The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current, August 10, 2023, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextTHURSDAY, AUGUST 10-16, 2023 www.THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.com VOL 34 • NO. 6 e CHAMPION The official legal organ of DeKalb County, EA. Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Uthonia, Pine Lake, Tucker, Stonecrest and Stone Mountain. 504 LOCAL LifeLine Animal Project suffers loss of dogs due to malfunctioning equipment PAGE 3 LOCAL New safety technology, weapons detection systems installed at DCSD schools PAGE 8 DeKalb DA leads lawsuit against state of Georgia BY JAY PHILLIPS JAY@DEKALBCHAMP.COM DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston hosted a press conference with three other district attorneys on Aug. 2 to announce a lawsuit against state of Georgia's Senate Bill 92 - a bill that Boston called an "assault on our democracy." According to court documents submitted by the plaintiffs, Senate Bill 92 (SB 92) establishes a Prosecuting Attorneys Qualification Commission (PAQC) which can reprimand and remove elected district attorneys and solicitor generals from office. The lawsuit states that "the threat of discipline under SB 92 discourages prosecutors from exercising their DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston led a group of prosecutors in suing Georgia over a bill she calls “an assault on our democracy.” Photo by Jay Phillips discretion to address cases in the way that will best serve their communities." SEE LAWSUIT ON PAGE 6 SPORTS Hustle finishes historic regular season, plans to be DeKalb’s pro team PAGE13 LIFESTYLE Founder of Apex Museum to receive presidential award PAGE15 VISIT US ONLINE @ THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM Qualifying periods set to begin with several mayoral races scheduled BY JAY PHILLIPS JAY@DEKALBCHAMP.COM Qualifying periods open between Aug. 21 and Aug. 25 for the Nov. 7 municipal elections that have seven mayoral seats and more than 30 city council seats scheduled to open in DeKalb cities. Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Doraville, Dunwoody, Pine Lake, Lithonia, and Stonecrest will all hold mayoral elections. Every city in DeKalb will have at least two council seats on the ballot - except for city of Atlanta, which only has school board seats on the 2023 ballot. Qualification fees are set at a statewide rate of 3 percent of the total gross salary of the preceding year, which equals an amount of $18 to $600 depending on the city and post. City of Atlanta will waive the qualifying fee for candidates who affirm their poverty or inability to pay under oath. Seven mayoral seats are on the ballot for DeKalb’s 2023 municipal elections. File photo Listed below are the city positions up for election in 2023 and the general qualifying information for each city. Those wishing to qualify should visit their respective city's websites or city halls for specific qualifying packets and details. SEE MAYORAL ON PAGE 12 \JJpJ Mb Social/ DeKalb County County School District, vision 2023-24 school year. Photo by Christine Fonville DCSD superintendent shares plans for 2023- 24 school year BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM DeKalb County School District's new superintendent said as the district begins the 2023-24 school year now is the time to disrupt a system that has been failing students with an "all-hands- on-deck" approach to address ongoing teacher and staff shortages. Dr. Devon Horton gave an overview of his vision for the 2023-24 school year at the Robert R. Freeman Administrative and Instructional Complex in Stone Mountain on Aug. 2, approximately one week before school began for DeKalb County School District (DCSD) students. Much of Horton's plan focuses on strategies to encourage more community engagement as well as more communication and transparency when it comes to what's going on at every level of the district. One of the strategies to combat both teacher shortages and students' lack of access to instructors that Horton discussed is launching academic skill centers where students can work with tutors throughout the school day - and those centers will not necessarily need to be staffed by those with teaching certificates. "We're looking for college students, retirees, people in the process of SEE SUPERINTENDENT ON PAGE 6 @DEKALBCHAMPNEWS

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The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current, August 10, 2023, Image 1