Fulton Public Schools OKs Prop S for April ballot

Amy Watson, of Gerding, Korte & Chitwood, presents the 2018-19 audit report and its findings to the Fulton Public Schools Board of Education on Wednesday at Fulton High School. The board also unanimously approved the ballot language for Proposition S.
Amy Watson, of Gerding, Korte & Chitwood, presents the 2018-19 audit report and its findings to the Fulton Public Schools Board of Education on Wednesday at Fulton High School. The board also unanimously approved the ballot language for Proposition S.

The Fulton Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved the ballot language for Proposition S on Wednesday evening.

During their December board meeting at Fulton High School, the board finalized the process of securing Prop S on the April 2020 ballot. In November, the board preliminarily approved the ballot language and then adopted a resolution to call for a special school bond election April 7.

"We approved the language back in November just to make sure there were no surprises for any of the board members when it came time to vote on it," FPS Superintendent Jacque Cowherd said.

Proposition S would allow the district to borrow $27.5 million without an increase of their current debt service levy. The money would fund a number of district projects including site development, security enhancements, a gymnasium addition at FHS, theater improvements at FHS, additional classrooms at Fulton Middle School and much more.

A section of the proposition outlines room for either a new building for a kindergarten center or purchasing an existing building for new classrooms. The language also calls for parking lot additions at the different buildings, HVAC and plumbing improvements, and completion of repairs and improvements to the existing facilities of the district.

The board also unanimously approved adding four new courses to the curriculum at FHS for the 2020-21 school year. The new courses will include Portfolio 2, Intro to Education, Practicum in Education and AP Physics 2 Honors.

Human resource software upgrades were also unanimously approved by the board at the meeting. These upgrades will include PowerSchool applicant tracking software to include TalentEd Records and TalentEd Records Contracts, installation and professional services at an initial cost of $12,950.