In a letter to parents of Fulton Middle School students, Fulton Public Schools (FPS) Superintendent Jacque Cowherd states eight actions in which the district is taking to address concerns over a recent physical education activity that upset students and their parents.
Click here to read the full letter
Of the actions listed in the March 29 letter, Cowherd states FPS will self-report federal law violations to the Family Policy Compliance Office of the U.S. Department of Education, have additional counselors available for students and have administrators in each building meet with faculty about student privacy.
Physical education teachers led middle schoolers in an activity called, "Claim It" on Friday, March 20. During the activity, teachers read statements regarding identity and if the statement applied to a student, he or she stepped forward.
Some of the statements that have raised questions are: "You or someone in your family has been raped or sexually assaulted," "You have ever been physically abused by someone who said they love you," "You worry or have worried about how your family will pay the bills" and "Someone in your family has been addicted to alcohol or drugs."
Cowherd again apologized for the incident in his most recent letter to parents. He first sent an apology on Monday, March 23. The activity took place during what Cowherd said was a "character education" day at the middle school.
"We would like to stress that some of the questions used in the Claim It Activity were inappropriate and not acceptable to be used," Cowherd stated in the March 29 letter. "The events that took place on Friday cannot be changed, but we can move forward to make sure all students of Fulton Middle School have a good experience for the remainder of the year."
The actions which Cowherd stated the district is taking are:
• Additional counselors will be available at FMS as needed for the next few days to address student concerns.
• The FMS Faculty will be advised to allow students to see a counselor if needed.
• At the beginning of the school day on Monday, an announcement will be made stating:
Regarding the "Claim It" activity, if you need to see a counselor today, please ask your teacher to
be excused from class.
• FPS is self-reporting federal law violations to the Family Policy Compliance Office of the U.S.
Department of Education.
• A memo was sent to all District staff directing them to review Policy JHDA regarding student privacy
issues.
• Administration in all buildings will hold faculty meetings this week to review Policy JHDA.
• For the remainder of the year, FMS PE and Health activities will be reviewed the week prior to
implementation by the Assistant Superintendent, Suzanne Hull.
• FPS welcomes parent volunteers. Please contact Karen Snethen if interested in volunteering. Once
all paperwork is complete, the volunteer will be assigned to the teacher that has requested volunteer help.
"Again, we are sorry for the stress this has caused," Cowherd stated in the letter. "We are looking forward to a positive end of the year."