DCSS BOE August 1 meeting: citizen support to lease Medlock Elementary

The DCSS BOE’s meeting of August 1 is now available for streaming at http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/pds24/vod

Below is a summary of the citizen comments section, where several appeals were made to the BOE to lease the Medlock Property. [Noted in brackets is the approximate time when each speaker addressed the board]

Dr. Laurent Ditman: The International Community School (ICS) principal noted that on the previous Friday, he hand-delivered a letter and skeleton lease to the DCSS BOE. He noted that he knows there are details to be worked out but that it is now time to engage in negotiation and close the deal. Dr. Ditman asked if DCSS would allow more facilities to fall out of use and disrepair, that are later too expensive to repair and return to use and listed Hooper Alexander elementary of an example of this scenario. Dr. Ditman stated that if allowed to lease Medlock, ICS will make DCSS look good. There is a documentary soon to hit the show circuit. In closing, Dr. Ditman asked if there is any reason not to consider the proposal and, to audience laughter, noted that if DCSS gives ICS access to Medlock, he will never have to petition the BOE again. [~5 minute mark]

Tahisha Edwards: The ICS assistant principal explained that currently, ICS exists in two campuses (one for K-4th grade in Decatur, and another in Stone Mountain for 5th and 6th graders). Ms. Edwards noted that students want to be on one campus, so that they can play and interact with friends and siblings during the school day. As to ICS’s needs, the first one is that of space. Students are functioning in cramped spaces, and there is no space dedicated to cultivating the arts. On the academic front, space limits technology availability and improved space would allow consistent access for all students. Lastly, the students need appropriate space and facilities for physical education in particular on rainy days.

Ms. Mary Johnson: As an ICS volunteer and DeKalb County taxpayer, Ms. Johnson urged the BOE to keep buildings in use. She noted that DCSS’s policy has been to allow buildings to remain vacant, or to use them as storage space. Noting that buildings need continuous care and maintenance to stay in good repair, she described the fate of Hooper Alexander elementary. She said that approximately 3 years ago, as the school was slated to close, ICS voiced an interest in the facility. Now, the school has become a dangerous eyesore—it is in a very poor state of repair, it has been vandalized and sprayed with graffiti, is boarded up, and is not a good thing to have in a community. Using a school building for storage has to be the least cost-effective use for a building. It behooves DCSS to lease a building not in use—the tenant assumes the cost of insurance, makes day-to-day repairs and this is a win-win for the taxpayer. In allowing use of Medlock, DCSS would do a good thing as far as keeping its assets in good repair, avoiding liability, and serving students that attend ICS. [~12 minute mark]

Joy Dawkins: An ICS parent and vice-chair of the ICS board, Ms. Dawkins noted that she is delighted with her children’s experience at ICS. She also noted that the two-campus model is a financial drain of great concern.

Steven Mayo: As an ICS alumni, Mr. Mayo summarized a letter he wrote to the DCSS four years ago, then an appeal to allow ICS to utilize the Forest Hills school building. He had 6 arguments: (1) have access to a gym so the children could play outside. As a 5th and 6th grader, Mr. Mayo said that children played in the parking lot and for PE, they hiked Stone Mountain; (2) not having to get ½ hour early to allow travel time to the Stone Mountain school location; (3) food temperature (warm all the time); (4) having larger classrooms—Mr. Mayo stated that students had about 3 sq. feet of space for themselves and their bookbags; (5) not having to walk in the rain to go from building to building; (6) not having to attend meetings that his mom took him to! (although his attendance to the current meeting was his own choice). Mr. Mayo also noted that he received a reply from Crawford Lewis at the time, stating that leases take time. Mr. Mayo closed by saying that he knew it would be hard, but not that the process would take 4 years. [~19 minute mark]

Pat Camp: Representing Medlock Area Neighborhood Association, MANA VP Camp first thanked the BOE for listening to community input regarding the desire to not have a cell tower on school grounds. Ms. Camp then noted that both the International Community School and Fernbank School Center have been in touch with MANA. Both organizations are established entities with a track record of doing wonderful work. During the Medlock school-closing crisis, many, many community members stated a desire to keep a school in the property; MANA understands that is still the prevailing desire. MANA therefore supports either proposal. MANA appreciates being included in the vetting process and would very much like to remain an active participant as this decision is very important to those in our community. [~38 minute mark]

Update on Medlock school property

MANA VP Pat Camp attended the DCSS Board of Education August 1 to support proposals by the International Community School (ICS) and Fernbank Science Center (FSC). Support hinges on the desire voiced by many neighbors that the property return to use as soon as possible, ideally as an educational venue.

The ICS proposes to gather its students, who are currently on two campuses, into one location.

Doug Hrabe, the director of FSC, mentioned using the space specifically for science teacher training, perhaps a vocational horticulture greenhouse and use of the nearby natural areas for field trips for the DCSS students who come to the science center.

We do not know when a decision will be made but are making inquiries. Our last update on this matter was reported in late June, when Dan Drake (Director of Planning and Forecasting, DCSS) indicated that the current plan for Medlock Elementary is as follows:
1. a short-term lease (~2 years)

2. use of Medlock Elementary as classroom space for students displaced during the construction phase of a 900-student elementary school (aka Fernbank Elementary)

3. again make the Medlock school available for leasing

We'll post updates as more information becomes available. If you have questions or want to share your thoughts, email medlockassoc@gmail.com

Update 8-3-2011: We are told that the ICS's proposal is being reviewed by DCSS lawyers.

