O.K. So the bump wasn’t as big as first reported.

According to MARTA CEO Dr. Beverly Scott, in an WABE interview (below), MARTA ridership is up 14% last month vs. year-ago. That’s a bit more believable (based on first hand experience) than the 60% I first found amongst the detritus of the internet. [h/t: PecanneLog]

Guess that leaves some room on the trains when gas goes up another couple bucks. At least these prices have Sonny finally acknowledging the existence of rail transportation.

The final meeting regarding CSD’s proposed 1 point millage rate increase (mostly to hire more staff and give teachers a pay increase) will take place tonight at Westchester at 6:30p followed by a special session at 7:15p. (Thanks to Cherie for forwarding the info)

David reported poor attendance at the last meeting, so if you have something to say tonight’s your last chance.

Fair warning? Maybe not at 2:30pm…but hey…I try.

In other fun and exciting meeting news…the city commission is set to adopt an unchanged millage rate for the coming “year” (July 1st to July 1st) tonight at 7:30p.  The AJC repurposed an article from a couple weeks back and summed it all up again today in case you’re interested.

Last Thursday, Winnona Park Elementary School Principal, Gregory Wiseman, sent this note out to parents (thanks to Cherie for passing it along)…

Dear Neighbors,

A portable trailer will be delivered to WPES. It will be located on the south lawn on the Inman Ave side of the building. It is one unit (24′X 60′) that accommodates 2 classrooms (720 SF each). The unit will be placed parallel to the building between the back driveway and the walkway that comes out of the side of the building to Inman. The reasons we are getting a trailer are two fold: we need the room and we want to ensure all students in the WP neighborhood can attend school at WP. The enrollment for next year is going to be above 330. Last year we ended with 312. The trailer ensures we can accommodate new students to WP instead of transferring them to Clairemont or Oakhurst. Two of the four 3rd grade classes will be housed in the classrooms in the trailers. Also, the WP PTA has generously paid for 2 active-boards to be installed in these classrooms. On the advice of neighborhood master gardeners, the crape myrtle on the lawn would not survive transplanting. However, the new katsura tree will find a new home at the corner of Avery and Inman. I do not check my Yahoo email.

Please use the address below if you’d like. Thank you for your understanding.

Gregory Wiseman – Principal Winnona Park Elementary School

gwiseman@csdecatur.org

Well apparently the “thanks for understanding” was a bit premature. Parents over on the Winnona Park message board are upset, decrying the redistricting of Decatur schools and questioning why Westchester is needed for administration offices. (Personally, I loved my trailer experience in 3rd grade up in CT. Much swankier than the old elementary school classrooms, but maybe these aren’t as nice.)

But here’s the thing, as far as I can tell, according to the most recent Rosser report, its not just K-3 that’s over-crowded (or in danger of it), its Glennwood too. So just keep that in mind when proposing alternatives to the school board.

Regardless, someone needs to figure this out before the annexation issue is brought up again later this year, or all the city commission will hear in response is “The schools will be even more over-crowded. What are you going to do about it?”.

Mark my words.