CSD Supe Scoop, November 1, 2024

Greetings, CSD:

The past month has been quite eventful. CSD held its inaugural State of the Schools address, participated in a joint session with the Board of Education and the Decatur City Commission, and organized three fall listening sessions to gather feedback from our stakeholders. These initiatives were designed to enhance transparency and encourage collaboration throughout the district. More information about the discussions from these events can be found in the newsletter below.

We also celebrated some remarkable accomplishments across the district. CSD achieved the highest ACT scores among 172 participating public school districts and secured second place for SAT scores out of 182 public schools in the state. Additionally, our high school raised its graduation rate to 95.25% for the class of 2024, ranking second in the metro area and surpassing the state average of 85.4%. These achievements are among numerous outstanding student accomplishments from the past month!

Additionally, I have truly enjoyed witnessing our schools celebrate literacy, host performances and competitions, and create opportunities for students to enhance their leadership skills and academic excellence.

Thank you for all your efforts to foster success in the City Schools of Decatur.

Sincerely,

Dr. Gyimah Whitaker

Pictured clockwise from top left: Superintendent Dr. Gyimah Whitaker delivers the State of the Schools address; co-presidents of the DHS SGA Jaemin Park and Kate Sherwood emcee; Chair, DHA Board of Commissioners Melissa Heffner, Mayor of Decatur Patti Garrett, CEO of Decatur Housing Authority Doug Faust, Dr. Whitaker, Decatur City Commissioner Kelly Walsh and BOE member Hans Utz; the audience featured CSD stakeholders and supporters; the Beacon Hill orchestra performs; Chief Turnaround Officer/Deputy Superintendent with Georgia Department of Education Dr. Stephanie Johnson, Dr. Whitaker and the Georgia Board of Education's fourth Congressional District representative Lisa Kinnemore.

CSD held its first-ever State of the Schools address on Friday, October 11. The event began with impressive performances from the Beacon Hill orchestra and chorus, accompanied by a presentation of colors by the DHS colorguard and a moving rendition of the national anthem by DHS chorus students.

In her address, Dr. Whitaker reflected on her inaugural year as Superintendent, emphasizing CSD's academic successes, the achievements of the All In Decatur strategic plan, and ongoing efforts to close the achievement gap. The audience also heard from Meagan Berardi, president of the Decatur Education Foundation, BOE member Hans Utz, BOE Student Representative Sophie D’Elena, and emcees Jaemin Park and Kate Sherwood, co-presidents of the DHS SGA. Thank you to our talented student performers and cadets and their wonderful teachers: JROTC teacher Col. Johnny Richards, orchestra teacher Mr. Bobby Crosby, and chorus teacher Dr. David Hirschorn.

Attendees included CSD stakeholders and supporters, local and State elected officials, senior leaders from the Georgia Department of Education and Georgia Superintendents Association, four university presidents and other senior administrators from Georgia higher education institutions, business and non-profit leaders, and CSD officials, leadership, principals, and parents. We appreciate everyone who attended!

Decatur High School's graduating class of 2024 earned the highest average ACT score of all 172 participating public school districts in Georgia, in addition to earning the second-highest average SAT score among all 182 Georgia public schools, outpacing metro and national averages.

DHS's 2024 average ACT score was 24.6, which increased 0.9 points from the previous year, positioning the district as a state-wide leader in academic performance. Additionally, CSD announced that its graduation rate increased to 95.25% for Decatur High School's class of 2024, up 1.20% from the previous year's rate of 94.05%.

CSD's graduation rate ranks second among districts in the Metro RESA region and is outpacing the 2024 state average graduation rate of 85.4%, according to the Georgia Department of Education. The increase in the graduation rate reflects the tireless efforts of students, teachers, administrators, and parents who contribute to an inclusive and supportive culture of achievement. Thank you to everyone who supports our students!

Congratulations to DHS for earning the title of an AP® School Honor Roll for the 2023-24 academic year! The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools that excel in encouraging students to enroll in Accelerated Placement courses. Students in AP classes are more inclined to pursue and thrive in college. Thank you to the teachers, counselors, administrators, students, and parents who understand the value and prioritize taking AP courses!

Congratulations to DHS students Peri Jeffers and Tobiah Watt, who took first and second place in cabinetmaking at the Associated General Contractors of Georgia Skills Challenge, respectively! Their next stop is the state competition in February. Cabinet Making is a part of the DHS Career Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) program. Special thanks to their woodworking teacher, Randy Archer, for his instructional leadership.

