tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post4907012388164211145..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: Another Reason "Y" to Love Cross Keys High School (and this blog ...)Cerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-48826775971565120412010-07-16T12:38:38.831-04:002010-07-16T12:38:38.831-04:00I found an important item on DunwoodyMom's blo...I found an important item on DunwoodyMom's blog - <br /><br /><i>The Latin American Association invites you to donate school supplies to our Back-to-School event where kids from LAA programs and Woodward Elementary School will get school supplies…for free!<br /><br />Donate school supplies for a three hour “shopping” spree for kidsin need! We will be offering everything from book-bags to pencils and many more items for grades K-5!<br /><br />DROP OFF SUPPLIES AT: Latin American Association, 2750 Buford Highway, Atlanta GA 30324 (M-F, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)<br /><br />DEADLINE FOR SUPPLIES: August 1, 2010<br /><br />PURPOSE: Empower kids with the supplies they need to achieve academic success. Children will attend our Back-to-School “Shopping” Event on Aug. 7, 2010.<br /><br />For further details or questions contact: Eliezer Velez. 404-638-1810. <br />evelez@thelaa.org</i><br /><br />For a list of items needed, <a href="http://www.thelaa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71&Itemid=104&lang=en#2" rel="nofollow">click here</a>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-5678284705033815812010-07-15T00:10:40.817-04:002010-07-15T00:10:40.817-04:00"The coaches at Northsprings make fun of Adam..."The coaches at Northsprings make fun of Adam Stadium to me. "<br />I hope you said:<br />Yeah, whatever. We have $2,000.00 chairs and fancy showers in our county offices, so there, North Springs!<br /><br />(Thanks again go out to all sitting members of the Dekalb School board!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-5331318013409338892010-07-14T19:58:47.698-04:002010-07-14T19:58:47.698-04:00"The school system does not have enough facil..."The school system does not have enough facilities to close some while grass is being worked on or repaired on others during the year."<br /><br />Actually, the school system does have more than enough field space to do so Ella, with proper coordination. And there are even more fields at our county parks available for DCSS if and when DCSS and the county get ever get their heads out of their butts and start working together.<br /><br />DCSS itself, for example, has multiple fields such as the very large field space behind the Bryant Tech Center that it maintains at a miserable level, even though it it large enough for multiple fields. There are very large field spaces behind Shamrock Middle and Sequoyah Middle that make a parks professional as myself want to cry from the lack of lack maintenance. Elementary schools in my area such as Laurel Ridge and McClendon have medium sized fields that are of course, poorly maintained.<br /><br />The very large field space behind Cross Keys should never have been allowed to fall into such miserable disrepair. It is the lead example of the failure of the Sam Moss staff when it comes to fields and school grounds. It's bad enough to call for firings. There are dozens of skilled turf companies in the metro area who could do so much better at a very competitive cost, and we wouldn't be on the hook for benefits and pensions.<br /><br />DCSS has so many facilities, fields, school grounds, etc. paid for by us taxpayers and the school system has completely and utterly failed to maintain them in a professional and competent manner. It is sad and unacceptable and we should never again tolerate such a lack of competence.Dan Mageenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-46172813402958811292010-07-14T19:08:30.413-04:002010-07-14T19:08:30.413-04:00No school is more deserving for this improvement t...No school is more deserving for this improvement than Cross Key at this point. There facilities are the worse in the county. <br /><br />I am excited for them.Ella Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16485840445272819682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-60923943974755059352010-07-14T17:23:18.576-04:002010-07-14T17:23:18.576-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-16599672368135216872010-07-14T17:23:17.125-04:002010-07-14T17:23:17.125-04:00And we are excited for them!!!
