SGC July Agenda  

SY 2025-2026 

School: Alpharetta ES 

Date: 7/31/2025 

Time: 3pm 

Location: Principal’s office  

TEAMS Link (if applicable): Join the meeting now 

SGC Members: 

• Cathy Crawford (Principal) 

• Ms. Maryiah Richardson (Teacher) 

• Ms. Phyllis Silverio (Teacher)  

• Ms. Tina Burns (Appointed Staff) 

• Ms. Jenna Silverman (Appointed Staff)  

• Mr. Steven Landers (Parent) 

• Ms. Krystn Mills (Parent) 

• Ms. Megan Bolian (Parent) 

• Ms. Teri Eisenberg (Community Member) 

• Ms. Chantel Powell (Community Member) 

3:00PM Call to Order (Principal) 

3:02PM Action Item: Approve Agenda (Principal) 

3:03PM Action Item: Approve Previous Minutes (Principal): SGC Meeting Minutes 5-15-25.docx 

3:05PM Discussion Item: Member Introductions (All Members) 

3:10PM Action Item: Approve nominated Community Member (Principal) 

3:15PM Action Item: Elect New Officers (Chair, Vice Chair, Parliamentarian) (Principal) 

3:30PM Action Item: Action Items: Staff Standing Committees (Budget and Finance, Outreach and Communication, Principal Selection) (Chair)  

3:45PM Discussion Item: Confirm Parent/Community Superintendent Advisory Council Representative 

3:50PM Discussion Item: Determine Meeting Schedule for SY25-26 (All Members)  

• Proposing last Thursday of each month at 3pm in person (TEAMS link will always be available) 

4:00PM Discussion Item: Strategic Planning (Principal) See page 3 for more detailed information 

4:30PM Informational Item: Principal’s Update (Principal)  

1. Potential School Staffing Changes:  

1. Current staff vacancies: 1.0 AU paraprofessional, .5 ESOL paraprofessional 

B. Shifts in District Policy or School Practices: 

• Complete Online Census Verification 
  All families are required to log in to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and verify emergency contacts and household information. This ensures that schools can contact you quickly and appropriately in case of an emergency. Each student must have at least one emergency contact who is not a parent or guardian. See the attached PDF for more information. 

• Consider Device Protection Coverage 

During the verification process, families may also choose to enroll in the Optional Student Device Protection Plan. This affordable plan provides coverage for accidental damage, loss, or theft of district-issued devices. Click here for device protection plan information. 

• Personal Device Use Will Be Limited 
  Beginning next school year, students will no longer be able to connect personal devices to school Wi-Fi. In addition, a new policy aligned with Georgia’s “Distraction-Free Education Act” is proposed that will restrict personal device use. 

• Elementary and middle school students (grades K-8) will be prohibited from accessing personal electronic devices during the school day. 

C. Calendar of Upcoming School Events: 2025-26 Alpharetta Elementary ES Calendar.xlsx 

D. Training Requirements for all Members: 

SGC Essential Training 

To equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary for your role, we have organized an essential training session for all SGC members. This training will cover the core functions and responsibilities of the SGC, as well as provide insights into effective governance practices. The training will be available on Canvas.  

See below for more information regarding the required training: 

 SGC Training Course Overview 

Our comprehensive SGC training course is essential for understanding the vital roles and responsibilities within the School Governance Council. This training is designed to equip members with knowledge about the SGC's core structure and key processes for successful school governance.  

The training includes three modules: 

• SGC Onboarding: Gain insights into the SGC's purpose, structure, and crucial processes. 

• The Power of Committees: Learn about the functions of important committees like Outreach & Communication, Budget & Finance, and Principal Selection, including community partnerships and communication strategies. 

• Officer Training: Delve into the leadership roles within the SGC, focusing on the duties of each officer and their contribution to strategic direction and transparency. 

Login Instructions for Canvas: 

1. Open your browser and go to fultonschools.instructure.com. 

2. Click "employee log in" and sign in with your Microsoft account. 

3. Complete authentication and follow the prompts to reduce sign-in requests. 

4. Once logged in, find the School Governance Essential Training listed under courses.  

Requirements: 

• All SGC members must complete all three modules by the end of August 2025. 

• We suggest completing the training prior to your initial SGC meeting if possible.  

 

5:00PM Discussion Item: Draft Next Meeting’s Agenda (All Members) 

5:05PM Action Item: Meeting Adjournment (Chair) 

 

Meeting Norms: Silence Phones, Be Respectful of Others’ Opinions, Work for the good of all Students 

 

Strategic Planning (August)  

AES 24-25 Strat Plan Goals REFLECTION.docx 

As we embark on a new academic year, we are committed to empowering your council to play a pivotal role in shaping our school's future through strategic planning. To ensure your success, we will provide regular updates, resources, and support. 

