The Fulton Public Schools district is getting closer to having their own uniquely designed hornet logo after months of seeking artistic renditions of the mascot from student designers.
Having suffered repeated issues with copyright laws stemming from inadvertent misuse of the current hornet image, which is a copyright logo owned by Georgia Tech, FPS last October authorized the creation of a new logo that the district would own intellectual property rights to.
At Wednesday night's Board of Education meeting, a logo designed by freshman Gabrielle DeVille was chosen by the BOE to officially represent the district. DeVille and two other students, Jonah Preston and Garett Ballard, each received a $25 gift card for having their drawings chosen as the top three entries. The winner received an additional $100 gift card.
The artist and her and parent/guardian agreed intellectual property rights will be assigned to FPS for Board of Education consideration, however the artist will retain rights to her design to be used in a future portfolio of work.
The BOE was also asked to accept a proposal by Gerding, Korte and Chitwood for audit services for fiscal years 2016 through 2020.
Nine Missouri firms were asked to submit proposals on Jan. 14. By Feb. 17, four proposals had been received. The district's audit committee invited three of those firms for interviews on Feb. 24, which resulted in the selection of Gerding, Korte and Chitwood for final approval.
New course proposals for the middle school's 2016-17 school year were also under consideration on Wednesday night. Innovations 101, an elective to be offered to seventh- and eighth-grade students, will focus on creativity and design. STEM offers students the opportunity to understand the intersection of science and technology. Finally, Lifetime Wellness offers physical education and fitness activities.
Other items on the agenda included a presentation by Jen Meyerhoff concerning the Missouri Preschool Project, middle school softball and wrestling program updates, further discussion on faculty compensation plans and demonstrations by the Bush elementary fifth-grade science class.