner (or pensioner and beneficiary) dies prior to receiving at least the total amount of his contributions, the balance will be payable to the pensioner's estate. Make-up of II Back" Contributions: All active employees during 1962 could elect the increa sed benefits by paying "back" contributions, Once determined, such amounts could be paid in a lump sum or in 60 monthly installments. If not elected within six months from Effective D a t e , 4% interest is charg ed from Effective Date to the dat e the employee elects to be cover e d und er the incr ease d b enefits . In addition, both B o ards mat ch the amounts of empl oyee curr e nt a nd contributions. The matching of 11 11 back 11 ba c k 11 contr ibutions may be amortized over a 2 0 year period. - 23 - TOWERS, PERRIN, FORSTER & CROS BY �Suggested Plan An examination of the above provisions demonstrates that both Plans are identical with one minor exception. We do recommend that a combined Plan contain the provision to allow for the payment of benefits if an employee is killed in the line of duty. (The Fulton County Plan apparently does not have this provision.) We suggest that no changes of a major nature be considered during th e period the merger is taken under consideration. Comments on Suggested Plan This paragraph w ill discuss that area w here both present Plan s do n ot hav e complete identical provisions. W e s u g gest that the prov i s ion f o r pa yment of benefi t s in the e vent a n emplo yee i s killed in the lin e of duty be maintained . The probability of such an e v ent is remote , but does exist f o r s chool bu s d r ive r s and t ea cher s w ho m u s t tr a v el be tween employment locati on s. Met hod of F inan cing The Retirement Plan f o r the Fu l t o n C ounty Scho ol pers onnel is maintained and accounted for separately from the retirement p l an for other Fulton County employees. The City of Atl anta maintains one overall Reti reme nt Plan which covers both Board of Education employees and other City - 24 - TOWERS, PERRIN, FORSTER & CROSBY �personnel. (Policemen and Firemen are not included.) No separate accounting policy is followed solely for employees of the Board of Education. The financial information and numbers of employees we ·will be ref erring to in this subsection were taken from interviews with Miss Lula Carson of Fulton County and Mr. Gus Langford of the City of Atlanta. In addition, the most recently available audit reports of both Funds were used, i.e. , December 31, 1967 as certified by H. G. Jackson & Company for the City of Atlanta and June 30, 1968 as certified by Respess and Respess for Fulton County. It is important to note at this point that .the City of Atlanta f ollow s a cash accounting s y s tem; w her e a s Fulton County follows an accrual accounting s ystem , The fallowing financial information is pertinent to this study. - 25 TOWERS, PERRIN, FORS'l'ER & CROSBY �-- ---- - ---== =----==---====-===~ CITY OF ATLANTA Number of Active M e mbers: Unavailable Monthly Employee Contributions : $337, 070 (School) 99, 390 (Non - school) Number of Retired Mem bers: Monthly Benefit Payments: Fund Assets: FULTON COUNT Y 2,62 9 $77,543 2001 (No breakdown available between school and non-school) 279 (plus 5 4 pr e -1952 retirees w ho receive benefits d i rectly from County ) $292, 000 (School) 73, 000 (No n- sc h ool) $68,592 (plus $ 7, 30 6 fr om County f o r pre- 1 952 retiirees ). · $12,591,328 (Cash and inves tments at co st) $1 0 ,1 0 4,979 (Includes $ 7 38,485 due as matching funds) An examination of the above information clearly shows that the City of Atlanta Retirement P l an is sub s t antially l arger than that of Fulton County. Further, the majority of the City of Atlanta Plan ' s members, contributions and, the r efore, liabiliti e s and fund a s sets ar e a tt r ibuted to Boa r d of Education p er s onnel For this reason, we feel that a combined Board of Education Plan should include the non-school employ e es of the City of Atlanta. Failure to do so may b r ing s er ious financi a l disad vantage t o a pla n maintain e d so l e l y for t h e City of Atlanta non-school p e rsonne l. - 26- TOWERS, PERRIN, FORSTER & CROS BY �Should the Plans merge, the sur v i v ing political entity w ould ·i nh e rit th e responsibility of paying all e x isting pensioners' benefits and making matching contributions on all future employee contributions. (The oblig ation for ' payment of benefits to the 54 pre-1952 retirees in the present Fulton County Plan w ould in all likelihood rem.ain an oblig ation of th e County .) Furth e r, t he contributions from the Teachers' Retirem (;! nt System of Georgia w ould continue to be paid to· the combined Fund. As the nature of this repo r t i s preliminary, it was deemed inadvisable a t this time to perform cost proj e ctions or dete r minations of assets and liabilitie s of the t w o present plans. How e v er, should the merger come to fruition , it w ill be necessary to p e rform a detail e d audit of both plans and , w e su gg e st, an actua r ial v aluation to determine the r e lative financi a l strength of bot h p re s ent plans and the su rvi v ing pla n. I n add ition , t h e e x act amount of mat c hi n g con - tri buti ons due (bo th current and " make- up") w ould h a v e t o be determi ned as of t h e effe c tive date of th e c ombi ned p lan, and arr angements m a d e with t h e existin g spon s o r ing political bodies fo r future payme nt t o t h e combined fund. The cu rrent f u nds a re investe d i n U .S . Government Treas u ry Notes, Bills and Bonds and Certificates of Deposit at most la c.al banks and savings and loan a s sociations. In addition, cash accounts are maintained . ex isting arrangement would not be altered. - 27 - TOWERS, PERRIN, FORSTER & CROSBY In all lik e lihood this �Installation Procedure As stated previously, the actual establishment and installation of a combined plan would prudently be done only after an analysis of the present financial situation of both Plans and the necessary legislative requirements hav e been completed. ·· Once the new sponsoring political body accepts the financial obligation and liabilities of a combined Plan, · the actual 11 transf er 11 and com- bination of people and funds can be accomplished with relative ease throu g h bookkeeping procedures. It would be necessary to appoint a new combined Pension Board and to establish an administrative team charged with the responsibilities of detailed r e cord keeping, payment of benefits a nd othe r admin istrative requirements. Further , the combined Plan w ould requi re re d r afting of the P e n s ion Act a nd sponsor ship in the Legis l ature. Shou ld the m erger b e acc ompl ished, i t is vitally imp or t a nt to communicate t o employees ( especi a lly tho se n ~aring reti reme nt) t h e purpose of the combined arrangement and to assure t hem tha t benefit s will n ot be affected . -28 - TOWERS, PERRIN , FORSTER & CROSBY �SECTION V CONCLUSIONS AND SUMMARY An analysis of all benefits currently prov ided by both Systems show s that they are quite compatible. The medical plans are di££ erent from a conceptual design standpoint, but the benefits provided -are similar. From this we con- clude that the' plans may be merged with relative ease. The result of combining the plans should reduce the gross overall costs from those of maintaining two separate systems. Assuming that the employee contribution rates currently applicable to the City of Atlanta medical plan (employee pay all except for $1. 