DeKalb Board of Education fights back with successful federal court appeal

Ty Tagami at the AJC reports that

"A federal judge has issued an order that temporarily prevents Gov. Nathan Deal from replacing the DeKalb County school board members who were recommended for suspension by a state panel."

Current GA law allows the governor to

"suspend and ultimately remove any local school board that is recommended for suspension by the state education board because of risk to the local school district’s accreditation. The law authorizes the state to act only in districts that have been placed on “probation” by an accreditation authority. Read the rest @ AJC 

Governor Deal, who announced a press conference for 11am monday, could still recommend the Board's suspension but is now hindered from actually removing them from office. The article warns that a similar scenario arose in Sumter county las november and three months later, the legal dustup continues.

Scott Boulevard Baptist Church: past, present, future

The Associated Baptist Press, Inc. has a lovely interview with Pastor Greg Smith at the Scott Blvd. Baptist Church. In it, he discusses the congregations's history, the process that led to the decision to sell the property, and the church's future plans.

This congregation had its heyday in the ‘60s with an average attendance of around 500 people. But the neighborhood … aged out as the children left home in the early '70s and never returned. So the congregation aged with the neighborhood. 

Please see the ABP's website to read Church sold as members go missional.

City of Decatur major meets with DeKalb delegation

DecaturMetro reports that the meeting included a lot of discussion on annexation and includes a quote that again emphasizes build-bridging between city and county:

...  There was not much agreement by the people that were there about the issue. But the general assembly members encouraged the cities to get with the county to try to have some constructive meetings to do some long-term planning about the issue so they’re not dealing with [annexation] on a piecemeal basis.

GA Board of Education votes to remove 6 DeKalb school board members

Ty Tagami at the AJC reports that

After a grueling 14-hour hearing that lasted until 10 p.m. Thursday night, the Georgia Board of Education voted unanimously to recommend suspending six of the nine members of the DeKalb County school board. Read on @AJC

Only the newest members, elected in 2012, were in the "stay" list.

The AJC previously reported that the DeKalb School Board had sued to prevent this vote from taking place, but they filed the lawsuit too late to prevent the vote. When the case is heard on February 28, we will know whether that lawsuit places constraints on how the Governor acts upon the state Board of Education's recommendation.

Central DeKalb Senior Center coming to Mason Mill Park

via CHCA... 

Commissioner Rader's website has a link to site and floor plans for a new senior center at Mason Mill Park. Simply labeled as "DeKalb County Central Senior Center", the drawings show the new building facing McConnel Drive, situated on an area that is already paved over. 

Proposed Senior Center at Mason Mill Park (in gold, in drawing at the left) and Google map image of park.
  Image via http://www.co.dekalb.ga.us/commdev/pdf/DCSC_communityPresentation_boards.pdf
Click to enlarge.

Street view of proposed center. Click to enlarge.

As proposed, the building would include arts and crafts rooms (listed activites include drawing, painting, carving, pottery, quilting and sewing) and exercise areas (weights/cardio and yoga/dance/aerobics). There is also a cafe, a large multi-purpose room, billiards room, and several classroom and activity spaces. An elevator connects both floors.

OnCentralDeKalb has an item talking about three senior centers being built in DeKalb: a North DeKalb Center (3393 Malone Drive, Chamblee), a South DeKalb Center (at 1931 Candler Road, Decatur, replacing an older structure built in 1979), and a third as-of-yet-unreleased location "Central DeKalb facility" to be "the first county-owned facility in the Central DeKalb area." Per the article, the County will "spend $15 million in federal funding to construct the centers under HUD programs." The article goes on to say that

"Three new senior centers are slated to open by December 2013—one in North DeKalb, one in South DeKalb and one in Central DeKalb, county officials have announced. ... Each 15,000-square-foot center will have community meeting rooms, a computer lab, a fully equipped fitness room, a commercial kitchen, access to walking trails, and sitting areas inside and around the grounds.
The centers’ main dining halls will accommodate approximately 120 people seated, and are designed to easily convert and serve as a meeting space for educational seminars and civic events.
Activity rooms will be made available for ceramics, billiards, and games such as chess, bridge, and backgammon.
A large social lounge will also be included in each facility."

This facility will be a great addition to Mason Mill's recent improvements, and is great news to area residents hoping to age in place. Mason Mill Park is accessible by via the PATH's South Peachtree Creek Trail [trailhead at Medlock Park, with access point on Willivee Dr.]. Mason Mill Park is located at 1340 McConnell Dr  Decatur, GA 30033 | map |.

Pink asterisk marks the proposed location of the Central DeKalb Senior Center at Mason Mill Park.
PATH trail that connects Mason Mill and Medlock Parks is highlighted in light green. Click to enlarge.

Market, fish fry, car wash AND carnival @ ICS [Feb 23]

via ICS...

As a part of our efforts to raise money for our 5th graders trip to Washington, DC, we are hosting a fun Market Day. All vendors are welcome to come share your goods and talents with the ICS community. The vendor fee is $20 and we are asking for a donation of 10% of items sold at the market. If you would like to participate as a vendor, please make all checks out to ICS or make your payment(s) in the front office (there are envelopes in the office). Vendor fees are due by Friday, 2/22/13.
If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact Terra Gay—terra.gay@icsgeorgia or Brandon Davis— brandon.davis@icsgeorgia.org.

In addition, to our Market Day we will also be selling raffle tickets, hosting a small carnival, car wash and fish fry, along with other great food being sold. We hope that you will be able to join us. If you would like to donate to help us get to DC, please make contributions in our front office or
you may also donate online at http://www.gofundme.com/1uoccw

Doors will be open to vendors to set up at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday (2/23/13).

Click to enlarge. You may pay on site for other activities listed above, however, vendor fees must be made in advance to reserve your space at the market.

DeKalb School Board again faces GA Dept. of Education, Melvin sits

The AJC continues to cover the drama:

DeKalb school board to face charges by accrediting agency:

On Thursday, the nine elected members of the DeKalb school board must confront that evidence, which is based on anonymous interviews and documents that are mostly not identified specifically....That has spawned a lawsuit over the Georgia constitution that will be decided later. DeKalb sought a restraining order against the state, but filed it too late to affect today’s hearing. A Fulton County judge will consider the request next week. Read the rest @ AJC

DeKalb school board gets new leader

Retired DeKalb school system administrator and newly-elected board member Melvin Johnson got the nod from his colleagues Wednesday in a 7-2 vote. Johnson’s candidacy was uncontested: Nancy Jester nominated Pam Speaks, but Speaks declined. They both voted against Johnson. Read the rest @ AJC