Bulletin Board

The City Schools of Decatur Board of Education meeting recap newsletter is shared after each regularly scheduled monthly meeting. The September board meeting was held on September 8, 2026.

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.

Dr. Carmen Sulton, Chair

Mr. Hans Utz, Vice Chair

Ms. Lorraine Irier, Board Member

Mr. James Herndon, Board Member

Ms. Tracey Anderson, Board Member

Zoe Smith, Student Board Representative (not pictured)

Decatur High School student Jabarii Burgess was recognized for his exemplary civic engagement and leadership, utilizing his voice to address a pressing need within the broader community.

Now an 11th-grader, Jabarii recently presented a Mobile Shower Proposal to the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. This initiative aims to enhance access to essential resources for residents facing housing instability.

Through his internship with DeKalb County Commissioner Ted Terry, District 6, and his role as a DeKalb County Youth Commissioner, Jabarii has gained firsthand experience of how local government, advocacy, and public service can collaborate to meet community needs.

What makes this recognition particularly significant is that Jabarii is not merely learning about civic engagement; he is actively practicing it. He is leveraging his voice and leadership to drive meaningful change in his community.

Jabarii, we take pride in how you represent Decatur High School and the City Schools of Decatur. Congratulations on this remarkable demonstration of student leadership and service.

Each week, BHMS students are not simply learning about media—they are creating it.

Students in the Broadcasting and Film course produce BHMS's signature morning show, a beloved part of life on "The Hill."

Students take ownership of every aspect of the production, serving as anchors, writers, researchers, editors, reporters, and members of the film crew. They take their reporting beyond the classroom, interviewing fellow students, teachers, Wilson Center staff, and community professionals. Their work extends beyond the morning show. Students are developing real-world media skills through PSAs, movie trailers, podcasts, and advertisements.

Under the direction of Mr. Peebles, the program has truly blossomed over the past year. He has transformed the classroom into a content-creation studio where students can explore their creativity, develop their technical skills, and produce work they are proud to share.

The result has been a tremendous transformation of the BHMS morning show, and it is something the entire school community now looks forward to each week.

Congratulations to Mr. Peebles and the BHMS Broadcasting and Film students for using creativity, collaboration, and student voice to tell the stories of "The Hill."

On behalf of the City Schools of Decatur Board of Education, I appreciate your in-person and online presence for our September Board meeting. As a board, we continue to appreciate the community for supporting our students and staff, celebrating our schools, and helping us to maintain safe school communities.

In addition to the monthly observances mentioned, September also marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month. From September 15 through October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. The official theme for National Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 is "Unidos, Somos Más," "Together, We Are More."

During today's pre-work, the board began conducting its annual book study. This year's book will be The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything by Steven M.R. Covey. We then received an overview of School Leadership Teams (SLTs) and the System Charter Leadership Team (SCLT) and discussed these governance structures. Following this discussion, the board provided input on several policies related to Teaching and Learning, including Gifted Student Programs, scheduling for instruction, promotion and retention, and graduation requirements, among others.

There were three presentations during the work session. The first presentation provided an overview of CSD's Spring 2026 AP and IB results. CSD continues to have the largest International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the southeast. We were pleased to hear that our students continue to perform strongly in AP and IB, with an impressive pass rate that has climbed to a staggering 90%. It was also exciting to learn that more students across all student groups are accessing these opportunities and excelling.

The next presentation highlighted data on school climate per the Georgia Department of Education School Climate Star Ratings and School Climate Surveys. The results compared data from the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years, respectively. This annual survey is required by state law to measure school improvement. Participation is critical, and I strongly urge all students, staff, and families to take the survey each year.

The final work session presentation was a draft of the FY2028 preliminary budget calendar. The budget calendar is a transparent planning tool that establishes a timeline for completing each step in the budget process leading up to the new fiscal year. The budget calendar also informs stakeholders of the dates of various budget meetings. All of today's pre-work and work session presentations are available on the district website in Simbli.

