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EDUCATION THURSDAY, JULY 20,2017 • Page 16A 109 DEKALB SCHOOLS Inspire * Achieve * Excel www.dekalbschoolsqa.org/Llovedcsd d? mib DeKalb County School District launched the first portion of a three-phase marketing campaign on July 10 to better the perceptions of the public, costing DeKalb County taxpayers $85,710. Photos courtesy of DeKalb County School District. DeKalb schools launch $85,000 media campaign Dedicates funds to ‘I Love DeKalb Schools’ campaign BY R. SCOTT BELZER sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com DeKalb County School District (DCSD) announced the launch of a three-phase marketing campaign titled “I Love DeKalb Schools” on July 10, costing DeKalb County taxpayers $85,710. As part of phase one, DCSD purchased seven billboards at “strategic locations” throughout the county. The district also launched a new page on its website featuring “l<3DeKalb Schools” merchandise, advertisements featuring many racial demographics, and a portal to share positive stories about DCSD. The billboards— located along I-285, I-20, Memorial Drive and Hairston Road, Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, as well as Buford Highway and Clairmont Road—will feature “!<3DeKalb Schools. REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE Inspire. Achieve. Excel.” The billboards will cost approximately $50,000, according to district officials. In addition to billboards, the campaign will include print ads, television commercials, a jingle performed by DCSD students, an increase in social media presence and other promotional materials. “Through media impressions, social engagement and increased website traffic, the campaign will create a strong presence in the metro Atlanta K-12 landscape and will be used as a promotional tool to recruit new students and families to DCSD,” states a DCSD release. The print ads and commercials will cost approximately $35,710, officials state, bringing the total to $85,710. The funds will be used from communications budgets from fiscal years 2017 and 2018. According to the release, the marketing effort is the product of DCSD’s communications and community relations department, headed by chief officer Eileen Houston-Stewart and director of strategic marketing Andre Riley. The pair head a team of seven other individuals including communications specialists, online content coordinators and graphic designers. The release also states the goal of the campaign is to “counter mainstream perceptions and attitudes that don’t accurately reflect the work of students and staff.” DCSD Superintendent R. Stephen Green said, “Now is the time for us to make it crystal clear what we’re about—a community that values education, its schools and its stakeholders. This new marketing program allows us to better control our narrative and tell our own story.” The first phase of the campaign is designed to “reestablish the district’s links with its community,” district spokesmen state. Other efforts will include an external newsletter, a district news magazine, a flyer management system, co-branding efforts and social media pushes. DCSD board of education member Stan Jester does not agree with the marketing effort. On his blog, he said the billboards should feature the district logo in addition to “Most failing schools in Georgia. Worst paid teachers. Deficit spending. Second Highest Millage Rate in Georgia.” “Instead of actually improving academic achievement, DeKalb Schools is starting a marketing campaign to ‘counter mainstream perceptions’ of the problems with the school district,” Jester said. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Mayor and City Council of the City of Chamblee, Georgia will hold a public hearing on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at the Chamblee Civic Center, 3540 Broad Street, Chamblee, GA 30341 at 6:00 p.m. to receive public comments regarding the following matters: •PZ2017-137: Applicant: Steve Henry; Owner: DeKalb County and Stein Investment Co., LLC requests approval of an amendment to a previously approved Development of Community Impact in accordance with City of Chamblee Ordinances, Appendix A, Unified Development Ordinance, Section 280-6 for the purpose of constructing a climate- controlled self-storage facility with commercial office space at 3693 Clairmont Rd., 1959, and 1965 Bragg St., being DeKalb County Tax Parcels #18-244-04-004, 18-244-04-005, and 18- 244-04-006 zoned Corridor Commercial and 1971 Bragg Street being DeKalb County Tax Parcel #18-244-04-003 and zoned Airport. •2017TA-004: The City of Chamblee, Georgia proposes to amend the Official City Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Unified Development Ordinance, Title 2, “Land Use and Zoning”, Chapters 270 and 280. PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF CHAMBLEE, GA NOTICE OF MUNICIPAL OFFICE QUALIFYING DATES The date of Municipal Election for the office of Mayor and seats of Councilmember District 1(one) ana Councilmember At-Large is Tuesday, November 7, 2017. The qualifying fee for office of Mayor - $540.00; for offices of Councilmember District 1 (one) and Councilmember At-Large - $360.00, which is 3% of the total gross salary of the preceding year (O.C.G.A. 21-1-131 (a)(1)(A)). Each candidate shall file a notice of candidacy in the office of the City Clerk of Chamblee, 5468 Peachtree Road, Georgia between Tuesday, August 22, 2017 and Thursday, August 24, 2017, between the hours of 8:30 am and 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm (O.C.G.A. 21-2-132 (d)(3)). Each candidate must meet the qualifications of the Charter and Code of the City of Chamblee, as well as applicable State laws. Emmie Niethammer City Clerk