00 per month toward major medical) are adopted, the present employees of Fulton County will pay l e ss than they are currently paying for employee coverage but slightly more for dependents coverage. Howeve r , benefits will b e increased. Next Steps The responsibility for a decision to continue further rests wi th the respective School Systems. An ultimate decision will be contingent on many factors, one of which should include an actuar ial valuation of both present retir e ment plans to determine their respective l evel of fund ing and financial condition. -29 TOWERS, PERRIN, FORSTER & CROSBY � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document SECTION IV RETIREMENT PLAN The Retirement Plan for City of Atlanta employees was initially adopted in 1927. The Pension Act for the employees of the Fulton County Board of Education first was passed in 1937. Since both plans were originally adopted they have undergone several changes, the most recent major revision occurwing in 1962 for both Plans. The Plans have been contributory since their inception with the policy that the respective Boards match the amounts contributed by the employees. Historically, each increase in benefits has generated a corresponding increase in the rate of employee contributions. Further, in order to receive the higher benefits active employees have had the option of ''repaying'' contributions they would have paid had the current contri- bution level existed since the employee was hired, Since active employees do not have to accept increased benefits (and ''make up'! back contributions), the present Retirement Plan covers employees at several different benefit levels with different rates of employee contributions, However, since the majority of employees who were active in 1962 have opted to take the increased benefits and all employees hired since 1962 automatically are covered for those benefits, we will discuss the provisions of the Retirement Plan as they currently exist. «26a TOWERS, PERRIN, FORSTER & CROSBY  Comparison of Plans The provisions of the Retirement Plans of both Fulton County and the City of Atlanta are almost identical. The following description will point out where differences exist in Plan provisions. Normal Retirement Date: Employees are eligible to retire on full unreduced pension after completing 25 years of service and attaining age 60. Employees may work to age 65 at their option. Early Retirement Date: Employees are eligible to retire early ona reduced pension at any time after completing 25 years of service and attaining age 55. Pension is reduced 1/12th of 2% for each month the employee is less than 60. Normal Retirement Benefit: 2% of first $300 of monthly Earnings, plus 1 1/2% of monthly Earnings in excess of $300 times years of ''creditable'' service. Earnings equal average of highest five years of earnings during employment, afl TOWERS, PERRIN, FORSTER & CROSBY  Maximum Benefit: Disability Benefit: Pre-Retirement Death Benefit: Post-Retirement Death Benefit: In no event will normal benefit plus Primary Social Security exceed 75% of Earnings on which benefit is determined. After 10 years service benefit accrued to date is payable. If employee is killed in the line of duty during first five years of employment, his beneficiary receives 1/5th of full 25 year service pension; after five years, pro-rata portion of full service pension. (Fulton County's Plan apparently does not contain this provision. ) Certain eligible dependents are entitled to 50% of the benefit being received by the pensioner, If the beneficiary is more than five years younger than the pensioner, such beneficiary's pension is reduced 1/12th of 2% for each month that she is more than five years younger than the pensioner. No reduction if beneficiary is age 60 or over. SPR TOWERS, PERRIN, PORSTER & CROSBY =  Employe e Contributions: Termination of Employment: Minimum Benefit: Make-up of ''Back''! Contributions: 5% of Earnings; 6% of Earnings if desire post-retirement death benefits. Return of all employee contributions. If a pensioner (or pensioner and beneficiary) dies prior to receiving at least the total amount of his contributions, the balance will be payable to the pensioner's estate. All active employees during 1962 could elect the increased benefits by paying ''back'' contri- . butions. Once determined, such amounts could be paid in a lump sum or in 60 monthly install- ments. If not elected within six months from Effective Date, 4% interest is charged from Effective Date to the date the employee elects to be covered under the increased benefits. In addition, both Boards match the amounts of employee current and ''back'! contributions. The matching of ''back'' contributions may be amortized over a 20 year period, «23= TOWERS, PERRIN, FORSTER & CROSBY - -  Suggested Plan An examination of the above provisions demonstrates that both Plans are identical with one minor exception. We do recommend that a combined Plan contain the provision to allow for the payment of benefits if an employee is killed in the line of duty. (The Fulton County Plan apparently does not have this provision. ) We suggest that no changes of a major nature be considered during the period the merger is taken under consideration, Comments on Suggested Plan This paragraph will discuss that area where both present Plans do not have complete identical provisions. We suggest that the provision for pay- ment of benefits in the event an employee is killed in the line of duty be maintained. The probability of such an event is remote, but does exist for school bus drivers and teachers who must travel between employment locations, Method of Financing The Retirement Plan for the Fulton County School personnel is maintained and accounted for separately from the retirement plan for other Fulton County employees. The City of Atlanta maintains one overall Retirement Plan which covers both Board of Education employees and other City -24- TOWERS, PERHIN, FORSTER & CROSBY  personnel. (Policemen and Firemen are not included.) No separate accounting policy is followed solely for employees of the Board of Education. The financial information and numbers of employees we ‘will be referring to in this subsection were taken from interviews with Miss Lula Carson of Fulton County and Mr. Gus Langford of the City of Atlanta. In addition, the most recently available audit reports of both Funds were used, i.e., December 31, 1967 as certified by H. G. Jackson & Company for the City of Atlanta and June 30, 1968 as certified by Respess and Respess for Fulton County. It is important to note at this point that the City of Atlanta follows a cash accounting system, whereas Fulton County follows an accrual accounting system. The following financial information is pertinent to this study. =25= $$$ TOWERS, PERRIN, FORSTER & CROSBY —  Number of Active Members: Monthly Employe e Contributions: Number of Retired Members: Monthly Benefit Payments: Fund Assets: CITY OF ATLANTA Unavailable $337, 070 (School) 99, 390 (Non - school) 2001 (No breakdown available between school and non-school) $292, 000 (School) 73, 000 (Non-school) $12,591, 328 (Cash and investments at cost) FULTON COUNTY 2,629 $77, 543 279 (plus 54 pre-1952 retirees who receive benefits directly from County) $68,592 (plus $7, 306 from County for pre-1952 retirees), $10, 104,979 (Includes $738,485 due as matching funds) An examination of the above information clearly shows that the City of Atlanta Retirement Plan is substantially