Today's board recognitions highlighted the news production of the Beacon Hill Middle School News Show and the outstanding civic engagement and leadership demonstrated by a DHS 11th grader, who, after serving as a DeKalb County intern and youth commissioner, recently participated in the pitch of a Mobile Shower Proposal to the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. The proposal is the result of an initiative focused on addressing community needs and expanding access to essential resources for residents experiencing housing instability.

Please check your school newsletters and the CSD Weekly for a listing of all upcoming events and activities. One event I want to announce is the annual DHS 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, to be held this Friday at 8:30 a.m. at the high school flagpole. The ceremony will be hosted by the JROTC and open to the community.

Finally, I want to advise the public of several upcoming board convenings. We invite you to attend the board's upcoming fall community meeting on Monday, September 14, in the media center at Beacon Hill Middle School. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. Board community meetings offer the public an opportunity to ask the board questions directly and receive immediate responses. Additionally, on Thursday, September 10, at 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday, September 15, at 10 a.m., the board will hold executive sessions for personnel matters.* The meetings are posted in Simbli and on the district's website.

*Update: As of September 9, the Tuesday, September 15, executive session to discuss personnel has been canceled. Additionally, the executive session on Thursday, September 10, to discuss personnel has been rescheduled to Tuesday, September 15, 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Wilson Center at 125 Electric Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030.

It's been an inspiring first few weeks of the new school year as we have watched our students reconnect with peers, adapt to new schedules, and jump into learning. I want to thank our dedicated teachers and staff for their efforts and energy, which have created the momentum for a great year.

The first month is about establishing the bedrock upon which the rest of our year rests. In September, we will continue to make the necessary adjustments as we shift our focus toward sustaining this initial energy and building long-term success. This includes ensuring safe, comfortable learning environments and responding to the ever-changing needs of our students both inside and outside the classroom.

In CSD, we also began canvassing in September. I initiated canvases during my pre-entry phase in April 2023, and through implementation via the instructional cabinet, they have become a staple. A canvas is a site visit to a school where a team focuses on advancing big rocks, observes leaders in action, names leadership actions, and follows up on previous leadership actions. UVA/PLE suggests the first canvas include topics such as the school's 90-day plan launch, school opening, student culture, and/or school big rock #1 problem of practice, and classroom visits. I am thrilled that our instructional cabinet has created an effective structure for the canvases that provides strategic, differentiated school leadership during the canvas and beyond. This is how we grow school leadership practices.

This month, we also kicked off the 2026-2027 Superintendent's Advisory Councils, which include district support staff and students, teachers, and parent representatives. On Friday, Teacher Advisory representatives from College Heights ECLC, Clairemont, Glennwood, Oakhurst, Westchester, Winnona Park, BHMS, and DHS met to discuss:

• EdTech/AI Guardrails and Hot Topics:

• EdTech and AI Guardrails - A problem of practice was presented to identify value and tension points related to Academic Rigor, Mental Health, and Privacy Access.

• Hot Topics - Teacher Generated

• Emerging Themes: Operations concerns (HVAC, Elevators, etc.); Teacher Wellness Advisory Committee interest; Request for teacher discounts at YMCA; Testing and Instructional Pacing

• The Actions and responses were:

• Teachers appreciated the operations updates and understood all the actions we are taking.

• Central office staff will increase presence in schools in response to teachers' requests to "see the day-to-day operations" (this plan and tracking system is currently in development); I will visit BHMS for this sort of walk in the coming weeks.

• Feedback from the EdTech/AI work will inform ongoing work shared in last month's superintendent comments.

• The Wellness Advisory Committee will meet this semester.

• HR has been actively working with YMCA to explore discounted membership and other partnership opportunities.

In September, we will also recognize several observances.

National Attendance Awareness Month reminds us of the importance of showing up - every day. Attendance is one of the best predictors of a student's academic success and graduation outcomes. The official theme for this year's campaign is "Your Presence Matters."

Another gateway to academic achievement is literacy. The National Literacy Month observance promotes reading, writing, and lifelong learning. Learners of all ages are encouraged to read, visit libraries, and engage in language-rich activities to promote strong literacy skills.

