This is a great school and it's a shame Fulton County isn't willing to compromise.

Over the past 10 years Fulton Science Academy has become the best performing middle school in Fulton County as measured by ITBS and CRCT scores. Receiving the Blue Ribbon Award from Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is FSA's latest achievement. FSA's teachers, administrators and staff put the students first in everything they do. As a result there is a lengthy waiting list for enrollment at this outstanding school.

Fulton County Schools should be striving to replicate FSA's performance system wide rather than impeding its vision. Let's hope Fulton County and FSA are able to resolve these administrative issues for the benefit of the students.

The ultimate goal is to receive the Best education exposure for all kids. FSA is a shining light of academic success for all kids and parents in Georgia as a home grown model of educational innovation. So lets keep the "Big Picture", Renew FSA charter for 8 years instead of 10 and allow it to have "Flexibility" for continued innovation. Of course transparency and monitoring is needed and provided by Fulton County Board of Education. This benefits all parents in Georgia who desire a superior education platform for their kids. Expand the light, don't kill innovation.

One parent at a community meeting on 12/14 said we need to not focus on scores as they encourage the behaviour of the recent Atlanta schools fiasco. Ok, scores are not the end game, the holistic development of the child is. That is what we get at FSA and by the way, in the process they get good scores. My children have never been so at ease with clubs and extracurricular activiies, while doing well at school. At FSA the teachers are so committed and involved, it inspires the kids to excel. The school identifies kids who are struggling, not only academically but socially or emotionally and with early intervention resolve the issue. Quite unlike a public school where a parent wont even know unless the child told them or when the grades come in and its too late. Here there are normal kids coming from regular public schools and ending up excelling. Something must be right! I would take the learnings and apply them to other schools instead of denying the charter. That would be the logical reasonable action. The public needs to ask the elected board officials to share and not shut. Something that has proven to work and is successful needs to be shared and cherished for the betterment of society. Pluease citizens speak for the rights of your kids, regardless of which school you are in.

Money and power...that's really the bottom line for the Fulton County Board, just admit it. As a parent who was in private school up to Pre-K, we tried the standard public school for Kindergarten and it was not ideal for any kindergarten student in my opinion. So we went back to private for all of elementary. After hearing such great things over the years about FSA, we did the research and applied for the middle school. Once accepted, we jumped on the opportunity to attend and have been quite pleased. We get far morefrom FSA MS than we even did in private school! As some of the previous comments noted, Fulton County should look at FSA as a model and implement some if its practices in the existing schools, versus the shinanigans that are happening right now. The school is, and has clearly been, a HUGE SUCCESS. It is unfortunate and quite evident that with the Fulton County System ALL students DO NOT come first...and THAT is very sad. "Concern Georgia Dad" sums it up well.

I am a Voter, Tax Payer, Business owner and 1st and foremost a PARENT with a child in Fulton Co Schools.! You can look at all the reports showing USA is behind on education against Korea, China, India etc.. Basically about 30ths over all. Then here is GA never ranking even in top 30% in the USA typically in the bottom 30% on most reports. Looking hard at this issue I found find it profoundly disturbing that anyone or group would try to put limitations on such a school. This is the problem we have in GA we give way too much power to the wrong people and we don’t have the interest as a country and state of our children at the top of our list when we vote. No we allow the unions teacher to vote and keep in power they can control. The teacher union rather help keep dead beat teachers on staff and allow our GA schools (STUDENTS) to suffer with poor performance.

I did a bit of homework on this and found that Mr. Alvos is hired by the board (thus he is in debit to the board for his JOB). The ELECTED board is made up of former teachers and administrators aka Union workers (all that were brought up in the same broken system and frankly they dot see the forest because of the trees). So tell me who is pulling the strings on Dr. Alvos?

Now back to this Science Charter school that wants 10 year charter and waivers. Here is a school that is a full charter that get about $7800 per student from Fulton County and nothing for building cost. With that money they pay all their cost and looks like the produce superior results looking at their test and accomplishments. Now looking at the Fulton County schools they work with about $9000 per student but what I found is that figure dose no include building schools and extra money they receive from the SPLOST. Yes you the tax payer need to sit up and take notice this what you voted for more funding to a County that cannot live within its means and produce less than acceptable educated students on a national level. It looks like this Science Academy knows what they are doing by producing better students at a much reduced cost to the tax payer. This apparently upsets the other school teachers and administrators AKA Union workers.

So rather than Fulton County converting all their schools to full charters they use a “conversion charter” but they call it a Charter school to hide the fact there are strick limitations on staffing that protect who? Yes the UNION workers.. So under this ploy it is the Union controlled Board so to speak that wants to see normal Charter schools fail. The only way for us Tax payers to fix this to change the way the board is elected and administrated and put people in place that have never had any union interest. Sound like time to change the way the board is structured as in its current form and issue a voter recall. Back to this Charter in questioned 3,8,10 year well this board says 3 to get the other schools on same renewal charter. Well looking at it 8 does the same thing but saves this school (Tax payers) on their bond. Yet 3 years hurts the bond and cost more for us tax payers.

FSA is one of the best Middle Schools in Fulton County and it has proved its excellence for past 10 years. My children go to FSA, and we love the philosophy behind charter school education. It will be very disappointing if the Fulton County Board of Education shuts down a thriving school offering quality education to our kids.

We have kids in both FSA Middle School and FSA Elementary.

The Fulton County Board wants to use the term Charter Schools but ensure that they have total control over all the schools. A Blue Ribbon School that is not under completely under their thumb is a huge embarrassment to them. This is the beginning of the end for Charter Schools in Fulton County.

They will close FSA as an example to ensure their control over all other Charter Schools. They are giving the FSA MS Board, one chance, either accept their mandate or we force 500 students back into underperforming schools. They will also force hundreds of kids out of the Elementary and High School as well.

What a shame. Georgia has a terrible reputation for education and has trouble bringing in new businesses because of this. Perhaps an entire new Fulton School Board is needed. Perhaps bringing in someone on the Board to champion Charter Schools is a first step. Their interests certainly aren’t represented now.

I'm not sure why Fulton County Board of Education and the new Superintendant Dr. Avossa has chosen to block the future of one of the National Blue Ribbon Schools. I am a parent of an FSA student and have chosen to send my child to FSA based on the many acclamations I heard from FSA parents prior to his attendance there and its high performance scores. He was one of the fortunate (around 100 slots were available) to win a slot to attend out over 500 students who applied. I live in South Fulton which is of course very far and drive over an hour to make sure my child receives the education he deserves (as a matter of fact all children deserve). I hope that this matter can be resolved without further incident. It would be a shame for these children to loose such a wonderful choice of a great education because of a will of control by FCBOE when this is not necessary. Poor performing public schools do not have to encounter such measures. It just isn't right to deny children the wonderful education that they are receiving and would receive. FCBOE please see the light and do not turn your back on these children!

FSA is one of the best things to ever happen to Fulton County schools. The towns should have control,not the county

Enough is enough. Dr . Avoosa you demonstrate you are not in the best interest of our children yesterday. Our kids deserve the opportunity to have the best education and you are not the one who should decide. KEEP FSA OPEN! Education comes first.

Enough is enough. Dr . Avoosa you demonstrate you are not in the best interest of our children yesterday. Our kids deserve the opportunity to have the best education and you are not the one who should decide. KEEP FSA OPEN! Education comes first.