I'm am so impr...And we are excited for them!!!<br /><br />I'm am so impressed that the Cowart Y stepped up to the plate on this.Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-70176120737582354232010-07-14T16:56:24.280-04:002010-07-14T16:56:24.280-04:00Try copying and pasting this link instead: http://...Try copying and pasting this link instead: http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/ymca-to-pay-for-569712.html<br /><br />You have no idea how excited the community is immediately around the school. The current student athletes are excited, recent graduates are excited about volunteer opportunities, and of course the faculty is really starting to believe the specter of neglect is finally leaving CK forever. Very, very positive ripples under way ... and that was the desired affect.Kim Gokcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01855554437157990110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-48883339654632651422010-07-14T13:07:33.238-04:002010-07-14T13:07:33.238-04:00Yes, discussion on this thread did get all around ...Yes, discussion on this thread did get all around the perimeters of it.<br /><br />...and back to the topic. That's good coverage of the story. The public needs to be made aware of this. It could inspire even more Great ideas. Local papers may be picking this story up from the ajc.<br /><br />The article shows the student and community excitement about this. That makes me feel good, too.<br /><br />It could be my browser but I had trouble with the link. I just went to ajc.com then to Dekalb news.A Mothernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-77201120022651191282010-07-14T12:11:58.251-04:002010-07-14T12:11:58.251-04:00Back on the topic of YMCA/Cross Keys, the AJC is c...Back on the topic of YMCA/Cross Keys, the AJC is covering it today:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.communityradar.com/story.php?title=ymca-to-pay-for-upgrades-to-dekalb-schools-fields-%C2%A0-ajc-com" rel="nofollow">YMCA to Pay for Upgrades to DeKalb School's Fields</a>Kim Gokcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01855554437157990110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-31394594185768847392010-07-14T12:10:03.906-04:002010-07-14T12:10:03.906-04:00I agree the situation for the Bulldog athletes is ...I agree the situation for the Bulldog athletes is a bit ridiculous. As I harp over and over, the only long term way to provide appropriate and equitable facilities to our public high schools is to have fewer of them-many, many fewer. Broader base of "booster" support potential, lower average capital maintenance, lower administration and probably other benefits I haven't thought of yet ...Kim Gokcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01855554437157990110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-18354807737175523782010-07-14T10:41:43.145-04:002010-07-14T10:41:43.145-04:00The issue at Chamblee High is that unlike all the ...The issue at Chamblee High is that unlike all the other DCSS high schools, Chamblee has no practice field for their football team. With their small campus there's really nowhere to put one. But adjacent to the campus is this nice stadium they're not allowed to use...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-87084463732364075632010-07-14T08:51:38.575-04:002010-07-14T08:51:38.575-04:00If you drive by Avondale High School, the beautifu...If you drive by Avondale High School, the beautiful athletic facilities that you see across the street belong to Paideia. An earlier comment mentioned work being done on "Avondale's" baseball field--it's Paideia's field. A few feet further beyond the Paideia complex is a patchy weedy baseball field in terrible shape. It looks like someone's back 40 gone fallow. I suspect that this is Avondale's field.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-57967585001775939252010-07-14T07:01:37.739-04:002010-07-14T07:01:37.739-04:00However, because they are used by so many differen...However, because they are used by so many different school they have more play on them so they cannot keep grass on them and stay in any kind of shape for the teams. <br /><br />The school system does not have enough facilities to close some while grass is being worked on or repaired on others during the year. This is a problem in itself and why the school system needs to go ahead and spend the money on turf for all of its fields. It is embarassing to host schools when we play on a field which is mostly dirt in soccer in the spring. The football teams tear them up pretty bad normally in the fall and there is not enough time to repair them or the county just does not repair them for the spring sports.<br /><br />Dekalb County should be able to keep up the few stadiums they have with the gate receipts. The booster clubs help a great deal at the schools. The least the school system can do is keep the fields up and I have not seen this happen in the Dekalb County School System like other School Systems. I do not know exactly what the problem is. I suspect one problem is that our county spends way too much money still on busing students in this county which other counties do not spend. I do know there is a big difference between what the Dekalb County Stadiums look like and the other county stadiums look like and our students are embarassed as to what there stadium fields look like.