On Monday, September 21, CSD will recognize Georgia Reads Week and the beginning of Dyslexia Awareness Month with a weeklong variety of student-engaging literacy and awareness events. Community involvement will be encouraged through guest reader opportunities, including parents, staff, and Board of Education members. The week will conclude with a "Go Red for Dyslexia" Day, where students and staff are encouraged to support the global dyslexia awareness campaign by wearing red.

This month, we also recognize National Arts in Education Week, which celebrates dance, theater, music, literature, design, media, and visual arts, and will be held from September 13-19. We celebrate our student artists and the talented teachers and coaches who enhance student experiences and opportunities through our award-winning arts programs.

Arts programs provide hands-on experiences that meet students' social and emotional needs. As we enter Suicide Prevention Month, I want to remind students and families that CSD remains deeply committed to prioritizing student well-being, safety, and emotional health. Access to Behavioral Health support is available for students at every grade level. The district utilizes trained staff and established protocols to support immediate safety and connect students with appropriate resources.

CSD approaches suicide and crisis prevention through proactive, coordinated, and compassionate supports designed to promote awareness, identify concerns early, respond effectively when a student is in crisis, and provide continued support following a crisis. Students and families are encouraged to reach out to their school counselor, school-based support staff, or the Decatur Student Center at any time to access mental health resources or request assistance. Through prevention, intervention, and postvention, CSD remains committed to ensuring students know that help is available and that they do not have to navigate mental health challenges alone.

The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. I want to recognize that, amid our celebrations and achievements, our community is undoubtedly affected by events occurring locally, nationally, and globally. CSD will continue to partner with families to support our students' needs. Collectively, we can and must work together to maintain the safety of our school community.

As the school year progresses, the CSD safety and security team encourages all students, staff, and families to learn the National Standard Response Protocols of Hold! Secure! Lockdown! Evacuate! and Shelter! to assist in our emergency preparedness. And as always, if you see something suspicious, please say something immediately.

Presentation: 2026 Georgia Milestones Assessments Results

Thank you, teachers and instructional support staff. But just as importantly, I want to thank the Board of Education for being what AJ Crabill calls "Great on Their Behalf." By focusing on student outcomes, you not only read the book but also put Crabill's ideas into practice. Crabill states, "Most board members mean well, but good intentions alone do not resolve achievement gaps. True governance requires that time, resources, and attention are measurably pointed toward what students actually know and can do."

That is why we will always have a presentation on student outcomes during the board meeting. We have proven evidence of accelerated gap closure, but we have continued work to do in:

• 3rd and 7th grade Math
• Biology
• US History

Overall, we are making strides because when compared nationally with districts with similar socioeconomic status, CSD's:

• Test scores are higher
• Learning rates are higher
• Test scores are improving faster
• Learning rates are improving faster

We look forward to learning our student outcomes of the 2026 ELA Georgia Milestones later this Fall.

The first part of my comments has been intentionally student-focused. Actually, that is why we are all here, for our students, all of our students. While these student-focused strengths and continued areas of focus have been highlighted over the past three years, trust has eroded simultaneously. I posit that community members have given input on operational areas without seeing how it has shaped outcomes.

Without trust and representative voices, making tough policy decisions is difficult.

This year, we have a goal of enhancing empathy, trust, and a shared understanding among community members from different backgrounds, and between community members and district leadership, to uncover common ground on which challenging decisions can be made. I want to be clear, common ground is not consensus; people can still disagree, but decisions are made from a documented, shared understanding of values, City Schools of Decatur's values. The goal deliberately doesn't assume what the decisions will be; it creates the conditions to make decisions and make them well.

There are three layers to bridging differences and building common ground:

• At the horizontal layer, community members understand each other across lines of race, neighborhood and income.

• At the vertical layer, community members and district leadership are developing a shared understanding.

• At the actionable layer, common ground enables the Board of Education to make confident, transparent decisions grounded in what the community actually values, feeding directly into the 2028 Strategic Plan.

Our goal has three desired outcomes: inclusive participation, community agency and grounded decision-making. First, inclusive participation sets the bar for who participates and how they relate to each other — not just showing up, but building understanding across race, income, and neighborhood. It also ensures feeling heard, even when you don't get your way. That is a high bar, and it requires closing the loop and showing how input shaped decisions. Hopefully, this terminology sounds a little familiar, as it was said during the FY2028 Budget Development presentation in our work session today.