larger than that of Fulton County. Further, the majority of the City of Atlanta Plan's members, contributions and, there- fore, liabilities and fund assets are attributedto Board of Education personnel For this reason, we feel that a combined Board of Education Plan should include the non-school employees of the City of Atlanta. Failure to do so may bring serious financial disadvantage to a plan maintained solely for the City of Atlanta non-school personnel. -26- - TOWERS, PERRIN, FORSTER & CROSBY  Should the Plans merge, the surviving political entity would inherit the responsibility of paying all existing pensioners! benefits and making matching contributions on all future employee contributions. (The obligation for payment of benefits to the 54 pre-1952 retirees in the present Fulton County Plan would in all likelihood remain an obligation of the County.) Further, the contributions from the Teachers' Retirement System of Georgia would continue to be paid to the combined Fund, As the nature of this report is preliminary, it was deemed inadvisable at this time to perform cost projections or determinations of assets and liabilities of the two present plans. However, should the merger come to fruition, it will be necessary to perform a detailed audit of both plans and, we suggest, an actuarial valuation to determine the relative financial strength of both present plans and the surviving plan. In addition, the exact amount of matching con- tributions due (both current and ''make-up'') would have to be determined as of the effective date of the combined plan, and arrangements made with the existing sponsoring political bodies for future payment to the combined fund. The current funds are invested in U.S. Government Treasury Notes, Bills and Bonds and Certificates of Deposit at most local banks and savings and loan associations. In addition, cash accounts are maintained, In all likelihood this existing arrangement would not be altered. ant TOWERS, PERRIN, FORSTSR & CROSBY —  Installation Procedure As stated previously, the actual establishment and installation of a combined plan would prudently be done only after an analysis of the present financial situation of both Plans and the necessary legislative requirements have been completed. Once the new sponsoring political body accepts the financial obligation and liabilities of a combined Plan, ‘the actual ''transfer'' and com- bination of people and funds can be accomplished with relative ease through bookkeeping procedures. It would be necessary to appoint a new combined Pension Board and to establish an administrative team charged with the responsibilities of detailed record keeping, payment of benefits and other administrative requirements. Further, the combined Plan would require redrafting of the Pension Act and sponsorship in the Legislature. Should the merger be accomplished, it is vitally important to communicate to employees (especially those nearing retirement) the purpose of the combined arrangement and to assure them that benefits will not be affected. <Za~< ——_—_——— TOWERS, PERRIN, PORSTER & CROSBY O°." SS  SECTION V CONCLUSIONS AND SUMMARY An analysis of all benefits currently provided by both Systems shows that they are quite compatible. The medical plans are different from a conceptual design standpoint, but the benefits provided-are similar. From this we con- clude that the plans may be merged with relative ease. The result of combining the plans should reduce the gross overall costs from those of maintaining two separate systems. Assuming that the employee contribution rates currently applicable to the City of Atlanta medical plan (employee pay all except for $1.00 per month toward major medical) are adopted, the present employees of Fulton County will pay less than they are currently paying for employee coverage but slightly more for dependents coverage. However, benefits will be increased. Next Steps The responsibility for a decision to continue further rests with the respective School Systems. An ultimate decision will be contingent on many factors, one of which should include an actuarial valuation of both present retirement plans to determine their respective level of funding and financial condition, -29- TOWERS, PERRIN, FORSTER & CROSBY ~  Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Box 6, Folder 1, Document 3 Box 6 Box 6 Folder 1 Folder topic: R. Earl Landers | Local Education Commission | 1964-1969 https://ivanallen.iac.gatech.edu/mayoral-records/traditional/files/original/d7801d09e9437a43bcb377c3e411f676.pdf decab2445690a846ac743c02c3805b6b Scripto Transcription A written representation of a document. _Atemo DATE From CHARLES L. DAVIS ir ~--- "' ;;r:fr,f_ ft----143.215.248.55 01~' . ,,cJ,,~··fa~~- ~1f"-'L.-\ ,,,_ ,C Lf J \/~ i<-- <{ ~ Li );,(£_ CJ &- ,{ - . t-.£ t> /t ~ o~ ~ iJ---7 � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Memo DATE From CHARLES L. DAVIS Pw Sat Fern to To Fifm bis te Doel 7 bs . ~ = Cnam vv: “ “aye nce A 4 L soft pt Le - Lye ee 4b ofh Lor. A tne geek Of no)  Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Box 6, Folder 1, Document 4 Box 6 Box 6 Folder 1 Folder topic: R. Earl Landers | Local Education Commission | 1964-1969 https://ivanallen.iac.gatech.edu/mayoral-records/traditional/files/original/5d66c94fe231b7e7844de22ae434fab3.pdf 516cc94fc8432f002d2f0be305066f52 Scripto Transcription A written representation of a document. � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document  Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Box 6, Folder 1, Document 5 Box 6 Box 6 Folder 1 Folder topic: R. Earl Landers | Local Education Commission | 1964-1969 https://ivanallen.iac.gatech.edu/mayoral-records/traditional/files/original/b43f7bc925a38faa0f3e0a9cc127971c.pdf cb4ad265652d10274f17b39c26a466e7 Scripto Transcription A written representation of a document. 1~ NOTICE THE NEXT MEETING OF THE LOCAL EDUCATION COMMISSION WILL BE HELD AT 12:00 NOON ON THURSDAY, JULY 25, AT THE INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICE CENTER OF THE ATLANTA SCHOOL ~YSTEM, 2930 FORREST HILLS DRIVE, S. W. � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document NOTICE ee THE NEXT MEETING OF THE LOCAL EDUCATION COMMISSION WILL BE HELD AT 12:00 NOON ON THURSDAY, JULY 25, AT THE INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICE CENTER OF THE ATLANTA SCHOOL SYSTEM, 2930 FORREST HILLS DRIVE, S. W.  Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Box 6, Folder 1, Document 6 Box 6 Box 6 Folder 1 Folder topic: R. Earl Landers | Local Education Commission | 1964-1969 https://ivanallen.iac.gatech.edu/mayoral-records/traditional/files/original/9af27aa6f2d4fa63c2f99e31c6cdc5df.pdf 3bf2182c53bb2b1063988219c5b50a7b Scripto Transcription A written representation of a document. ~}ETROPQ ; l:tr,n rf'I I ._ ' \ I , no 1 ('.f"'l_. l.J I f J 1 nr::' !!::- -. ,_, ._ , ... . ~::r-; ,.,,r,':'l\)T _i • I cou~ lC'l ..._ t1 I • Landers From: Curtis Henson, Recordi ng Secretary The enclosed proposed plan of study was dis tributed and dis cussed at the July 31 meet ing of the Local Education Commission of Atlanta and Fult on County. ECH/ dh August 3, 1964 � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document . METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DEVELOPMNT COUNCIL 4 oh" as Earl Landers From: Curtis Henson, Recording Secretary The enclosed proposed plan of study was distributed and discussed at the July 31 meeting of the Local Education Commission of Atlanta and Fulton County. ECH{/dh August 3, 1964  Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Box 6, Folder 1, Document 7 Box 6 Box 6 Folder 1 Folder topic: R. Earl Landers | Local Education Commission | 1964-1969 https://ivanallen.iac.gatech.edu/mayoral-records/traditional/files/original/1e94846ec2bcabadb66a5f6f5307958f.pdf a29573332304d137b9add067298a71c3 Scripto Transcription A written representation of a document. METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL City of Atlanta and Fulton County Boards of Education 2930 Forrest Hill Drive, S.W. Atlanta , Georgia 30315 September 7, 1966 TO: Members of the Local Education Conmission FROM: Curtis Henson, Recording Secretary The next meeting of the Local Education Conmrl.ssion will be held in the Conference Room of the Atlanta Public Schools' Administration Building, 224 Central Avenue, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 22, 1966. The primary purpose of this meeting is to review the plan of action developed by Dr. Pierce. A copy is enclosed. CH: cw enclosure � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL City of Atlanta and Fulton County Boards of Education 2930 Forrest Hill Drive, S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30315 September 7, 1966 N\ ~~ TO: Members of the Local Education Commission FROM: Curtis Henson, Recording Secretary The next meeting of the Local Education Commission will be held in the Conference Room of the Atlanta Public Schools! Administration 3uilding, 224 Central Avenue, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 22, 1966. The primary purpose of this meeting is to review the plan of action developed by Dr. Pierce. A copy is enclosed. CH: cw enclosure  Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Box 6, Folder 1, Document 8 Box 6 Box 6 Folder 1 Folder topic: R. Earl Landers | Local Education Commission | 1964-1969 https://ivanallen.iac.gatech.edu/mayoral-records/traditional/files/original/ce3f6b07b38ccd1be70f8ef20ce7459f.pdf 0c68ed485b721700361e0d748c0ffbd9 Scripto Transcription A written representation of a document. ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY EDUCATION COMMISSION PROVISIONS FOR CREATIHG AN ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT The General Assembly of Georgia at the request of its representatives from Fulton and DeKalb counties created a Local Education Co1mri.ssion in 1964 and charged the Commission with responsibility: To study the desirability and feasibility of combining the school systems of Fulton County and the City of Atlanta, including the portion thereof lying in DeKalb County; to provide that said Commission may draft a plan or plans for the combining of such school systems and submit same to members of the General Assembly from Fulton and DeKalb Counties. The Commission was appointed and conducted the requested study, releasing its report in February, 1966. The report reconnnended the dissolution of the Atlanta and Fulton County School Districts and the creation of a new district in their stead. A plan for creating the proposed new district was included in the report which outlined the steps necessary for carrying out this recommendation. The report of t he Commission was accepted by the legislative delegation representing Fulton and DeKalb counties. After due deliberation of the recommendations, the legislative group secured approval for continuation of the Commission and reque sted it to carry out the steps which it had defined as being necessary for dissolving the present school districts and creating the proposed new district. This memorandum outlines the tasks involved in creating the proposed new district and suggests how these steps may be executed. Five distinct but related tasks are essential in carrying out this latest charge to the Connnission. They are: �1. Legal work which is necessary in order to dissolve the two present districts and to create the proposed new district. 2. Educational planning necessary to assure orderly and effective transition from the present two districts to the proposed single district. 3. Suggestion on the initial role of the new board of education. 4. A program for developing public understanding of the proposed new district and the reasons which support its creation. S. Allocations of responsibility fQr getting done the necessary tasks. Each of the five steps is outlined briefly in the following pages. The assumption is made that the plans for the proposed district and the characteristics of the district included in the 1966 report of the Commission are acceptable. They are, therefore, reported in this doc1.nnent where appropriate. LEGAL WORK Substantial legal tasks must be undertaken and completed in order to establish the proposed new school district. It is not possible to define with certainty all of these tasks at present because there is no existing overview of legislation and court decisions affecting the present Fulton Cot1nty and Atlanta School Districts although major task areas can be defined. These follow: 1. Compil e and analyze the legi slat ion and court decisi ons whi ch curr ently affect the Atlanta and Fult on County School Districts. Since thi s has never been done , ther e is no way of knowing at present t he pr ecise dimensions of this t a sk. 2. Prepare the legislation which must be adopted in order to abolish the Atlanta and Fulton County School Districts. Until the necessary �research has been completed, there is no way of knowing just what this step involves • . Whether a .single piece of. legislati on general in nature ,rill suffice or whether specific measures repealing separate ~a~s relating to such subjects as taxation, bonding capacity, and so forth, are required remains to be seen. 3. Provide for meeting present a~d future unfilfilled legal and moral commitments of the Atlanta and Fulton County School Districts. ' . Indebtedness, outstanding bonds, retirement provisions and tenure rights are examples of such cormnitments. Current welfare provisions for personnel may be continued or provisions can be made in new legislation to protect earned rights of present personnel through incorporation in any new welfare provisions which might be created for the school district. Establishing eligibility of the new school district for s t ate funds is an illustration of another type of protect ion, as is assurance that current salary levels ,rill not suffer in the transition. 