Found: black and white kitten

Kelly (khsgbs07yahoo.com) writes

is anyone missing a sweet black and white kitty? We've had one sniffing around our house for a couple of weeks now, off and on. I thought it was a neighbor's cat, but I got close enough to pet it and it's skinny and has no collar. I'm concerned because I just an hour ago saw what was either a coyote or a coyote-look-alike dog run through my backyard, which borders on the nature preserve.

Oct 1: 2nd Annual Medlock Neighborhood Yard Sale

UPDATE: 2011 "registrations" are now closed. See you at the yard sale!

Save the date - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, from 9AM - 3 PM.

We are gearing up for our second annual Medlock Area Yard Sale. Last year we had a very successful sale with about 17 families participating. This year we are partnering with Clairmont Heights to offer an even bigger sale area which should attract even more shoppers.

Proceeds are yours to keep or you can donate them to MANA or CHCA if you would like.

MANA: will do the advertising (for example, websites such as MANA and CHCA, eNews letters for the neighborhoods, Facebook, Craigslist, Decatur blogs, print media such as the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Decatur Dispatch and the AJC on-line), put out signs around the neighborhood advertising the sale, design and distribute maps for all participating homes, and put balloons at every particpating location so they are easy to find.
You: just sign up, set up your items, make some money, have some fun!

There is a small $10 participation fee per household/location to help cover costs (advertising, printing, maps, balloons, etc.).

Don't have a lot to sell, but would like to participate? Team up with a neighbor or neighbors at one location and split the participation fee.

In addition this year, we will offer another option: instead of having your sale items at your home: a "car trunk sale":
Put your items in your car or truck, and park in the on-street spaces at Medlock School on October 1st. The fee for this is $5 per vehicle.

Questions? Please contact either Deb Elkin (elkin_d@bellsouth.net, 404-320-6063), Bev Monroe (bevmonroe@juno.com, 404-321-9683) or Kris Kane (kriskane@mindspring.com, 770-715-9496).

If you would like to participate in the yard sale, please fill out the form below and mail it to:

Bev Monroe, 928 Schoel Drive, Decatur, Ga. 30033, with a check made out to MANA.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

MANA/CHCA Neighborhood Yard Sale Sign-up Form - MANA Residents

Name: _________________________ Address: ________________________________________

Phone: _________________________ E-mail Address: ________________________________

Mail a check for $10/home or $5/car trunk, made out to "MANA" to
Bev Monroe, 928 Schoel Drive, Decatur, GA 30033
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Aug. 14: Pool Party--helpers needed

MANA will be providing hamburgers and hot dogs for the annual pool party and potluck on August 14th, but we need several grills and grillers. If you have a grill you could lend us for a few hours and/or you would be willing to oversee our burgers and dogs that night, please contact Amy Valk via Facebook. Hope to see everyone on the 14th!

Finding your lost pet

by Pat Camp

You have probably seen a number of MANA bulletins, postings on the Medlock Park Neighbors page on Facebook and Yahoo group, flyers nailed up around the neighborhood, and postings on the MANA website about lost dogs and cats. Pet owners are understandably worried and anxious to find their four legged family members. Fortunately, many of these pets have been reunited with their very happy owners.

One such recent happening involved Harley—a miniature greyhound—who was lost in our neighborhood the night of one of our particularly bad storms. Harley’s owner Stacy shared some information on what she did to find Harley—information others may find helpful if they are faced with this awful situation:

• She and a friend put up flyers all around the neighborhood with pictures of Harley and phone numbers people could call if he was spotted. So—be sure you have some recent pictures of your pet.

• You might want to also include email addresses.

• Also, she used the services of a lost pet tracker. The tracker's name is Claudia Clifton and her phone number is (770) 460-7910. In this case, Harley was found by a neighbor on Sunnybrook who recognized Harley from the flyers. However, Stacy said the tracker was able to give her a great deal of help, for example, identifying ways to notify neighborhood web and Facebook pages, shelters and veterinary clinics.

• There are other services which can help locate lost pets. One is www.amberpetalert.com.

• Have your pet microchipped so that if they are found, a vet clinic or shelter may be able to scan the chip and find you. Make sure your address and phone numbers are up to date with the service that monitors the chip. For example, my dogs’ chips are registered with the AKC Companion Animal Recovery program and they have information on how to locate me.

• Keep a collar with rabies and ID tags on your pets. Make sure info on ID tag is up to date and the rabies tag is current. If someone finds your pet, they can call animal control in that county, give them the tag number and animal control can trace that tag number to you.

• Don’t let your pets roam without supervision. In addition to the dangers of our streets, cats are particularly vulnerable to predators such as coyotes. Unsupervised cats also inflict great damage to birds and other wildlife populations.

Hopefully, you will not have to deal with an agonizing lost pet situation but in case you are, I hope the information above will be helpful.

FOUND Doggie: Willivee

On Wed. evening around 7pm, I found a dog walking along Willivee near the Ball Park, coming from the direction of Hunting Valley/N. Druid Hills.

She has no collar, and was very thirsty. After a little coaxing, she got in my backseat.
I know she's someone's pet.

No luck looking for her owners, but she seems to be used to people, easily found the back door to my house, and made herself at home.

I will post some flyers, but thought the community 'bulletinboard' might be a bit faster.
She looks healthy, she's friendly, didn't mind a bath, and likes my 2 dogs.
Part Chow, maybe Shepherd. Fluffy thick coat, black with brown head, front and back quarters.
HELP!

If you have any info on this sweet doggie, contact
Lisa lcrowder@mindspring.com
Sandy swbsun@aol.com