Assistant Superintendent Thomas Van Soelen writes in…

In addition to the free/reduced lunch data that has been added this week, a new was added: map 8. all maps are still available at this site: http://fiscalresearch.gsu.edu/decatur/

Upon analysis of the narrative comments offered by community members, Maps 4 and 7 emerged as most appealing. Map 4 offers the best racial and socioeconomic mix, labeled “differential” on the pros/cons list. Map 7 allowed one of the smallest school sites, Clairemont, to remove the learning cottage.

A concern about Map 7 arose regarding the number of Black students that would be attending Oakhurst. The perception may be a reversal of Board policy regarding the integration of students, capped by the removal of the Desegregation Order in 2007.

Map 8 has been created so that the racial and socioeconomic differential of Map 4 is achieved but with no learning cottages needed at any of the sites. In addition, Map 8 divides Decatur Housing Authority into three areas, thus creating more of a consistency between schools. This division of three has historical precedence: during the years of 7 elementary schools, Allen Wilson Terrace was divided north/south. The proposed line would divide that area east/west.

The community can learn more about the process on Wednesday, November 3 at 6 pm, Westchester, and/or talk to the Board of Education at 7 pm.

Decatur Square, Decatur, GA (pic submitted by Kate)

Dan points out something that he believe is right up my alley.  And he’s right!

Mint.com now shows how much on average a random sampling of 4 million Mint.com users are spending at their favorite local haunts and which spots are the most popular.  As Dan points out, not surprisingly, The Brick Store Pub is the most popular restaurant in Decatur, followed by Fillini’s.  (The average amount spent at BSP is $29.34.)

The Decatur restaurant where Mint users spend the most per visit is Watershed, which clocks in at $75.52.

Now when it comes to shopping, the most popular spots in Decatur are Wal-Mart, Rainbow and Little Shop of Stories.  (Average amount spent at Little Shop is $26.71. by Mint users)

This ranker is by no means perfect.  In the five minutes I’ve been playing with it, I’ve noticed that not all Decatur establishments are represented,some businesses are in the wrong category, and the sample is probably pretty small on such a micro level.  But it’s still sorta interesting.  Especially the average prices.

Take a look around and let us know what you find!

And you thought the historic district dispute was brutal!

In recognition of Oakhurst’s 100th Birthday Bash on Saturday, I’ve been greedily holding onto this little nugget of drama that occurred just a few months after Oakhurst’s incorporate in 1910.  This whole story is courtesy of ATLHistory.com that posted pieces of the original article in the Atlanta Georgian, from which I will now quote…

In a great many places in Oakhurst the road is torn up, so [grocer Pearson] Zuber was forced to employ a boy with a push cart to deliver groceries. The boy, according to those who witnessed the affair, had left the cart standing on the sidewalk in front of Mayor Johnston’s home in Viola ave [now Madison]. Johnston, it is said, seeing this, walked up and deliberately kicked the cart, with its cargo of groceries, into the gutter. The delivery boy ran to the nearest telephone and notified Mr. Zuber of the mayor’s action.

Zuber hurried to the scene and demanded that Johnston pay for the ruined groceries. This the mayor, it is said, refused to do. A blow was struck. By whom it is not clear, but the consensus of opinion of witnesses indicates it was by Johnston. For a moment or so they battered each other, and then Johsnon was seen to pull away from the grocer and draw from his pocket a revolver. Five shots rang out as Johnston emptied his revolver at Zuber. Blood spurted from the two wounds Zuber had received, but, picking up a heavy scantling [basically, a two by four] that lay near by, he started for Johnston, who was retreating. With a blow he felled the mayor and then, standing over his prostrate form, beat out his brains.

ATLhistory has done a great job of piecing together the fallout from this brutal event, which you can read for yourself on their website.

Happy Birthday Oakhurst!

Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discuss here over the past week.

Comments close Monday.

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This week’s Free-For-All Friday is brought to you by: Kick in the Fit, offering a free month of boot camp (morning or evening) to one Decatur Metro reader.  www.kickinthefit.com

To enter, just send an email with the subject line “Decatur Metro Giveaway” to info@kickinthefit.com.  Make sure to include your name and address in the email.  Kick in the Fit will pick the winner at random on Monday morning.