• Georgia's being awarded a federal grant as part of the Race to the Top competition. We are one of 26 school districts participating.
  
  
• A recent issue that has come up about internet filtering in schools. I've asked Rod Smith, our Director of Instructional Technology, to discuss this management function in today's Communicator.
  
  
• The restraint training administrators attended a week ago and the excellent team work they displayed as we're beginning the steps to implement this new Georgia law.
  
  
• The strategic meetings we are having with each school to review the way each school is implementing the GSCS strategy map.

There are so many great things that are happening in our school district! But this week, I want to talk to you about 98-35.

While I was at Futral Road Elementary earlier this week for their strategic meeting, a teacher came up to me and said, "You've got to see 98-35. It is amazing!"

I replied, "What are you talking about? What is 98-35?" She said, "It's one of our school buses. And while I know schools are implementing PBIS, I didn't really know it was being implemented on the buses. You just have to see what Ms. Pat is doing!" I told her I would return to the school the next day, and when I did, what I saw was outstanding!

To begin with, all six buses were all lined up waiting for the school to be dismissed. In the past Futral Road has had two fleets of buses; now they are able to dismiss all the students and put them on the buses at one time.

As I was waiting for school to dismiss, Principal Larry Jones shared with me the expected behavior students have learned this month because of PBIS. While he was sharing we walked to the cafeteria. There I saw bus drivers waiting, sharing stories, and preparing to take students home. And then Ms. Pat came in.

I think Mr. Jones had already shared with her that I was going to visit. She looked at me, and I asked, "What's going on with your bus?" Ms. Pat responded, "It's been 10 years since I've driven an elementary school bus, so this has been a change for me, but it's good."

Then I saw students being dismissed. As they came down the hall, Mr. Jones pointed out the expected behavior, and he shared that behavior, discipline, and safety is better this year.

But then Ms. Pat said, "Here comes my class." Notice that. She said, "My class".

Ms. Pat got on her bus. As students stepped on board, she stood, clapped her hands, talked to her students, and greeted them as they came onto the bus. They each greeted her, and they went to their seats.

I then noticed there were cut outs of different shapes by each seat. I saw she had separated students so girls were sitting on the driver's of the bus and boys were sitting on the other. She held up three fingers as the students boarded and students knew that meant three students to a seat.

After her entire class had boarded on the bus, I climbed on to look. Some of those cut outs had pictures so I asked, "What's that?" She said, "Some of the students brought me their pictures so I put them up where they sit."

In fact, she shared that she has partnered with a business and at the end of each week if there were no write-ups for discipline, that each student (66 of them) gets a popsicle. She said she has 3 students testing her, but for the most part, it is a good transition. Students are meeting her expectations. Their behavior is good. (After she finishes her elementary route, she goes on to her high school route.)

So, I share that story with you as another example of how we are a school system. This is another example that our day doesn't end when the bell rings - it's our responsibility to get students to that bus and to get them home. We're in this together.

It may have been 10 years since Ms. Pat last drove an elementary bus, but she's taken to it like a duck takes to water. Good job, Pat. I dare you to do better!