DALTON, Ga. – The Dalton Board of Education held its November 2025 work session and regular meeting, receiving updates on district projects, instructional initiatives, and financial planning, while also recognizing outstanding students and approving several action items.
Work Session
The November work session was called to order, and Director of Operations Rusty Lount provided a comprehensive update on district facilities and capital projects. Construction began on The Dalton Academy’s CTAE program expansion, with initial fence installation underway and maintenance teams clearing the adjacent quad in preparation for demolition and reconstruction. Lount also reported positive progress at Roan School, where Phase II of the renovation is progressing smoothly following lessons learned in Phase I. Substantial completion is expected by the end of summer 2026, though punch-list work may extend into the fall. Temporary classroom units will remain necessary throughout the phased construction, which involves significant HVAC, ceiling, and ductwork replacement during summer 2026. He also noted that the Fort Hill project is moving forward following delays due to architectural and engineering reviews, and that the 101 Building renovation is nearly complete aside from minor finish work.
Superintendent Dr. Steven Craft presented a recommendation to amend the 2026 Board of Education meeting schedule, specifically moving the October 12 meeting to October 14, 2026, to align with the district’s fall break.
Dr. Robert Shaw, Associate Superintendent for Student Services, then presented the second reading of updates to the district’s electronic device policy to align with HB 340, the Distraction-Free Education Act. The updates clarify student restrictions on personal electronic devices while exempting district-issued instructional devices. Shaw also presented the second reading of revisions to Board Policy JB (Attendance) to comply with new state legislation, noting continued improvement in district attendance supported by new review processes and social worker interventions.
Associate Superintendent Dr. Leslie Dixon provided an update on the district’s Cognia accreditation mid-cycle review, reporting significant progress toward addressing the two findings identified during the previous accreditation cycle. She highlighted strengthened alignment between professional learning and student achievement data, improved instructional systems, and increased staff capacity through ongoing partnerships and literacy initiatives such as Dalton Reads.
The work session concluded with a review of the upcoming board agenda, followed by an executive session. The work session adjourned thereafter.
Regular Session
The regular session of the Dalton Board of Education was called to order and opened with a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. The board then recognized students from across the district for excellence in the performing arts and media. Middle school students Hannah Safley, Jack Redding, and Joanna Bethel were honored for their achievements in the Georgia Theatre Conference’s Middle School One Act Competition. Kami Harrison was recognized for her feature in Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Student Voices Collective, and several students from The Dalton Academy’s inaugural One Act Play performance were commended for their accomplishments at the region level.
No public comments were submitted during this session.
Superintendent Dr. Steven Craft shared district announcements, including Veterans Day recognitions for Dalton Public Schools staff who served in the armed forces, celebrations planned for American Education Week, and reminders regarding upcoming virtual learning and holiday schedules. He also reported that district enrollment stands at 7,417 students, reflecting a slight, expected decline consistent with recent trends.
The board then received department reports, including a district enrollment update and a presentation on the Dalton Reads! literacy initiative. District interventionists shared learning and resources from the International Dyslexia Association Conference, emphasizing new evidence-based practices that will support struggling readers and multilingual learners.
During the action items portion of the meeting, the board approved the October 2025 financial report, which reflected seasonal fluctuations in revenue related to property tax billing cycles and increased expenditures in several operational areas. ESPLOST revenue for October totaled $793,000, remaining slightly above multi-year projections.
The board also adopted the final FY 2026 millage rate of 7.824 mills, representing a full rollback intended to avoid a property tax increase for residents. The debt service millage for the Hammond Creek project was reduced from 0.35 mills to 0.34 mills.
In facilities matters, the board approved an updated architectural contract with KRH Architects, Inc. for the Fort Hill renovation, increasing the amount to $202,500 to reflect expanded project scope. The board additionally approved Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) #3 with Felker Construction in the amount of $505,488.50, covering electrical work and structural remediation at the Fort Hill facility. Additional GMPs will be presented in future months as the project moves toward a projected 2026 completion.
All consent agenda items were approved, and the regular session adjourned.
For more information about Dalton Public Schools Board of Education meetings and policy updates, please visit https://www.daltonpublicschools.com.
To view the board meeting in full, you may watch the archived video here: November 2025 Board Meeting
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