Forsyth Schools seeks family input on next year’s spending plan

Forsyth County Schools will ask parents and community members to weigh in on the district’s FY27 improvement plan before federal dollars and school priorities are locked in for the 2026-27 year. The first input meeting will be held Wednesday, May 13, at 11 a.m. on Teams, followed by an in-person session Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m. at the Forsyth County Board of Education building, Room 380.

The district says the meetings are tied to its FY27 District Improvement and Consolidated LEA Improvement Plan, or CLIP, the document that explains how federal funds will be used to support students, staff and families. That makes the sessions more than a routine public comment stop. Families who show up can still influence priorities that affect classroom supports, staffing decisions, student services and which district needs rise to the top next year.

Forsyth County Schools says its fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30, and Georgia requires every school system to have a balanced budget approved before the fiscal year begins. That timeline means the district’s planning window is now, not later, and the May meetings give families a chance to speak before the plan hardens into next year’s spending decisions.

The scale of the district makes that input especially consequential. Forsyth County Schools says it is Georgia’s 5th largest school district, serving more than 54,000 students across 42 schools and support facilities. Enrollment has grown 40% over the past decade, and the district says its students come from 129 different countries and speak 69 languages. In a system that large and diverse, decisions about federal funding can ripple through special supports, family engagement efforts and school-level priorities.

The district also said its long-range strategic planning process is built around stakeholder input and is renewed every five years, with parents, students, staff and community members all part of the process. Its school improvement pages show continuous improvement plans posted for every school, underscoring how districtwide planning connects to what happens inside individual classrooms.

Amy Gravitt, the district family engagement coordinator, is listed as the contact for families who want to follow up. Amy Chang is listed as director of federal programs and student services. For families trying to shape what comes next, the message is straightforward: the district is still listening, but the window is limited before the FY27 plan is finalized.