Atlanta Public School News

News you can use for parents and youth, brought to us by NPU volunteer and parent extraordinaire Wykeisha Howe.

Atlanta Public Schools Move to 4-Day Teaching Schedule, End School Year Early for High School Seniors

Starting Monday the 20th, Atlanta Public Schools "will switch to a four-day teaching schedule. Teachers will provide virtual instruction on Monday through Thursday and use Friday as a professional development day and a chance to catch up with students who most need their help."

APS normally graduates seniors two weeks before the other grades. This year, seniors will graduate on May 1st, while the last day for other grades will be May 22.

For more info: https://www.ajc.com/news/local-education/atlanta-high-school-seniors-end-year-early-aps-shifts-day-teaching-schedule/j2xMHBi36Pix1Jcrk9mObN/

APS Won't Hold Back Students Who Have Difficulties with Remote Learning

In recognition of the difficulties students face while being engaged in remote learning, "all students final averages will be held harmless during remote learning if the student remains engaged and submits work". What that means is, if a student was passing while in school but their grades slip during the remote learning, it won't be held against them as long as they're participating. Conversely, if a student was having difficulty during the school year, the remote learning period offers a chance to catch up.

More info: https://www.cbs46.com/news/school-year-for-metro-students-draws-to-a-close/article_8adad748-7f64-11ea-93de-ef15ef44706f.html

Atlanta and APS Food Programs for Families

There are at least three separate programs ongoing to distribute food for Atlanta families with kids:

School Bus Food Delivery

Every Monday, APS school buses will go along their routes and drop off five days worth of food for families along the route. For routes and times, go to https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/Page/62031

Food Distribution Centers

Five days worth of meals will be distributed from  10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Mondays at these anchor sites:
  • Bunche Middle School - 1925 Niskey Lake Rd., SW, Atlanta, GA 30331
  • Cleveland Avenue Elementary School - 2672 Old Hapeville Rd., SW, Atlanta, GA 30315
  • Douglass High School - 225 Hamilton E Holmes Dr., NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
  • Phoenix Academy (formerly Alonzo Crim High School) - 256 Clifton St., SE, Atlanta, GA 30317
  • Sylvan Hills Middle School - 1461 Sylvan Rd., SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
  • Hope-Hill Elementary School - 112 Boulevard NE, Atlanta, GA 30312
  • King Middle School - 545 Hill St SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
  • Young Middle School - 3116 Benjamin E Mays Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30311
A bag of weekly groceries will also be available at the Bunche, Cleveland, Douglass, Phoenix and Sylvan Hills sites. For more information, go to https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/Page/62032

Centers of Hope #ATLStrong

Centers of Hope Afterschool Programs will continue to provide free meals to afterschool students who rely on them throughout the closure of schools. Some centers provide dinners only, some provide breakfast, lunch, and dinners. For locations, go to https://atlstrong.org/meals-info/.

Superintendent Search and next Town Hall

The Atlanta School Board has announced their pick to lead the Atlanta Public School system: Lisa Herring, the current superintendent of Birmingham City School District.  This will undoubtedly be a topic at the next Atlanta Public Schools Virtual Town Hall, held this upcoming Thursday at 4pm (https://www.facebook.com/events/2605857209735522). 

MARTA Implements Drastic Service Cuts

From MARTA:

