Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The Decatur School Board dropped the idea of building a whole new middle school.
The Decatur School Board voted Tuesday night to approve a master plan for renovating Decatur High and Renfroe Middle schools. The building project will be financed with $58 million in general obligation bonds. A referendum will be held Nov 5. This board voted for a plan that doesn't call for construction of a new Renfroe Middle, which was one of the options considered. Patch emailed Board Chairman Marc Wisniewski and asked how the board came to a decision. He said by email that the board discussed enrollment projections (the student bodies are expected to double in five years at those schools), decided they were accurate and went from there. Having affirmed the enrollment, we then focused on our formally receiving the master plan report. …
Friday, May 10, 2013
The Decatur School Board meets Tuesday and the superintendent is asking for guidance on the next move.
Decatur Schools Superintendent Phyllis Edwards is asking for advice about how to proceed with a $58 million plan to renovate Decatur High and rebuild Renfroe Middle School. In the agenda for the Tuesday school board meeting that's posted online, Edwards doesn't make a recommendation about what the board should do. Instead she writes, "At this time we are seeking direction from the school board. If we are to move forward with seeking a GO [general obligation] bond, there are many additional steps that must be taken before a November 2013 vote." The board had already delayed a decision once. A vote was scheduled for April 2 but Edwards got a delay to allow more public input. Commenters on Decatur Patch and Decatur Metro had complained they …
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Before you go to the Thursday meeting, check out the many documents now collected on the City Schools of Decatur website.
A master planning forum on Decatur school construction projects will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Renfroe Middle School. With enrollment growing rapidly, the school system wants to extensively renovate Decatur High and rebuild Renfroe Middle. The favored plan would cost about $58 million and require a bond referendum in November. If you want to ask informed questions, take time to study the master planning documents now collected in one spot on the City Schools of Decatur (CSD) website. The website has enrollment projections, presentations given to the school board, a schedule of forums and answers to frequently asked questions, such as: Questions can be submitted online or asked at the forums. Here's the schedule for forums. Renfroe …
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
George Carley, the retired chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, administered the oath of office to Scott Drake.
Decatur has five city commissioners again. On Monday night, Scott Drake was sworn in as the commissioner for District 1, Post B. George H. Carley, the retired chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, administered the oath of office at the city commission meeting. Carley, a Decatur resident, noted that he'd known Drake since he was a boy. Drake takes the seat that Bill Floyd held for more than 20 years. Floyd resigned Jan. 7 to take a consulting job, leaving the board of commissioners with only four members until Monday night. Drake defeated Greg Coleson March 19 in a special election.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Scott Drake will officially take the Decatur City Commission seat that Bill Floyd held for more than 20 years.
Scott Drake will be sworn in Monday night as the Decatur City Commissioner for District 1, Post B. He'll take the oath at the 7:30 p.m. city commission meeting in city hall and then take his seat at the table with the four other commissioners. Bill Floyd held the post for more than two decades. Floyd, who also served as the commission-elected mayor, resigned Jan. 7 to take a consulting job. Drake won a close March 19 election over Greg Coleson. Drake will be the junior member on a board that doesn't see much turnover. The city webpage says Patti Garrett was first elected in November 2009, Fred Boykin in November 2001, Kecia Cunningham in November 1999 and Jim Baskett in November 1995 Drake, 37, grew up in Decatur and has served as the …
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Scott Drake topped Greg Coleson in a two-man special election for the District 1 seat that Bill Floyd held for two decades.
Scott Drake, an interactive marketing agency employee, was narrowly elected Tuesday night to the Decatur city commission for District 1, Post B. He defeated Greg Coleson, a software consultant and founder of the Decatur Farmers Market, by only 14 votes. The final tally was 539-525 (50.61 percent to 49.30 percent). Mary Frances Weeks, DeKalb County elections manager, said only two provisional votes are yet to be considered, and that's not enough to change the outcome. "This is it," she said Tuesday night. Drake will take the seat held more than 20 years by Bill Floyd, who resigned Jan. 7 to take a consulting job. When reached by phone at his election party at Mac McGee's, Drake said he couldn't pinpoint a reason for his victory. "I don't …
Greg Coleson and Scott Drake are running for the District 1, Post B previously held by Bill Floyd.
On Tuesday, voters will pick Greg Coleson and Scott Drake to serve as the new Decatur City Commissioner. They're running in a special election for District 1, Post B seat formerly held by Bill Floyd, who stepped down after holding the post more than two decades. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and only registered voters in the district (which is mostly north of College Avenue) can vote. These are the polling places that will be open: Floyd was the the commission-elected mayor more than a decade, a time when Decatur came into its own as a dining and shopping destination with a reputation for smart growth. Coleson is a software consultant and founder, with his wife, of the Decatur Farmers Market. Drake is the director of client services …
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Here's a list of polling places, where to cast early ballots and other information for the Decatur City Commission special election.
Greg Coleson and Scott Drake are running for the District 1, Post B seat formerly held by Bill Floyd, who stepped down after holding the post more than two decades. The special election is Tuesday, March 19. No matter who you vote for, here's some information you'll need to know, courtesy of City Clerk Janet Kindelberger and the City of Decatur webpage. Who can vote? Only registered voters in District 1, which lies mostly, but not completely, to the north of College Avenue. What are the polling places? What are the voting hours? 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Who will put on the election for Decatur? The City of Decatur has an agreement with DeKalb County to conduct the special election. What's the location for early voting? Advanced/…
33.78318
-84.28292
735 Sycamore Dr, Decatur, GA
/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-march-19-election
/locations/8991446
33.77555
-84.28936
515 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA
/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-march-19-election
/locations/8991445
33.77469
-84.3051
601 W Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA
/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-march-19-election
/locations/8991443
33.77887
-84.29646
First Baptist Church of Decatur
308 Clairemont Ave, Decatur, GA
/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-march-19-election
1104756
/locations/8991444
Monday, March 11, 2013
During a weekend forum for the Decatur City Commission candidates, Greg Coleson said the city needs a green building ordinance and Scott Drake emphasized balancing development with neighborhood needs.
Greg Coleson and Scott Drake talked about their backgrounds and priorities Saturday at a forum for Decatur City Commission candidates. They're both running for the District 1 seat previously held by Bill Floyd, who held the post 22 years but stepped down Jan. 7 to take a consulting job. The election will be held March 19 and only District 1 residents can vote. The forum was held at the Church at Decatur Heights. Thanks to Deanne Thomas for organizing the forum and Sarah Flynn for videotaping it. Geoff Koski and Jeff Lell asked the questions. Here are some highlights of the forum. Watch the video for a full picture. TOP PRIORITIES IF ELECTED Drake "Downtown development, I think that's a huge priority because that's the core of our town and …
Friday, March 8, 2013
You can meet Greg Coleson and Scott Drake at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Church at Decatur Heights.
Come to the Church at Decatur Heights on Saturday, March 9, if you want to meet the two candidates for the District 1 seat on Decatur City Commission. A forum and meet and greet for Greg Coleson and Scott Drake will be held at 3:30 p.m. at the church at 735 Sycamore Drive. The public is invited. The candidates will field questions and a meet and greet will follow. Coleson and Drake are running for the commission seat Bill Floyd left in January. A special election will be held March 19 for voters who reside in District 1. Other stories about the election.
Ralph Ellis
9:00 am on Thursday, May 16, 2013
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