Free-For-All Friday 3/3/17
Decatur Metro | March 3, 2017 | 8:11 amFeel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not yet discussed here over the past week.
Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not yet discussed here over the past week.
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Big Boss? Ever opening?
Is this the place that’s supposed to have private karaoke rooms? I have the same question!
Yes! And dim sum!
Walking down Sycamore toward Church. I noticed that the residents of Sycamore Station have no clearance at the entrance/exit to look for foot traffic. The view is blocked on both sides of the entrance until the vehicle is in the sidewalk area. No signageor markings. CAUTION !!
Portland requires an audible signal to warn pedestrians when a vehicle approaches a street-level parking deck exit. Could work in this instance.
Fortunately, the poster is mistaken. There is plenty of view without actually moving onto the area directly between the sidewalks on either side of the entry. My husband and I have lived in this neighborhood for many years and cannot recall a single pedestrian-auto accident there. I don’t know why the individual posted the original comment since this is easily verified. Just saying something doesn’t make it true. The real problems on Sycamore Drive are people who speed or drive under the influence of alcohol or medications.
I love the smell of creosote in the morning.
Does anyone know why Westchester Elementary School was not listed as part of the top 100 schools. The City of Decatur schools were tops of their game with the 4/5 taking first place. I assume it was due to the re-opening of the school and not enough data but was wondering if anyone had information.
Regardless all of our schools are fantastic and I want to give a big hand to our hard working teachers in all locations!
I believe they need at least 3 years of data to rank a school? I asked this recently to someone and I think that’s the reply I received.
I was told 5.
WOMENS STRIKE!
So, Wednesday, March 8 I will be fully supporting the #womenstrikeus #DayWithoutWomen #WomensStrike #march8strike and would like to know which businesses in Downtown Decatur (and nearby areas) are owned by women. I would like to get a list started so those of us participating know the options available to us that day to monetarily support. Thanks!
I’ll get us started:
– FORM Yoga
Now everyone…go! 🙂
Souper Jenny and Cafe Alsace, for starters…
Homegrown Decatur
I have heard some dissatisfaction about 4/5 academy from more than one parent, my (right now too young) kids will be headed there unless CSD gets its construction act together, so I am interested in this meeting on March 13. http://www.dejongrichter.com/csdecatur/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2017/02/CSD_Flyer_New.pdf
I’ve had a child (more than one) at F.Ave for the past four years and they have had a fantastic experience; increasing independence, full implementation of the IB curriculum, dedicated teachers, etc. It really prepares them for middle school and I’m sure Renfroe’s success is due in large part to groundwork being laid at F. Ave.
I no longer have a dog in this fight since my kids are past FAVE age and I am not going to go to that meeting, but….I wish someone would consider the option of a fifth grade only academy and make all elementary schools k-4. Bus routes from the 5th grade school could be shared with the middle school since they are pretty close together. I think this would be a nice compromise. no new FAVE building, the one they have will work just fine.
F. Ave. – I’m not disputing your take on your child’s experience at Fifth Avenue, but is it not possible those same attributes – increasing independence, full implementation of the IB curriculum, dedicated teachers, etc – could happen in another building that happens to house other kids as well? Looking at this configuration from a long-term sustainability and cost perspective K-5 makes the most sense. Little to no transportation for grades K-5. Kids walking and getting exercise. Let’s take full advantage of the neighborhood schools.
It’s hard to believe, but the first kindergarten class of the K-3 configuration (those that remain) will be graduating from DHS in a few months. So we’ve had this configuration for almost 13 years. And yet there are those who still long for the old days of chalkboards, slide rules, punch cards and K-5.
TinMan – I do not long for the past. Only for a sustainable future.
When considering cost, remember that all of these schools are either expeditionary learning or, for FAVE, IB. If we change configuration, we have to re-train teachers and re-certify the schools in one or the other of these excellent curricula, buy materials, and re-supply the libraries with grade appropriate books. It’s not just an easy grade level or classroom musical chairs.