<br /><br />As taxpayers we pay way too much taxes for our kids to be embarassed about their home stadium fields.<br /><br />The coaches at Northsprings make fun of Adam Stadium to me. The soccer coach indicates it is the worse field his players plays on all year. This is a little embarassing to me as I am a proud Dekalb County citizen.Ella Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16485840445272819682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-89535747614329303002010-07-14T04:31:55.283-04:002010-07-14T04:31:55.283-04:00The issue in DCSS is that the stadiums belong to n...The issue in DCSS is that the stadiums belong to no school, they belong to the school system. The school system can use them as they see fit.<br /><br />As Kim said, when the decision was made to have system based stadiums, the decision was also made to not use them as practice fields, etc for specific schools.<br /><br />Keep in mind, as has been posted here, that the N. Fulton and Gwinnett stadiums are so nice because the booster clubs raise a ton of money and take out loans to make them happen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-60108410939285779152010-07-14T00:39:11.734-04:002010-07-14T00:39:11.734-04:00The big problem with access to the stadiums is not...The big problem with access to the stadiums is not the tracks for individuals walking around.<br /><br />The problem is the fields open for anyone to play on them.<br /><br />If the fields are open and not closely supervised then they will be used constantly with soccer games and there will not be a blade of grass on them.<br /><br />Even if there is turf there would have to be someone to rent out the facility for community teams to practice. This is what Northsprings does. My son's soccer team pays to practice at Northsprings. This is how they have such beautiful turf and lights at their school. The community soccer teams pay to practice and play games in the off season or when the school is not using it.<br /><br />Now the recreation department/school system/police department could work together and something could be worked out that would benifit everyone. The School Board has got to work with the County Recreation Department/The County Commissioners and others for this to happen.Ella Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16485840445272819682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-25158899772354814592010-07-14T00:32:17.532-04:002010-07-14T00:32:17.532-04:00It is completely possible that I have McChesney...It is completely possible that I have McChesney's comment mis-associated with the Robson deal ... it was a mind-numbing 2 1/2 hours.<br /><br />As for Decatur, they have about 18,000 residents and 2500 students in public schools (7.2 residents supporting each student). DeKalb Co has 750,000 residents and 97,000 (est.) thousand students in public schools (7.73 residents supporter each student). We should be able to do the same for our schools even with lower property taxes. And think about our SPLOST base versus Decatur's ... we have the money we're just mis-allocating it and, again, I think among way too many schools.Kim Gokcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01855554437157990110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-6198565538294944412010-07-13T23:47:12.987-04:002010-07-13T23:47:12.987-04:00Kim, I thought when McChesney made that comment i...Kim, I thought when McChesney made that comment it was about the resurfacing of wood floors. That price is a "deal" and I just hope it comes with quality assurance.<br /><br />As for Decatur's new athletic field, yes, it is drop dead gorgeous. But please remember that Decatur only has one high school and one middle school and very high property taxes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-819238956556863322010-07-13T23:45:14.352-04:002010-07-13T23:45:14.352-04:00Jousting? I think I was a student even before Jou...Jousting? I think I was a student even before Jousting became popular - LOL. <br /><br />Seriously, though, I remember that we (CHS) were allowed to have athletic team pictures for the Yearbook (they were called "annuals" back in my day)taken in the stadium, but that was about it for access to N. DeKalb - that I remember.Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-16946567250331969522010-07-13T23:32:06.410-04:002010-07-13T23:32:06.410-04:00But what about jousting tourneys, Dunwoody Mom, hu...But what about jousting tourneys, Dunwoody Mom, huh? How about that at North DeKalb Stadium in the Dark Ages?Kim Gokcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01855554437157990110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-55862339538049799252010-07-13T23:18:46.462-04:002010-07-13T23:18:46.462-04:00We need to be clear, North DeKalb Stadium which si...We need to be clear, North DeKalb Stadium which sits adjacent to Chamblee High School is not Chamblee's stadium. The athletic teams at Chamblee have never, even in my days as a student in the Dark Ages, been allowed access to the stadium as a pratice facility.Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-90242547175149911712010-07-13T23:04:04.429-04:002010-07-13T23:04:04.429-04:00re: "McNair marquee"