MARTA TO IMPLEMENT ESSENTIAL SERVICE PLAN, SHIFT FOCUS TO BUSIEST BUS ROUTES, REQUIRE SOCIAL DISTANCING

Authority will Operate 41 Routes, Double Service on 34 Busiest Routes

ATLANTA – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) announced it will implement an Essential Service plan that reduces the number of bus routes and allows for a doubling of service on the busiest, most critical routes. This plan keeps MARTA running for health care personnel and other essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Beginning Monday, April 20, MARTA will run 40 bus routes and one new circulator service that provide transportation to 17 hospitals, 22 urgent care centers, 85 grocery stores and 16 job centers/industrial hubs. Buses will be added to the 34 busiest routes. A list and map of the routes are attached.
“This Essential Service plan will serve the largest number of people and with these important destinations in mind, provide as much coverage in our service area as possible,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Jeffrey Parker. “This was not an easy decision. I know it will have a negative impact on many bus-dependent areas, but it is necessary to keep MARTA operating and allow space on our busiest routes for customers to practice social distancing.”
Bus ridership, while down 40 percent, remains steady on busy routes, resulting in unacceptable crowding. Rear door boarding, and suspension of bus fares have exacerbated the issue. Despite MARTA’s implementation of several crowding mitigation efforts such as instructing operators to display a ‘Bus Full’ sign when at capacity, a customer hotline to report a full bus and request another, and seat spacing signs to encourage social distancing, there are too many instances of customers ignoring the guidelines.
This Essential Service plan will address crowding by placing MARTA’s entire bus fleet on 41 routes. Decals near the boarding door of all buses will encourage customers NOT to board a bus that has no open seats and to wait for the next bus that will be coming along in most cases within 10 minutes. The MARTA Police Department will dispatch officers to the busiest routes to assist with overcrowding, limiting the number of passengers who board, and escorting off the bus those customers who are joyriding. MPD has also created a mobile team of officers who will respond in real time to bus operators who need assistance.
Rail ridership is down almost 80 percent, leaving room on trains for social distancing. Rail service will continue to operate on a Sunday schedule during weekdays with a start time of 5 a.m.
The Essential Service plan route list, map, and schedule can be found at www.itsmarta.com. For real-time service alerts, follow @MARTASERVICE on Twitter or download MARTA’s On The Go app.

Bus #NameStartsEndsPeak Frequency, minutes
2Ponce de Leon Avenue / Druid HillsEast Lake StationNorth Ave. Station30
4Moreland AvenueInman Park/Reynoldstown StationLeila Valley/Thomasville Heights/Rebel Forest30
5Piedmont Road / Sandy SpringsDunwoody StationLindbergh Station7.5-15
6Clifton Road / EmoryInman Park/Reynodstown StationLindbergh Station30
15Candler RoadDecatur StationRiver Rd. & Linecrest Rd./Bouldercrest Rd.7.5-15
19Clairmont Road / W Howard AveDecatur StationChamblee Station15-30
21Memorial DriveKensington Station5 Points Station10-20
26Marietta Street / Perry Boulevard5 Points StationBankhead Station15-30
39Buford HighwayLindbergh StationDoraville Station7.5-15
40Peachtree Street / DowntownWest End StationArts Center Station15-30
42Pryor RoadLakewood/Ft McPherson Station5 Points Station15-30
49McDonough Boulevard5 Points StationMetro Transition Ctr.7.5-15
50Donald Lee Hollowell ParkwayNorth Ave. StationBankhead Station15-30
51Joseph E Boone BoulevardHE Holmes StationNorth Ave. Station10-20
60Hightower RoadHE Holmes StationMoores Mill Center15-30
71Cascade RoadWest End Station4375 Apt. Complex5-10
73Fulton IndustrialHE Holmes StationLaGrange Blvd. or Westpark Dr.5-10
78Cleveland AvenueEast Point StationCleveland Ave. at Jonesboro Rd.5-10
82Camp Creek / South Fulton ParkwayCollege Park StationDerrick Industrial Pkwy.7.5-15
83Campbellton RoadOakland City StationBarge Road PNR Lot5-10
84Washington Rd / Camp Crk MarketplaceEast Point StationSocial Security Admin. Office10-20
86Fairington RoadKensington StationMall of Stonecrest10-20
89Old National HighwayCollege Park StationUnion City or Riverdale7.5-15
95Metropolitan ParkwayWest End StationCity of Hapeville7.5-15
102North Avenue / Little Five PointsNorth Ave. StationEdgewood Candler Park Station15-30
107GlenwoodGeorgia State StationIndian Creek Station10-20
110Peachtree Road / BuckheadArts Center StationLenox Station7.5-15
111Snapfinger WoodsIndian Creek StationMall of Stonecrest10-20
117Rockbridge Road / Panola RoadAvondale StationXPRESS Panola PNR Lot7.5-15
120East Ponce De Leon AvenueAvondale StationGoldsmith PNR Lot10-20
121Memorial Drive / N Hairston RoadKensington StationN. Royal Atlanta Dr. or Hugh Howell Rd.7.5-15
172Sylvan Road / Virginia AvenueCollege Park StationOakland City Station45
178Empire BoulevardLakewood/Ft McPherson StationHamilton Blvd.22
185AlpharettaN Springs StationOld Milton Pkwy15-30
186Rainbow Drive / South DeKalb5 Points StationSnapfinger Woods Dr.7.5-15
191Riverdale / ATL Intl TerminalLakewood StationClayton Justice Center20-40
192Old Dixie / Tara BoulevardEast Point StationClayton Justice Center22-45
193Morrow / JonesboroEast Point StationClayton Justice Center15-30
196Upper Riverdale / SouthlakeCollege Park StationSouthlake Mall7.5-15
816North Highland Avenue5 Points StationEmory University Hospital30
SpecialOakley Industrial CirculatorCollege Park StationOakley Industrial Boulevard60

