Schools

Roswell's Spurka Looks Forward to Position at New High School

School's name, courses, colors will be chosen by Spurka-formed committees after this school year ends.

Roswell Principal Ed Spurka spoke to a group of parents, teachers and school staff Tuesday, Feb. 22 about his next job as principal of the high school being built on Bethany Bend in Milton, which is scheduled to open in 2012.

"For those of you who know me, I'm kind of going back home. I started my teaching career in Milton, back in the 1990s," Spurka said.

Spurka, who has been in the Fulton County School System for 14 years, said his hiring does not mean change for the Roswell cluster. The school system "is not breaking up the Roswell cluster."

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Spurka acknowledged the redistricting meeting scheduled at Alpharetta High on Feb. 23.

"I know there is a lot of tension. What I advise you is let the process work," he said.

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He did "warn" the parents and teachers that he's as competitive as they come in academics, athletics and programs such as band and orchestra.

"The people in Roswell are worried," Spurka said.

"I believe in our school being the best, to be a school to be reckoned with," he said.

Having just been named as the first principal of the new high school, he said there's a lot he doesn't know yet.

"Some things I do know. I do know that this school will not be green, black and white, not red white and blue. We are going to create our own individuality," he said.

Once redistricting is completed, Spurka said he would begin to form the committees needed to open the school, including the group that will help pick the new school's name.

Spurka promised to make it a tough decision for parents whose children might want to stay in their original high schools. Parents might find the new school too attractive for their child's benefit to keep them where they started high school.

He intends for the new school to have music programs.

"My goal is to have a full band, chorus and orchestra," Spurka said.

Whether that position is full time at the school depends on how many students sign up for the programs. Once the student body is established through redistricting, Spurka and the school system will be able to take course requests into account. That determines how the school's funding is allocated for staffing.

It's also his goal to open the school with AP (advanced placement) courses offered.

"We are going to offer AP courses and we are going to go after the whole gamut," Spurka said.

School Board member Katie Reeves said that's what has been done when other schools opened.

"Alpharetta offered AP courses its first year," she said.

Reeves reminded those attending her community meeting that Spurka is still principal of Roswell High. But when changes start happening, they all will start at round the same time.

"We are going to vote on redistricting in June. As soon as that happens, Dr. Spurka wraps up in Roswell," taking over the new school, Reeves said.

As incoming principal, he will get together a school committee, which still start looking at names for the new school, taking into account the history and background of the area. School colors and a mascot also will be named.

"We are going to make him jump right in," Reeves said.

Spurka said he will never turn away a parent who wants to be involved. He said the more the merrier, as he wants more parents to have ownership in the school and their children's education.

Spurka said he is limited on where he can get teachers.

"You can't raid a school. We do not allow that," Reeves said.

He will go out and hire teachers based on what classes student sign up to attend.

Reeves explained the way the cluster works, each high school is a cluster. Milton and Alpharetta clusters meet together, as do the Northview, Chattahoochee and Johns Creek clusters. But what the new school cluster does will be up to those involved.

"The definition of a cluster in Fulton County is a high school and all the schools that fed it," Reeves said.

Spurka said he's close friends with both Milton and Alpharetta high schools' principals, and he knows they will work closely with students and staff to make a seamless transition with the new school.


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