CSD Weekly: May 14, 2026

1. Reminder: Please pick up medication from school clinic by Friday, May 22.

2. GOSA honors seven CSD schools for academic performance and closing achievement gaps.

3. DHS senior Zoe Smith sworn in as 2026-2027 BOE student representative.
4. DHS senior is second runner-up in Georgia Laws of Life Essay contest.

5. CSD celebrates 16 retirees who leave legacy of 293 total years of service.

6. Watch DHS graduation livestream here, Saturday, May 16, 2-4 p.m.

7. Nonresident tuition applications are now reopened through June 5.
8. Last chance to nominate teachers and staff for DEF Extra Mile Awards.
9. BOE tentatively approves FY27 budget and millage rate; sets three millage rate hearings.

10. BOE defers new Early Childhood Learning Center financing discussion to future work session.

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

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

Dr. MJ Kim was in Decatur today to present seven CSD schools with 2025 Single Statewide Accountability System (SSAS) awards from the Governor's Office of Student Achievement (GOSA), including the Highest Performing Award and the Greatest Gains Award for high academic performance and high scores in closing achievement gaps. CSD's seven out of nine eligible schools receiving SSAS awards is the highest ratio of any district in the state.

In the highest-performing schools category, Glennwood and Westchester earned the gold award; Winnona Park, F.Ave, and Talley St. earned silver; and Oakhurst and BHMS earned bronze. Talley St. also earned the silver award in the greatest gains category.

To earn a gold award, schools must score a three-year average at or above the 97th percentile in content mastery, and a CCRPI score at or above the 90th percentile for each of the three years measured. To earn a silver award, the three-year average must be in the 95th percentile or higher, and the CCRPI score must be at or above the 80th percentile.

GOSA awards these based on College and Career-Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) data from the three most recent school years. According to GOSA, the "Highest Performing Schools" earn a three-year average CCRPI content mastery score in the 93rd percentile or above statewide and an average CCRPI closing gaps score in the 75th percentile or above.

Job well done to DHS senior Susanna Tusher, who was the second runner-up in the state for the Georgia Laws of Life Essay contest. Each year, thousands of 9-12 students across Georgia reflect on and share a story about the values that guide their lives. Susanna's essay, "Listen Louder Than You Sing," is a reflection on the importance of listening as a tool for deepening empathy and connection. Thank you to DHS teacher Shelby Coffin for guiding this writing effort.

At the May meeting of the Board of Education, Student Board of Education representative Nia Batra administered the oath of office to Student Board Apprentice Zoe Smith, who will begin her term as the representative in June. Zoe has served as the board's student apprentice over the past year, preparing to take on the role of student representative during the upcoming school year. She is a rising senior with an interest in computer science and data analytics.

Another highlight of the meeting was the board's heartfelt appreciation for Nia's leadership and service. She received a plaque and a farewell video. Congratulations, Nia. We wish you all the success as you continue your journey at Georgia Tech next year.

Kate Bell, a current 10th-grade DHS student, has been elected as the new student board apprentice.

Engaging the student body and seeking its input and feedback regarding the district's educational programs and activities advances the district's efforts to amplify student voice and is vital to achieving the vision, mission, and strategic plan. CSD BOE student representatives and apprentices are elected by their DHS peers to represent students' perspectives while serving on the board.

First-graders at Winnona Park recently welcomed families for a celebration of their learning experiences this year. Scholars showcased what they have learned in reading, writing, and math, then flipped the script to teach the grown-ups some hands-on learning strategies before putting them to the test. A big round of applause to the superstar teachers and families who made this showcase a hit. Way to shine, Wildcats and Oakies!

DHS, BHMS, F.Ave, Talley St., and Glennwood (Boys In Action) proudly hosted a joint end-of-year celebration for their Y.L.O.E (Young Ladies of Excellence) and G.E.N.T.S. (Gentlemen Excelling with the Needed Tools for Success) programs. During the event, students, families, and staff celebrated the positive impact Y.L.O.E and G.E.N.T.S. had on their academic and personal growth throughout the year. The event led to connections among participants across schools and programs and to excitement about their involvement in the upcoming school year. Thank you to CSD's Y.L.O.E., and G.E.N.T.S. sponsors Dr. Charlie McAdoo, II and Dr. Ella Harley for organizing this event.

CSD is privileged to honor 16 retiring staff members for 2026. These individuals have dedicated their careers—and their hearts—to the students of CSD. While we will miss their expertise and presence in our hallways, we are incredibly proud to celebrate their legacy of service, totaling 293 years in CSD. On behalf of the district, congratulations on your retirement and thank you for making a lasting difference in the lives of so many.

