Sandy Springs Crier - February 22, 2024

Metro Atlanta schools honor top teachers ► PAGE 4

Fe b r u a r y 2 2 , 2 0 2 4 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 3 , N o . 8

Patrons turn out for district updates on new high school North Springs building set to open in 2027

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Construction of the new North Springs High School is four to six weeks behind schedule, Fulton County Schools officials say.

Speaking at a community meeting Feb. 14 at Spalding Drive Elementary, District COO Noel Maloof said the delays are the result of extra care in cost-cutting measures to keep the project on budget.

School Board members Michelle Morancie and Katie Gregory hosted the meeting and fielded a number of questions from the crowd of close to 50.

While the board members sought feedback on the school district’s new strategic plan, community members were anxious for updates and give input about the new high school, which is to be built at the site of the current high school on Roswell Road.

“A new North Springs High School is the most important thing happening in Sandy Springs right now,” City Councilman Andy Bauman said.

See SCHOOL, Page 12

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Sandy Springs school patrons and city officials watch a presentation updating progress on construction of the new North Springs High School at a community gathering Feb. 14 held at Spalding Drive Elementary School.

Jewish Film Festival returns to Metro Atlanta theaters SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival returned to Metro Atlanta theaters Feb. 13 for its 24th film lineup, catering to in-person and online audiences.

This year, the festival is set for an ex-

panded 24-day lineup, including 14 days of in-theater screenings and 10 days of online streaming.

The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, a nonprofit arts organization founded by the American Jewish Committee, brings

the world’s most outstanding Jewish films to five metro-area venues.

Films will be screened, Feb. 13-26, in the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center at City Springs; the Tara Theatre on Cheshire Bridge Road; the historic Plaza

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Theatre in Midtown; the Georgia Theatre Company’s Merchants Walk Cinemas in East Cobb; and The Springs Cinema & Taphouse off Roswell Road.

See FILM, Page 12

PUBLIC SAFETY

2 | February 22, 2024 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

COMPARING POLICE TRANSPARENCY 770-442-3278 AppenMedia.com

Sandy Springs vs. Johns Creek

319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009

Sandy Springs

Johns Creek

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Judged a newspaper of General Excellence 2023

Each week Appen Media requests police incident reports to inform residents about the safety of their community. Sandy Springs continues to withhold what it calls the “narrative reports.” It is the only city Appen Media covers that follows this practice, which goes against guidance from the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, the Attorney General’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Sheriff’s Association, Prosecuting

Attorneys’ Council of Georgia and Georgia Press Association.

Above at left is a report which includes one sentence, asserting that a Sandy Springs Police officer responded to “a disorderly person.”

A search of records from Fulton County shows the event in question resulted in the arrest of a 47-year-old Sandy Springs resident on charges of felony obstruction and misdemeanor disturbing the peace.

Above is a report from the Johns Creek Police Department, describing a traffic stop.

Appen Media contends these fulllength reports exist for most Sandy Springs incidents and that the city is withholding them in violation of Georgia’s Open Records Act. Appen Media will continue pursuing the release of more detailed documents that belong to the public in order to inform residents how safe – or unsafe – their city is.

What do you think? Send thoughts, questions and tips to newsroom@appenmedia.com

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What do you want to know about the community?

Submit questions at appenmedia.com/ask or scan QR code.

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | February 22, 2024 | 3

Visit Our Brand New Showroom FREE DESIGN CONSULTATIONS

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Appen Media Publisher Hans Appen leads about two dozen people in a Q&A session for the company’s second stop on its “Listening Tour” at From the Earth Brewery Company in Roswell Feb. 15. The tour’s next stop is in Johns Creek at Sugo on March 21 at 4 p.m.

Elections, human interest ideas take floor at Appen staff forum

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better serve them,” Appen Media Publisher Hans Appen said. “They are an engaged citizenry, and it is important to us to give them information and tools to more effectively realize the vision they have for their future.”

Appen also announced that the company is in the process of digitizing all its archived newspapers for online consumption.

The next stop on the Listening Tour is in Johns Creek at Sugo on March 21 at 4 p.m. The event is free to attend and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at www.appenmedia. com/join.

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ROSWELL, Ga. — About two dozen people attended Appen Press Club’s second stop on its 2024 “Listening Tour” Feb. 15 at From the Earth Brewery Company.

Members of Appen Media’s newsroom made themselves available to the public to listen to feedback from readers and talk about what they would like to see more of in their local newspaper.

The Alpharetta-Roswell Herald has been serving the Alpharetta and Roswell communities since 1983 and is currently delivered to 28,000 homes weekly. It also serves as the legal organ for the City of Roswell, which means that it publishes all of the city’s legal notices about public meeting dates, tax dollar allocation and rezoning of property.

Newsroom staff also fielded questions about whether they disclose sources, how news is localized, best practices on facilitating city council debates and other election coverage.

Some attendees also encouraged staff to cover more human interest stories.

As always, the group’s inbox at newsroom@appenmedia.com is open to any and all ideas — reporters would love to cover community pillars, eccentrics, feel-good efforts, and anything in between.

