After many months of community discussion, the Decatur City Commission will take up the School Board’s request tonight to place the request for a $75 million GO bond on the November 3rd ballot to build more schools to accommodate growing student enrollment.

Decatur School Board Chair, Garrett Goebel, submitted this formal request to Mayor Jim Baskett…

Dear Mayor Baskett:

Please accept this formal letter asking that you place the request of a 75 million dollar bond on the November ballot. The School Board has reviewed a myriad of information over a period of 20 months. We have come to the understanding and decision that in order to meet the growing student population projections; we must ask the voters for their approval of a General Obligation Bond.

We are comfortable that we have provided you with the information necessary. We are also pleased that various results indicate that 90% of the survey respondents recognize and are aware of the needs of the school system.

The Superintendent has been working with our financial advisor, Dianne McNabb, and the Bond Attorney, Terri Fin nester. Attached to this letter you will find the appropriate documentation.

The Board is asking that the Commission take up this action on June 1, 2015.

Thank you for your assistance with this matter.

Meeting starts at 7:30p this evening.  You can tune in for the live broadcast HERE or check it out on Comcast channel 25.

The Decatur School Board has put a special work session on its calendar for next Monday, February 23rd at 6:30p to discuss the $82 million GO Bond the school system has asked the City Commission to put before voters in November.

AJC’s Bill Banks reports…

Peg Bumgardner sends in this note…

Due to a death in the family and travel Wednesday, I was unable to send my congratulations publicly to Garrett for his win. It was refreshing to have a positive election process that allowed us to bubble school issues to the top of conversations.

Friends, neighbors, supporters, and Decaturites, thank you for the opportunity to get to know more about you, your thoughts, ideas and concerns. I look forward to continuing to serve all the children of Decatur, as I always have.

I wish Garrett all the best.

Peg

According to Garrett Goebel’s campaign, he has won the District 1 school board seat being vacated by John Ahmann.  More details as we get them.

Are you suffering from heated, local political rivalry withdrawal?  Do you find yourself listening to the Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling” repeatedly just so that it feels a bit more like 2009, when Decatur had FOUR hotly contested races (two city/two school board) going on at the same time?

Well, this might not be an all-out cure, but at least it has the potential to mollify some of the less attractive symptoms of local politi-talk withdrawal until election day.  (It’s only a couple weeks away!)

Patch has asked School Board District 1 candidates Peg Bumgardner and Garett Goebel 11 questions regarding their candidacy.   Questions include: What are the biggest issues facing the school system?  Should Westchester be reopened?  The new nepotism policy.   The bus schedules.  Would you raise the school millage rate?  And more!

So get on over there and learn up on your candidates!  You ain’t just going to the polls to vote for Sunday liquor sales, are ya?

Dave over at inDecatur posted two videos, which together show a good portion of the forum between school board candidates Peg Bumgardner and Garrett Goebel at the Church of Decatur Heights on Sunday afternoon.

Bumgardner-Goebel debate for CSD School Board 10/9/2011 Pt 1 of 2 from Dave Kell on Vimeo.

Part II after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Just a reminder that the Decatur Heights neighborhood is hosting a District 1 school board candidates forum this Sunday at the Church of Decatur Heights from 1:30p to 3:30p.  In case you missed the full announcement previously, here’s the link.

Sadly, due to the recent passing of her mother, School Board member Julie Rhame will be unable to attend as originally planned. “It speaks volumes to Julie’s dedication to our schools,” said DM commenter and forum organizer Deanne, “that she still wanted to try to meet with the community to answer questions. It’s certainly in keeping with all that she’s always done.”

Our best to Julie and her whole family during this difficult time.