CSD Weekly: August 27, 2026

• Did You Know? IB is Here to Stay!
• CSD Facilities Update
• Phase 1A Archaeological Results for Proposed ECLC Site
• Around CSD: Introducing Director of Nutrition Tiiloni Beavers, K-2 Students and Teachers Make it Count, DHS Students in Dual Enrollment Firefighter Program Meet the Pros

• Information & Resources: Open Today: Feedback Wanted on Pre-K Access Survey
• Mark Your Calendars: Tonight: DPI/DEF Parent Session "Getting Off to a Good Start: Supporting your Child's Emotional and Social Wellbeing," 6-7 p.m., DHS Media Center
• Community Partner News: Registration and Sponsorship Open for 15th Annual Mad Ave Derby

Find out what's happening in CSD schools by clicking on your school's newsletter.

College Heights Connection

Clairemont Bulldog

Glennwood Eagle Edition

Oakhurst Weekly

Westchester Weekly

Winnona Park Wildcat Weekly

F.Ave Falcon Flyer

Talley Street Update

BHMS Weekly Update

DHS Weekly Update

CSD is committed to offering a diverse range of advanced academic options, including IB, AP, and Dual Enrollment, ensuring that every student can discover the pathway that best aligns with their academic goals.

The CSD Facilities team, supported by MaxAir Mechanical and MSI, continues addressing districtwide HVAC needs. A power glitch at BHMS today, August 27, temporarily took the BHMS internet and air conditioning offline, briefly causing warmer conditions on the building's first floor until they were restored. However, repairs have been completed and cooling is restored at College Heights, Glennwood, Fifth Avenue, BHMS, and Talley Street, with continued monitoring at each location.

Oakhurst's units are operational and remain scheduled for replacement by the end of fall break. At Winnona Park, the cafeteria is in use, with coolers in place. The rebuilt cafeteria compressor is awaiting vendor release and installation. At Decatur High School, contractors continue working on the remaining units. However, some required parts are still not readily available, so a completion date has not been confirmed. Temporary equipment remains in place where needed, the chiller is being serviced, and gym components are on order.

The DHS elevator is advancing along two tracks. The interim wheelchair-access solution must be modified because its landing extends into the path of travel at one exit, creating a potential tripping hazard. The permanent repair is being advanced with a targeted work window for the semester break over December 2026/January 2027. Additional work includes weekend sewer-line descaling at BHMS and restroom repairs at DHS. CSD is also awaiting the final College Heights air-quality assessment and will share the findings with families upon receipt and review. Operations will continue to monitor conditions and provide weekly updates until the remaining items are resolved.

Operations updates will be communicated in the CSD Weekly on an ongoing basis. We appreciate the ongoing patience of our schools and community.

During the Board of Education's August 18 retreat, Dr. Alexandra Jones of Jones Archaeology Consulting, Corp., provided an overview of the results of a Phase 1A archaeological Study and historical assessment for the district's proposed location of an Early Childhood Learning Center. The board authorized the study at the April 27 meeting in response to community concerns, aiming to evaluate the potential for cultural resources in the project area.

The report finds that mid-twentieth-century urban renewal initiatives and subsequent redevelopment have resulted in the removal of buildings, residences, and portions of the historic street network associated with the historic Beacon Hill community within the newly proposed Early Childhood Learning Center project area. As a result, no extant above-ground historic structures associated with the community remain within the Area of Potential Effects. Based on the results of this investigation, no further archaeological identification efforts are recommended, allowing the proposed project to proceed as planned without any monitoring.

The 2026 Beacon Hill Phase 1A Archaeological Historical Report and the Phase 1A Archaeological Study Preliminary Findings Presentation are available in the board retreat agenda.

CSD is pleased to welcome Tiiloni Beavers as its new Director of Nutrition. Ms. Beavers has over 20 years of school nutrition experience, and most recently served as School Nutrition Operations Coordinator for Gwinnett County Public Schools. Tiiloni is an Army veteran who holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from American InterContinental University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University, and the School Nutrition Specialist (SNS) credential. She is passionate about school nutrition, team building, leadership development, and inspiring others through motivational speaking. In her free time, Tiiloni enjoys spending time with her family, watching classic movies, and listening to classic radio programs.