4. Arr ange f or the transfer of propert ies of present school districts to t he proposed new distr ict. 5. Prepare a cons titutional amendment f or creati ng the new school di strict. This is an essential st ep under Geor gi a l aw. The amendment should be expres sed in gener al t erms insofar a s feasible, leaving as many of the speci f i c provisions concerning t he district a s possible to be taken care of outside the frame,rork of constitutional mandates. The amendment would necessarily specify the boundaries of the district, define its basic structure, and outline its powers. Such would be done within the limitations of other constitutional pr ovisions affecting schools and school districts. For example, the_ �amendment would have to be consistent with the constitutional definition of the State's r~sponsibility for public schools. '! Legal provisions to be made either by constitutional amendment or statutory acts incl~de creation of a board of education of seven members elected at large for terms of six years, one from each .of seven subdivisions of the district of approximately the sarae number of persons. The amendment or enabling legislation should prescribe how the subdivisions are to be formed and how they are to be redivided as population changes dictate. Provisions should be made for the initial board to be elected as follows: three members to serve the full six-year term, two members to serve fouryear terms, and two members to serve two-year terms. Thereafter, the board members would be elected as existing terms of members expire. Vacancies should be filled by appointment of the board until the next election at which time unexpired terms will be filled by the voters. It will also be necessary to make provisions for a referendum to determine whether or not the amendment is to be approved (approval of voters of both districts is thought to be necessary). Provisions should be made in the event the constitutional amendment is approved for the board members of the Atlanta and Fulton County Districts to serve as the board of education for the new district until the new board is elected and can talce office. A schedule should be worked out, if needed, for shifting to the seven-man board elected as herein prescribed. �Board members should serve without compensation, receiving pay only for necessary expenses incurred in carrying out their duties as members of the Board of Education The proposed new district should consist of the present At lanta District, including the part which is in DeKalb County, and the present Fulton County District. A fundamental task is providing for a sound fiscal base for the proposed school dist rict. Establishing eligibility for St ate funds, I establishing eligibilit y for Federal funds, and providing for sound local support are necessary considerations. f The school board should be authorized to determine ~he property tax for supporting the school i syst em, as the Atlanta Schopl Board does at present. Furthermore , a uniform property assessmen~ plan for the entire district should be adopted and homestead exemptions eliminated. Sources of local school suppor t i n addition to the pr operty tax should be found. 6. If the pr oposed new school district is ·approved by t he voters , a transition committee should be es t ablished immediatel y to work out the many plans and details essential t o an or derly transition from two districts t o one. The transition committee should include the two superintendent s of school s , the chairman of each board of education, the fiscal officer of each s chool system, the assistant superintendent for instruction of each school system, and such other individuals as may seem appropriate. This committee should be r esponsible for the detailed transition plan to be appr oved by each board of education. 7. If the single school district is approved, the two present school systems should continue as at present for the balance of the s chool �year in which approval occurs and an additional full year in order to allow time for completion of needed transition plans. 8. The board of education for the new district should be elected as soon as possible after the approval of the constitutional amendment and should formally organize itself without delay and proceed at once with the selection of a superintendent. A superintendent should be employed and he should .begin his work as far in advance of the creation of the new school district as is possible . 9. EKecute any other legal assignments which are appropriate in the light of the analysis of pertinent legislation and court decisions and necessary provisions to assure creation of a school district conforming to recommendations of the Commission in its 1966 report. EDUCATIONAL PLANNING An enormous volume of work must be completed before the proposed school district can go into operation. I1any policies must be decided upon and much specific and detailed planning completed in order to assure the proper functioning of the new district. Hajor categories of policy development and needed provisions for operational guides under each are listed below. As is true of legal aspects described above , a precise definition of all of the steps necessary in this stage of planning is not possible presently and must await further exploration of current policies and practices of the tlro school systEIIIS. Finance 1. Develop guides and procedures for making the annual school budget. 2. Develop plans and procedures for purchasing. �r 3. Develop plans for necessary and appropriate financial accounting. 4. Develop a budget for the new school district. Personnel 1. Develop a system of personnel records for professional and other school personnel. 2. Develop salary schedules for professional and other personnel. 3. Develop a retirement system or systems. 4. Develop policies concerning employment practices for both professional and non-professional personnel. S. Develop policies regarding tenure, sick leave, vacations, leaves of absence for prof essi onal growth, and others as needed. 6. Propose a method of combining the two central office staffs. 1. Develop a system of r ecords f or pupil accounting. 2. Make r ecommendations concer ning the visiting teacher pr ogram. Pupils Administrative Structures and Regulations 1. Develop a plan for the internal organization and administration of the new school district incl uding appropriat e policies and definitions of responsibility. 2. Reach decisions on administ rative and supervisory services to be provided. 3. Develop policies regarding the size of schools. 4. Develop general school regulations such as length of the school day, ntm1ber of days in the school year, and designate holidays. �5. Develop a school calendar for the first year of the new system. 6. Reconnnend the future of the Metropolitan School Development Council. Curriculum 1. Determine the curricula to be offered. 2. Develop plans for kindergartens 'in schools now in the Fulton County District. 3. Develop policies for selection and distribution of instructional materials. 4. Determine the special professional personnel to be provided such as librarians, school psychologists, counselors, and reading specialists. 5. Ascertain the curriculum adjusnnents which are necessary in the transition period and suggest how they are to be made. 6. Recorrnnend policies regarding expansion of school programs with special reference to junior colleges, vocational and technical education, and adult education. 7. Hake recommendations concer ning t eacher loads, including pupilteacher ratios. Services 1. Reach decisions on services to be provided by the school districts such as transportation, food, and health services and how they should be provided. 2. Determine the non-professional personnel to be provided such as �.,. lunchroom workers, custodians, and secretaries. 3. Reconnnend plans for st oring and handling textbooks and other instructional supplies. · Maintenance i!:m! Operation 1. · Develop policies regarding kinds, numbers, types, and levels of competence needed by personnel ~n Maintenance and Operation. 2. Develop policies and procedures on the maintenance and operation programs. 