Intergenerational Dialogue on Civil and Human Rights Discussion [Jan 26]

For immediate release:   January 3, 2012
For more information:    Nancy Bent, 404-373-8746 x8135, nancy.bent@friendsschoolatlanta.org
 
The Friends School of Atlanta to Host Ambassador Andrew Young,    
Senator Jason Carter and Others for a Panel Discussion on Civil Rights Today

On Saturday, January 26, 2013, The Friends School of Atlanta (FSA) will welcome Ambassador Andrew Young, Senator Jason Carter and others to participate in an intergenerational dialogue on civil and human rights. The event, to be held on FSA’s campus in Decatur, is the third annual Beloved Community Dialogue presented by the school.  

Founded in 1991, The Friends School of Atlanta remains the only Quaker school in Georgia. Every day at FSA, the faculty and staff strive to instill those values in its students deemed essential for building the all-inclusive Beloved Community envisioned by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., where differences are embraced as strengths, not feared, and every single person is respected as an individual of infinite worth. Like Dr. King, Quakers believe that through empathy and respect for others and personal integrity, connections can be made that can resolve even the fiercest disputes between nations, religions, cultures or individuals. In the words of one of FSA’s middle school students, “Being bullied isn’t the hardest part. The hard part is having to work through the issues with the other guy.” FSA’s Beloved Community Dialogue seeks to illuminate current civil and human rights issues so that we all are inspired to do the challenging work to resolve differences with “the other guy.”
 
As the work to build Beloved Community in our society moves forward, FSA seeks to make a critical contribution by instilling the Quaker values of equality, integrity and community in its students and by hosting these dialogues that are designed to educate and ultimately uplift us all as we realize our individual and collective capacities for peace making and community building.
The Beloved Community Dialogue will be held at the FSA campus at 862 Columbia Drive in Decatur and is open to the public. General admission is $10 per ticket. Premium tickets are $100 each and include invitation to a reception with the esteemed panelists. The invitation-only reception begins at 5:00 pm, and the panel discussion will take place from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. For more information about the event and purchasing tickets, please visit the FSA website at www.friendsschoolatlanta.org or contact Nancy Bent, Director of Advancement: 404-373-8746 x8135; nancy.bent@friendsschoolatlanta.org.

The Friends School of Atlanta, offering a pre-K – 8th grade program, has a mission to provide challenging academics in a diverse environment, drawing on the Quaker values of a simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and stewardship to empower students to go out into the world with conscience, conviction and compassion.
For more information about the school and admissions, visit www.friendsschoolatlanta.org or contact Waman French, Head of School: 404-373-8746 x8136; waman.french@friendsschoolatlanta.org.

Schools Update

As previously noted, the DeKalb County Board of Education (BOE) has been summoned by the Georgia Department of Education to discuss SACS's recent decision to place the school system on probation. Recent Georgia law allows the DOE to make recommendations that could result in Governor Deal replacing BOE members.

As we wait for the results of the DOE meeting (scheduled for Jan 17), please visits these links that MANA education liaison Tanya Myers has gathered for us:

• Two current BOE members, who had in the past been vocal in pointing out irregularities in the Board's functioning, are currently blogging about their experiences:

Don McChesney's blog: http://blog.donfordekalb.com/
Denese Jester's blog: http://whatsupwiththat.nancyjester.com/

• Parents for DeKalb Schools has a Facebook page where you can join the discussion.

• School choice is scheduled to happen much earlier this year.  Per this flyer, open enrollment opens on January 14 and closes on February 1, 2013 (in previous years, enrollment happened in March).

Per the DeKalb School System's website (note: catalog not yet updated for academic year 2013-2014), 

Parents in DeKalb County have the opportunity to make choices regarding their children's public school education. The DeKalb County School District offers a variety of school choice programs to students currently enrolled in public schools, private schools, and home schools. Because there are several programs serving students in grades prekindergarten through twelve, a school choice programs catalog is available to assist in selecting a program that meets the needs of your child(ren). The programs are designed to address interests such as math, science, technology, performing arts, environmental studies, engineering, career explorations, world languages, and advanced studies.

School choice applications will be completed online at http://eportal.dekalb.k12.ga.us/. Parents need to create a login/password to access the website:

• The International Community School at Medlock is a public charter school that accepts new students K-5 via a lottery system; the lottery deadline is in early March. For additional information, see the ICS admissions page.

• The Hess Academy is a new private school at 611 Medlock Road. They will host a series of open houses in the near future; see their admissions page for additional information about their curriculum, tuition, etc.

DeKalb School System: discussions on proposed openings and closures

The AJC reports that DCSD is holding a series of meetings to discuss proposed school closure and opening plans.

