Bulletin Board

The City Schools of Decatur BOE meeting recap newsletter is shared after each regularly scheduled monthly meeting. The October Board of Education meeting was held on October 8, 2024.

Meeting Agendas:

Pre-Work Session

Work Session

Regular Meeting

The recording, which includes the pre-work session, work session, regular meeting, and public comment, is available here.

Glennwood Elementary would like to highlight their student-led community circle, parent band, The Flock, and amazing music teacher, Ms. Kathyrn Pierce.

The Flock of Eagles comprises Glennwood parents Chad Almond, David Wattenmaker, Kurt DuPuis, and Kyle Bryant. They perform and accompany Glennwood’s students at our bi-weekly Community Circle gatherings.

Community Circle is a community-building labor of love for students, staff, and families at Glennwood Elementary School. It is created and led by Glennwood students, teachers, and staff, along with Glennwood’s music teacher, Ms. Kathryn Pierce.

Glennwood is so proud to announce that The Flock of Eagles recently performed at the Decatur Education Foundation’s Battle of the Bands and won a $1,000 grant for their music education program! Ms. Pierce has collaborated with The Flock of Eagles and Glennwood’s admin team to determine how best to use the grant money to enhance the music program. They decided this would be a fantastic opportunity to expand the percussion instruments. They will add tubanos to our West African drum set, a class set of paint buckets for bucket drumming, and an ocean drum. They would also like to host a West African Drumming ensemble with a portion of the funds for the whole school to attend.

Glennwood thanks the Decatur Education Foundation, The Flock of Eagles, the music teacher, Ms. Pierce, and the entire school community! They look forward to the continued partnership with the community and opportunities for continuous student growth and engagement in Community Circle!

Thank you all for your support and dedication to the students of Glennwood Elementary.

We are proud to recognize eight DHS students named as semifinalists for The National Merit Scholarship. The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition among high school students for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships that began in 1955.

The program is conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®), a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance. United States high school students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which serves as an initial screen of over 1.3 million entrants each year, and by meeting published program entry and participation requirements.

These eight academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered in the spring of 2025. We hope these students will join Gordon Lichtstein (DHS Class of 2024) as National Merit Scholarship recipients.

National Merit Semifinalists:

Owen Beck

Miya Brown

Renato Dell’Osso

Avyn Ebersold

Emma Fang

Beatrice Pritchard

Liouville Ran

Eleanor Sterne

The Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) is a residential summer program for skilled, knowledgeable, and talented sophomores and juniors. The program offers instruction that is significantly different from that of the typical high school classroom. It is designed to provide students with the academic, cultural, and social enrichment necessary to become the next generation of global critical thinkers, innovators, and leaders.

Governor’s Honors is held mid-summer (mid-June to mid-July) as a residential educational experience at Georgia Southern University. Students attend classes in the mornings and afternoons in specific areas of study, and they participate in a wide variety of social and instructional opportunities every evening. The Georgia General Assembly offers the program through taxpayer dollars, with full funding at no cost to the student.

DHS GHP 2024 Finalists:

Aidan Tagami, Engineering, Mechanical & Electrical

Victor Agolory, Agricultural Research, Biotechnology, and Science

Emma Fang, Science, Chemistry

Robert Gordick, Computer Science

Michael Kilpatrick, World Language, French

Ellen Kolesnikova, Computer Science

Thea Muhlstein, Science, Physics

Hilary Rucker, Mathematics

Payton Sobon, Social Studies

Eleanor Sterne, Communicative Arts

Ezekiel Werner, Music, Strings: Violin

On behalf of the board, thank you for joining us in person and virtually to learn about the progress of our strategic goals to achieve positive academic and social-emotional outcomes for all students.

I must commend the administration for supporting schools and for persisting in navigating the district through these past weeks. I also want to reassure our school community of the board's commitment to ensuring student and staff safety and making CSD a district where every student is safe, seen, and positioned for lifelong success.

Something I have struggled with regarding school safety is that it only sometimes makes sense to publicize the safety processes. An example that opened my eyes was being upset when I didn't know where my first-grade daughter was during an intruder event at Glennwood. That was until the principal looked me in the eye and said, "We have to prepare for the event that a parent is an issue." Another example was a call to clarify which windows were NOT bulletproof at Talley St. Sadly, that need for secrecy remains.

I got several texts last night and this morning asking me what else I knew about the threat that was received by the Decatur Police the previous night. And the honest answer was - nothing.

But, as a board, we are committed to doing all we can legally do to protect, prevent, and respond; to investigate all threats thoroughly and with vigor (but we are not law enforcement); to take them at their word); and most importantly, through funding the necessary tools to ensure the district's emergency and crisis preparedness. Tools such as Centegix, updated cameras, detectors, training, and additional staff, to name a few. Let me assure you, as board chair and father of two CSD students, the safety of all staff and students is our top priority.