NPU-S General Meeting this Thursday, April 16, 7pm, online/teleconference

This Thursday the 16th will be the NPU-S General Meeting for April 2020, held as always on the third Thursday of the month.

This meeting is being held over Google Meet. We strongly encourage attendees to register beforehand. If you do not register then we cannot count your attendance or verify your identity  on voting matters.

To register, either  register online at http://bit.ly/NPUS-Meeting-Register, or call (770) 744-5311 and leave a message with a way for us to reach you.

To attend the meeting:
There are no voting items scheduled on the agenda for this month. However, there will be representatives from the police, code enforcement, public works, and other City departments call in to give reports. We will also go over NPU and community efforts to help our residents during the COVID crisis.

When: Thursday, April 16, 7-9 pm
Where: online / teleconference
Agenda, minutes, and supporting documents: http://bit.ly/NPUS-Meeting-Docs

COVID-19 Relief Funding Available from Fulton County - Thursday deadline for application


COVID-19 Community Response Funding Application

BACKGROUND:On April 1, 2020, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners approved $10 million for COVID-19 Community Response funding to mitigate the hardship experienced by Fulton County residents impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The third wave of Fulton County COVID-19 Community Response funding will be awarded to community organizations working with Fulton County residents disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences.

FUNDING PRIORITIES:Community safety net services for economically vulnerable populations:

• Emergency Financial Assistance (rent, utility, mortgage) - Seniors, Disabled, Homeless, and those experiencing COVID-19 related job loss and reduced work hours.
• Food access for Seniors, Disabled, Homeless, and those experiencing COVID-19 related job loss and reduced work hours.
• Isolation and Quarantine support for the Homeless.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:To be eligible to receive a grant, organizations must:

• Be a community or faith-based organization providing community safety net services.
• Be located in and/or provide social support services to Fulton County residents.
• Have strong relationships and trust in the community.

FUNDING EXCLUSIONS:1. Administrative expenses. Includes direct and indirect charges for the administration of the grant and staffing.
2. Construction projects, renovations, repairs, remodeling of existing buildings, or land acquisitions will not be funded.
3. Agencies whose activities are restricted to their membership.
4. College / University projects which are not open to the public and do not serve a significant (50%) non-student population.
5. Government agencies; Agencies that serve as funding sources to 501(c)3 organizations.
6. Projects of a religious nature.
7. Scholarships to public / private educational institutions.
8. Deficit reduction.
9. Capital expenditures (resources not completely consumed during the contract year i.e. computers, construction, vehicles, cell phones, etc.). Program materials that may be pertinent to the scope of services of a funded program and that aid in grantee meeting contracted program outcomes are excluded from capital expenditures.

APPLICATION SUBMISSION:1. Review the Application criteria above.
2. Answer each of the application questions in the application below and click submit.
3. Submit the completed application by 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, 2020.

Award amounts will vary based on organizational capacity, the scope of services provided, and the total resources available.

FOR QUESTIONS: Pamela Roshell, Deputy Chief Operating Officer
covidcommunityresponse@fultoncountyga.gov
APPLY TODAY
https://fultoncountyga.gov/covid-19/community-response-funding-application