In October, the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) teams from Oakhurst and Westchester participated in Universal Classroom Systems Training for Educators facilitated by the Metro Regional Educational Service Agency (MRESA). This training teaches PBIS teams how to establish systems and data components to ensure that Tier I Classroom PBIS practices are implemented correctly.

Teams included Jennifer Triplett, Arlethea Williams, Shannon Staton, and Courtney Hartnett from Oakhurst, and Christine Knox, Latonya Henry, Brooke Nation, and Dionne Cannon from Westchester.

CSD has won a $50,000 Energy CLASS Prize phase two award from the Office of State and Community Energy Programs because of its demonstrated commitment to training, teamwork, and implementation of energy-efficient projects. In addition to this program's $100,000 phase one award, this funding will allow CSD to further invest in energy infrastructure projects that reduce utility costs and create healthier learning environments.

The Board of Education and Decatur City Commission held an in-person joint meeting on Tuesday, October 15, at Agnes Scott College to discuss communication and collaboration strategies, early learning, and shared spaces. Attendees gave feedback about the proposed early childhood learning center and discussed avenues for further collaboration between CSD and the City.

According to the 2023 Georgia Milestone scores, 73% of all students in CSD met grade-level expectations in English Language Arts, while only 23% of economically disadvantaged students did. For math, those figures were 70% and 23%, respectively. This illustrates the urgent need to support vulnerable populations by closing the achievement gap from ages 0-3.

CSD aims to create an inclusive learning environment, including a new early learning center. In 2017, CSD acquired land for this purpose, with a commitment to use it for public education.

The H.E.A.R.T. of the community embodies:

• High-quality childcare programs
• Equitable access to education
• Active family and community engagement
• Readiness for kindergarten
• Transformative learning outcomes

The CSD Strategic Plan emphasizes building the new early learning center at what was previously known as Beacon Hill, across from the Ebster Recreation Center, with plans to open in fall 2027 after community engagement and board approval.

Dear CSD Families:

In September 2022, the Board of Education approved the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar, which includes a remote Digital Learning Day on November 5, 2024. The purpose of this day is two-fold: the remote Digital Learning Day will enable staff to participate in civic engagement on Election Day, and it will provide an opportunity further to grow our secondary students’ digital learning skills. Additionally, staff will have dedicated time to participate in training and professional development.

To assist in planning, CSD has linked a Remote Digital Learning Day FAQ with answers to some frequently asked questions related to the remote Digital Learning Day. Families will receive communications directly from schools about specific digital day learning plans for individual sites.

Click here for the remote Digital Learning Day FAQ.

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, in partnership with the National Weather Service (NWS), declare Wednesday, November 6 as Georgia’s Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Day.

Special NOAA Weather Radio "Routine Weekly Test" Information:

NWS offices that cover Georgia will send out a modified routine weekly test via the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio at around 9:30 a.m., with no additional radio tests that day. This special weather radio message typically helps schools and businesses initiate severe weather safety action plans. We will also share helpful severe weather safety tips and reminders via the NWS website and social media outlets.

A link to GEMA's press release for this Wednesday's preparedness day can be found here.

Some parts of Georgia see an increase in severe weather, including tornadoes, during November and early December. The GEMA/HS Ready Georgia campaign offers resources and information residents can use to be informed about potential threats. Citizens can also develop a communications plan and create an emergency kit.

Ways to receive severe weather alerts and warnings

• NOAA Weather Radio: Watches and warnings issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) air on these radios.
• County Alert Systems: Contact your local EMA director to determine if your county uses outdoor warning sirens or a telephone notification system.
• Television Stations: Local or national news stations monitor and broadcast weather alerts.
• AM/FM Radio: Radio stations are required to air Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages.
• Smartphone Applications: Some apps use GPS tracking on your phone and notify you of severe weather warnings based on location.
• Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): Emergency messages sent by authorized government alerting authorities through your mobile carrier.

CSD was pleased to join the Decatur Housing Authority, Decatur Police, Decatur Fire, and the community to celebrate National Night Out on Wednesday, October 1. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships, provides community resources from local organizations, and heightens community awareness of crime prevention and safety.

On Friday, October 3, Decatur High School hosted German exchange students in the Learning Commons. Dr. Whitaker welcomed the students and met with the exchange teachers.