3. Develop policies and procedures concerning work assignments and responsibilities of personnel. Other 1. Make reconnnendations concerning organizations which should exist i n the new s chool districts such as Parent -Teacher Associ ati ons, local t eacher s associations, and the various student organizations . INITIAL ROLE OF THE PROPOSED N:Bv BOARD OF EDUCATION Just how specifi c a bluepri nt f or transit i on should be is t o a considerable extent a matter of def inition. At one extreme is a plan which provides only the basic legal provisions necessary for bringing the new district into being. At the other extreme is a plan which includes the multitude of basic policies, operational procedures and allocations of responsibility essential to the effective functioning of a school district. The plan presented in this document embraces the first extreme and also the second to the extent that the Connnission accepts responsibility for the essential educational planning which must precede the operational phase of a �new ~istrict. As already indicated, this planning consists largely of d~yeloping reconnnended policies and procedures consistent with the basic charter of the proposed new district as outlined above and decisions of the , Connnission with respect to the nature and quality of programs and services it thinks the new district should provide. However, only that which is man- dated by law will be binding on the new Board of Education. In a sense, the Commission is acting in these matters as an agent of a school district which is yet to be created and what it proposes in the realm of educational planning is for study and action by the ne,v Board of Education unless areas are involved where decisions have been made already. PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROPOSED NEW DISTRICT Since public schools are the business of the public, every opportunity should be seized upon to help the public keep as fully informed as possible on school problems, issues, needs, and the nature of good schools. A well informed public is essential to successful decision making on educational policies and plans. Therefore, a major task in considering the proposed basic shift in the educational structure of Atlanta and Fulton County is developing and distributing among all citizens adequate information on the proposed change and the reasons which lead to the proposal. The report of the Corranission with its treatment of both sides of the issue of a single school district should be made available to all citizens and its contents should be widely publicized. Therefore, if the proposed constitutional amendment is adopted and a referendum is held, the referendtun should be preceded by a systematic and well organized public information program. �11Ia.ss media of commu..,ication should be employed to develop interest and public understanding. Newspaper coverage should be stressed. and television should be used extensively. 30th radio The pros and cons of the pro- , posed district reorganization plan should be presented through all three media. In addition, presentations to civic clubs, Parent-Teachers Associa- tions, and other formal groups should be stimulated. should be used in this program. Uany informed citizens Among such citizens should be leaders from all walks of life, especially school leaders, including Joard of Education members. Dy the time the election is held, all citizens should be fully informed on the issues at stake. In no other ,ray is it possible to reach an adequate decision on the school organization issue. GETI'ING THE JOB DONE It is the responsibility of the coordinator appointed by the Commission to prepare and submit to the Commission the transition plan as outlined above. An adequate plan requires bringing into play an array of specialized competence beyond the ken of any single individual; therefore, extensive use should be made of carefully selected consultants. The legal work should be entrusted to Mr. Pete La.timer, Attorney for the Atlanta Doard of Education, and Hr. Jaraes Groton, Attorney for the Fulton County 3oard of :Education. Dr. n. L. Johns, University of Florida, or some one of comparable stature in school finance , should be sucured as a consultant on all planning involving finance, purchasing, and accounting. Dr. Willard Elsbree, Emeritus Professor of Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, or some other authority in personnel, should be secured �as a consultant on policies and procedures concerning all categories of personnel. This assignment would include proposed salary schedules and wel- fare provisions. Curriculum authorities should be consulted as needed. A committee of leading citizens should be appointed and given responsibility for conducting an adequate public information program. The Commission should appoint this committee upon recommendation of personnel by the Atlanta and Fulton County school superintendents and approval by the two boards of education. Appropriate professional personnel should be available to the committee. Appropr iate personnel from the two school systems should be involved i n t he development of proposed policies and procedures, especially in infor mation and eval uation r oles. THP:jp 8/12/66 � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY EDUCATION COMMISSION PROVISIONS FOR CREATING AN ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT The General Assembly of Georgia at the request of its representatives from Fulton and DeKalb counties created a Local Education Coumission in 1964 and charged the Commission with responsibility: To study the desirability and feasibility of combining the school systems of Fulton County and the City of Atlanta, includ- ing the portion thereof lying in DeKalb County; to provide that said Commission may draft a plan or plans for the combining of such school systems and submit same to members of the General Assembly from Fulton and DeKalb Counties. The Commission was appointed and conducted the requested study, releasing its report in February, 1966. The report recommended the dissolution of the Atlanta and Fulton County School Districts and the creation of a new district in their stead. A plan for creating the proposed new district was included in the report which outlined the steps necessary for carrying out this recom mendation. The report of the Conmission was accepted by the legislative delegation representing Fulton and DeKalb counties. After due deliberation of the recommendations, the legislative group secured approval for continuation of the Commission and requested it to carry out the steps which it had defined as being necessary for dissolving the present school districts and creating the proposed new district. This memorandum outlines the tasks involved in creating the proposed new district and suggests how these steps may be executed. Five distinct but related tasks are essential in carrying out this latest charge to the Commission. They are: 1. Legal work which is necessary in order to dissolve the two present districts and to create the proposed new district. 2. Educational planning necessary to assure orderly and effective transition from the present two districts to the proposed single district. 3. Suggestion on the initial role of the new board of education. 4. A program for developing public understanding of the proposed new district and the reasons which support its creation. 5. Allocations of responsibility for getting done the necessary tasks. Fach of the five steps is outlined briefly in the following pages. The assumption is made that the plans for the proposed district and the charac- teristics of the district included in the 1966 report of the Commission are acceptable. They are, therefore, reported in this document where appropriate. LEGAL WORK Substantial legal tasks must be undertaken and completed in order to establish the proposed new school district. It is not possible to define with certainty all of these tasks at present because there is no existing overview of legislation and court decisions affecting the present Fulton County and Atlanta School Districts although major task areas can be defined. These follow: 1. Compile and analyze the legislation and court decisions which currently affect the Atlanta and fulton County School Districts. Since this has never been done, there is no way of knowing at present the precise dimensions of this task. 2. Prepare the legislation which must be adopted in order to abolish the Atlanta and Fulton County School Districts. Until the necessary  3. Se research has been completed, there is no way of knowing just what this step involves. Whether a single piece of. legislation general in nature will suffice or whether specific measures repealing sep- arate iaws relating to such subjects as taxation, bonding capacity, and so forth, are required remains to be seen. Provide for meeting present and future unfilfilled legal and moral commitments of the Atlanta and Fulton County School Districts. Indebtedness, outstanding bonds, retirement provisions and tenure rights are examples of such commitments. Current welfare provisions for personnel may be continued or provisions can be made in new legislation to protect earned rights of present personnel through incorporation in any new welfare provisions which might be created for the school district. Establishing eligibility of the new school district for state funds is an illustration of another type of pro= tection, as is assurance that current salary levels will not suffer in the transition. Arrange for the transfer of properties of present school districts to the proposed new district. Prepare a constitutional amendment for creating the new school dis- trict. This is an essential step under Georgia law. The amendment should be expressed in general terms insofar as feasible, leaving as many of the specific provisions concerning the district as possible to be taken care of outside the framework of constitutional mandates. The amendment would necessarily specify the boundaries of the district, define its basic structure, and outline its powers. Such would be done within the limitations of other constitutional pro=- visions affecting schools and school districts. For example, the amendment would have to be consistent with the constitutional definition of the State's responsibility for public schools. Legal provisions to banade either by constitutional amend- ment or statutory acts include creation of a board of education of seven members elected at large for terms of six years, one from each of seven subdivisions of the district of approximately the same number of persons. The amendment or enabling legislation should prescribe how the subdivisions are to be formed and how they are to be redivided as population changes dictate. Provisions should be made for the initial board to be elected as follows: three members to serve the full six-year term, two members to serve four=- year terms, and two members to serve two-year terms. Thereafter, the board members would be elected as existing terms of members ex- pire. Vacancies should be filled by appointment of the board until the next election at which time unexpired terms will be filled by the voters. Tt will also be necessary to make provisions for a referendum to determine whether or not the amendment is to be approved (approval of voters of both districts is thought to be necessary). Provisions should be made in the event the constitutional amend ment is approved for the board members of the Atlanta and Fulton County Districts to serve as the board of education for the new dis= trict until the new board is elected and can take office. A schedule should be worked out, if needed, for shifting to the seven-man board elected as herein prescribed. 7. Board members should serve without compensation, receiving pay only for necessary expenses incurred in carrying out their duties as members of the Board of Education The proposed new district should consist of the present Atlanta District, including the part which is in DeKalb County, and the present Fulton County District. A fundamental task is providing for a sound fiscal base for the proposed school district. Establishing eligibility for State funds, establishing eligibility for Federal funds, and providing for sound local support are necessary considerations. The school board should be authorized to determine the property tax for supporting the school system, as the Atlanta School Board does at present. Furthermore, a uniform property assessment plan for the entire district should be adopted and homestead exemptions eliminated. Sources of local school support in addition to the property tax should be found. If the proposed new school district is approved by the voters, a transition conmittee should be established immediately te work out the many plans and details essential to an orderly transition from two districts to one. The transition committee should include the two superintendents of schools, the chairman of each board of educa= tion, the fiscal officer of each school system, the assistant superin- tendent for instruction of each school system, and such other indi- viduals as may seem appropriate. This committee should be responsible for the detailed transition plan to be approved by each board of education. If the single school district is approved, the two present school systems should continue as at present for the balance of the school year in which approval occurs and an additional full year in order to allow time for completion of needed transition plans. 8. The board of education for the new district should be elected as soon as possible after the approval of the constitutional amendment and should formally organize itself without delay and proceed at once with the selection of a superintendent. A superintendent should be employed and he should begin his work as far in advance of the creation of the new school district as is possible. 9. Execute any other legal assignments which are appropriate in the light of the analysis of pertinent legislation and court decisions and necessary provisions to assure creation of a school district conforming to recommendations of the Commission in its 1966 report. EDUCATIONAL PLANNING An enormous volume of work must be completed before the proposed school district can go into operation. ilany policies must be decided upon and much specific and detailed planning completed in order to assure the proper function— ing of the new district. Major categories of policy development and needed provisions for operational guides under each are listed below. As is true of legal aspects described above, a precise definition of all of the steps necessary in this stage of planning is not possible presently and must await further exploration of current policies and practices of the two school systans. Finance 1. Develop guides and procedures for making the annval school budget. 