DHS Close Up Club Sponsor Chris Billingsley writes in…

We were unable to schedule a wreath laying ceremony at the Arlington Cemetery Tomb of the Unknown Soldier [for this year's trip to D.C.].  I am hoping that someone in Decatur knows of a DHS graduate buried at Arlington. We are planning to purchase a wreath to lay at a graduate’s grave. I already contacted several veteran organizations for this information but it is not common knowledge.

Would you be willing to post a request for Arlington information? I need the exact name of the graduate, branch of service, years of military service, and the dates of birth and death.

Parents are writing in about a letter they just received from Superintendent Phyllis Edwards about CSD’s plans to extend the school day for K-3 and high school students. You can read the letter in its entirety HERE.

In the letter, the Superintendent details a list of considerations that need to be taken into account regarding a revised school day and reiterates that there is no action item on tomorrow night’s School Board agenda regarding this, and that she will not make a final decision on this topic until after Spring Break.  Also, to reassure the community that she is listening, the Superintendent says that she met with all the school principals on this topic today and will seek feedback from CSD’s teachers.

West Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur GA (photo courtesy of Neil)

In a letter to Assistant City Manager David Junger submitted for tonight’s Decatur City Commission meeting, Senior Engineer John Madajewski recommends that the portion of Montgomery Street east of Commerce Drive – adjacent to the Artisan condominiums – be designated “No Parking” on both sides of the street.

Madajewski cites the following reasons for the recommendation:

-  When vehicles are parked adjacent to the Artisan property on the South side of the street along the curb adequate pavement width does not exist to permit two-way traffic flow.  The same situation would occur if vehicles were parked along the North side of the street.

- With the situation described [above] occurring vehicles utilizing the street cannot negotiate past a parked vehicle without blocking the vehicle flow on the street, causing drivers to transition into the opposing travel lane.

The AJC reports this morning that Gov. Nathan Deal is backing off his plan to change Georgia’s Pre-K program from full-time to part time.  How will Deal keep Pre-K full-time and still cut millions from the program?

…Deal said he’ll meet the objective of slashing millions of dollars in program spending by cutting the pre-k year from 180 days to 160 days. He’ll still expand pre-k enrollment, but by 2,000, not 5,000 students as first proposed two weeks ago.

…Brian Robinson, spokesman for the governor, said teachers will see a pay cut because of the shortened school year, but the salary drop will be 10 percent, not the 30 percent that would have come with Deal’s original plan.

In addition, each pre-kindergarten class will add two extra students, saving about $22 million, Hames said.

I’ll contact CSD and ask how this will affect Pre-K for the coming year.

Thanks to Shelley for the heads-up!!