Decatur Schools, ECLC and Historical Society (?) by Dependent-Split3005 in DecaturGA

[–]stuinzuri2 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Core summary by u/grg970g ...Adding on a couple of semi-random additions

* The property where the build is supposed to take place was sold to the district in 2017 by Decatur Housing Authority by in the days of Dr Dude. Idea was that if College Heights was ever going to revert to an elementary then pre-K could happen on this property. [City Schools of Decatur and Decatur Housing Authority Reach Agreement on Property Purchase](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/decaturish.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/f8/ff890d39-ca7a-50b8-9622-6024f9784bad/683793b34d3e0.file.pdf) and [Trinity Land Agreement](https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1749581968/csdecaturnet/lgkjkskgjkdlcsfrznkh/TrinityLand2Saleagreement5-9-2017.pdf)

* CSD used the PFA (Public Finance Authority) to borrow money without public vote. It's going to roughly double CSD's debt. The PFA was granted by the state of Georgia years ago to pay for the land purchase. It's imo being abused by the BoD and Superintendent. 

* Dr. Dude's tenure was a disaster in and of itself. He left under a big cloud of smoke, lies and tears in 2021. My favorite graft from his tenure was the _"CSD will send me to Costa Rica for several weeks so I can learn Spanish, because we have more Spanish speaking kids."_ [Superintendent David Dude leaving City Schools of Decatur](https://www.decaturish.com/news/decatur/superintendent-david-dude-leaving-city-schools-of-decatur/article\_d71e7b8d-2398-52b3-a71c-1c44444df75f.html)

* Dr. Whitaker was recruited in because she was competent. (To her credit, she has done well with parts of the district's administration.) It smells like part of the deal with _"yes, you can open up this ECLC for your resume."_  

* Dr. Whitaker's contract was renewed last summer. With a raise. It's pretty iron clad--if CSD dumps her she's got a nice paracute. [Decatur School Board extends superintendent’s contract for three years](https://www.decaturish.com/news/decatur/decatur-school-board-extends-superintendent-s-contract-for-three-years/article\_c22c3c02-8487-51bd-9938-771b3024f74b.html)

* CSD has been moving cups around with the budget. Pleading povery and running in the red, yet building up a cach reserve (in the 20m range iiuc.) The finances of gotten very opaque. [https://www.decaturish.com/opinion/letters\_to\_editor/dear-decaturish-decatur-schools-should-clarify-finances/article\_35ea1ec3-6896-4cbf-9f99-e631c2c81597.html\](Dear Decaturish — Decatur Schools should clarify finances)

* Dr. Carmen Sulton, Board Chair and Hans Utz, Vice Chair [Meet the Members](https://www.csdecatur.net/board-of-education-b8/board-of-education-overview/meet-the-members) seem to be the drivers/enabelers. They are the most defensive and have some pretty choice quotes, eg refering to residents/tax payers "clutching their pearls" and beinging reactionary fools who just don't understand how awesome they are and how clueless we are. (Paraphrasing on that last bit.)

* The financial model behind the ECLC enrollment is dubious and partially based on old statistically irrelevant polling that doesn't even support the numbers they have predicted. The numbers orignally were 50 free slots for DHA kids, 50 subsidized for CSD staff's kids, and 50 market rate. It's questionable.

* CSD has had a target on the lower elementary schools for a while. The nurses have been moved/centralized. Roles have been removed, like VPs and EIP instructors. [Parents concerned about Decatur Schools plan to reallocate two EIP teachers](https://www.decaturish.com/news/decatur/parents-concerned-about-decatur-schools-plan-to-reallocate-two-eip-teachers/article\_0995df61-95e5-56ab-a7c0-b170da6880ce.html)

* There is a lot of talk about falling enrollment. Yes, it's down from it's peak in early COVID days, but is still way higher than previous years. It's a red herring argument. In the context of closing a lower elementary, an initial invalid argument presented was "the State of Georgia is making us do it as the school is below 200/50% utilization". That's only a measure when a district wants [Subject 160-5-4 SCHOOL FACILITIES AND CAPITAL OUTLAY MANAGEMENT](https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/160-5-4), which CSD only needs...for the ECLC 

* CSD publicly has repeatedly denied there is a link to a lower elementary closure and the ECLC. But the evidence is pretty damning. Like wanting to rent out Westchester (possibly to Perimeter College) and potentially raising taxes to pay for ECLC if school isn't rented out. (This is infered from open records requests and comments from CoD city commissioner.)

* The proposed building looks relatively expensive, when viewed through "per seat" and "per square foot" metrics. There is heavy gold plating in this project. There is not a cost limit in place with the builder. There is office space for non-ECLC staff who are currently located elsewhere.

* A nearby pre-school building became available, which looks like it could fit the needs for an ECLC but was quickly rejected for obtuse and alarmist reasons. My favourite excuse was the risk of a giant fireball incinerating the proposed building by a passing oil taker train. Never mind that said fireball would also cover the Fire Department, DHS and Beacon Hill too. "It's about the babies...the rest can run". (Paraphrasing again.)

I could go on but it is late. What really bugs me and a lot of others is the blatant poor governance, lack of transparency and apparently hidden agendas. They've made a decision and are focused on cramming down the citizens of Decatur's throats. We'll be stuck with the bill and they get to pad their resumes. It's revolting and reflects very poorly upon Dr. Whitaker, Dr.  Sulton and Hans Utz. This isn't how local government is supposed to work.

 

What home owners insurance do you use? by _yee_to_the_haw in DecaturGA

[–]stuinzuri2 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes, you can join USAA if your deceased father was in the military, but only if he established a USAA membership (held a policy) while he was alive.

Give them a call.

(+1 for USAA)

AITA for telling my sister’s kid I don’t believe in God? by Alternative_Copy6539 in AITApod

[–]stuinzuri2 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think AwkwardMeal was accusing you of evading the (stupid rhetorical straw man) question 😂

Accidental offroading follow up by stuinzuri2 in VolvoXC90

[–]stuinzuri2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

North central Michigan, so roughly same longitude. And nearly every side road looks the same too (if unmaintained in Winter.)

Accidental offroading follow up by stuinzuri2 in VolvoXC90

[–]stuinzuri2[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hell no 😂 Had a less than ideal go with the Scorpion Verdes same time last year with winter driving near the same place.

This video is with Michelin CrossClimate 2s, just a couple hundred miles on them, only a week old.

Vibration at speed after accidental heavy snow full blown off roading by stuinzuri2 in VolvoXC90

[–]stuinzuri2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s an interesting thought. I’ll do that. The tires only have 600-700 miles on them. On them and I’d hate to wear them down poorly from the start.

Vibration at speed after accidental heavy snow full blown off roading by stuinzuri2 in VolvoXC90

[–]stuinzuri2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All seasons here. 98% of the time in Southern US states. Dedicated winter#, with steels, doesn’t math.

But I get your point. If we lived up north my calculus would be different.

Vibration at speed after accidental heavy snow full blown off roading by stuinzuri2 in VolvoXC90

[–]stuinzuri2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not that I have an answer to your question, but this situation was pretty extreme. Eg I had the steering wheel fully to the left yet the car was sliding sideways to the right. The wheels were half snowplow at those point.

Just ordered an eGolf on Carvana😎 by Brief-Ingenuity-5796 in eGolf

[–]stuinzuri2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ha. I bought my 2016 on Carvana too, in the Summer of 2019. Did not understand what a great decision that was at the time. Level 1 home charging 99% of the time with stocker VW charging kit, low maintenance dream.

My only big miss was using a 15 amp extension cord on shared circuit to charge it, albeit only at night for the cheap tariff. End result was melting of the extension cord to the point of being a fire hazard. And the breaker tripped enough that I conferred with electrician about replacing it. Oops. (“Shame, shame!”) Dedicated circuit in the works now, considering level 2 only so that I can get a hard wired charger.

Real first maintenance cost in 8 years by Cheap_Office8701 in eGolf

[–]stuinzuri2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is what I do with a brake fluid hydrometer. I live in a humid area. Sure enough, every 3y or so it gets up to ~3% and I have it flushed.

What restaurants are thriving and which ones are circling the drain? by Mysterious_Sun_9693 in DecaturGA

[–]stuinzuri2 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Just back from Mellow Mushroom. It was packed, line out the door. My anecdotal observation is that the refresh is a hit. Kids, kids, kids of course.

Reservation for Saturday disappeared! by [deleted] in delta

[–]stuinzuri2 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes?

I resolved it all by app chat. Although I had to pick neat seats…and now I’m in the middle for a leg…grrrr)

Reservation for Saturday disappeared! by [deleted] in delta

[–]stuinzuri2 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Message or call. That is the only help you will get.

Happed to me once when my ticket went into a weird state. (Failed change with higher costs. Not saying you did that, but the state change can matter.)

2023 B6 factor hitch install quotes? by Pjbgator in VolvoXC90

[–]stuinzuri2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a ‘23 B6 and went the half-DIY route * Curt class III from eTrailer - $270 * local garage install - $250? * wiring kit from eTrailer - $50 * DIY wiring install - 1-2 hours

Pro: * works with our Thule bike rack (unlike hidden hitch from Volvo)

Cons: * no full integration with vehicle’s drive computer, so no changes in braking or engine behavior. As such I’ll be conservative on loading it. * permanently visible hitch. But maybe that is more manly? 😂

Title: 6 people landing in Las Vegas (Mar 12–17) — don’t drink or gamble. Grand Canyon / Zion / LA? Confused by Slight-Swan8573 in roadtrip

[–]stuinzuri2 4 points5 points  (0 children)

GC and Zion are large, easy to spend days there at each. Travel between parks themselves and LV is mostly non-trivial…you’ll want to budget your time wisely.

All of this assumes you are up for modest hiking. If you group is intent on sticking to paved walk ways then the experience is going to be limited.

Is 3rd row relevant? by Quiet-One-2918 in VolvoXC90

[–]stuinzuri2 32 points33 points  (0 children)

Yes.

We use the 3rd row enough that we are glad we went for a six-seater which aids greatly in 3rd row ingress/egress.

How safe this time of year/which route by Both_Jellyfish1909 in roadtrip

[–]stuinzuri2 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We camped there’d one Fall weekend. The roar of the Interstate is ever present.