An AJC article from late yesterday – recaping the Decatur School Board budget meeting on Tuesday – quotes one Decatur resident upset that the Board isn’t considering raising the millage rate (read: raising taxes) instead of furloughing teachers for three days in the coming school year.  In a comment last night, Karass agreed.

I’d like to get an unofficial read on this again, because when I asked at the end of 2008, 70% of those responding to a DM poll had some concern about tax levels in the city.  And things weren’t looking all that bad budget-wise at that point.

UPDATE: Asst. Superintendent Thomas Van Soelen provides a few more details on how the iPod Touch will be used…

Last week, we had an exciting kick-off to our pilot using Title II-D funds. This grant, provided by the DOE, allows City Schools of Decatur to pilot a digital learning environment outlined as Goal #1 in our state-approved District Technology Plan 2009-2011. It is our goal to increase and upgrade digital tools in the 21st century classroom, including handheld equipment. City Schools of Decatur used the allotted funds to outfit one classroom with a class set of iPod Touches, an iPod syncing/charging station, and a document camera, as well as training classes provided by an instructor from the Kennesaw ETC.

The iPod Touch handheld devices have shown great promise in the classroom. From educational apps to the standard or graphing calculator, from Google Earth to iTunes U podcasting, from the new release of the integrated voice recorder to audio books applications, the iPod touch fits well with our Goal #1 in our District Technology Plan. This inaugural program, funded by Title II-D funds, will allow us to provide a cutting-edge digital environment for our students while we analyze its impact on student achievement and engagement.

The grant includes:

* iPod Touch- generation 3- class set of 27 
Parasync Syncing/Docking station http://www.paratsolutions.com/parasync

* Elmo Document Camera to project teacher ipod for class 

Two days Professional Learning (classroom, ESS, Gifted, or IST teachers, media/IT specialist, or instructional coach- up to 5 teachers total)

* Equipment for professional learning (classroom, ESS, Gifted, or IST teachers, media/IT specialist, or instructional coach- up to 5 teachers total)- 5 ipod touches for teachers

* $150 iTunes card for classroom teacher to purchase educational apps for the iPod Touches

At last night’s Decatur School Board meeting, the board approved a three-year lease agreement with Apple of 124 computers at the cost of $129,540, per the agenda.

However, in addition to 124 computers, which will be spread across the district based on enrollment levels, the DNO’s Jillian Wells reports on a new initiative to use iPod Touches in the school system.

This initiative will also allow student to use the handheld iPod Touch as an educational tool throughout the system. These currently popular devices can sync applications simultaneously so that they can be used for a multitude of activities, such as quick research.

Wilson adamantly supported the efforts to increase the availability of more advanced technology in the classroom, citing the iPod initiative as one means of doing just that. She said that encouraging the proper, honorable usage of the iPods and of electronic devices in general could cut down on cheating, while allowing students to use these devices for academic purposes.

I confirmed late last week that Rob Pope had requested a recount in his bid for the At-Large School Board seat, but was asked to keep it quiet until after the recount was completed since there wasn’t much hope that the results would change.

In the meantime, InDecatur reported an unconfirmed rumor and then confirmed it with the city.

I recontacted Rob this morning.  Here’s his official response to the recount rumors…

I have officially requested a recount and the Board of elections has agreed that pursuant to Georgia Code (election results being within 1%) a recount will be completed. Many people have asked about a recount and I want to bring closure on the issue and move on with helping out in the schools.

Thanks,

Rob Pope

The recount will take place tomorrow at 10am.

Emily notes that Garrett Goebel, school board candidate in District 1 and the man who helped keep DM commenters honest during the reconfiguration effort, has launched a website supporting his candidacy.

At the site, you can learn Garrett’s platform, read his bio (including a list of volunteer efforts), endorse Garrett and donate to the campaign.

Oh and don’t miss the pic of Garrett getting down in the mud, building what I can only assume is a castle wall in his yard!

Laura and Judd write in with a link to Rob Pope’s newly launched campaign website for the at-large seat on the city’s school board.

On the site, not only will you find the truly great pic above, but also Rob’s bio and his stated goals.  Improving communication between the city commission and school board, along with wider implementation of surveys, top his list of specific action items.

As reported by the AJC, the detailed by Judd Owen in a recent comment, last night the Decatur school board voted with the Superintendent in opposing annexation.

Actually its a little more nuanced than that according to Judd…

“The board voted tonight on the three options presented by the City’s report, which were 1) no annexation, 2) annex the three areas north of the tracks only, 3) annex all six areas. They voted a firm no on option 3, but were split on 1 and 2.  The split seemed to be in large part because the data on how many students would come in from those areas was so murky and contradictory. Even among board members relatively open to annexation, there was a strong sense that we do not have a clear view of exactly what we’d be getting into with annexation.”

About what I expected.  Regardless of any personal concerns about gain or loss, we can’t go around making unalterable decisions without valid backup data.   Because of the discrepancies recently brought to light by Judd and Pat, this issue now seems to be going before the commission half-baked.  If they voted in favor, the commission would be supporting an annexation plan that included disputed data.

If I was a commissioner, I’d be very wary of voting on anything before all that student enrollment data was recalculated to match the current version of the map.

But apparently, we’re going forward anyway.  That, in itself, hints at the outcome.

Just a reminder:  The Decatur School Board will vote tonight on whether to support Superintendent Edwards’ opposition to annexation. Westchester 6:30pm.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say the board will give their full support to the Superintendent.

Budget cuts, along with all the new charter school implementations, are probably enough current stresses on the school system.  Board members aren’t going to gladly take on an annexation plan that dramatically increases enrollment, especially when the number of added students is still so widely disputed.

But hey, I’ve been wrong before.