Having some experience with both K-5 and K-3/4-5 model, both are fine, both have disadvantages, both have advantages. It’s like different flavors of excellent Butter and Cream ice cream (had to put in a plug for my favorite local ice cream!), not like homemade ice cream vs. store brand. I prefer maple walnut, vanilla, coffee, or peach, but I’d enjoy a lot of other flavors too. What are far more important than the school configuration IMHO, and I believe this is born out by research, are the quality of teachers, quality of principal, quality of special ed,, # of students per classroom, and # of students overall. Students have been having great experiences in CSD for decades and I believe that is due to the truly warm, friendly connectedness of our schools, Decatur Rec, and other community programs serving families. We’ve had some hiccups in the past, we’ve got some now, and we will undoubtedly have more in the future, but if we prioritize smaller well-run, friendly classrooms and schools plus teacher quality, we should be okay. Having a transparent, friendly, inclusive dialogue about the options, decisions, and implementation is key too. The shenanigans around the 2004 reconfiguration cast a pall on it for years.
Some minor asks that I forgot. If everything else is equal–and it never is–I’m not fond of the term “design principles”. I can’t remember if that’s EL or IB. And the IB song grates a bit. And if FAVE goes back to a K-5, I hope it can keep the name FAVE; that was one of CSD’s cuter acronyms and I believe some of us Moms came up with it. And I’d like to drop the term “academy”. It’s a term that seems to be trying too hard. “School” is just fine. And no matter what configuration we come up with, no starting the school year before August 1, keep K-12 Spanish at all costs, and increase recess for all.
That IB song (and the IB principles in general) is like a tiger scratching a chalkboard. The ridiculous academic-ese drives me nuts. I have flashbacks to terrible meetings with HR people when my colleagues and I just wanted to get back to work.
That said, my kids had wonderful experiences at FAVE, and the adjustment to a larger school at an earlier age helped them to transition to Renfroe. I also think the new FAVE administration is great.
I have had three kids who have gone through the 4/5 academy at either Glennwood or FAVE and they all had different experiences, mostly positive. A lot of the more negative experiences were not really the fault of the school (e.g. teacher suddenly quitting mid year, unruly classmate) and could have happened at at any school. But the kids are only there 2 years and RMS is really a superior middle school.
The previous superintendent would probably have never given up the k-3,4/5 model but I don’t know how wedded the current superintendent is to that configuration.
Sprouts Farmers Market open. From AJC online: The 30,000-square-foot grocery store, located in the new Decatur Crossing Shopping Center, opened Wednesday. On the corner of Scott Boulevard and North Decatur Road near the city, it is situated near new apartments and a brunch place called First Watch. The restaurant is opening “soon,” according to the sign.
The fact that developers only have to leave 25 percent canopy on residential developments is a joke. What’s even worse is that they aren’t considerate of the neighbors. neighborhood or mature trees that have been there longer than most people have been alive.
I suspect you’re right about the the level of consideration but I don’t believe those stats are correct.
If you’re a homeowner and you need to take down a protected tree, it’s true that you’re required to replace a minimum of 25% of the canopy that was lost. But if you or a renovator or a builder have filed a building application and land disturbance permit, that kicks in the city’s “no net loss” provisions, meaning that post-renovation or post-development, the site must equal whatever measure of canopy it had before. Because this is not always possible on a small lot, up to 50% of your canopy requirement can be addressed via a payment to the city’s tree bank, which ultimately results in your canopy requirement being planted elsewhere in the city.
The ordinance can be tough to wade through though so correct me if I’m wrong.
Unfortunately according to the city arborist the developer only had to keep 25 percent of the canopy, which in this case was one of seven trees. The six that were taken down were mature, healthy trees.
I just wish that someone had pointed out how pro-developer the tree ordinance actually was before it got passed 😉
While shopping at the Publix at Emory Commons this weekend I noticed the store will be closed this Wednesday and Thursday for a “store re-set.”
I think the Publix will close early at 8 PM, instead of the usual 11 PM, not close altogether, right? I did wonder what a “re-set” is!
I asked. It sounded like a Spring cleaning.