Northview senior expands passion-based learning for kids ► PAGE 3
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Water wisdom
North Atlanta mermaids make a splash By JON WILCOX | jon@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — At age 50, Amy Becham heard the water calling. Not much of a swimmer, Becham felt a yearning that had been with her since she was a little girl. While scrolling Facebook in 2018, the creative services manager for an international paper products manufacturer, saw a post advertising a mermaid swim camp at Weeki Wachee Springs in Florida. “I don't know,” said Becham, who grew up enamored by the Hans Christian Andersen tale “The Little Mermaid.” “It must have been fate or destiny, or whatever you want to call it.” For two days, she donned a monofin mermaid tail, forging a deeper connection with the water and her inner child.
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
A group of North Atlanta mermaids swim together at Diventures’ pool June 27.
See MERMAID, Page 18
Fulton Schools adopts budget with $57 million deficit By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Fulton County Board of Education formalized adoption of a $2.3 billion budget for 2026-27 after receiving an updated financial report at its June 11 work session.
The district still faces a $56.9 million deficit when balancing revenues against expenditures and expects to use around 20 percent of this year’s remaining fund balance to cover the gap. Despite tapping into the fund balance, Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef estimates reserves will rest at more than $233 million by the end of Fiscal Year 2027.
When Fulton Schools began budget preparations, staff initially projected a much bigger deficit. “Despite significant financial pressures, including inflationary impacts, rising employment benefit costs and enrollment declines … the district successfully reduced an initial projected budget gap of approximately $95 million down
to $57 million while maintaining core services,” Dereef said. Fulton County Schools used its G.L.I.D.E. initiative, which started last year, to find cost-saving opportunities and revenue-generating strategies without disrupting student services.
See BUDGET, Page 19