Classes resume on Monday, Feb 3 – Day One/Odd
THIS WEEK AT DSA
| 2/3 | No PTSA Meeting |
| 2/5 | Black History Month Assembly 2:00 pm |
| 2/7 | 4.5 Week Grade Posting 2014-2015 Application Deadline 2 pm SPA Meeting 2:30 pm |
Upcoming
| 2/13 | Issue 4.5 Week Progress Reports |
| 2/14 & 2/15 | Black History Tour Show 8 pm |
| 2/17 | Presidents’ Day Holiday – No School |
| 2/19 | Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences 4-6 pm |
Snow Updates
Thank you to all the parents on the “snow crazy” day last Tuesday. We greatly appreciated your timely response in picking up your child or being patient with the check-out process. All students and staff made it home safely (some not until Wednesday…).
- DCSD community meetings regarding district flexible options have been rescheduled. Check for updated information on the DCSD web-site.
- The DCSD Technology Fair scheduled for Feb 1 has been rescheduled for Feb 8.
- The DSA Junior Talent Show will be rescheduled, new date coming soon.
- Any remaining final auditions (tour shows) will be rescheduled this week.
Please take the Georgia Parent Survey
Now open to all parents of Georgia Public School Students, the survey mirrors the school climate questions in the Georgia Student Health Survey II and the Georgia School Personnel Survey. Data from these surveys will be used to calculate the School Climate Star Rating within the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) for each school. Data from this survey will also be used to help the school inform and monitor instructional and programming decisions. Thank you! Deadline extended through February 28.
Go here, a drop-down menu will appear for you to select school district (Dekalb) and school (Dekalb School of the Arts).
During the legislative week of January 21-24
The Governor signed HB 310, election dates & deadlines
The Education Appropriations Subcommittee met to vote on their recommendations of the amended 2014 Budget which includes a Commission Charter School. The house vote passed.
The House passed the supplemental budget 163-1 and immediately sent it to the Senate; vote should be this week.
House Education Subcommittees this week:
The Academic Support Subcommittee, HR 486, the proposed constitutional amendment to allow certain cities to start a school system.
The Academic Achievement Subcommittee, HR 1109 and HB 802, amending the e-SPLOST provisions to allow up to 50% of the proceeds to be used for certain educational programs and materials.
Weapon in schools issues:
HB 826 revises 19 code sections to address issue(s).
SB 321, expands student hearing options.
HB 832 would provide extra pay for beginning special needs teachers.
Senate Education & Youth Committee
SB 288, related to athletic associations’ financial disclosures, was passed to Senate rules committee.
SB 283, religious practice clarification, passed to Senate rules.
SB 289, related to inspirational messages by students; sent to School Choice and Policy Subcommittee for further work.
House Education Committee
Rep. Mike Dudgeon is now Vice-Chair of the Committee, Tommy Benton is Secretary. Chairman Brooks Coleman said his three priorities for the session are the flexibility bill which is in Senate Ed, this year’s Title 20 clean up bill, and more discussion on common core.
Education Bills
There were several education-related bills introduced.
HB 793, Fiscal Accountability Act, prohibits all local and state entities from accepting federal funds for any purpose or in any form unless it has been expressly and specifically approved by an Act of the General Assembly.
HB 802 and HR 1109 are a proposed constitutional amendment and legislation to amend the provisions for the e-SPLOST, add a category of educational programs and materials to the allowable uses for up to 50% of the proceeds, and define this new category with seventeen items.
HB 811 authorizes local boards to allow advertisements on school buses and leaves it to the boards to set the terms and conditions for the ads.
SB 301 would amend the minimum facilities requirements to allow schools to be built of wood.
2013-2014 Yearbooks
Order your yearbook here.
Volunteer hours reporting form
Dekalb County PTA website
Visit the Dekalb County PTA Website here.
Business Recommendation Form
Please take a few minutes to provide information about businesses that DSA’s PTSA should contact about a partnership with our school. You can use the Business Recommendation Partnership form at any time.
College Corner: Scholarships & Internships
Soulfree “Are You Breathing?” Scholarship competition on March 18
Georgia United Credit Union Vernon E Carne Scholarship, deadline March 1
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Omega Epsilon Zeta Chapter, deadline Feb 15
Gladys Cook Scholarship, deadline March 3
Scholarship List, various deadlines
Paid High School Internships
Emma Bowen Foundation, Internship program
Of Special Note
Legislative Issue: Bill Could Allow Cell Towers in Residential Areas. Updates and feedback forms.