Under the upcoming events tag, the DCSD website lists a series of School Organization Plan Community Meetings as follows. Unless otherwise noted, meetings run from 6-7:30pm

January 8, 2013 at Nair High

January 10, 2013 at Miller Grove High

January 15, 2013 at Tucker High

January 16, 2013 at  Dunwoody High

January 17, 2013 at AIC Auditorium (1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard · Stone Mountain, GA  30083)

January 22, 2013
8am: System-Wide Administrators Meeting
AIC Auditorium (1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard · Stone Mountain, GA  30083)

Monty Python takes on annexation

"Hello. Can we have your liver?" 

"But... I'm using it, eh."

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, via youtube

Mary Swint at CrossRoadNews has a thorough report on City of Decatur's annexation plan per the December 3, 2012 commissioners meeting:

"Decatur City Manager Peggy Merriss estimates that revenue from the targeted areas would be about $825,000, with real estate taxes accounting for $533,000 of the total. She said the city would incur more than $404,000 in additional costs for police, storm water and street lights. . . . Merriss said the city has not asked any legislators to sponsor the annexation. She said it might take more than one legislative session to get it done. Continue reading @ CrossRoadNews"

Per City of Decatur's website, a view of the disputed northern territories...

Annexation targets in green. Map via

City of Decatur.  Click to enlarge.

 Same map, overlaid on Google map.
City of Decatur appears in blue,
annexation targets in green. 

Click here for a closer look at these annexation areas.

Elsewhere, Decatur Patch's Ralph Ellis has an interview with outgoing Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd,  and one of the questions addresses the annexation vote:

"Do you think this annexation that was recently approved will ever become a reality? 

"Do you think it's all
for the good 
of the country?"

"Well I wouldn't know, madam. 

We are just, uh, doing our jobs, 

you know."
                                                                 Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, via youtube

I think it’s got a good chance at some point in time, maybe not this year. I think it's inevitable that even DeKalb County at some point will realize that it’s better for those community hubs to be part of the city of Decatur than they are in DeKalb County. If you ask the county commissioners and the CEO realistically can they can control those hubs better than we can, the answer is they can’t do it. We can.  . . . Continue reading @ Patch"

If, like John Cleese, you experience mixed feelings at these words, sign the anti-annexation petition at CHCA.

Hess Academy Open House

Curious about the Hess Academy, the preK-8 school that operates on at 611 Medlock Rd. (aka North Decatur Presbyterian Church)? Hess Academy will hold several open houses as follows:

January 24, 10am – 12noon
February 7, 7 – 9pm
February 21, 10am – 12noon

"Parents and perspective students are invited to tour our facility, and meet with our Principal and staff. To learn more about the quality education Hess Academy offers visit our website or contact Diane Henderson at 678-308-6380 for more information."

Annexation and Cityhood discussions coming up [Jan 8 & 10]

If you have concerns and want to learn more about two key issues affecting our area and county (cityhood movement, City of Decatur annexation plan), consider attending one of more of the following meetings [note that two take place on Jan. 8 but that the Delegation also meets on Jan. 10].

Cityhood Discussion -- Jan. 8
Click to enlarge.

1) Cityhood Discussion:

January 8 at Oak Grove United Methodist Church Main Sanctuary, 1722 Oak  Grove, Decatur GA 30033

This meeting will include State Representatives Billy Mitchell, Tom Taylor, DeKalb Commissioner Kathie Gannon and former Dunwoody Council member Robert Wittenstein.



2) DeKalb County Legislative Delegation of the Georgia House of Representatives Town Hall Meetings

Jan. 8, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. at the Porter Sanford Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur
Jan. 10, 2013 at 6:00 pm at Agnes Scott College (Rebekah Scott Hall), 141 East College Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030

Per Neighborhoodnewspapers.com,

"The DeKalb County Legislative Delegation of the Georgia House of Representatives will have three upcoming town hall meetings: The purpose of these meetings is to discuss important issues and initiatives likely to come before the general assembly in the 2013 legislative session.

The delegation would also like to hear comments and concerns from their constituents as they prepare for the upcoming legislative session. All DeKalb County residents are strongly encouraged to attend.

In attendance will be:
Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick, Rep. Pat Gardner, Rep. Mike Jacobs, Rep. Scott Holcomb, Rep. Stacey Abrams, Rep. Karla Drenner, Rep. Billy Mitchell, Rep. Simone Bell, Rep. Tom Taylor, Rep. Elena Parent, Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield, Rep. Michele Henson, Rep. Ernest “Coach” Williams, Rep. Howard Mosby, Rep. Pam Stephenson, Rep. Rahn Mayo, and Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler." Contact info follows...

GA DOE summons DeKalb Co. School Board

Per CBS news, the DeKalb County School Board has been summoned by the GA Department of Education (DOE) for a follow-up on the recent SACS report that placed the system on probation and questioned the school board's ability to function and commitment to the needs of DeKalb students:

Board members must appear before the state board at 1 p.m. on Jan. 17. 

The state board will then make a recommendation to the governor who has the final say on whether DeKalb board members will be replaced.  ...  Continue reading @  CBS Atlanta website.