This is what its all about folks.  Good, honest discussion can change minds.

First on DM: In a lengthy and detailed letter to the school board (click on Action Item IX.d), Superintendent Dr. Phyllis Edwards lays out her final recommendation regarding the school system’s reconfiguration. (Thanks to CSD Mom for the tip!)

After thanking various parties for all their hard work, Edwards admits that comments presented during the listening sessions changed her position on the issue and she has decided to go along with the reconfiguration committee and recommend Option #13 (renovate 5th Ave Elementary to serve as 4/5) as the best solution to the school system’s capacity issues.

Here’s the must-read paragraph…

I have reviewed the results of the committee. I have reviewed the survey results from the teachers. I am recommending two options. My top recommendation is that we completely renovate or rebuild Fifth Avenue School as the new home for the 4/5 Academy. I believe that this is a beautiful site in a neighborhood that has waited patiently for us to do something with this property. I feel that thinking long-term, CSD will need the additional school building renovated and in good condition-especially if annexation moves forward. The city is four square miles. This is not far for students to attend school and bussing will be available. It will require capital outlay but we can also get some rather good pricing in this econony. We have run the numbers and borrowing 10- 15 million (which would allow us to rebuild Fifth Avenue, as well as renovate Renfroe Middle School) would be at a cost of $350,000-$600,000 estimated annually. Even if we approve this plan at this board meeting, it will take perhaps the better part of two years to design and construct. [emphasis added] It would be my recommendation that we move ahead with our planning process in terms of selecting a firm and getting the architectural and zoning work done as quickly as possible. In the future, I would recommend that the next SPLOST (IV) be dedicated in part to paying off the GO Bond and the new borrow. If successful, which I have no reason to think it would not be, the voters/taxpayers would not see increases in their taxes. We have done a good job of keeping the millage down, even this year in tough economic times. I cannot guarantee that this will always be the case but I do not see the millage rising beyond 1 mill in the 2010-2011.

She goes on to recommend the Renfroe renovation as a backup option and states clearly that she does not support any of the other 11 options, including waiting a year or two.

Also of interest in this letter:  Edwards details future plans for Westchester that seems to guarantee that the school administration offices would have to move to a new facility.

Trackside owner “Doc Al” just wrote in with this comment to a previous post…

Yes, Trackside is definitely coming back – plans for the re-build are currently being formulated. However – it appears that quite a bit of the existing building is going to have to be demolished before it can be rebuilt, so – don’t get worried if you see bulldozers at work in the near future. The goal is to re-create as much of the old Trackside as possible along with some modern upgrades behind the scenes. Stay tuned for updates as the weeks and months go by.

Sweet.  It will be interesting to see exactly how detailed they get in “recreating” the old bar.

Best o’ luck Al!

I can’t count the number of times I’ve witnessed this very action along Clairemont Road.

From Juancella Francis’ list of 11 Traffic Safety reminders…

When traffic is backed up at a traffic light and a turn lane is ahead, it is illegal and dangerous to drive in the oncoming lane while attempting to get to the turn lane. This is a constant problem, especially southbound on Clairemont Avenue approaching Scott Blvd.

The other 10 reminders can be found after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »