Newspaper Page Text
The Champion, Thursday, May 21 - 27, 2015
LOCAL
Page 9A
CheckMate Chess
Academy members
compete in tournament
by Ashley Oglesby
Ashley@dekalbchamp.com
Move a piece, capture a piece,
drop a piece, promote a pawn,
castle, take a move back-the game
of chess is demanding.
United States Chess Federa
tion certified tournament direc
tor and chess instructor Beau
Hardeman, in collaboration with
Unconditional Love for Children
(UCL) held his 20th annual in
vitational chess tournament on
May 2 at Gresham Park recreation
center.
UCL, a nonprofit organiza
tion aimed to provide opportuni
ties for disadvantaged children
and promote critical thinking,
launched CheckMate Chess Acad
emy in 2012 and recruited Har
deman to assist in coaching the
students.
Hardeman first began teach
ing chess in 1992 and held his
first tournament in 1995. He said
his goal is to “teach kids to com
pete early.”
He added, “Students need to
know how to compete in a posi
tive and constructive way early
and the very nature of what’s go
ing on, on the chessboard teaches
management. You’re managing
time, materials and your goals.”
He added, “My approach
has been to engage the student. I
try to show them what their bad
moves are and how to improve
because while the child is play
ing they don’t get any coaching,
they are completely on their own,”
Hardeman said.
Director of CheckMate Chess
Academy Barry Gray said the
most rewarding aspect of working
with coach Hardeman and UCL
has been the commitment and
support for the children.
“This is another pathway of
learning. It’s amazing to see young
kids, who are adults now, in col
lege, out of college, doctors, law
yers, and in many other profes
sions who have gone through our
chess program, received private
lessons and to see how successful
they’ve become,” Gray said.
He added, “When you get a
kid interested in chess, especially
younger kids, after a while their
self-esteem is out of this world.
They feel confident about them
selves and that’s something re
warding to see.”
For additional information on
ULC and CheckMate Chess Acad
emy, visit facebook.com/uncondi-
tionalloveforchildren.
Students strategize and formulate tactics to use in the game in order to beat their opponents.
The DeKalb County Board of Education does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held at the
DeKalb County School District Administrative & Instructional Complex, 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, Stone Mountain, Georgia
on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at 7:00 p.m., and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. 48-5-32, does hereby publish
the following presentation of the current year's tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy
for the past five years.
CURRENT 2015 TAX DIGEST AND 5 YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY
DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Real & Personal
22,184,019,392
19,310,211,337
17,578,034,324
17,512,942,085
18,945,661,424
21,084,298,895
Motor Vehicles
1,254,986,790
1,225,978,410
1,265,293,750
1,359,311,440
1,135,212,830
781,124,040
Mobile Homes
656,584
510,171
440,056
396,572
355,333
358,733
Timber - 100%
0
0
0
0
0
0
Heavy Duty Equipment
65,347
82,712
77,829
34,308
57,864
2,208
Gross Digest
23,439,728,113
20,536,782,630
18,843,845,959
18,872,684,405
20,081,287,451
21,865,783,876
Less M& O Exemptions
3,039,974,697
2,913,503,127
2,847,239,428
2,826,254,552
2,923,178,437
3,089,898,865
Net M & O Digest
State Forest Land Assistance
20,399,753,416
17,623,279,503
15,996,606,531
16,046,429,853
17,158,109,014
18,775,885,011
Grant Value
0
0
0
0
0
0
Adjusted Net M&O Digest
20,399,753,416
17,623,279,503
15,996,606,531
16,046,429,853
17,158,109,014
18,775,885,011
Gross M&O Millage
22.98
22.98
23.98
23.98
23.98
23.98
Less Rollbacks
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Net M&O Millage
22.98
22.98
23.98
23.98
23.98
23.98
Total School Taxes Levied
$468,786,333
$404,982,963
$383,598,625
$384,793,388
$411,451,454
$450,245,723
Net Taxes $ Increase
($18,084,407)
($63,803,371)
($21,384,338)
$1,194,763
$26,658,066
$38,794,268
Net Taxes % Increase
-3.71%
-13.61%
-5.28%
0.31%
6.93%
9.43%
NOTES:
1. THE NET LEVY DOES NOT REFLECT ACTUAL REVENUE RECEIVED OR AVAILABLE DUE TO VALUE ADJUSTMENTS RESULTING FROM APPEALS, DELINQUENT TAXES,
COLLECTIONS FROM PRIOR YEARS, AND A FEE OF 1.25% PAID TO THE COUNTY FOR BILLING AND COLLECTIONS.
2. THE 2015 MILLAGE RATE IS THE PROPOSED RATE. THE PROPOSED SCHOOL OPERATIONS MILLAGE IS 23.98 MILLS.
3. 2015 DIGEST FIGURES ARE AN ESTIMATE.