The board authorized purchase of 2,375 stop-the-bleed kits to be staged for classroom access, procured via a Georgia Trauma Commission/North American Rescue contract; the motion passed by unanimous voice vote.
District staff reported six RFP responses for a mobile alert/panic system required by state law (referred to as Senate Bill 17), said they will narrow finalists and bring a procurement recommendation in November, and confirmed an activation deadline of July 1, 2026.
Associate Superintendent Derek Hershey reported the district has roughly 6,527 employees (4,305 certified, 2,222 classified), cited multiple recruitment pipelines and programs (including the Foresight Teacher Academy), and said certified retention has climbed to above 95% as the district expands career development and financial-wellness supports.
District staff told the board the proposed SPLOST 7 is a continuation of the existing education sales tax, cannot fund salaries or general-fund operations, and would target safety, additions, turf and lifecycle projects across every school; advanced voting opened Oct. 14.
At its Sept. 16 meeting the Forsyth County Schools Board heard a Big Creek Elementary presentation on reading and professional learning communities, received an August finance report, adopted three policy updates and approved routine personnel and a disciplinary tribunal; one public commenter addressed the board.
The Forsyth County Schools Board approved a districtwide purchase of the Perry Weather on-site monitoring system for its high schools, citing improved lightning detection, wet‑bulb heat monitoring and countywide coordination. The motion passed unanimously.
The board unanimously adopted a proclamation naming September 2025 Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. During public comment, Jerry Rochelle criticized affirmative action and praised the board's nondiscrimination policy, while Chris Ward, a first-grade student, proposed a low-cost popsicle program for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The Forsyth County Board of Education recognized 12-year-old Wyatt Gaynor and his teacher Ashley Kaufman after Wyatt pulled an unresponsive 5-year-old from a pool, performed CPR and called 911; the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office presented a lifesaving award on the board's behalf.
District staff reported a "tremendous" opening week with a 99.5% vacancy-fill rate, progress distributing Chromebooks and a districtwide rollout of device-free learning. The board unanimously moved into executive session for personnel.
The board received a presentation on proposed updates to policy IFBG (Internet Acceptable Use), which the presenter said align with Senate Bill 351 (the "Protecting Georgia's Children on Social Media Act of 2024"); the district will post the draft for 30 days before returning it for a vote.