DeKalb County Schools: budget woes, Fernbank Science Center at risk

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UPDATE: Sign petition @ http://www.change.org/petitions/dekalb-county-board-of-education-save-fernbank-science-center

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Last Wednesday, the AJC reported that DeKalb County School System's Superintendent presented a dire picture of the system's budget to the DCSS Board of Education. One big concern is that Superintendent Atkison

"...wants to raise the tax rate by 2 mills while also increasing the student-teacher ratio by three per classroom. She and her staff revealed Wednesday that the DeKalb school district must close a $73 million gap between projected revenues and planned expenses. The gap is a result of a drop in property values in the county, plus a rise in health care and other costs, among other things." 

Following up on Friday, the AJC focused on how proposed budget cuts currently include shutting down Fernbank Science Center (FSC):

"The decades-old institution, owned and operated by the DeKalb County public school district, has offered a hands-on education to students and other visitors from across metro Atlanta and elsewhere. However, it might close, under a recommendation Thursday by the school board’s budget committee. Fernbank Science Center, which includes a planetarium, is near the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, which is operated by a separate nonprofit. 

At an annual cost of $4.7 million, the building and its 56 full-time employees now are looking like a luxury to school officials. They are struggling with a $73 million deficit, and may have to cut teachers and school days to balance the budget."

N.B. Fernbank Science Center (FSC) is operated by DCSS, and is independent from the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. See Fernbank Museum's history page for how the two are connected. Fernbank Forest had been managed by the FSC but as of June 2012 will revert to the Museum's control as their 48-year arrangement expires.

These reports have triggered spirited discussion in various blogs such as Decatur Metro and the AJC's Getting Schooled.

If you want to share your thoughts or concerns with the DCSS Superintendent or the DeKalb Board of Education, DeKalb School Watch Two (a blog that focuses primarily on DCSS issues) has one-click email links on the right margin.

Also note that the DCSS Board is scheduled for a budget meeting on Wednesday, May 30 (this link includes DCSS's meeting schedule and some meeting minutes; BOE member Nancy Jester has some of her own meeting notes available through her own blog.). DCSS meetings are broadcast on PDS-TV24.

Your DeKalb Farmers Market -- Creative Loafing

Creative Loafing has a wonderful report by Thomas Wheatley on Your DeKalb Farmers Market. The article summarizes the market's history, the owner's goals and vision, and its proposed expansion.

It even has a little bit of local MANA history:

How it got started in the area behind Melton's:

"...He leased a 2-acre plot of land where a skating rink had burned down at the intersection of North Decatur Road and Scott Boulevard. He poured nearly every penny into building two adjoining greenhouses totaling 7,500 square feet and slapped a plastic roof on top.... 

Neighbors at first were keen on the idea of a nearby produce stand but soon grew weary of constant traffic and dust. An ultimatum by the county government to pave an expansion or watch his business get shut down was blocked by Manuel Maloof, the legendary DeKalb County CEO, who said his wife — who purchased peaches from the market for $2 a box — would kill him if he closed the store...

And how when an ice storm collapsed the structure in 1979, shoppers made donations that earned them credit for future transactions:

"It was the winter of 1979 that nearly ended the business. A storm came through one night, and rain filled the market's gutters and covered the roof. During the cold night, a heavy sheet of ice formed. A phone call from an employee jolted Blazer from bed. The market had collapsed. 

The insurance company said his policy didn't cover ice storms. Blazer asked customers for support and a loan. Write a check today, and two months later, when the store reopened, you could use the canceled check as a credit. Shoppers handed over cash. ... Within eight weeks the market was rebuilt and back in business." continue reading @ Creative Loafing

p.s.
Sounds like we've been complaining about traffic for 30+ years!

Emory "Tired of Traffic" T-SPLOST website

FYI, Emory University has launched a website (called "Tired of Traffic") with information about the July 31 vote on transportation initiatives.

Screen shot captured from  http://www.gca.emory.edu/transportation/index.html

Should you visit, note project map link on the left margin, and related resources on the right margin.

Memorial Day Weekend = Medlock Pool Opens

Memorial Day honors those who died while serving in the U.S. military. It does not look like there are any memorials/special events at the Decatur Cemetery or Oakland Cemetery, but Oakland is holding tours as usual on Saturday and Sunday.

For those who equate this holiday with the start of the summer break, here's some potential outings for the coming 3-day weekend:

Stone Mountain Park: who can resist the "Lasershow Spectacular in Mountainvision with a special, extended fireworks finale"? All three nights throughtout Memorial Day weekend?

Atlanta Jazz Festival: ongoing, but see their Memorial Day Weekend line-up at Piedmont Park

Georgia Renaissance Festival:

Decatur Art Festival -- Artists Market 

POOL TIME

And... it's pool time (pdf file): per this document, the Medlock pool is open

Tuesdays – Saturdays noon-6:00 pm [yes, closed on Mondays]
Sundays 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Hours apply through Sept. 3, 2012
Daily Admission is $3/visit for county residents (or $45 for seasonal pass) [thanks to alert reader Blair for correcting the amounts!]

The Dangers of North Druid Hills Road

Our neighbors at North Druid Valley Hills are asking for everyone's support in addressing a dangerous stretch of road:

Image courtesy of http://www.northdruidkills.com

The North Druid Valley Hills Association is making a concerted effort to obtain a stop light at one of the exits from their neighborhood. As part of these efforts, they have created a website http://www.northdruidkills.com to draw attention to the issue. On the site are stories by residents and pictures showing the dangers they face entering and exiting their neighborhood. 

The majority of accidents listed have occurred while sitting stopped, waiting for an opportunity to turn INTO their neighborhood. This section of North Druid Hills Road is extremely dangerous ...

Please visit the website, in particular the Voice your support page, which includes contact information for County officials who have the power to address the situation.

The website also features incident reports and photos. 

Perspectives on July 31 T-SPLOST

The AJC has a nice summary of how people in different counties perceive the coming T-SPLOST vote, see Will sales tax shorten Atlanta commutes, reduce traffic?

Yellow Lab "Dolly" safe and found :)

Yay, Dolly's been found. A kind neighbor captured her and she's on her way home.