At the risk of sta...re: "McNair marquee"<br /><br />At the risk of standing between those with torches and pitchforks and the DCSS castle, I am not sure we have this one right ...<br /><br />I read all the vendor quotes and Robson seems to be the only one that includes installation. It also seems to me to be implied that they gave the 100 Black Men, what, a year long installment plan of some kind, no?<br /><br />And, are the products quoted really comparable? I don't know with precision from the paperwork but I'm open to that possibility, too. During the discussion, McChesney felt so compelled to turn on his mic and make an emphatic point that this was "a heck of a deal, folks."<br /><br />I'm not smelling the rat, here. I'm really not an apologist for DeKalb Schools but I'm also not assuming the worst in decision. Let's beat them about the brow for the conditions of our schools and let the 100 Black Men continue to write checks.Kim Gokcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01855554437157990110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-28397422073273358632010-07-13T22:46:37.773-04:002010-07-13T22:46:37.773-04:00Oh! And let's not even talk about Halford as a...Oh! And let's not even talk about Halford as a "Home" field for Cross Keys ... sheesh.Kim Gokcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01855554437157990110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-49185457161351506102010-07-13T22:44:45.560-04:002010-07-13T22:44:45.560-04:00anon 10:28 re: "Stadium"
The same issue...anon 10:28 re: "Stadium"<br /><br />The same issue exists at every DeKalb stadium to my knowledge. At least, it is the case at Adams and Avondale. That doesn't make it "right" or desirable but that is where we are. This very issue was also raised by Sarah Copelin-Wood vis-a-vis Avondale Stadium last night and she was not happy with the answer ...<br /><br />Years ago, DeKalb decided that they would not invest in stadiums at every high school and setup this "sharing" scheme we have now. My personal opinion is that the only way out of this less than ideal setup is to have fewer high schools with proper facilities, including stadiums.<br /><br />I'd like to see every high school with a facility like Decatur High - one that is built from the ground up for multi-purpose and high utilization. That one was $30 million. The only way I see our system's schools every competing with these types of facilities is dramatic consolidation.<br /><br />We have something ridiculous like 22 high schools with an average enrollment no higher than 1,200 I'd guess. I think we need more like 12-14 with and avg enrollment double that. I keep saying this and most folks look at me like I just stepped out of a flying saucer.<br /><br />Anon, would you be happy if the Bulldogs had an enrollment of 3,200 and a stadium you didn't have to share? That is my opinion of how best to get one.<br /><br />P.S. The Cross Keys athletes are not thrilled to have to call Chamblee stadium "Home" for some games and less so Adams which is "Home" for Druid Hills, Lakeside, Tucker (I think), and possibly Chamblee on occasion ... transportation for our population is a big issue and this virtually assures limited fan support at games.Kim Gokcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01855554437157990110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-63671989414385220222010-07-13T22:28:34.600-04:002010-07-13T22:28:34.600-04:00Kim et al: How right is it that Chamblee High Sch...Kim et al: How right is it that Chamblee High School's own teams can't use their stadium as a practice facility (since they have no other on-site options) because of the fear they'll damage the sod, yet DCSS is OK with partnering with community organizations to share the turf when not in use elsewhere? <br /><br />Mr. Redovian.... where TF are you????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-66021254209736526952010-07-13T16:36:45.164-04:002010-07-13T16:36:45.164-04:00Anon 1:46
I agree with you. A contribution comes ...Anon 1:46<br /><br />I agree with you. A contribution comes with no strings attached. A gift is "Free".<br /><br />If they wanted to make a gift of "the sign" itself, then 100 Blac Men could have chosen anyone they wanted to do the work and paid any amount they wanted to pay for it.<br /><br />Once they made a contribution to the board and payment for the sign gets made through the board, everything should follow the rules and guidelines in place for anything else that goes through the board.<br /><br />Aside from the fact that I can think of a few shady things that could be going on with the way it was done, the appearance of impropriety is a luxury the board can not afford at this time. Establishing their integrity needs to be a priority. <br /><br />It's a good idea for organizations and individuals to make contributions to the school. Thank you. There is absolutely no reason to do this in a way that looks shady, even if it isn't. My guess is that it is - shady.<br /><br />If the giver is sincere, they would be happy to comply with a simple request from the board that their contribution of 10,000.00 goes to pay for the sign and to use any remainder in the way that is best for the school system.<br /><br />What is up with this paying twice as much as necessary to use one particular provider? Did they think of getting the sign done for 5,000.00 and spending another 5,000.00 on something else the school needs or giving 5,000.00 to another good cause?<br /><br />It's all just a bunch on nonsense at best!A Mothernoreply@blogger.com