During the February 9, 2026, Dalton Public Schools Board of Education meeting, board members participated in a work session and regular session focused on capital improvements, cybersecurity readiness, academic performance, financial oversight, and district governance. The meeting reflected the district’s continued commitment to responsible stewardship, student achievement, and long-term strategic planning.

During the work session, the Board received a comprehensive capital update from Director of Operations Rusty Lount. Updates included continued progress on the Roan Elementary School renovation project, which remains on schedule for substantial completion by July 2026. The Dalton Academy Career Technology renovation project is also progressing as planned, with roofing work underway and strategic coordination with the nutrition department to minimize disruptions. The Fort Hill campus renovation is nearing completion, with electrical work finalized, interior finishes advancing, and exterior restoration largely complete. Mr. Lount also outlined future capital priorities, including aging HVAC systems at multiple campuses and long-term planning for Park Creek and Blue Ridge facilities to align with state funding opportunities.

The Board also received a cybersecurity presentation from Cybersecurity Specialist Veronica Sandoval, who provided an overview of the district’s cybersecurity culture and preparedness. The presentation highlighted increasing national threats, including phishing attempts and artificial intelligence-generated “deep fake” scams. Ms. Sandoval reported that Dalton Public Schools’ most recent simulated phishing campaign resulted in a 1.8% click rate, significantly below the national average of 8.8%. The Board participated in a tabletop discussion reviewing a hypothetical cyber incident scenario, emphasizing the importance of communication protocols, incident response planning, employee training, and layered security protections. The presentation reinforced the district’s proactive efforts to safeguard sensitive data and maintain operational continuity.

During the meeting, the Board recognized a significant milestone with the approval of The Learning Academy of Northwest Georgia, a locally approved public charter school authorized by the Dalton Public Schools Board of Education. District leadership emphasized that while the school is not operated by Dalton Public Schools, the Board’s approval reflects its commitment to supporting high-quality public education options for students in the community. The district acknowledged the collaborative work that led to the school’s approval, including leadership and partnership with Dalton State College and the Georgia Charter School Association. Board members recognized representatives of the Learning Academy of Northwest Georgia Board and charter partners in attendance and noted that the school’s approval represents an opportunity to expand educational pathways and strengthen outcomes for students across Northwest Georgia.

Information items presented during the work session included student tuition rates for the 2026–2027 school year, which remain unchanged, a refreshed Dalton Academy logo reflecting the school’s evolving identity, and the proposed professional learning, virtual, and early release days for the 2026–2027 academic calendar. These items will return for formal action at a future meeting as appropriate.

During the regular session, the Board recognized Black History Month and Career, Technical, Agricultural Education (CTAE) Month, honoring the contributions of Black Americans and the impact of CTAE programs on workforce readiness. The Board also recognized two Dalton Public Schools students, Christian Verdel (9th grade) and Ethan Gomez (8th grade), who were selected to participate in the Georgia All-State Band, a highly competitive statewide honor.

An academic update was presented focusing on formative assessment data from the Beacon and Amira platforms. District leadership emphasized the importance of using assessment data to directly inform instruction and support student growth. Growth data across grade levels demonstrated positive trends in both mathematics and English language arts, with teachers actively using assessment results to guide instructional decisions. The district also shared how assessment results are communicated to families through reports and multilingual resources designed to support understanding and engagement.

The Board approved several action items during the meeting, including the January 2026 financial reports, which reflected delayed property tax collections, higher January expenditures related to transportation and professional services, strong ESPLOST performance, and scheduled debt service payments. The Board approved the Local Board of Education Governance Training Plan, affirmed compliance with the Code of Ethics and Conflict of Interest requirements, and adopted the Dalton Public Schools Five-Year Facility Plan, positioning the district to receive additional state capital funding through 2030.

Additional approvals included the selection of SmithBuilt as Construction Manager At-Risk for the Dalton Academy Career Technology metals lab project, approval of Fort Hill Guaranteed Maximum Price #5 in the amount of $291,638 for interior and exterior finish work, and approval of the purchase of Fort Hill office furniture from CWC Furniture in an amount not to exceed $170,000.

The Board also approved the Consent Agenda, which included the minutes from the January 2026 Board of Education meeting, the personnel report, and informational items reviewed during the work session. All items presented for action during the February 9, 2026 meeting were approved.

The meeting concluded with expressions of appreciation for district staff, including facilities, maintenance, custodial teams, administrators, and educators, whose efforts continue to support safe, well-maintained learning environments and effective district operations.

For more information about Dalton Public Schools Board of Education meetings and policy updates, please visit www.daltonpublicschools.com.

To view the board meeting in full, you may watch the archived video here: BOE Meeting Video Archives.