Next, community agency, which means community members shouldn't just be surveyed; they should understand the process and have a real hand in shaping it. This concept is very important for an upcoming agenda item tonight.

Finally, grounded decision-making is the anchor. All other outcomes serve this one. The Board of Education needs to be able to point to concrete, documented evidence when making hard decisions. So, let's talk about what this looks like - true community engagement.

The IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation is an international framework developed by the International Association for Public Participation that defines the public's role and level of influence in community engagement and decision-making processes. The spectrum outlines five increasing levels of public impact and engagement, moving from left to right as public influence grows.

Most public sector engagement lives at Inform and Consult. That's not wrong, but it limits trust. The shift to Involve and Collaborate means community members help shape the process, not just react to it, and their input is visibly connected to decisions. Board Member Anderson, I equate that to your "read out."

Empower is generally not appropriate for a school district context. The board has fiduciary and policy-making responsibility instituted by Georgia law. But Involve and Collaborate are within reach, and they are what build durable trust. Hopefully, you now see the community's cry for meaningful engagement has not fallen on deaf ears.

Next, I want to call on Dr. Jennifer Burton, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, to formally announce the district's efforts to examine the priorities of Pre-K families in Decatur, including location, transportation, and changing community needs, using the spectrum-of-public-participation lens to design engagement.

Presentation: Pre-K Community Working Group

As I conclude my report, I want to thank Wilson, Morton, and Downs for diligently working with Denmark, Ashby, and Matricardi on the memorandum of understanding of the E-SPLOST VI settlement. Based on the initial drafts of the MOU and the reconciliation and distribution agreement from DeKalb, CSD will receive $9,046,811.24. This administration discovered the error, and DeKalb County Public Schools plans to take action at their September 14, 2026, meeting to make CSD whole via a one-time true-up payment.

Chair Sulton, that completes my report.

The recording, which includes the pre-work session, work session, regular meeting, and public comment, is available here. The meeting began with a roll call of the board members. Vice Chair Hans Utz was not present for the meeting.

Dr. Jennifer Burton, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, and Jarvis Adams, Chief Operations Officer, presented updates on new laws affecting literacy and early learning; current enrollment at College Heights and Frasier; the possibility of adding another 3-year-old class at College Heights; and potential plans for new or expanded facilities.

New ECLC Facility

Mr. Adams shared options for either a standalone ECLC facility at West Trinity or a new integrated project to increase early learning capacity at Decatur High School.

The board voted to close out all contracts for the proposed new early childhood learning center building at 346 West Trinity Place. CSD will instead pursue an expanded, integrated early learning program at the Frasier Center on the Decatur High School campus.

CSD will explore expanding the Frasier Center from its current 60 seats for infants through preschool-aged children, to at least 120 seats, while also creating opportunities to strengthen Career, Technical and Agricultural Education, fine arts and athletics programs at DHS.

Pre-K Access Survey

As CSD moves in this new direction, the district will adopt robust community engagement methods to consult, engage and inform the community during a collaborative process to determine the next steps for early learning in CSD. The original design of the new ECLC building included rooms for children ages 0-3 as well as Pre-K classroom space. In preparation for determining alternative plans, the district has released a Pre-K access survey, open through September 16, asking the community to weigh in on priorities and next steps for potential pre-K locations.

Using the results of this survey, as well as additional engagement with families, educators, students, and community partners, district leaders will work to ensure the community voice is reflected in the development of an alternative plan for early learning improvements.

Chief Operations Officer Jarvis Adams presented an update on the current 2022–2027 Facilities Plan, district-wide facility priorities, and the development of the 2027–2032 Five-Year Facilities Plan. Mr. Adams's full presentation is available in the meeting agenda linked here.

The board reviewed three contracts and one MOU. All contracts and memorandums were moved to the Consent Agenda for approval.

