Author: On Common Ground News

Rockdale County Public Schools’ (RCPS) graduation rate increased for the second consecutive year and remains above the state average, which also rose to an all-time high, according to the Georgia Department of Education’s recently released four-year graduation rate for 2020. RCPS increased to 84.6 percent, up from 82.7 percent last year. This is higher than the State of Georgia average, which increased to 83.8 percent, up from 82.0 percent last year, and an all-time high since the state began using the adjusted cohort calculation in 2012. Rockdale Schools Superintendent Terry Oatts praised students, parents and staff members for…

Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary announced tonight (Nov. 9) that he is facing another battle with cancer, one more aggressive than the prostate cancer for which he was treated in 2018. “My cancer has returned and I’m not going to go through what I did a year or so ago. I’m gonna follow, you know, what the charter says…” said Lary in making a formal request to the City Council. “For lack of a better term, it’s aggressive and it’s moved around.” Lary asked the City Council for a medical leave of absence for the remainder of November until March 2021…

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is asking for the public’s input on proposed calendar options for the 2021-2022 School Year and 2022-2023 School Year. The survey is open to employees, students, parents, families, and the community until Dec. 7, 2020 at www.rockdaleschools.org/calendarsurvey.  Comparison summaries are also available at www.rockdaleschools.org/calendarsurvey . All options have 180 student instructional days and 190 days for teachers. If school is canceled due to inclement weather, make-up days may be used during intersessions. The proposed calendar options are: 2021-2022 School Year Options 2021-22 Option 1: New Teacher Orientation – July 26-29 Pre-Planning Days – July 30-Aug.…

To provide entertainment while also following COVID-19 restrictions, Rockdale County Commissioner Post 1 Sherri Washington and City of Conyers Councilwoman Connie Alsobrook will host the “Drive-In Movie at the Horse Park” event on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Pkwy NE, Conyers. The event will take place at the park’s Steeplechase Field. “The family movie feature, “The Lion King” (2019) will be shown. Gates will open at 3 p.m., with the last car permitted at 4:15 p.m. The movie will start promptly at 4:30 p.m. Interested guests must register for the event at Eventbrite.com(searching…

In observance of Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11, garbage, recyclable materials and yard trimmings collection for residential customers will be based on a revised collection schedule as follows: Monday, Nov. 9 – Normal sanitation collection service. Tuesday, Nov. 10 – Normal sanitation collection service. Wednesday, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day observed. No sanitation collection service. Thursday, Nov. 12 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Wednesday, Nov. 11, will be serviced on Thursday, Nov. 12. Friday, Nov. 13 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Thursday, Nov. 12, will be serviced on Friday, Nov. 13. The…

DeKalb Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will close the South River Trail head entry located at 2019 Bouldercrest Road SE, Atlanta, Georgia 30316, now through mid-December. The Atlanta Gas Light Company will perform pipeline maintenance to ensure safety and continuity of service. Patrons are welcome to enter the trail at Gresham Recreation Center, located at 3113 Gresham Rd. SE, Atlanta, GA 30316. All other trails will remain open to the public and patrons are encouraged to practice social distancing protocols for the safety of DeKalb’s communities. For more information, contact Paige Singer, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs division manager, at…

DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs and the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance are urging visitors to the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve to park only in designated areas.  When visiting the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, located at 3787 Klondike Road, Stonecrest, GA 30038, patrons are urged not to park along the road. Patrons can park at the following locations: Additional parking locations are below: AWARE lot, 4158 Klondike Road, Stonecrest, GA 30038 Nature Center lot, at 3787 Klondike Road, Stonecrest, GA 30038 Vaughters’ Farm Lot, 3356 Klondike Road, Stonecrest, GA 30038 Polebridge Trailhead, 6262 Browns Mill Road, Stonecrest, GA…

The week of Nov. 9-13 will be “Black Lives Matter at DeKalb Schools Week of Action 2020” in the DeKalb County School District (DCSD). The weeklong event features daily Black Lives Matter school-based instructional activities, including a social media celebration of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), a celebration of Black-owned businesses in DeKalb County, the My Brother’s Keeper Kickoff, a “My Black is Beautiful Unity Day,” and a student-led panel discussion. The Board of Education adopted the resolution for Black Lives Matter At DeKalb Schools Week of Action 2020 on July 13, 2020. The goal of this week is to spark on ongoing…

Rep. Doug Collins As President-elect Joe Biden celebrates his historic victory with a commanding lead across the U.S., President Donald Trump has refused to concede. Trump’s campaign announced this evening (Nov. 8) that Rep. Doug Collins, District 9, will lead Georgia’s recount effort as soon as canvassing has concluded.  Trump’s campaign also said Trump plans to head to court on Monday(Nov. 9) to challenge the elections. “We are concerned about the lack of transparency in the tabulation process, especially given the reports of irregularities and improper ballot harvesting in Georgia,” said Matt Morgan, Trump 2020 general counsel. “In order for Americans to…

WAShINGTON, D.C—The Faith in Action Fund is crediting voter mobilization in Black and Brown communities in playing a key role in the Nov. 3 victories of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, along with the approval of ballot issues in four states. Faith in Action said its Rise + Vote initiative, a comprehensive voter education, registration, and mobilization campaign, helped to encourage communities often politically redlined to turn out to the polls. Faith in Action Fund leaders worked to mobilize voters on 10 ballot measures in five states and eight sheriffs’ races in five states. “We deserve to…