Apparently, DHS’ principal has started a blog called Bloggin’ Bulldog. In her fourth post, Principal Lauri McKain-Fernandez announces the parents who are running to be on the school’s new leadership team this coming year.

They are….Michelle Hammond-Susten, Monica McGannon Handman, GG Howard, David Hughes, Mara Knight, Lew Lefton, Jim Nettles, Elisha Silvera, Rachelle Spell, Lisa Stone, Susan Strickland, Eric Tumperi and Francis Wechsler.

I’m unsure of the total number of parents chosen for team, because this FAQ states that the teams consist of between 7-11 people, which includes the principal and 2 teachers. So anywhere between 4-8? Also, I’m unsure how candidates are ultimately chosen.

The candidates will be asked a series of questions at a candidates forum tonight at 7pm in the DHS Media Center.

h/t: InDecatur

From a recent Mingei World Arts newsletter…

Saturday, August 30, 11:30am : Elizabeth Dulemba – Illustrator of Paco and the Giant Chile Plant will demonstrate her drawing and sign books.

Saturday, August 30, 3:00pm: Daryn Kagan – former CNN Anchor, creator of inspirational news site darynkagan.com and author will sign copies of her new book What’s Possible!
50 True Stories of People Who Dared To Dream They Could Make a Difference.

Sunday, 12:00pm – A Mandala Coloring Book- Ready for a break? Come in and chill and check out this artful, meditative Mandala coloring book for adults, created by local artist Carla Kaiser.

All Weekend Long: – Reading Figures from La Union! – We have new folk art figures from the carvers of this rural village in southern Mexico. 20% of sales will support the library, which opened on August 20!

Dialogue T-shirts- a World Premiere! – Want to learn more about the world, become an activist and get a new T? Don’t miss the global roll out of Dialogue T-shirts at Mingei this weekend ! Dialogue shirts feature facts about issues of concern and include a mini-CD with a short film on the issue and information on how you can act to make a difference. A portion of sales benefit CARE and the Enough Foundation.

For more details visit Mingei’s website

…down 19 points vs. 2007, but its scores are still up vs. 2006.

Also, Decatur’s scores are still much better than those of DeKalb (1338), the state of Georgia (1466) and the national (1511) average.

Here’s the data from the past three years.

2008: Total: 1555 – Verbal: 530, Math: 513, Writing: 512

2007: Total: 1574 – Verbal: 537, Math: 527, Writing: 510

2006: Total: 1534 – Verbal: 511, Math: 521, Writing: 502

Thanks to the Georgia Dept. of Education for making this data so freakin’ hard to find online.

According to AccessAtlanta, Billy Collins’ keynote speech at the Decatur Book Festival is already “sold out”.

Well. technically they can’t be sold out, since tickets were free…so I guess they’re “gived out”. Regardless, don’t just show at Agnes Scott on Friday night thinking you’ll automatically get in, because I’ve heard that Collins’ bodyguards aren’t afraid to use the brass-knuckles.

The news out of the GA capitol just keeps getting better.

According to the Gainesville Times, some of Georgia’s state parks and historic sites could soon be closed due to our inexplicably unavoidable budget shortfall. Though the state is tight-lipped about which parks and sites might be targeted, it does admit that parks with higher foot traffic are more likely to get a reprieve.

The potential closings are part of proposals created by the DNR to cut expenses by 6%, 8% and 10%, so the state can cushion its current $1.6 billion deficit.

I can’t wait to hear what other wonderful plans our state has in store! Maybe we could clear cut the closed parks for timber and then go on state-sponsored drilling expeditions!

h/t: FreshLoaf

UPDATE: Friends of GA State Parks is already mobilizing in case any parks are closed.