An op-ed from frequent DM commenter and some time contributor Scott…

If you’re trying to make something happen that’s contingent on consensus-building, the greatest out-of-the-gate win you can achieve is defining the terms of the conversation.

If you set the terms, you control the discussion. You dictate what is and isn’t on the table and what will or won’t be topics of consideration by decision-makers.

It’s not just a procedural matter. For those skilled in context-setting, it can mean an 80% victory before you even get started. And, for those who enjoy the theatrics and pageantry of the public process as much as I do, it presents a certain irony.

A frequent item of discussion here on Decatur Metro is the City Schools of Decatur’s inability to communicate effectively and yet, in terms of wielding this particular tool of process manipulation, their mastery is unmatched.

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CSD just sent along this announcement from Superintendent Phyllis Edwards…

Dr. Edwards has requested that the Board of Education table tonight’s original Action Item concerning Master Planning until the May 14th Board of Education meeting. Details for previously planned community events will be announced after spring break, and will be held at Decatur High School and Renfroe Middle School in the weeks following spring break.

CSD is currently projecting 1,891 students enrolled at Decatur High School and 1,666 at Renfroe Middle School by 2018.  If these numbers came to fruition, it means that a major renovation must take place at Decatur High School and Renfroe Middle School before then to accommodate all these upper-level students.

The Decatur School Board is scheduled to vote this Tuesday on a renovation plan for both schools.  (In terms of K-3, CSD now believes it can accommodate K-3 students through 2018 with Westchester reopening and the following new assumptions: that there WON’T be a large-scale annexation in that period and that they “maximize capacity” instead of attempting to meet GA DOE requirements.)

Three options are currently on the table for DHS and Renfroe – as you can see in this giant Master Plan presentation – with the administration currently favoring option #3.

For DHS (renovation timeline 2014-2017) Option #3 includes the following features, among others:

• accommodates 95% of the projected students enrolled
• repurposes the career academy and the main building
• main building renovations are delayed until Phase II
• three floor addition added to commons building

For Renfroe (renovation timeline 2014-2015) Option #3 includes the following features, among others:

• accommodates 90% of all the of projected students enrolled
• only renovates the kitchen and cafeteria in Phase 1
• Expands the gym
• Phase 2 would demolish the existing Middle School and provide an entirely new facility.

To pay for these huge renovations, costing upwards of $58 million, the CSD administration states that there is no other option but to hold a bond referendum on November 5th.

h/t: Patch

I’m a couple of days late in pointing this out, but it’s still worth acknowledging even if many of you have already seen it.

Back on Tuesday, the AJC’s Maureen Downey wrote a beautiful report/reflection/eulogy about Renfroe teacher Stacey Daniel on her blog.  Ms. Downey and her son’s personal experiences with Ms. Daniel and very reflective of the reactions of many who knew and work with Ms. Daniel.  Here’s a small excerpt from the beginning of the post…

My 13-year-old twins differ on many things. My son’s favorite meal is a burger. My daughter prefers sushi. When my son rushes to the computer, he’s checking on the Falcons. When my daughter goes online, she’s checking Facebook He’s a math guy. She’s a language arts kid.

But there is one thing on which they agree: Stacey Daniel was their favorite teacher of all time at Renfroe Middle School in Decatur. And they were not alone in that. Hundreds of students in Decatur considered Ms. Daniel their most beloved teacher.

All the very best to Ms. Daniel’s family, friends and students during this extremely difficult time.

City Schools of Decatur sent around this announcement yesterday evening…

“The Greatest Lesson I Learned from Ms. Stacey Daniel”

Please join the Decatur community as we remember beloved teacher, colleague and friend, Stacey Daniel, on Monday, November 5, 2012 at 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Decatur High School Gymnasium.

A program has been lovingly planned by current and former Renfroe Middle School faculty, students and families. Ms. Daniel’s principals, colleagues, and students will reflect on the greatest lessons they learned from Ms. Stacey Daniel. Her life will be celebrated through prose, poetry, music and dance.

A reception will follow in the foyer of the Theatre/Gymnasium.

In addition to the Decatur High School parking lots, attendees may park at Renfroe Middle School and the parking deck at Agnes Scott College (second floor and above).

Gifts of Memories

• A Condolence Basket, created by local artist and CSD mother Janis Dunckel, will be in the foyer to collect sentiments from all who knew and loved Ms. Daniel.  Please write a note, a memory, or a life lesson you learned from Stacey Daniel to drop in the Condolence Basket.  The Basket will be presented to Ms. Daniel’s family on Monday, with the hope that reading sentiments from the Decatur community will bring comfort in the coming weeks.  Slips of paper and pens will be provided.

• Cards, poems and letters for Ms. Daniel’s family will be collected in the lobby as well.  Please look for a special box to deposit a card or letter.

• The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, please send donations to a fund honoring the memory of Stacey Daniel through the Decatur Education Foundation. The donations will be used to honor the legacy and life’s work of Ms. Daniel, and specific details will be determined in the coming weeks.

Checks may be made payable to: Decatur Education Foundation

• 200 Nelson Ferry Road, Suite B
• Decatur, Georgia 30030
• Memo: Stacey Daniel Memorial

Or you may donate online at: http://decatureducationfoundation.org/

Follow the “Donate” link and type “Stacey Daniel Memorial” in the Comments or in Gift Designation text box.

City Schools of Decatur, and especially Renfroe Middle School, is so grateful for the outpouring of support and sympathy we have received from our community.  We hope you will join us on Monday as we remember Ms. Stacey Daniel together.