East Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur GA (pic submitted by Sharron)

Here’s Superintendent Phyllis Edwards letter to the School Board from the agenda for the May 10th meeting (see action item IX g)…

As we prepare to open Glennwood K-3 and the 4/5 Academy at Fifth Avenue, it has become clear that school bell times and the district bus schedule must be modified. Earlier in the year, a schedule was proposed which lengthened the elementary day and took into consideration and additional school site.

The following month another schedule was proposed which placed the high school and the middle school at earlier start times.  The public comments centered around the research related to the needs of adolescents to have more sleep.

I asked the Board for parameters and I heard that I needed to develop a schedule with no school beginning before 8:00 am.  I was also asked to provide costs associated with adding additional buses.

After reviewing a number of options, the following schedule meets the parameters outlined and addresses the concerns that were heard at various times:

School	Time
Decatur High	8:00-3:00
Clairemont Elementary	8:00-2:30
Glennwood Elementary	8:00-2:30
Oakhurst Elementary	8:00-2:30
Winnona Park Elementary	8:00-2:30
Fifth Avenue 4/5 Academy	8:45-3:45
Renfroe Middle	8:45-3:45

Read the rest of this entry »

Oh how times have changed.

Sure, many us lament the loss of the Candler Hotel, the moving of the Death House on Sycamore Street and the replacement of WEST Courthouse Square with the “Birds from Hell” building.  But all of this pales in comparison to an idea floated around Decatur in 1977.

I certainly didn’t live in Decatur back then – perhaps some long-time residents can provide some first-hand historical perspective in the comments – but needless to say Decatur was in a slightly different place in 1977.  And apparently things were difficult enough that a majority of respondents to a survey by the Decatur Tax Payers League were in favor of abolishing the entire city if DeKalb couldn’t come up with a way lower taxes for residents. Apparently double-taxation with the County is nothing new.  (Though the city rectified much of this problem recently)

But back in 1977, an independent City of Decatur government wasn’t enough of a “value-add” for a majority of survey respondents to keep the city intact.  According to a July 13, 1977 article in a paper I can’t identify (DeKalb Era maybe??),

• 50% of respondents were in favor of transferring Police, Recreation and Planning Departments to the County.
• 51% of respondents were in favor of transferring the Fire Department to DeKalb County
• 58% of respondents were in favor of eliminating the city appraiser (something that has since happened)
• 70% of respondents were in favor of eliminating the “Around Decatur” newspaper published by the city
• 68% of respondents were in favor of eliminating the Decatur school system
• 51% of respondents were in favor of removing the charter of the city of Decatur if taxes could not be lowered.

Crazy, huh?

I’m about a week late on this, but still think it’s worth pointing out to anyone that doesn’t also stalk Thomas Wheatley online.  The ARC has created an interactive map that shows all proposed transportation projects currently on the Transportation Roundtable’s table.  Sure we reviewed all of Decatur’s projects a few weeks back, but what about MARTA and DeKalb projects that GO THROUGH Decatur?  Heh?  Did ja think about those??

For instance upgrades and expansion of the DeKalb Multi-Use trail running along Howard Ave!  Let me know what else you discuss, as I haven’t had a ton of time to investigate yet.

Patrick sends along this note about this coming weekend’s Avondale Estates Art-B-Que fest…

Looking for something amazing and unique for the family to do this mother’s day weekend? Head over to the rail arts district in avondale estates for the fourth annual art-b-que!

Explore for treasures in the artist market, listen to amazing live music and sample the tasty eats! Arrive early and pry secrets from pit masters throughout the amateur bar-b-que competition… or let your nose lead you to your favorite entry.

The younger set will love the kid zone! saturday afternoon artists young and old will want to see Kate Demint’s paper making demonstration. Looking for more action-oriented entertainment? Live music all weekend includes nine inch neils, worthless son in laws and headlining saturday night:noot d’Noot.

Late night entertainment includes the imperial opa circus and the art of such and such interactive scuplture. It’s the fourth annual art-b-que in the rail arts district of Avondale Estates, May seventh and eighth. grab mom and head to Art-B-Que for a weekend she won’t soon forget!