Speaking of success, we're extremely pleased with the gains in student achievement this past year, particularly for our traditionally marginalized students.

During today's pre-work, we continued our book study on "The Governance Core: School Boards, Superintendents, and Schools Working Together." The board updated our communications norms. Pre-work also included an informative early learning panel. The guests shared their expertise to deepen the board's knowledge of the trends and necessary steps for success as we move toward implementing the early learning objective in our strategic plan.

There were four presentations during the work session. The first was an update on MTSS and Dyslexia, which included an overview of the processes, interventions, and results of the 2023-24 STAR Literacy Screening. Literacy is a key focus area of the strategic plan, and we continue to monitor this work closely. The second presentation was an overview of the school allotment guidelines. These will be essential in our preparation for next year's budget. We also reviewed recommendations for policies related to finance.

During the following two presentations, the board learned about the potential financial impact of House Bill 581, which passed during the last legislative sessions and will be on the ballot for voters in November. The bill is a floating homestead exemption bill limiting annual increases in home assessments to reduce property tax hikes. A draft of the 2025 Legislative Priorities followed for our review. The final presentation was a final review of the proposed FY26 budget calendar. All of the presentations are available in Simbli.

Last week, many of our students, staff, and families enjoyed the festivities of the National Night Out. The Decatur Housing Authority hosts this annual event in October to coincide with the National Crime Prevention and Safely Month observance. National Night provides a fun atmosphere for community-building while promoting police-community partnerships and awareness.

There are so many amazing things happening around CSD!

Dr. Whitaker mentioned the DHS Bulldogs earlier. We are barely three months into the school year, and they're already on a roll! Last week, head coach William Felton won the Atlanta Falcons Coach of the Week in the AJC. This week, the team will be recognized by Fox 5 as the High-Five Team of the Week. It's also exciting that with sponsorship from Georgia EMC, the Georgia High School Association selected Decatur High School as the 2023-2024 recipient of the Region 4-(5A) Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award.

And wow! During the work session, we recognized eight students who were among the 1% of seniors nationally to be selected as 2025 National Merit finalists. We also applauded the 11 Finalists of the 2024 Georgia Governor's Honors Program. Finalists will be announced next semester. Way to Go, Bulldogs! Congratulations to all of the DHS students and staff. We wish them the best in their academic pursuits!

As National Hispanic American Month continues, so do the school celebrations around CSD, with art, authors, music, and dance. The Bulldogs at Beacon Hill are enjoying a schoolwide Avocado Hunt. Avocados are a key ingredient in Spanish culture, representing cultural pride, family gatherings, and abundance.

At Talley Street, reading is "Lit" and "Out of this world!" Students and staff at all of the schools are recognizing National Book Month with various fun activities.

I've also heard "Winnona Park is for the Birds!" These days, they are working to create a rotation for the bird feeders in front of the school on Restaurant Row to be cleaned and filled, and they want the community to help. Check out their school newsletter in the CSD Weekly to learn how to support them.

To kick off their fall EL Education Expeditions, kindergartners at Glennwood got a visit from the expert "Animal Man." They had an opportunity to meet and learn about some very unique animals. During recognitions, the board recognized the Glennwood parent band, The Flock of Eagles, and their amazing music teacher, Ms. Kathryn Pierce.

Get set, get ready! All the schools are gearing up to join millions of families nationwide for the annual Walk and Roll this week.

In October, we also commemorate the history and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community. Finally, we join the national shout-out to school principals this month for overseeing the magic! Thank you for setting high standards for instruction, student achievement, and a sense of belonging in our schools.

In recent weeks, we have witnessed the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, faced frequent air quality alerts caused by the chemical plant fire, and felt deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives in a local school district. Our thoughts also remain with our many students, staff, and families who have very personal connections to countries currently suffering from war.

CSD recognizes that upheaval can affect us locally, nationally, or globally. Like all organizations, local, state, and national, City Schools of Decatur is navigating the complexities of ongoing change and uncertainty while maintaining our purpose of educating the diversity of students who enter our doors.

I want to reiterate to our school community that while we are still a district in progress, we remain steadfast in our mission to create a school district that genuinely promotes inclusion - for all.

Tonight, we are very proud to announce the Scholastic Aptitude Test results of the class of 2024, otherwise known as the SAT. According to the results from the Georgia DOE, City Schools of Decatur rose to #2 this year out of 182 school districts across the state, outpacing the metro and national averages.

Specifically, 73% of the 2024 graduating seniors at Decatur High School took the SAT, earning an average score of 1169. This score represents a 22-point mean increase overall from 2023, including a 7-point rise in evidence-based reading and writing and a 15-point increase in math. The entire school community celebrates this accomplishment for our 2024 graduates, whose achievements reflect the district's commitment to academic excellence and college readiness.