The season is off to a strong start for the DHS 9th-grade, JV, and Varsity volleyball teams, as well as the BHMS volleyball team, which each won their first home matches. Check out more about each team on the Athletics website:

• BHMS Volleyball
• DHS 9th Grade Volleyball
• DHS JV Volleyball
• DHS Varsity Volleyball

K-2 students and teachers are multiplying their counting skills and numeracy. Westchester’s mathematicians grouped collections by ones, fives, and tens in Jessica Smith's first-grade class, while Oakhurst Owls worked on recognizing numbers and quantities with Play-Doh and counters. Clairemont Bulldogs used their listening skills to count out a call-and-response drumming pattern in music class. Great work to our teachers and students!

Decatur High School Career Academy, led by CTAE Director Ms. Terra Smiley, officially launched its Dual Enrollment firefighter program this week! Students kicked off the semester with an exciting field trip to the City of Decatur Fire Station, where they met with Chief Washington, Captain Byrd and several other firefighters. They explored the ins and outs of the fire station, exercised and learned about on-the-job operations. The DHS cohort is looking forward to a great partnership with Atlanta Technical College and the City of Decatur Fire Department. Way to go, DHS!

Families must complete a new application for free and reduced lunch for each student each school year. Students approved last year may continue receiving benefits during the USDA grace period, which ends September 11, 2026. After that date, students without a current application on file will be charged the paid price for meals. To apply, log into Infinite Campus, click More in the side navigation menu, select Meal Benefits and then Meal Benefits Application.

For additional information, please get in touch with CSD's new nutrition director, Tiiloni Beavers, at tiiloni.beavers@csdecatur.net.

Is your student interested in joining the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council for their age group? These councils are designed for two-way communication between students and the Office of the Superintendent. Students Advisory Council members attend monthly, afterschool meetings at the Wilson Center to share their perspectives and experiences with the superintendent on a variety of issues.

Meeting dates are linked in the application below. The deadline to apply is Friday, September 11, 2026, and selected students will be notified by Friday, September 18. Learn more and apply for the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council here.

City Schools of Decatur has opened a survey to examine the needs and priorities of Pre-K families in Decatur, including location, transportation, and changing community needs.

School principals recommended parents from their respective schools to participate in a working group to assist CSD in determining how best to engage with families, staff, and the broader community about Pre-K accessibility, and how to use community feedback to inform decisions about potential Pre-K locations.

This survey is the committee's first community touch point. All families and community members are invited to take the survey, regardless of their children's ages.

The committee will use survey feedback data to define the community's values and priorities regarding any potential changes to Pre-K locations. The data will be used to make a recommendation to the Board of Education at the December board meeting. Data results will be posted. Community members can follow along and view upcoming survey findings, insights, and decision outcomes directly on the Pre-K Access Project webpage.

Please take the survey here through September 16:

English: https://tally.so/r/jaA2Y4

Spanish: https://tally.so/r/jaAY5R

Somali: https://tally.so/r/VLOAaj

Dari: https://tally.so/r/J9vZOz

• CogAT Testing for Sixth Grade, September 1-4
• CogAT Testing for First and Third Grade, September 2-4
• Labor Day, September 7 (CSD schools and offices closed)
• Board of Education Meeting, September 8
• Fall Break, September 21-25

Join Decatur Prevention Initiative and Decatur Education Foundation for the first parent session of the year, "Getting Off to a Good Start: Supporting your Child's Emotional and Social Wellbeing, Thursday, August 27, 6-7 p.m., DHS Learning Commons (Media Center).

Transitions can be stressful. New schedules, teachers, expectations, and social pressures can feel overwhelming. Our panel of experts offers guidance on how the adolescent brain responds to stress and will share practical ways to support confidence, connection, and emotional wellbeing. Learn more and register here.

The Decatur Education Foundation is honored to be the beneficiary of the 2026 Mad Ave Derby! Funds raised at this year’s Derby will support DEF’s Lighten the Load program. You can find all the details on participating, sponsoring and attending the event at https://www.madavederby.org/

Parks and Recreation

City of Decatur Parks and Recreation commits to providing exceptional experiences that foster healthy living and meaningful community connections. Please visit the DPRD programs website for information about afterschool programs, school holiday programs, and summer camps. Follow Decatur Parks and Recreation on Facebook and Instagram or sign up for their monthly newsletter.

CSD Weekly is the district's weekly newsletter, delivering the latest news and updates from the district and all schools in one place. Newsletters are sent each Thursday to all CSD parents, as well as students in grades 6-12. The community can subscribe to the CSD Weekly here.