2. Develop plans and procedures for purchasing. Bz 4. Personnel 1. Develop plans for necessary and appropriate financial accounting. Develop a budget for the new school district. Develop a system of personnel records for professional and other school personnel. Develop salary schedules for professional and other personnel. Develop a retirement system or systems. Develop policies concerning employment practices for both profes- sional and non-professional personnel. Develop policies regarding tenure, sick leave, vacations, leaves of absence for professional growth, and others as needed. Propose a method of combining the two central office staffs. Develop a system of records for pupil accounting. Make recommendations concerning the visiting teacher program. Administrative Structures and Regulations 1. Develop a plan for the internal organization and administration of the new school district including appropriate policies and defini- tions of responsibility. Reach decisions on administrative and supervisory services to be provided. Develop policies regarding the size of schools. Develop general school regulations such as length of the school day, number of days in the school year, and designate holidays. 5. Develop a school calendar for the first year of the new system. 6. Recommend the future of the Metropolitan School Development Council. Curriculum {:' Determine the curricula to be offered. 2. Develop plans for kindergartens in schools now in the Fulton County District. 3. Develop policies for selection and distribution of instructional materials, 4, Determine the special professional personnel to be provided such as librarians, school psychologists, counselors, and reading special- ists. 5. Ascertain the curriculum adjustments which are necessary in the transition period and suggest how they are to be made. 6. Recommend policies regarding expansion of school programs with special reference to junior collepen: vocational and technical education, and adult education. 7. ake recommendations concerning teacher loads, including pupil- teacher ratios. Services 1. Reach decisions on services to be provided by the school districts such as transportation, food, and health services and how they should be provided. 2. Determine the non-professional personnel to be provided such as 3. lunchroom workers, custodians, and secretaries. Recommend plans for storing and handling textbooks and other instruc- tional supplies. | Maintenance and Operation 1. - 3. Other l. Develop policies regarding kinds, numbers, types, and levels of competence needed by personnel in Maintenance and Operation. Develop policies and procedures on the maintenance and operation programs. Develop policies and procedures concerning work assignments and responsibilities of personnel. Make recommendations concerning organizations which should exist in the new school districts such as Parent-Teacher Associations, local teachers associations, and the various student organizations. INITIAL ROLE OF THE PROPOSED NEW BOARD OF EDUCATION Just how specific a blueprint for transition should be is to a consider- able extent a matter of definition. At one extreme is a plan which provides only the basic legal provisions necessary for bringing the new district into being. At the other extreme is a plan which includes the multitude of basic policies, operational procedures and allocations of responsibility essential to the effective functioning of a school district, The plan presented in this document embraces the first extreme and also the second to the extent that the Commission accepts responsibility for the essential educational planning which must precede the operational phase of a new district. As already indicated, this planning consists largely of developing recommended policies and procedures consistent with the basic charter of the proposed new district as outlined above and decisions of the . Commission with respect to the nature and quality of programs and services it thinks the new district should provide. However, only that which is man= dated by law will be binding on the new Board of Education. In a sense, the Conmission is acting in these matters as an agent of a school district which is yet to be created and what it proposes in the realm of educational planning is for study and action by the new 3oard of Education unless areas are involved where decisions have been made already. PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROPOSED NEW DISTRICT Since public schools are the business of the public, every opportunity should be seized upon to help the public keep as fully informed as possible on school problems, issues, needs, and the nature of good schools. A well informed public is essential to successful decision making on educational policies and plans. | Therefore, a major task in considering the proposed basic shift in the educational structure of Atlanta and Fulton County is developing and distribut- ing among all citizens adequate information on the proposed change and the reasons which lead to the proposal. The report of the Commission with its treatment of both sides of the issue of a single school district should be made available to all citizens and its contents should be widely publicized. Therefore, if the proposed constitutional amendment is adopted and a referendum is held, the referendum should be preceded by a systematic and well organized public information program. Mass media of communication should be employed to develop interest and public understanding. Newspaper coverage should be stressed. Joth radio and television should be used extensively. The pros and cons of the pro- ‘ posed district reorganization plan should be presented through all three media. In addition, presentations to civic clubs, Parent-Teachers Associa- tions, and other formal groups should be stimulated. Many informed citizens should be used in this program. Among such citizens should be leaders fron all walks of life, especially school leaders, including 30ard of Education members. By the time the election is held, all citizens should be fully informed on the issues at stake. In no other way is it possible to reach an adequate decision on the school organization issue. GETTING THE JOB DONE It is the responsibility of the coordinator appointed by the Commission to prepare and submit to the Commission the transition plan as outlined above. An adequate plan requires bringing into play an array of specialized competence beyond the ken of any single individual; therefore, extensive use should be made of carefully selected consultants. The legal work should be entrusted to Mr. Pete Latimer, Attorney for the Atlanta Board of Education, and ir. James Groton, Attorney for the Fulton County 3oard of Education. Dr. R. L. Johns, University of Florida, or some one of comparable stature in school finance, should be sucured as a consultant on all planning involving finance, purchasing, and accounting. Dr. Willard Elsbree, Emeritus Professor of Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, or some other authority in personnel, should be secured as a consultant on policies and procedures concerning all categories of personnel. This assignment would include proposed salary schedules and wel- fare provisions. Curriculum authorities should be consulted as needed. A committee of leading citizens should be appointed and given responsi- bility for conducting an adequate public information program. The Comnission should appoint this committee upon eotieandacton of personnel by the Atlanta and Fulton County school superintendents and approval by the two boards of education, Appropriate professional personnel should be available to the committee. Appropriate personnel from the two school systems should be involved in the development of proposed policies and procedures, especially in information and evalvation roles. TMP: jp 8/12/66  Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Box 6, Folder 1, Document 9 Box 6 Box 6 Folder 1 Folder topic: R. Earl Landers | Local Education Commission | 1964-1969