Author: On Common Ground News

Focus on competitive recruitment and retention of top educators   CONYERS, GA – Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) teachers and employees will see significant salary increases in the 2021-2022 school year with the recently approved FY22 budget that focused on addressing student needs and increasing competitiveness in recruiting and retaining top educators. Employees will see an average 4 to 10.9 percent pay increase, the school system announced today(July 6). The approved FY22 budget of $171,361,813, a modest 3.6 percent increase, was approved by the Rockdale County Board of Education at the June 24, 2021 meeting. One of the key features…

DECATUR, GA — Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04 announced more than $6 million for local Head Start programs.  Johnson helped secure the grant funding as part of the American Rescue Plan. “This investment will help our local Head Start programs continue preparing Georgia kids for success and help parents get back to work growing our economy knowing their kids are safe and cared for,” said Rep. Johnson. CDI Head Start/Dekalb and Rockdale Counties – $263,230 Easter Seals North Georgia, Inc. – $2,394,197 Georgia Dept. of Early Care and Learning – $220,156 McIntosh Trail Early Childhood…

DECATUR,GA—The DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections will hold a special called meeting on Wednesday, July 7, at 9:30 a.m.   This meeting will be conducted via teleconference (Zoom). Simultaneous public access to the meeting will be available via livestream on DCTV’s UStream channel https://video.ibm.com/channel/dctv-channel-23.   To make a comment, join via Zoom at https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/97184078303  or by phone at 1-888-270-9936 and use conference code 171493.  Public comments of two minutes or less may be made live via the teleconference. For those joining the meeting by telephone, please be aware that phone numbers may be displayed to the public…

Routes to connect Clayton, Coweta, Fulton and Henry counties to Downtown, Midtown Atlanta ATLANTA — The Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) was awarded $5.47 million in federal funding for 10 battery-electric commuter coaches and 11 chargers for the region’s Xpress Commuter Service. The buses are expected to initially operate on routes connecting Clayton, Coweta, Fulton, and Henry Counties to Downtown and Midtown Atlanta. The funding was received through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) highly competitive Low-No Program which supports transit agencies in purchasing or leasing low- or no-emission buses and other transit vehicles that use technologies such as…

STONECREST, GA– After a hiatus due to COVID-19, weekly tours of the Atlanta Wild Animal Rescue Effort (AWARE) facilities will begin again on Saturday, July 3, at 1 pm. Visitors are invited to stop by the wildlife center that day to meet some of the ambassador animals (individuals that, due to their injuries, cannot be released back into the wild) and see the facilities. Tours will occur weekly at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday from July 3 onward. “AWARE Wildlife Center’s free weekend public tours will be returning July 3 and 4, just in time for the holiday.Going forward,…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA – Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. will host the 3rd Annual Rockin Women in Rockdale EmpowerHER Brunch on Saturday, Oct. 23, 9 a.m. to noon, at the Costley Mill Event Center. The event will honor and recognize incredible women in the community who have contributed to Rockdale County’s success, organizers said. This year’s keynote speaker will be the first African-American female Fire Chief of Rockdale County, Marian McDaniel. Ten women will be honored at the brunch. Residents can nominate one woman who they believe deserves the recognition. Nominations can be filled out on the…

Rockdale, Newton Historical Societies welcome public to step back in time   COVINGTON, GA—To celebrate the opening weekend of Salem Campmeeting and invite the community to the historic campground, long-time “tenters” are hosting a Tour of Tents  on Saturday, July 10, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., 3940 Salem Road, Covington. The tour, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored in cooperation with the Rockdale and Newton County Historical Societies. The campground is on the National Register of Historic Places, one of 13 such locations in Newton County. Tents is an unusual term for the rustic cabins…

Major back order on chlorine stalls swimming center STONECREST, GA—The Browns Mill Aquatic Center’s re-opening, which was originally planned for the Fourth of July weekend, has been delayed due to pending electrical work and a nationwide shortage in pool chorine supplies, a city official said today (July 3). Brandon Riley, director of the city of Stonecrest’s Parks and Recreation, said that pumps must be replaced and other maintenance issues must be addressed in order for the aquatic center to pass inspections by the DeKalb County Board of Health.  However, one of the main issues, has been getting pool chlorine…

Gubernatorial candidate Vernon Jones won the Forsyth County GOP straw poll, his campaign said Friday (July 2). “This result is an important achievement for the campaign and signifies the support for Vernon’s political message,” his campaign office stated in a news release The Forsyth County Republican Party held a cookout and meet-and-greet at McDonald and Son Funeral Home’s community room on July 2. Attendees had a chance to hear from statewide GOP candidates for several offices and a straw poll was conducted to see which Republican candidates voters favored in contested races. Jones said he was grateful for the…