We understand the importance of initial organizational tasks for your council. However, we recommend you dedicate a portion of your first meeting to initiating discussions about your school's Strategic Action Plan as they will be due for submission on September 30th.  

Building upon the groundwork laid by our school leadership, we recommend focusing your August meeting on the following: 

• Clarifying the principal’s vision and goals for the upcoming year. 

• Identifying key lessons learned from the previous school year. 

• Understanding the expectations outlined by your school's zone leader. 

• Brainstorming specific ways your council can contribute to the development and implementation of the Strategic Action Plan. 

Your insights and contributions are essential to creating an exceptional learning environment for our students. We look forward to a collaborative and productive year. 

SGC Council Development Opportunities: 

 

Reminder that all members must complete SGC Essential Training via Canvas and council officers are encouraged to attend in person Officer Training.  See the Training Sessions tab of the Charter System website for more information. 

 

Notes and Reminders 

Below are some tips and additional details about the items listed on the first page of this document. 

* Setting the date, time, and location of your meeting: It is a great idea to set your meeting schedule for the entire fall semester (if not the entire year) at your first meeting.  Get this information posted at your school and on your SGC website and you will have already covered many requirements of the Open Records and Meetings Laws.  It is important that SGC meetings are scheduled outside of school hours so that staff members can attend if they would like to do so.  If your meetings will be held virtually, make sure to include a link so that members of the public are able to view the meeting on-line. 

* Action items: All action items require a motion, a second and a vote (even seemingly simple things like the agenda and meeting minutes need to be voted on).  Remember that principals and student members are not voting members, so even if they are designated as an owner of an action item, the voting members of the council will be responsible for motioning, seconding and voting on the item. 

* Discussion items: These are agenda items that solicit feedback from council members.  They do not require a vote. 

* Informational items: It is common for councils to receive updates throughout the school year related to the day-to-day management of the school or district happenings.  Informational items are usually meant to keep the council up to date on important topics even if they do not fall under the purview of the council.  These items do not require a vote.  

* Running the first meeting: Note that in this agenda the principal runs most of the meeting until the point at which officers are elected and the newly elected chair takes the lead.  This is a great practice as there will not technically be a standing chair at the beginning of the first meeting of the year.  (Note: if the previous chair is still sitting on the council, they are welcome to run the beginning of year meeting until a new chair is elected) 

* Staffing your committees: Remember that all SGC members should be a part of at least one committee.  The Budget and Finance Committee and the Communications and Outreach Committee require a Chair (any voting SGC member), the principal, three voting SGC members and can have up to three additional SGC or external members.  Also, every school needs a Principal Selection Committee regardless of whether they believe that their principal position might become vacant.  This committee is comprised of the SGC Chair and three additional voting SGC members. 

* Nominating a representative for the Superintendent’s Parent/Community Advisory Council: All schools are asked to select a representative to serve on the Superintendent’s Parent/Community Advisory Council.  This group meets monthly with the superintendent to provide feedback and receive updates on important issues affecting FCS schools and local communities.  Meeting dates/times/locations will be sent out to representatives prior to the first advisory council meeting.  If a representative is unable to attend a meeting, another member of the council can attend in their place. 

* Drafting your next meeting agenda: It is a best practice to draft an agenda for your next meeting at the end of each meeting to help your council plan its upcoming work.  If unforeseen events require a council to modify the agenda, the council can simply edit the agenda and vote to approve the modified agenda at the beginning of the next council meeting. 

 

SUMMARY OF ACTIONS

Alpharetta Elementary School Governance Council

Date | time 07/31/2025| 3:00pm | Location Mrs. Crawford’s office

SGC Members Present

Cathy Crawford, Principal	X	Tina Burns, Teacher	X
Jenna Silverman, Assistant Principal	X	Steven Landers, Parent	X
Mariyah Richardson, Teacher (Chair)	X	Megan Bolian, Parent
Phyllis Silverio, Teacher (Parliamentarian)	X	Chantel Powell, Community Member
Kristyn Mills, Parent (Vice-Chair)	X	Terri Eisenberg, Community Member	X

 

Meeting Minutes Summary

Action Items:

Motion	Time	By Whom	Second By	Voting Results
Meeting called to order	3:00pm	Mariyah Richardson
Motion to approve today’s agenda	3:02pm	Kristyn Mills	Terri Eisenberg	All in favor
Motion to approve May minutes	3:03pm	Kristyn Mills	Terri Eisenberg	All in favor
Motion to approve nominated community members	3:10pm	Tina Burns	Terri Eisenberg	All in favor
Motion to elect and approve officers	3:15pm	Tina Burns	Terri Eisenberg	All in favor
Motion to staff standing committees	3:30pm	Kristyn Mills	Tina Burns	All in favor
Meeting adjourned	3:52pm	Mariyah Richardson

 

Informational and Discussion Items:

-          Megan Bolian and Terri Eisenberg will serve on Superintendent’s Advisory Council

-          Meetings will be held the fourth Thursday of every month at 3:00pm.