CSD previously communicated that all students enrolled in a PE class in CSD would participate in the state’s new Fit GA fitness assessment this year. However, due to continued unresolved technical issues with the state’s new Fit GA platform, CSD has decided to waive participation in the Fit GA assessment for the 2024-25 school year. While some classes and students already participated in a pre-test, no classes or students will be post-tested this year.

Representatives from the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) will be visiting CSD next week to observe classrooms and schools as part of an ongoing effort to support CSD as it addresses its Identification Disproportionality status within Special Education. The goal of these observations is to provide guidance and assistance in ensuring that CSD is offering equitable and effective services for all students.

Parents and guardians of students with disabilities, GaDOE requests that you complete this survey by November 4 to help us better understand the needs of our students, families, and schools. The insights gathered from this survey will directly contribute to improving the educational experience and support we provide.

CSD Weekly is the district's new districtwide newsletter that includes links to all school newsletters and provides the latest district news, enabling families with students at multiple schools to access updates using one convenient source.

Community members who are not automatically subscribed to a school newsletter may subscribe to CSD News here and select to receive news from "City Schools of Decatur" to receive CSD Weekly.

The City of Decatur Police Department is implementing an automated photo speed enforcement program following a study that identified speeding as a significant issue in school zones. Cameras will be placed near Beacon Hill Middle School, Clairemont Elementary School, Westchester Elementary School, and Winnona Park Elementary School to deter speeding motorists.

A warning period is now in place for speed limit violations in school zones. Violators will receive a warning in the mail marked in red before live enforcement starts on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. Motorists exceeding the speed limit by 10+ MPH will receive a citation with a $100 fine for the first violation and $150 for subsequent violations. Photo speed cameras will be active on school days during school zone hours.

DEF's Supper & Sips Raises Crucial Funds for Our Community!

Grab your friends and neighbors and join us for an evening of fun, fellowship, and (delicious) food on Thursday, November 14, at The Chapel on Sycamore! You'll enjoy live music, raffles, a fund-a-need, and live auction items you won't find anywhere else! The best part? Your good time raises money to support DEF's Teacher Innovation Grants and initiatives addressing food insecurity, student mental health, arts infusion, school travel grants, and so much more. Get your tickets here or sign up to volunteer. Don't miss this FUNdraiser!

Congratulations to DEF's Teacher Innovation Grant Recipients!

The Decatur Education Foundation is thrilled to announce that it has awarded 32 Teacher Innovation Grants totaling nearly $32,000!

Because of these grants, students at CSD K-2 schools will benefit from social-emotional learning and enhanced performing arts programs. A reading engagement program at BHMS will teach parents how to support struggling readers. STEM projects abound at our 3-5 schools, as well as at Decatur High School. And our youngest learners at College Heights will benefit from new literacy programming.

Funding our educators' great ideas is a highlight of what we do at DEF, and we hope to open a second grant cycle in January! Please help us support our teachers and fund more classroom innovation by making a donation or becoming a Step Up Circle donor or monthly giver. Together, we make a difference for our kids and our teachers! See the complete list of awardees here.

CSD has launched CSD Constituent Services, which provides centralized resources for stakeholders to navigate district processes and help address their concerns.

CSD believes concerns are best handled as close to their origin, starting with the school staff or principal. A key element of Constituent Services is ResolveCSD, a new process for elevating issues that cannot be resolved at a school or department level. Learn more at the CSD Constituent Services website.

• Daylight Saving Time, November 3
  
• DHS Junior & Senior Programs Info Night, November 4, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
  
• Remote Digital Learning Day, November 5
  
• (Fall) Georgia Severe Weather Preparedness Day, November 6
• Math Night for K-12 Students: "Pizza with the School Principals," November 6, 5 p.m.
  
• Social Emotional Learning Standards Feedback/Input Session, November 6, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
  
• Board of Education Meeting, November 12
• Board Retreat, November 19
• Thanksgiving Break, November 25-29

We’re closing out Fire Prevention Month with Decatur Fire Chief Toni Washington as the special guest on the October episode of the CSD Words with Dr. Whitaker podcast.

Previous episodes

The CSD Words with Dr. Whitaker podcast highlights news and information with various stakeholders who are All In for City Schools of Decatur.

Be “All In” for CSD and stay connected with us by subscribing to receive the latest school and district news and information, and following City Schools of Decatur on social media.