The CSD school board is scheduled to vote on the much-discussed reconfiguration issue next Tuesday, June 9th.

In her note to the board motioning to approve Option 13, superintendent Dr. Phyllis Edwards references the general support that renovating 5th Ave has among the reconfiguration committee, teachers and parents that spoke at the listening sessions.  She also states…

I estimate that if you make the decision in June, it will still take two years until the building is ready. In the meantime, we will add portables as we see fit. In the following school year, we may have to explore other temporary options.

By doing a lease purchase for $10 million dollars, Fifth Avenue can be renovated and the remaining dollars spent on renovating RMS, which sorely needs attention.

Barring some unforeseen challenge or circumstance, the vote next Tuesday (6:30p @ Westchester) should be the final say in this matter.

You can read the Superintendent’s full letter after the jump… Read the rest of this entry »

Over at The Decatur Minute, Lyn gives two updates regarding the ongoing Glenlake Park improvements.

The first is that construction of the Glenlake bathhouse is finally complete, so the pool will reopen pool this Friday with free swimming from 5:30p-7p on Friday and all day (10a-6p) Saturday.

The second is an update on the restoration of Glenn Creek bank restoration, which looks to be coming along nicely.  Click over to see the new and improved creek (now without concrete walls!) and learn how the city is restoring the creek bank.  Pretty interesting stuff.  Lyn promises more pics as the project progresses.

It’s the hottest street beach this side A1A.

If you’ve got $6.50 and kids that suffer from landlocked-itis, you better rush over to Ticket Alternative and purchase your tickets to the Decatur Beach Party right now!  (Kids 12 and under get in free (limited to 2 per adult), adult tickets are $10 at the “door”)

The beach will magically appear on Ponce on Friday, June 19th starting at 5p.  Afterwards, residents in need of sand to haul away as much as they can free of charge.

More details can be found on the DBA website.

The AJC reports this morning that Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commish – and gubanitorial candidate – John Oxendine announced Monday that the city of Atlanta’s fire safety rating had fallen from a “2″ to a “4″ in a recent insurance services report.  As a result the city has nine months to improve services or the city’s rating will drop to a “3″.

Aside from suffering from poorer service, city residents would also see insurance premiums rise.

Aside from just imparting the news, Oxendine took the opportunity to slam the city for recent cuts in service and asked them to consider making “life safety a priority.”  The Atlanta City Council returned the complement by pointing out the fact that the Fire Safety rating in Oxendine’s own county of Gwinnett was currently a “4.”

Happily, as Steve pointed out in an email this morning, Decatur’s fire safety rating remains a solid “2.”  According to Steve, Alpharetta is the only other entity in the metro area with such a high rating.