-          Principal updated the council on staffing, district and school policy changes, school calendar, and training requirements for all SGC members.

-          Next meeting agenda was discussed.

SGC July Agenda  

SY 2025-2026 

School: Alpharetta ES 

Date: 7/31/2025 

Time: 3pm 

Location: Principal’s office  

TEAMS Link (if applicable): Join the meeting now 

SGC Members: 

• Cathy Crawford (Principal) 

• Ms. Maryiah Richardson (Teacher) 

• Ms. Phyllis Silverio (Teacher)  

• Ms. Tina Burns (Appointed Staff) 

• Ms. Jenna Silverman (Appointed Staff)  

• Mr. Steven Landers (Parent) 

• Ms. Krystn Mills (Parent) 

• Ms. Megan Bolian (Parent)- absent 

• Ms. Teri Eisenberg (Community Member) 

• Ms. Chantel Powell (Community Member)- absent 

3:00PM Call to Order (Principal) 

3:02PM Action Item: Approve Agenda (Principal) 

Motion- Kristyn 

2nd- Terri 

All Approve  

3:03PM Action Item: Approve Previous Minutes (Principal): SGC Meeting Minutes 5-15-25.docx 

Motion- Kristyn 

2nd- Terri 

All Approve  

3:05PM Discussion Item: Member Introductions (All Members) 

3:10PM Action Item: Approve nominated Community Member (Principal) 

Motion- Tina 

2nd- Terri 

All Approve  

3:15PM Action Item: Elect New Officers (Chair, Vice Chair, Parliamentarian) (Principal) 

• Chair: Mariyah Richardson   

• Vice Chair: Kristyn Mills   

• Parliamentarian: Phyllis Silverio   

Motion- Tina 

2nd- Terri 

All Approve  

3:30PM Action Item: Action Items: Staff Standing Committees (Budget and Finance, Outreach and Communication, Principal Selection) (Chair)  

Budget & Finance Committee (Budget, Grant Opportunities, Fundraisers etc.) – Steven, Terri, Tina, and Jenna 

Communication & Outreach Committee (Elections, Community Partnerships, School Events etc.) -Kristyn, Phyllis, Mariyah, and Megan 

Principal Selection Committee (Does not meet unless there is a vacancy) Should include: At least 1 Staff Member/Employee on the Council and 1 Parent )-Mariyah, Kristyn, Steven, and Tina 

Motion- Kristyn 

2nd- Tina 

All Approve  

3:45PM Discussion Item: Confirm Parent/Community Superintendent Advisory Council Representative 

Terri Eisenberg-Superintendent Advisory Council   

3:50PM Discussion Item: Determine Meeting Schedule for SY25-26 (All Members)  

• Meetings will take place the last Thursday of each month at 3pm in person (TEAMS link will always be available) 

4:00PM Discussion Item: Strategic Planning (Principal) See page 3 for more detailed information 

4:30PM Informational Item: Principal’s Update (Principal)  

1. Potential School Staffing Changes:  

1. Current staff vacancies: 1.0 AU paraprofessional, .5 ESOL paraprofessional 

B. Shifts in District Policy or School Practices: 

• Complete Online Census Verification 
  All families are required to log in to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and verify emergency contacts and household information. This ensures that schools can contact you quickly and appropriately in case of an emergency. Each student must have at least one emergency contact who is not a parent or guardian. See the attached PDF for more information. 

• Consider Device Protection Coverage 

During the verification process, families may also choose to enroll in the Optional Student Device Protection Plan. This affordable plan provides coverage for accidental damage, loss, or theft of district-issued devices. Click here for device protection plan information. 

• Personal Device Use Will Be Limited 
  Beginning next school year, students will no longer be able to connect personal devices to school Wi-Fi. In addition, a new policy aligned with Georgia’s “Distraction-Free Education Act” is proposed that will restrict personal device use. 

• Elementary and middle school students (grades K-8) will be prohibited from accessing personal electronic devices during the school day. 

C. Calendar of Upcoming School Events: 2025-26 Alpharetta Elementary ES Calendar.xlsx 

D. Training Requirements for all Members: 

SGC Essential Training 

To equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary for your role, we have organized an essential training session for all SGC members. This training will cover the core functions and responsibilities of the SGC, as well as provide insights into effective governance practices. The training will be available on Canvas.  

See below for more information regarding the required training: 

 SGC Training Course Overview 

Our comprehensive SGC training course is essential for understanding the vital roles and responsibilities within the School Governance Council. This training is designed to equip members with knowledge about the SGC's core structure and key processes for successful school governance.  

The training includes three modules: 

• SGC Onboarding: Gain insights into the SGC's purpose, structure, and crucial processes. 

• The Power of Committees: Learn about the functions of important committees like Outreach & Communication, Budget & Finance, and Principal Selection, including community partnerships and communication strategies. 

• Officer Training: Delve into the leadership roles within the SGC, focusing on the duties of each officer and their contribution to strategic direction and transparency. 

Login Instructions for Canvas: 

1. Open your browser and go to fultonschools.instructure.com. 

2. Click "employee log in" and sign in with your Microsoft account. 

3. Complete authentication and follow the prompts to reduce sign-in requests. 

4. Once logged in, find the School Governance Essential Training listed under courses.  

Requirements: 

• All SGC members must complete all three modules by the end of August 2025. 

• We suggest completing the training prior to your initial SGC meeting if possible.  

5:00PM Discussion Item: Draft Next Meeting’s Agenda (All Members) 

We will take a picture at the next SGC meeting for the webpage.  

5:05PM Action Item: Meeting Adjournment (Chair) 

Motion- Kristyn 

2nd- Tina 

All Approve  

Meeting Norms: Silence Phones, Be Respectful of Others’ Opinions, Work for the good of all Students 

Strategic Planning (August)  

AES 24-25 Strat Plan Goals REFLECTION.docx 

As we embark on a new academic year, we are committed to empowering your council to play a pivotal role in shaping our school's future through strategic planning. To ensure your success, we will provide regular updates, resources, and support. 

We understand the importance of initial organizational tasks for your council. However, we recommend you dedicate a portion of your first meeting to initiating discussions about your school's Strategic Action Plan as they will be due for submission on September 30th.  

Building upon the groundwork laid by our school leadership, we recommend focusing your August meeting on the following: 

• Clarifying the principal’s vision and goals for the upcoming year. 

• Identifying key lessons learned from the previous school year. 

• Understanding the expectations outlined by your school's zone leader. 

• Brainstorming specific ways your council can contribute to the development and implementation of the Strategic Action Plan. 

Your insights and contributions are essential to creating an exceptional learning environment for our students. We look forward to a collaborative and productive year. 

 

SGC Council Development Opportunities: 

Reminder that all members must complete SGC Essential Training via Canvas and council officers are encouraged to attend in person Officer Training.  See the Training Sessions tab of the Charter System website for more information. 

Notes and Reminders 

Below are some tips and additional details about the items listed on the first page of this document. 

* Setting the date, time, and location of your meeting: It is a great idea to set your meeting schedule for the entire fall semester (if not the entire year) at your first meeting.  Get this information posted at your school and on your SGC website and you will have already covered many requirements of the Open Records and Meetings Laws.  It is important that SGC meetings are scheduled outside of school hours so that staff members can attend if they would like to do so.  If your meetings will be held virtually, make sure to include a link so that members of the public are able to view the meeting on-line. 

* Action items: All action items require a motion, a second and a vote (even seemingly simple things like the agenda and meeting minutes need to be voted on).  Remember that principals and student members are not voting members, so even if they are designated as an owner of an action item, the voting members of the council will be responsible for motioning, seconding and voting on the item. 

* Discussion items: These are agenda items that solicit feedback from council members.  They do not require a vote. 

* Informational items: It is common for councils to receive updates throughout the school year related to the day-to-day management of the school or district happenings.  Informational items are usually meant to keep the council up to date on important topics even if they do not fall under the purview of the council.  These items do not require a vote.  

* Running the first meeting: Note that in this agenda the principal runs most of the meeting until the point at which officers are elected and the newly elected chair takes the lead.  This is a great practice as there will not technically be a standing chair at the beginning of the first meeting of the year.  (Note: if the previous chair is still sitting on the council, they are welcome to run the beginning of year meeting until a new chair is elected) 

* Staffing your committees: Remember that all SGC members should be a part of at least one committee.  The Budget and Finance Committee and the Communications and Outreach Committee require a Chair (any voting SGC member), the principal, three voting SGC members and can have up to three additional SGC or external members.  Also, every school needs a Principal Selection Committee regardless of whether they believe that their principal position might become vacant.  This committee is comprised of the SGC Chair and three additional voting SGC members. 

* Nominating a representative for the Superintendent’s Parent/Community Advisory Council: All schools are asked to select a representative to serve on the Superintendent’s Parent/Community Advisory Council.  This group meets monthly with the superintendent to provide feedback and receive updates on important issues affecting FCS schools and local communities.  Meeting dates/times/locations will be sent out to representatives prior to the first advisory council meeting.  If a representative is unable to attend a meeting, another member of the council can attend in their place. 

* Drafting your next meeting agenda: It is a best practice to draft an agenda for your next meeting at the end of each meeting to help your council plan its upcoming work.  If unforeseen events require a council to modify the agenda, the council can simply edit the agenda and vote to approve the modified agenda at the beginning of the next council meeting.