Author: On Common Ground News

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–  Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) Superintendent Terry Oatts, with support from the Rockdale County Board of Education, extended a $1,000 retention supplement provided by the state for educators to cover all full-time RCPS employees.  The recent $1,000 retention supplement provided by the state for educators was a welcome development for the district. However, the funding did not cover all full-time employees. This decision made by Oatts with the support of the Board of Education remedied the situation.    “I generally commend the Governor for his commitment to increasing teacher compensation, and specifically commend him for extending funds for…

ATLANTA—Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said on Thursday, Jan. 25, that Atlanta recorded an unemployment rate of 2.8 percent in November, down three-tenths from a revised 3.1 percent in November. A year ago, the rate was 2.6 percent.  “Georgia’s success story is nothing short of phenomenal, boasting a blockbuster year with over 5.1 million hardworking Georgians driving our state forward,” said Thompson. “As existing businesses scale new heights and a steady influx of new enterprises proudly choose Georgia as their home, the Peach State appears headed toward continued economic success.”  The labor force decreased in Atlanta by 15,762 and ended the month with 3,258,356.…

DECATUR, GA–DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is partnering with the Atlanta Community Food Bank to support Soldiers’ Angels food distributions for veterans, active military, guards, and reservists in 2024. The DeKalb County-sponsored food distributions will take place on Jan. 26 and Feb. 23, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Atlanta VA Arcadia Clinic, 250 North Arcadia Avenue, Decatur.  Registration for the Jan. 26 event is closed. Each recipient will receive approximately 75 pounds of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and non-perishable food items packed by volunteers and loaded into cars, pushcarts, or backpacks to 200 pre-registered veteran and military-connected families. “Veterans…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA–Gwinnett County Police detectives need the public’s help in identifying the suspect and the victim in a shooting that took place in the parking lot of the Shell Gas Station at 5260 Stone Mountain Highway. The shooting occurred on Jan. 16, around 8 p.m. Officers at the South Precinct responded to an aggravated domestic call of a suspect firing multiple rounds in gas station parking lot. Police said that a witness called 911 stating that someone was shooting in the parking lot of the Shell Gas Station. Officers arrived and spoke to a witness who stated a male got…

ATLANTA – State Representatives Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), Rhonda Burnough (D-Riverdale), Sheila Jones (D-Atlanta), Edna Jackson (D-Savannah) and Terry Cummings (D-Mableton) recently introduced House Resolution 817, which recognizes Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Day—Delta Day—at the Capitol. The group of legislators also issued the following statement: “Today, as we gather to celebrate ‘Delta Day’ at the Capitol, we stand united as Delta sisters, carrying forward the torch of academic excellence and service to our communities. Let us honor the remarkable women who laid the foundation of our sisterhood and continue their legacy with pride and purpose.” The…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) will partner with Georgia State University’s College of Education & Human Development (CEHD) to help reduce the teacher shortage in Georgia. The Pathways to Teacher Credentialing Project will give provisionally licensed teachers who are currently in the classroom and paraprofessionals with bachelor’s degrees in RCPS the opportunity to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree, which will prepare them to become certified teachers of record. At the same time, licensed and certified classroom teachers will earn a Master of Education degree to enhance their skills and advance in their careers. RCPS teachers…

ATLANTA—The 17th annual Kiddie Olympics will be held on May 2, 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the Atlanta Silverback Stadium. The event will include children ages 3-7 from childcare facilities across Atlanta who will engage in healthy pseudo competition to earn their gold medals and learn the importance of exercise and daily physical activity. Kiddie Olympics places childhood obesity at the forefront of early learning, providing pre-school children with the opportunity to start early in life understanding that an active lifestyle will lead to a higher quality of life. In recognition and support of former First Lady Michelle Obama’s…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA –DeKalb County Commissioner Ted Terry (D-District 6) was named chair of the Employee Relations & Public Safety (ERPS) Committee and a member of the Public Works & Infrastructure (PWI) Committee during the Board of Commissioners meeting on Jan. 23. Terry said the re-assignments to these committees will allow him to continue his existing work and move new initiatives forward: “For the past two years on the ERPS committee, as chair, we’ve successfully focused on public safety enhancements, including expanding FLOCK cameras installations and new gas station surveillance regulations, increasing the minimum wage for frontline workers, and pushing…

ATLANTA – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) will hold a job fair for bus, rail and light rail operators and journeyman bus technicians on Thursday, Jan. 25, 1 to 5 p.m., at MARTA headquarters, 2424 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta (located across from the Lindbergh Center rail station).    Job candidates should wear business casual/professional dress(required) to the event.  Pay starting at $20/hr. for operators and $26.16/hr. for technicians  MARTA is offering a sign-on bonus and will train all Permit and Class C (regular) license holders for their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Bus, Rail, Light Rail Operator Requirements: Seeking full-time and part-time operators…