Roswell, Ga., resident Larry Jackson, (left), helps to commemorate Chick-fil-A Founder and CEO S. Truett Cathy’s, (right), $25 million Leadership Scholarship milestone today at a downtown Atlanta ceremony. Jackson, who worked at the first Chick-fil-A restaurant at Greenbriar Shopping Center, was the very first recipient of the chain’s Leadership Scholarship program created in 1973. The 88-year-old Chick-fil-A founder celebrates his commitment to education during a year when the restaurant chain has allocated $1.4 million in Leadership Scholarships for its restaurant team members – bringing yearend’s total to nearly 26,000 team members who will have received the honor since the program’s creation 36-years ago by the Atlanta-based chain. The event was held at the chain’s “Climb with Care and Confidence” statue that was commissioned by Georgia State art students in celebration of Cathy’s 10,000th scholarship milestone.

CELEBRATE GRANDPARENTS DAY WITH A FREE CONCERT

Roswell’s three New Horizons Bands (RNHB) will perform a free concert from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 13 in honor of Grandparents Day. The concerts will be held at Historic Roswell Town Square.

The RNHB Dixie Kings will play jazz developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century. Tunes like Down by the Riverside, Black Bottom and When the Saints go Marching In.

The RNHB Swing Band will play music made famous by the dance bands of the 30’s and 40’s. Big bands led by Glenn Miller and the Dorsey Brothers which include songs like Tuxedo Junction, Moonlight Serenade, Little Brown Jug and Pennsylvania 6-5000.

The RNHB Pops Band makes their big sound playing marches like Washington Post and National Emblem as well as medleys of Broadway shows like Fiddler on the Roof and Oklahoma.

Grandparents can bring their grandchildren to hear the music they listened to when they were their age. All in all, it will be a great afternoon of family fun, music, memories and plenty of tunes to dance to.

Concert goers are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets. This concert is sponsored by the Roswell Ramblers Senior Citizens Club, which will be offering concessions at a nominal fee.  

For questions, call the Roswell Adult Recreation Center at 770-641-3950.

STEEPLECHASE TRAIL CONNECTIVITY PROJECT

Roswell, GA (August 25, 2009)-The City of Roswell Department of Transportation will begin construction on Monday, August 24 of a concrete multi-use trail along the south side of Holcomb Bridge Road between Fouts Road and Steeplechase Drive.

The Steeplechase Multiuse Trail will connect Horseshoe Bend Subdivision and Fouts Road for both pedestrian and bicycle access along this portion of Holcomb Bridge Road.

Construction of the trail will take approximately four months, weather permitting. The City has contracted with Vertical Earth for this project at a cost of $93,800.

For more information, call 770.594.6420 or visit our web site at www.roswellgov.com.

ROSWELL WELCOMES NEW DEPUTY CITY ADMINISTRATOR

After a nationwide search for a deputy city administrator, Roswell City Administrator Kay Love has hired Michael Fischer from Commerce, GA to fill the position. Fischer who previously worked as the Deputy Chief Administrator for Barrow County, GA was chosen from 109 applicants for the position.

“I am very pleased to have Michael join the City of Roswell. His previous experience in county government will benefit the City of Roswell in many ways,” said Love. “We have much to do to meet the challenges ahead and Michael’s background and experience will allow him to hit the ground running.”

Roswell’s Deputy City Administrator directs the programs of the City Administrator’s Office. The position also serves as the director of the Administration Department which is comprised of nine divisions including Court Services, Strategic Planning and Budgeting, Grants, and Information Technology.

Fischer says he is looking forward to working in city government and serving the residents of Roswell.  “I am excited about joining the City of Roswell and look forward to working with the Mayor, Council, City staff and residents.”

Prior to working in Barrow County, Fischer served as the Chief Administrative Officer for Banks County, GA. He holds an MBA and a BSBA from Brenau University and is designated a Certified Level 1 Finance Officer from the Georgia Government Finance Officers Association.

Fisher began working for the City of Roswell August 10.

FULTON SAT SCORES OUTRANK OTHERS IN METO ATLANTA, STATE

Score exceeds state average by 124 points, national average by 75 points

SAT scores released today by The College Board show that the Fulton County School System has more schools with high SAT performance than any other system in Georgia. Seven Fulton schools are among the top 20 highest scoring schools in the state according to an informal data analysis.

Northview High School, with 555 test-takers, leads the Fulton pack with an overall score that is tied with Cobb County’s Walton High School as the second highest score in the state. Georgia’s top score went to a magnet school in Augusta that had only 79 students taking the test.

Northview High School – 1722 (No. 2)

Riverwood International Charter School – 1688 (No. 5)

Alpharetta High School – 1686 (No. 6)

Chattahoochee High School – 1678 (No. 7)

Roswell High School – 1671 (No. 8)

Milton High School – 1657 (No. 11)

Centennial High School – 1614 (No. 18)

In addition, Fulton boasts three perfect scores of 2400 (and two near-perfect 2399 scores) as well as three students who scored a perfect 1600 in the combined reading and math sections.

While Fulton’s scores dropped slightly from the previous year, they still continue to exceed that of Georgia and the nation. Scores are 34 points higher than the state average in reading, 46 points higher in math and 44 points higher in writing – 124 points higher than the state’s overall average. Fulton students surpassed their national peers by 23 points in reading, 22 points in math and 30 points in writing, for an overall total of 75 points above the national average.

While Fulton’s SAT participation is still high – 75 percent in Fulton vs. 46 percent nationally – system leaders theorize that scores may have temporarily dipped due to a drop in 2009 test participation and a reduced number of students taking the SAT more than once. Research suggests that scores increase as students take the SAT several times and become more comfortable with the test’s structure, and therefore improve their performance. Also, test participation for the ACT is up 12 percent this year while SAT participation dropped 8 percent, suggesting that students may have taken both the SAT and ACT instead of repeating the SAT multiple times.   

              
“We are pleased that our SAT average continues to significantly surpass the state and nation. While being 75 points above the national average is outstanding, we know there are more opportunities to challenge students,” said Superintendent Cindy Loe, Ph.D. “We’re not just looking at how to improve test scores; we’re looking at how we can provide students a more rigorous educational experience, such as increased access to honors classes and Advanced Placement courses. We know that these courses help prepare students for the SAT and a college-level curriculum.”