2026 Retirees

• Carolyn Edwards, College Heights, 11 years of service in CSD

• Elecia Fulton, College Heights, 15 years of service in CSD

• Lynn Hanson, Wilson Center, 24 years of service in CSD

• Denise Henderson, Westchester, 7 years of service in CSD

• William Hughley, Operations Department,18 years of service in CSD

• Lisa Johnston, BHMS, 8 years of service in CSD

• Toni Olsen-Wilson, BHMS, 12 years of service in CSD

• Regina Shipp-Jones, DHS, 6 years of service in CSD

• Angela Spencer, Westchester, 21 years of service in CSD

• Kristen Tavel, Winnona Park, 24 years of service in CSD

• Julia Walsh, Westchester, 14 years of service in CSD

• Jackie White, BHMS, 42 years of service in CSD

• Doug Whitehead, BHMS, 23 years of service in CSD

• Arlethea Williams, Decatur Virtual Academy, 29 years of service in CSD

• Liz Williams, BHMS, 10 years of service in CSD

• Greg Wiseman, Winnona Park, 29 years of service in CSD

Hold onto your graduation caps, because the DHS Class of 2026 smashed the school record for community service hours, logging a remarkable 16,026 hours of community service on the MobileServe app. That's almost double the number of hours of previous classes. Throughout their four years of high school, students helped out on and off campus, volunteering at Trees Atlanta, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Zoo Atlanta, and many other local organizations. At DHS, they contributed by painting murals, working concessions, and assisting teachers. Nearly 150 seniors will wear an honor cord by logging 60 or more hours of service. Kudos to these incredible seniors.

One of CSD's youngest rising stars, College Heights pre-K student Frankie Rasheed, was honored at the Board of Education meeting for her winning College Heights mascot design in Decatur Education Foundation's CSD Mascot Contest. This contest supports art programming across our district, and Frankie's artwork has already been featured at the district art show and on official "Mascots of Decatur" t-shirts. Frankie's Pre-K teacher, Stacey Jones, and paraprofessional, Anna Grace Rittenhouse, presented Frankie with her certificate. Way to go, Frankie!

The biggest day of the school year is almost here. DHS graduation is this Saturday, May 16, 2-4 p.m., at the Georgia State University Convocation Center. Friends and family not attending the ceremony may watch the livestream at this link. Congratulations, Class of 2026!

• Jewish American Heritage Month, May 1-31

• Mental Health Awareness Month, May 1-31

• National Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, May 1-31

• DHS Graduation, May 16, 2-4 p.m., Georgia State University Convocation Center

• National Speech Pathologist Day, May 18

• Board of Education Retreat, May 19, 12:30-4:30, Agnes Scott College

• FY27 Budget Hearing, May 19, 6 p.m., Wilson Center

• Last Day of School, May 22

• FY27 Budget Hearing, May 27, 11 a.m., Wilson Center

• BOE Regular Meeting, June 2, Wilson Center

• BOE Millage Rate Hearing, June 11, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., Wilson Center

• BOE Millage Rate Hearing, June 22, 5 p.m., Wilson Center

BOE Policies Open for Public Comment

The following policies are currently pending and available for public comment. The community is invited to provide feedback on the policies using the form at the bottom of the policy webpage in Simbli.

• AFC: Emergency Closings
• EEE: Wellness Program
• FDC: Naming Facilities

New Early Childhood Learning Center Financing

The regular meeting agenda was amended to remove this item. It was deferred to a future work session for additional review and discussion.

FY27 Budget

The board approved the tentative Fiscal Year 2027 budget. All budget discussions, presentations, and actions are outlined in the annual Board Management Oversight Plan (BMOP).

Tentative Fiscal Year 2027 Millage Rate Approval

The board approved the tentative Fiscal Year 2027 millage rate of 20.30 presented by Dr. Lonita Broome, Chief Financial Officer. The proposed FY2027 millage rate is the same as the current FY26 millage rate. Before the adoption of the final millage rate on June 22, 2026, the district will hold three in-person public millage rate hearings in the boardroom of the Wilson Center on:

• June 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
• June 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

Be sure to check out this month's issue of Bulletin Board.

Attention current CSD students: Do you know a teacher or CSD employee who has gone the "extra mile" this year? Nominate them for the CSD Extra Mile Award! The Extra Mile Award is an annual recognition that allows students to show appreciation to teachers or staff who go above and beyond expectations.

