The Fulton Public Schools Board of Education approved several new courses for next year during its Wednesday meeting.
The board voted unanimously to approve a show choir course to replace Arts Alive and an introductory robotics course at Fulton Middle School and three math courses at Fulton High School.
The existing precalculus honors class has been split into two one semester courses, college algebra and trigonometry honors. A non-honors precalculus class and an applied statistics course were also approved.
The board also heard from guidance counselors from across the district, who spoke about counseling efforts during the pandemic.
"They're all in this roller coaster with us," Fulton High School counselor Anne Langendoerfer said. "The seniors last year thought they had it bad - this year's a whole different ball game. I feel like for the most part they're handling it just as well as the rest of us. They're pretty resilient."
Fulton High School counselor Marena Crawford said during distance learning, counselors have been keeping in contact with students through Google Meet as well as email.
"A lot of kids feel comfortable emailing us when things are going on," Crawford said.
Langendoerfer said she couldn't imagine handling the pandemic without technology.
Counselors for the younger grades said that they have done a lot of home visits.
When board member Connie Epperson asked whether they had seen increased needs from adults as well as students, the counselors all agreed.
Fulton Middle School counselor Chelsea Burfied praised the work of the social workers who help with mental health efforts.
Board president Andy Bonderer was happy to hear this - over the past couple of years, the district has increased the focus on mental health support.
"There was just a lot of discussion of do we need that and to hear the feedback that it's really beneficial and almost all of you are shaking your head, it just makes the decisions up here a little easier," he said. "You try to research and you try to do the best that you can, but you never know if you're making the right decision or not. I appreciation the feedback."
Board member Jackie Pritchett asked for an update on check-ins with virtual students.
"It seems like very time we call them, there's another barrier," Crawford said.
Langendoerfer said one constant was because of their check-ins, the students knew someone was always keeping up with them and their progress.
"When you would call parents, they would have all these questions for you," Bartley Elementary School counselor Olivia Smith said.
Smith said at the elementary level, a lot of working with virtual students involved talking with parents.
"I wish I would have understood more how things can change from one day to the next," Crawford said. "It was frustrating in the beginning, because I'd call a parent one day and then things were changed the next day."
This was also frustrating for the parents, Otto said. "As of today" became a constant refrain.
"Our teaching staff was also very supportive of our role," Bush Elementary School counselor Amanda Grethen said.