Newspaper Page Text
LOCAL
THURSDAY, JUNE 14 - 20, 2018 • Page 14
Chamblee Charter High parents,
supporters call for principal’s dismissal
BY DEREK SMITH
derek@dekalbchamp.com
Dozens of Chamblee
Charter High School (CCHS)
parents and supporters turned
out June 11 for the DeKalb
County School District Board
of Education Community Input
Session to call for the dismissal
of CCHS principal Rebecca
Braaten.
Wearing blue, the group
of supporters stood each time
one of them took the podium
to speak to school board
members, who according to
the rules of the session, did not
respond to the comments.
Braaten, who was named
CCHS principal before the
2017-18 school year, has
had a negative affect on the
performance of teachers at
the school, according to one
student who spoke during the
session.
“She created a hostile
environment,” the student
said. “I worry that when
teachers do not feel appreciated
and supported; but instead
threatened, they will be less
able to do the excellent work
they’ve done in the past.”
According to one parent,
Braaten pulled a popular
teacher from class over a
disagreement about the content
of a skit. The parent said
teachers have used the word
“terrorism” to describe Braaten.
In another incident, a parent
claimed Braaten accused a
teacher of being intoxicated. A
breath test was administered
and no alcohol was detected.
“Dictatorial, intimidating,
negative, anxiety, punitive,
bullying, abuse of power,"
another parent said, listing
words teachers have used to
describe Braaten.
Multiple parents said
teachers feared speaking
against Braaten because they
believed they might lose their
jobs. A parent said teachers
were told “you’ll find out real
quick that I don’t play and I will
light you up,” by Braaten.
Other parents claimed
Braaten is trying to destroy the
reputation of CCHS.
CCHS received gold medal
recognition from U.S News
and World Report in May. The
publication produces a yearly
list, ranking the best high
schools nationwide based on
college readiness and other
factors. CCHS ranked as
the 14th best high school in
Georgia and the 457th best in
the state, trailing only DeKalb
School of the Arts as the best
Braaten
school in DCSD.
In December, CCHS
became the first DCSD school
in the AP Capstone program,
SEE SCHOOL ON PAGE15
NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
The Governing Authority of the City of Avondale Estates has tentatively adopted a 2018 millage rate which will require
an increase in the property taxes by 8.32 percent. All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings
on this tax increase to be held at City Hall, 21 North Avondale Plaza, Avondale Estates, GA 30002 on Wednesday,
June 20, 2018 at 5:30 P. M., Monday June 25, 2018 at 10:00 A.M., and Monday June 25, 2018 at 6:30 P.M.
This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 9.957 mills, an increase of .765 mills. Without this tentative tax increase,
the mill rate will be no more than 9.192 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $342,324.00 is
approximately $105. The proposed tax increase on non-homestead property with a fair market value of $250,908.00
is approximately $77.
CURRENT 2018 TAX DIGEST AND 5 YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY
CITY
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Real & Personal
141,146,248
148,072,403
178,050,508
191,456,685
202,952,052
221,127,298
Motor Vehicles
8,451,460
7,456,190
5,564,760
4,306,900
3,998,710
2,436,450
Mobile Homes
Timber -100%
Heavy Duty Equipment
Gross Digest
149,597,708
155,528,593
183,615,268
195,763,585
206,950,762
223,563,748
Less M& O Exemptions
138,061
268,311
371,490
466,802
512,749
550,270
Net M & O Digest
149,459,647
155,260,282
183,243,778
195,296,783
206,438,013
223,013,478
state horest Lana Assistance
Grant Value
Adjusted Net M&O Digest
149,459,647
155,260,282
183,243,778
195,296,783
206,438,013
223,013,478
Gross M&O Millage
10.957
10.957
9.957
9.957
9.957
9.957
Less Rollback (LOST)
Net M&O Millage
10.957
10.957
9.957
9.957
9.957
9.957
Total City Taxes Levied
$1,637,629
$1,701,187
$1,824,558
$1,944,570
$2,055,503
$2,220,545
Net Taxes $ Increase
$63,558
$123,371
$120,012
$110,933
$165,042
Net Taxes % Increase
3.88%
7.25%
6.58%
5.70%
8.03%
NOTICE OF TAX INCREASE
The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will require an
increase in property taxes by 24.PftK<aH3iCounty Finance
All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this tax increase to be held at the Manual J.
Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur GA 30030 on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at 10 a.m. and
6 p.m.
Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax increase are at the Manual J. Maloof
Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur GA 30030 on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at 10 a.m.
This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 10.873 mills, an increase of 2.134 mills. Without
this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more than 8.739 mills. The proposed tax increase
for a home with a fair market value of $225,000 is approximately $161.79 and the proposed tax increase
for nonhomestead property with a fair market value of $300,000 is approximately $256.08.