Allatoona Head Not Ready to Resign

The Cobb Board of Education is expected to vote on a recommendation to reduce one of three staff furlough days during its Thursday business meeting. 

The meeting takes place at 7 p.m. in the boardroom of the Cobb County School District central office, 514 Glover Street, Marietta. 

Superintendent Michael Hinojosa has proposed taking back one of the furlough days as "a good gesture to send to our employees" after a painful fiscal year 2012 budget process that resulted in more than $60 million in cuts.

But at a Sept. 12 work session, board members Tim Stultz and Alison Bartlett expressed opposition to the furlough reduction.

District officials estimated the furlough cut would cost $3 million. 

Also on the board agenda Thursday are several personnel matters:

• Voting on a proposal to rescind the resignation of the principal at Allatoona High School;
• Hiring new principals Sprayberry High School and Green Acres Elementary School.

According to The Marietta Daily Journal, Allatoona Principal Scott Bursmith has asked to stay on, primarily for financial reasons, after announcing his decision to retire earlier in the school year. The newspaper reported that he is two years shy of having 35 years of service in Georgia public schools.

Also on Thursday, the board is to vote on a formal name for a new elementary school being built on Ward Street in Smyrna. 

Hinojosa recommends the selection of the Smyrna Elementary School designation, which Stultz, who represents the area, also supports. 

The board also will recognize Dickerson Middle School science teacher Dr. Rick Kaht, voted recently by his peers as the Cobb teacher of the year; and Hendricks Elementary, recently named a National Blue Ribbon School. 

For the full agenda, please see the attached PDF.