[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6653649,"mediaKeyId","2477968-98a9df418c622b7846874048c9581c92","parentId",2477968,"title","Parents, teachers and staff urge Clayton County board to keep student engagement specialists and consider inclusive charter school","audioSeconds",648,"startMs",2792000,"endMs",3440000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2477968-98a9df418c622b7846874048c9581c92&start=2792&end=3440","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2477968-98a9df418c622b7846874048c9581c92/thumbnail_2792000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6653649/Georgia/Parents-teachers-and-staff-urge-Clayton-County-board-to-keep-student-engagement-specialists-and-consider-inclusive-charter-school","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653649-5b02395f7e83b97e5b450a06d2829514/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155122&Signature=mGjLdTLSG1a3RDA43nVKAxn5I6Qf8mJVQihXmaS0BVZ7h2ydOo6PCFDNVC~nKXKq69JMlghVhwOJY6qUQlr~uRa5YGO5Tp81NlkMxLjgzHtiBLkWOFnkHsv49urnpP5AlucjI0Y6OBFq18mizv8KRr5dNeQJ7ZQ5nZ4jcICumo0gwtc1HKx9muxtFeP-QdA7Lgt~BbWghyDOrNvKSf4MjOXSqmsXrpkd~bDiPQUHKkffBmOozVVpH6Yku7wlgKiZHSFuUe7BrWhSNqnsUwO3q5nOgx~wQpP2SOaB76U3e0Plp60nvAl7Sj5q6STevAGKMZ4~0aEtINNnw~MKaPrMGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","School Board of Georgia ","date","2025-03-04T01:12:55.987Z","article","Speakers at the Clayton County Board of Education March meeting urged the district to preserve student engagement specialist positions and to consider a replication or partnership with Tapestry Public Charter School, an inclusive charter in DeKalb County.

Roger Collum, who identified himself as a student engagement specialist at Perry Career Academy, told the board that student engagement specialists help students facing credit deficits, housing insecurity and mental-health struggles. “If student engagement specialists are eliminated, students across Clayton County will lose a vital resource that directly supports their ability to succeed,” Collum said. He asked the board to keep the positions that provide advocacy and connection for at‑risk students.

Several speakers urged the board to explore bringing a Tapestry-style inclusive charter to Clayton County. Ophelia Norum, a resident of Board District 3, said her son, who was diagnosed with autism while attending Clayton County schools, lacked an appropriate school placement in the district and that a Tapestry model would meet families’ needs. “A school like Tapestry in Clayton County would not only provide essential support for students with unique learning needs, but also enhance the overall educational landscape of our district,” Norum said.

Nicole Allen, assistant principal at Tapestry Public Charter School in DeKalb County, described Tapestry’s inclusive model and requested opportunities to collaborate with Clayton County to replicate that approach. “We are committed to replicating our inclusive charter school model right here in Clayton County,” Allen said, describing project‑based instruction, partnerships with local businesses and training in trauma‑informed practices.

Cetera Hayes, a Tapestry teacher and parent, said the school’s approach benefits both students on the autism spectrum and their peers. “Tapestry has exposed him to many, many things,” Hayes said of her child. “Bringing Tapestry to Clayton County will be a big bonus for Clayton County.”

Also during public participation, Raynard Burrell, executive director of the Federation of Public Service Employees, described newly offered employee benefits for Clayton County school employees, including guaranteed-issue life insurance and long-term disability options; his remarks were informational and not a request for board action.

Speakers asked the board to consider concrete next steps: preserve student engagement roles in budget planning and open dialogue with Tapestry or similar providers about pathways to bring inclusive programming into the district. The board did not take formal action on those public requests during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Clayton County Board of Education Board Meeting | March 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Several public speakers at the March Clayton County school board meeting urged the district to retain student engagement specialists who support at‑risk learners and to explore bringing an inclusive charter model (Tapestry Public Charter School) into the county.","taxTitle","Clayton County, School Districts, Georgia","taxId",15363,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6653653,"Clayton County board adopts 2025–26 calendar, approves GSBA recognition and board vision; pulls policy revision for rewrite",294,4181000,4475000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2477968-98a9df418c622b7846874048c9581c92&start=4181&end=4475","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2477968-98a9df418c622b7846874048c9581c92/thumbnail_4181000.jpg","/articles/6653653/Georgia/Clayton-County-board-adopts-202526-calendar-approves-GSBA-recognition-and-board-vision-pulls-policy-revision-for-rewrite","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653653-ce7600c013b2469b4f26c062b2d3807e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155122&Signature=oL1WsxO7xyveNaX7WQtUH86o0X2mwLRTGlwoJxb4mVBodRLH~xDzgwdzv6bvDJ6kkEzPLxST-qwTmURmRbtje-Gdf4G8XsaaDVM4VPvFfVDDUQ0LzIqviv6oEUziUd7Dpt1gnYf9-datQCTcnolksAZLH-4KxqP8gWdCtsWi9BlwjGhvNGsVsZyGG32Xbd6O~im5oRvdycVvAqlYa6RtlRKyh7iAAyaJATRxyD~Oupi9yV7ef7fkJZNL1wKtEIOPxI2PPOXKwBint2uuCvqDvtS8I6fklzRTZzzDcrldCeLduAkITJLju03X0Q4w9WTmZP6E1TR7DObA2MFEk4vz~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clayton County Board of Education on Monday approved the 2025–26 school calendar and voted to pursue Georgia School Boards Association recognition and a board vision resolution, while pulling a proposed revision to policy series F for further work.

Board members approved the calendar by a 6–2 vote with one abstention. Superintendent Anthony W. Smith recommended the calendar based on a district survey; the option adopted was identified in discussion as “option 8,” which corresponds to option 3 on the public survey materials provided to the board. Board members also voted to begin the GSBA recognition process and adopted a board vision resolution required for that recognition.

The calendar decision came after discussion about the district’s “Extending Learning Beyond the Classroom” (ELBC) days and requests from board members to involve teachers and other stakeholders when developing future calendars. Dr. Lee (district administrator) said the district will convene a diverse stakeholder group over the summer to develop calendar options and present recommendations in October for two additional school years, aiming to coordinate more closely with neighboring counties.

Board members asked for follow-up data about ELBC days. A board member asked whether ELBC days are instructional and whether the district can provide data on student access to online lessons; Dr. Lee said those days are considered instructional and that the district can pull prior data from Canvas and other platforms to report how many students accessed lessons.

On the proposed revision to policy series F (third reading), several members said language in the draft appeared discriminatory. After debate over two revision options, the board voted to pull the item from tonight’s agenda and asked members to provide suggested language for a revised draft before the next regular board meeting.

Other action: the board voted to move forward with the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) recognition process and adopted a board vision resolution required for that process. The GSBA recognition motion passed with seven votes and two abstentions; the board vision resolution passed 8–0 with one abstention.

The meeting also approved the consent agenda unanimously earlier in the session.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: approved unanimously (9–0).
- Policy series F (third read): pulled for revision and discussion at a future board meeting (action postponed).
- GSBA recognition process: approved (7 yes, 0 no, 2 abstentions).
- Board vision resolution: approved (8 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention).
- 2025–26 school calendar (option identified in discussion as option 8 / survey option 3): approved (6 yes, 2 no, 1 abstention).

Board chair and staff said the district will convene a stakeholder group in the summer to develop multiple calendar renderings and present recommended options to parents, teachers and other stakeholders in the fall, with the goal of approving calendars earlier in future years.","At its March meeting the Clayton County Board of Education approved the 2025–26 school calendar and moved forward with Georgia School Boards Association recognition and a board vision resolution, while postponing final action on a policy revision after members raised concerns about discriminatory language.","actionData","errors"]

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Parents, teachers and staff urge Clayton County board to keep student engagement specialists and consider inclusive charter school

Clayton County board adopts 2025–26 calendar, approves GSBA recognition and board vision; pulls policy revision for rewrite