Students at any grade level can write an essay describing how their teacher (or staff member) goes the extra mile (parents can help younger children write the essay or submit it on behalf of a student who is unable to write the nomination). The essays should be detailed and describe how the employee goes above and beyond. Submit a nomination here by Thursday, May 21, 2026.

City Schools of Decatur has reopened the nonresident tuition application window for a limited number of K-5 nonresident tuition seats at select CSD grades and schools for the 2026-2027 school year. Families who live outside the City of Decatur attendance zone with children entering grades K-5 are eligible to apply. Applications are available on the CSD website and will close on June 5. Learn more and apply here.

Please pick up your child's medication from the school clinic by the last day of school, Friday, May 22. To adhere to safety guidelines, schools are unable to store any medications during the summer break. Therefore, any medication left behind will be discarded. Kindly remember that students are not permitted to carry their own medication home.

Coming in June, Infinite Campus is switching payment processors from Payrix to Stripe for all online payment functions in the Campus Portal. The new system will provide a more secure and easy-to-use payment system, including the convenience of tap and pay options at school events. CSD will be making this transition for the district during the month of June.

Important Notes:

• The online payment system will be unavailable June 8-19, 2026. If you need to make a payment during this time, please visit your student's school to pay via cash or check.

• Banking and card information must be set up again in the new Stripe portal after June 19. Stored payment methods and recurring payments will not be transferred between vendors.

• There are no changes to our fee structures. Processing fees remain at 2.5% for credit cards and $0.35 for e-checks.

• Please log in to Infinite Campus and click "Fees" to check for any balances. Any balance on the accounts will carry over.

Reserve Yard Signs for Graduating Seniors from DEF

Show your appreciation for CSD teachers/staff and show your pride in your graduating seniors by having a yard sign in their honor. DEF volunteers will deliver your Step Up Teachers or your Congrats Grad sign to your home when you take advantage of this opportunity to donate. Donate $35 for a yard sign and 5 teacher/staff/senior tributes. Donate $40 for a yard sign and 10 teacher/staff/senior tributes. Enter your tributes on the donation page. Tributes will be shared publicly on our website, with staff, and on DEF social media. Visit stepupforteachers.com to read our tribute wall and to make your own!

Proceeds from DEF’s Step Up Campaign fund Teacher and Student Innovation Grants in all CSD Schools. Let’s cover Decatur with support for our teachers, staff and students! If you’d like to make a tribute but cost is a barrier, please just email info@decatureducationfoundation.org.

The community is invited to nominate a CSD employee who has gone above and beyond in service to students. Recipients of the Miles Above Award and the Clarence Strickland Make a Difference Award are recognized at CSD’s annual Opening Day Celebration. Learn more and submit nominations here by July 10.

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.

Parents' Night Out - Superhero Night, Friday, May 29, 5:30-9 p.m., Oakhurst Recreation Center

Parents, treat yourselves to a night out! Your superheroes (ages 5-12) will embark on action-packed adventures filled with games, crafts, and nonstop fun. Kids can wear costumes if they’d like! Dinner and snacks are included, along with discounts for siblings. Register here.

This summer, the City of Decatur presents Decatur WatchFest 26, a celebration of FIFA World Cup 2026™, which runs from June 11 through July 19, 2026. Decatur WatchFest 26 will offer 34 days of free music, games, activities, food and beverages on and around the newly renovated Decatur Square as fans watch the world’s top soccer matches. With matches every day and a concert every night, there is something for everyone at Decatur WatchFest!

• Every day of FIFA World Cup 26™ matches will be celebrated in Decatur during WatchFest 26.
• All matches will be shown in Decatur’s Official WatchFest soccer pubs and restaurants (WatchSpots) and select matches each day will be shown on three big screens on the Decatur Square.
• Pre- and post-match concerts will feature national and local acts (link to details), including major acts Big Boi, The War And Treaty, and Indigo Girls.
• For kids and adults: soccer activities with our partners Atlanta United, a new playground area on the square, misters and more!

Check out the full schedule on our website at DecaturWatchFest26.com or our socials: @decaturwatchfest26

CSD students, staff, and families are invited to take advantage of an exclusive offer to buy two tickets to an Atlanta Dream game and get one for $ 10. The offer is good for the Atlanta Dream matchup against the Toronto Tempo on Monday, June 22, at State Farm Arena. Buy tickets here.

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