• Frontline Education

• Approve the superintendent to enter into a service contract renewal, not to exceed $87,000, with Frontline Education to provide human capital management resources. The purpose of this contract is to secure human capital resource platforms, including Absence and Time, Central Solutions, Applicant Tracking, Substitute Management and Professional Learning Management.

• Kognity USA

• Approve the superintendent to enter into a sole-source contract renewal, not to exceed $100,000, with Kognity USA to provide curriculum resources for the International Baccalaureate courses.

• KONE, Inc.

• Approve the superintendent to enter into a state contract, not to exceed $105,125, with KONE, Inc. for the replacement of an underground hydraulic jack/cylinder and piston assembly for Elevator 1 at Decatur High School.

• City of Decatur School Resource Officer MOU

• Approve the superintendent to enter into a contract renewal with the City of Decatur to provide School Resource Officers to support schools and formalize our continued partnership with the City of Decatur for SRO services.

The board approved the following consent items:

• August 2026 Personnel Report

• Field Trip Approvals

• Contracts & Memorandums

• Frontline Education

• Kognity USA

• KONE, Inc.

• City of Decatur School Resource Officer MOU

The board approved the following policies:

• LDAJ: Law Enforcement

• GARH: Employee Leave and Absences

This is an informational item as part of the District's ongoing operations. It does not require board approval.

Certain essential services are required to support the safe and efficient operation of schools, facilities, transportation, and other district functions. They are obtained from utility providers, governmental entities, or other providers based on established service territories, existing infrastructure, service availability, and operational requirements. Because of the nature of these services, traditional competitive procurement may not be practical or applicable.

The following vendors provide essential utility and fuel services to the district:

Chief Financial Officer Dr. Lonita Broome presented the July 2026 financial report. As of July 31, 2026, the district has collected 26%, or approximately $30 million, of the budgeted revenues and has expended 3%, or approximately $3 million, of the overall expenditure budget.

Approximately $1.7 million is encumbered for July. Encumbrances are open purchase orders that have been issued but have not been invoiced/paid. The overall effect of the financial statement is a net income of approximately $26 million. The $26 million represents the year-to-date difference between the total revenues and total expenditures. Last year at this time, 25%, or approximately $28 million, of the budgeted revenue had been collected, and approximately 2%, or $2 million, had been expended.

A more detailed look at both revenues and expenditures, including Dr. Broome's presentation, is available in the meeting agenda linked here.

The board approved the budget monitoring activity items 1 and 2.

The meeting agenda was amended to add this item.

The administration is incorporating the feedback provided by the board in the RFP for legal services. Its planned release will be September 22, 2026. Dr. Lonita Broome, Chief Financial Officer, provided the following timeline for the process.

The meeting agenda was amended to add this item.

Wilson, Morton, and Downs provided a very brief update on the investigation, stating that the independent investigator will attend an upcoming Executive Session.

The pre-work session included a discussion of the board's 2026-2027 book study, The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey, as well as the governance structures of School Leadership Teams (SLTs) and the System Charter Leadership Team (SCLT). The board reviewed seven existing policies for any needed updates or modifications. The reviewed policies are:

• IDDD: Gifted Student Programs

• IFCB: Field Trips and Excursions

• IKD: School Ceremonies and Observances

• IED: Scheduling for Instruction

• IHE: Promotion and Retention

• IHF: Graduation Requirements

• IDE(3): Competitive Interscholastic Activities, Grades 6-12

The pre-work session portion of the meeting is available for viewing in the full recording.

During the work session preceding the Regular Meeting, the Board of Education heard three presentations.

The presentations included:

• Student Outcome Data: AP and IB 2026 Results

• Georgia Department of Education School Climate Star Ratings and School Climate Surveys

• FY28 Budget Calendar

The work session portion of the meeting can be viewed in the full recording, starting at 1:19:00.

Next Regular Meeting: The next regular Board of Education meeting is scheduled for October 13, 2026.

Other Upcoming Meetings:

• Community Meeting: September 14, 2026, at Beacon Hill Middle School, 6:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.

• Executive Session (personnel): September 15, 2026, at Wilson Center, 5:30 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.

Link to Join Board of Education Meetings 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 of Education 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 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