CSD Weekly: September 10, 2026

As part of the Capital Improvement Plan, CSD has opened a survey to examine the priorities of Pre-K families in Decatur, including location, transportation, and changing community needs. 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 make a recommendation to the Board of Education at the December board meeting. Please take the survey on the Pre-K Access Project webpage through September 16.

• One Week Remaining To Take Pre-K Access Survey, part of CSD's Capital Improvement Plan
• Did You Know? E-SPLOST VII: A Local Cent for Local Schools
• CSD Facilities Update
• Around CSD: Celebrating Our 2027 National Merit Semifinalists!, DHS Student Proposes Mobile Shower Initiative to DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, CSD Hosts Decatur Reads & Dyslexia Awareness Week

• Mark Your Calendars: 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at DHS, BOE Community Meeting, September 14
• Community Partner News: Join DEF's Circle of Stars

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

Prepared by City Schools of Decatur for informational purposes only.

Our facilities team and contractor partners continue working to improve learning environments across CSD. As of September 10, 2026, 540 maintenance requests have been resolved, with 68 remaining open. We are working through outstanding requests while responding to new needs and prioritizing issues that affect instruction.

Recent issues resolved include Glennwood's elevator, plumbing at Winnona Park, water fountains at BHMS and cooling concerns at Talley St. and the Frasier Center.

At BHMS, plumbing repairs and flooring removal in six classrooms are scheduled during fall break, along with necessary testing and remediation. We are also coordinating the installation of replacement flooring during the same break, subject to required clearance testing, materials, and contractor availability.

Heating and cooling work is planned at Winnona Park, Oakhurst and Glennwood over fall break, while work continues at DHS and Westchester.

At DHS, the permanent elevator repair is moving forward, with replacement parts being sourced. An interim wheelchair platform lift is also being coordinated, and installation timing remains pending. Boiler work is also planned over fall break, with a temporary interruption to hot water in the main building.

Gym floor work of two coats of finish is planned at DHS starting September 19, 2026, with an estimated duration of one week. BHMS's full gym-floor refinishing is planned to start December 10, 2026 and take approximately three weeks.

Thank you for your patience and partnership as we continue creating the conditions for every student to thrive.

In observance of September as National Literacy Month, Georgia Reads Week (September 21-25), October as Dyslexia Awareness Month, and World Dyslexia Day on October 8, CSD is hosting Decatur Reads & Dyslexia Awareness Week, a full lineup of literacy and dyslexia awareness celebrations from September 28 through October 8 with both in-school and outside of school activities.

• Highlights include GPB Livestream with Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia Reads for America 250 at the public library, and a special read-aloud of Aaron Slater, Illustrator with Superintendent Dr. Whitaker.

• Head to the Decatur Book Festival for the keynote with 2026 Pulitzer Prize winner Brian Goldstone on Friday, October 2, 7 p.m., and the Kidnote featuring bestselling authors Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko on Saturday, October 3, 10 a.m.
• Community involvement is encouraged through guest reader opportunities, including parents, staff, and Board of Education members.
• Watch for guest readers at schools, explore student talent in the Dyslexia Awareness Art Competition (entries due October 6 at noon; gallery walk October 7), and show your support by wearing red for World Dyslexia Day on Thursday, October 8.

The foundational work of reading, math skills and play is full steam ahead at the K-2 schools! Students at Winnona Park and Oakhurst worked with their teachers and each other this week on CVC rhyming words, building math equations with base 10 blocks and currency amounts, and letting out some energy on the playground.

DHS will host the annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, with the DHS Army JROTC, on Friday, September 11, at 9 a.m. at the DHS flagpole in front of the school. The event will honor the lives lost and the heroes. The event will be live-streamed on the DHS Instagram.

At the September 8 board meeting, the Decatur Board of Education 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 DHS 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.

CSD 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.

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.

CSD's Department of Special Education invites parents and families to the Special Education Parent Overview Night on Tuesday, September 29, 5:30-7 p.m. at the BHMS Media Center. Attendees will learn about the Special Education department, the supports the department provides, and how we can work together. During the evening, we will cover:

• General IEP Overview: Learn what an IEP is and how it is built.

• Inside the SPED Department: Discover how we support your child.

• Programs & Resources: Explore the options and support available to families.

• Meet & Greet: Put faces to names and connect with our team.

Please read the recap of the September 8, 2026, Board of Education meeting in today's issue of the Bulletin Board newsletter.

CSD is 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.

• National Literacy Month, September 1-30
• Attendance Awareness Month, September 1-30
• National Suicide Prevention Month, September 1-30
• 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, September 11, 9 a.m., DHS Flagpole, live-streamed here
• National Arts in Education Week, September 13-19
• Board of Education Community Meeting, September 14, 6:30-8 p.m., BHMS Media Center
• National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15-October 15
• UPDATED: Board of Education Executive Session, September 15, 5:30-7 p.m.
• Fall Break, September 21-25
• Special Education Parent Overview Night, September 29, 5:30-7 p.m., BHMS Media Center

Teens and parents are invited to join the Decatur Parent Network and the Decatur Education Foundation for a free Narcan (Naloxone) Training on September 17, 6:30–7:30 p.m. in the DHS Media Center.

Most opioid deaths are accidental. It's possible for anyone to reverse an overdose and save a life. At this event, atendees will learn how to recognize a potential overdose, administer Narcan, and respond when every minute matters. One free Narcan (Naloxone) per family will be available to the first 50 who register and attend. Register here.

Decatur Education has kicked off its annual Circle of Stars campaign. The Circle of Stars is DEF’s core community of donors - individuals, families, and businesses - whose generosity lights the way for Decatur’s students. From the stellar beginnings of a Nebula to the steady brilliance of a North Star, every level of giving represents a deep commitment to helping our children overcome obstacles and reach their fullest potential. Please visit the DEF website to see how your family or business can participate.

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 or sign up for their monthly newsletter.

Fall Break Camps

Small Fry Sports Camp: ages 3-5, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Ebster Recreation Center

Imagination Adventure: grades K-5, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Decatur Recreation Center

Smart Tech Camp: grades K-5, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Oakhurst Recreation Center

Snapology's Real World Robotics: grades K-5, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Oakhurst Recreation Center

Soccer & Futsal Camp: grades 1-8, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Ebster Recreation Center

Teachers, instructors and the community are invited to apply to facilitate one of the City of Decatur's Out of School Time (OST) enrichment summer 2027 camps for kids. Camp themes for Summer 2027 are Multi-Media Art, fashion design/sewing, photography, science/nature, cooking, technology, Legos/Lego robotics, entrepreneurship, drama/theatre, self-care/wellness, games, international cultures, sports and more. If you would like to share your expertise and talents as an artist, actor, chef, scientist, athlete, engineer, wellness enthusiast or designer with camp participants by facilitating an enrichment camp, apply here by October 9. If you have any questions, please contact Joslyn Cox via email at Joslyn.Cox@decaturga.com or call at 404-377-0494.

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.