To further highlight student performance, Deputy Superintendent Karen Newton-Scott will provide an update on the spring 2024 GMAS, or Georgia Milestone Assessment Results, in all content areas, along with the newly released graduation rate for the class of 2024.

Click here to listen and view the presentation starting at 3:11:30 in the meeting recording. Thank you, Mrs. Newton Scott, for highlighting student success in all areas. While we are pleased with the gains in the aggregate, we still have work to do to close achievement gaps for black and economically disadvantaged students. In Mrs. Newton Scott's presentation, we provided the average percentage of students scoring proficient and above by race.

Over the past month, I have been on data tours in upper elementary and middle schools, discussing these scores by a cohort. For example, if I were a teacher in 7th grade, I would want to know how my current 7th graders performed in 6th grade, 5th grade, 4th grade, and so on. That is cohort analysis, which teachers use to inform instructional decisions. However, the state holds us accountable for targets that are not cohort. We are held responsible for how the 7th-grade class performed last year compared to the 7th-grade class two years ago. On the data tours, I shared perspectives at the aggregate level and scores by race.

Now that we have the math scores, I will do the same data tours at the high school later this month. I should also note that these scores show our growth in just one year and are inching closer to pre-pandemic levels.

When the state releases our College and Career Readiness Performance Index rating (hopefully in December), we will be able to inform the board and the public of the results for our economically disadvantaged students. The state does not provide that file until we get the CCRPI results. In the interim, our data dashboard on our website has most of the results presented today, with the newly released math and graduation rate available by Friday.

I invite students, staff, and community members to share their thoughts on our current roadmap for success during my fall listening sessions. The first one will be virtual on October 14. The link will be accessible on the CSD website. Then, there will be two more in person on October 23 at Talley Street Upper Elementary School and October 29 at the Decatur Housing Authority. I will also provide information on how early learning - and the urgency for another site - is integrated into the roadmap for student success in all areas.

Before I end my remarks, I want to inform everyone that today is Go Red for Dyslexia. By wearing red, we are helping to spread awareness of dyslexia, which is one of the seven disabilities that we are highlighting for National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month. Next Friday, October 18, CSD students and staff will Go Pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The community is invited to join us at the end of the day for a Pink Out at the DHS Varsity football game. In October, we also raise awareness to end Domestic Partner Violence.

The City Schools of Decatur executive cabinet wore red for World Dyslexia Day, October 8.

The board unanimously approved the following consent items:

• August Financial Reports

• August School Nutrition Fund Report

• September Personnel Report

• Overnight/Out-of-State Student Travel

• FY2026 Budget Calendar

• Winnona Park Elementary Playground

• Camera System for Decatur High School

Staff presented a proposed capital spending plan at the September Board work session. Per the Superintendent’s request, the presentation has been amended to reflect an increase in SPLOST VI investment in Safety & Security projects and a reduction in expenditure in CSD-owned properties’ conversion to duplexes and brought back to the board as information.

• Policy DIB - Financial Reports

• Policy DJEA - Purchasing Authority

• Policy DJEAC - Purchasing or Credit Card Use

• Policy DC - Annual Operating Budget

Next Regular Board Meeting: The next regular board meeting will be on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

Other Upcoming Meetings:

• Joint Board of Education and City of Decatur Commission Retreat on Tuesday, October 15, at 10:00 am at Agnes Scott College Pate Evans Hall

• Board Retreat on November 19, 2024, at 10:00 am at Decatur High School.

Link to Join Board Meeting Virtually: https://csdecatur.zoom.us/j/95614159391

Board Agenda(s): Go to Simbli to access the CSD Board of Education meeting agenda(s), supporting documents, and meeting minutes.

Public Comments: Click here for information on signing up to speak at a CSD Board meeting.

Contacting Board Members: Email the entire board at board@csdecatur.net. Click here to view board member bios and contact information.

The board values hearing from members of our community. Each Board member reviews and reads all emails sent by our stakeholders.

Georgia law governs school boards, and they cannot intervene in the day-to-day administrative operations of the school district, including direct staff and personnel matters. If you write to us with a concern about district operations, your message will be forwarded to the school or district administrator, who can best address your concern.

The board has also adopted a set of norms that govern our local communication protocols. These include:

1. Emails to individual board members are shared with the entire board.

2. Issues and concerns received by the board and or individual members will be referred to the Superintendent.

3. Board members will follow the chain of command and will educate, instruct, and encourage others to do the same.

4. The board chair will reply to emails from constituents sent to all board members. That reply will include the superintendent and other board members on the thread, and the constituent will be informed that the superintendent or their designee will respond to the inquiry/request.

5. Direct all stakeholders’ questions, input, or discussion to the Superintendent, who will communicate them as needed to the board.

Email: board@csdecatur.net
Website: csdecatur.net
Location: 125 Electric Avenue, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: (404) 371-3601