“We appreciate the people of Roswell welcoming us and providing us with some great story ideas and ways we can

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4 | February 22, 2024 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

NEWS

Teachers of the year honored across Metro Atlanta schools

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

Schools Superintendent Jeff Bearden and representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and Andean Chevrolet visited the five finalists’ classrooms to surprise them with their nominations Feb. 8.

The 2023-24 Forsyth County Schools teacher of the year will receive a car lease from Andean Chevrolet.

Forsyth County is set to name its teacher of the year at a Celebration of Excellence luncheon at 11:30 a.m. March 14.

METRO ATLANTA — Metro Atlanta school districts are recognizing their distinguished and beloved instructors with the title of 2023-24 Teacher of the Year.

Here is a look at the winners and nominees from Fulton, Forsyth and DeKalb County schools.

Fulton County Fulton County Schools recognized Autrey Mill Middle School special education teacher Elise Kreitner as its 2023-24 Teacher of the Year April 18.

Kreitner previously taught at Ocee Elementary School, where she twice qualified as a Teacher of the Year finalist, until joining Autrey Mill staff in 2017.

The Johns Creek Civitan Club also named Kreitner one of four special needs teachers of the year in 2019.

Fulton County also named Northview High School professional assistant Barbara Rettker its School Professional of the Year, and Title I central office financial analyst Harriet Perry was recognized as Support Professional of the year.

Forsyth County Forsyth County began its process in

FORSYTH COUNTY SCHOOLS/PROVIDED

Brandywine Elementary School teacher Jennifer Smith, center, is recognized as a teacher of the year finalist with a surprise classroom visit Feb. 8. Forsyth Schools Superintendent Jeff Bearden and representatives from Andean Chevrolet and the Chamber of Commerce stopped by to name Smith one of five finalists.

September. Schools in the district named their nominations Sept. 1, and the selected teachers submitted applications in October.

School district officials narrowed the nomination pool to 21 semi-finalists Nov. 15.

“Those teachers submit a classroom observation video that is scored by a separate committee, and the top five combined scores of both essay and video give the five finalists,” Forsyth County Schools Communications Facilitator Hannah Samples said.

Join Us For

Meals with Meaning March 21, 2024, 6 – 9 pm The Roswell Mill: Ivy Hall 85 Mill Street | Suite B-103 | Roswell, GA 30009

We are excited to announce Meals with Meaning 2024. This beautiful evening unites members of the community, local businesses, and organizations together through their interest in transforming the lives of homeless families.

About Family Promise: Our organization is built on the belief that every child deserves a stable home, and we are committed to providing the resources and assistance necessary to make this vision a reality.

Meals with Meaning 2024: This year, the event promises to be even more impactful as we celebrate in a new location, while continuing to offer a beautiful outdoor cocktail reception, seated dinner, and special speaker presentation.

Why Attend: By attending Meals with Meaning 2024, you will be aligning with a cause that resonates with our local community. Your support will contribute to the success of our programs, ensuring that we can continue providing essential services to the families in greatest need.

Family Promise North Fulton/DeKalb 770-609-5407 | shannonpickerel@familypromisenfd.org To Donate or Reserve Tickets: https://mwm24.givesmart.com

Scan for more information.

DeKalb County DeKalb County School District named Kristen Jones its 2023-24 Teacher of the Year at its 10th annual Academy of Educational Excellence Awards Gala Nov. 4 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Jones, a fifth grade math and social studies teacher at DeKalb Elementary School of the Arts, received a $1,000 check from Georgia United Credit Union at the ceremony.

The school district also recognized Redan High School Principal Vitella Dodson as 2023-24 Principal of the Year.

Donna Howard from DeKalb School of the Arts, Dale Collins from the Department of Public Safety and Syreeta McTier from Smoke Rise Elementary School were named Educational Support Professionals of the Year.

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | February 22, 2024 | 5

Dunwoody opens nominations for Sustainability Hero Award DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Dunwoody Sustainability Committee opened nominations Feb. 13 for its annual awards celebrating dedication, service and leadership in eco-friendly practices.

The nomination period for the annual Sustainability Hero Award program runs through March 8.

Nominees must be residents of Dunwoody, and nominated organizations must be licensed or have clear ties to sustainable initiatives in the city to be included in the selection process.

The Sustainability Committee will announce the winners in April.

Michael Cowan and Blooms of Dunwoody were selected as winners of the 2022 Dunwoody Sustainability Awards.

Blooms of Dunwoody was selected for its composting methods, elimination of almost all chemical products and vase recycling program.

Cowan, a former chair of the committee, helped overhaul the city’s Sustainability Plan, initiated Dunwoody’s effort to become a Bee City USA and established a partnership with Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.

“I was very happy to play a small

CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED

Michael Cowan, center, accepts the 2023 Sustainability Hero Award at the April 24 Dunwoody City Council meeting. The Sustainability Committee opened nominations for the 2024 awards Feb. 13. part in helping Dunwoody recognize the importance of environmental sustainability over the last decade,” Cowan said. “More can and always should be done.”

The Sustainability Committee meets monthly and encourages the community to reduce its environmental impact through public education and outreach.

Interested residents and local busi-

nesses can nominate deserving individuals and organizations by visiting the Community Development Department’s website found at dunwoodyga. gov.

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6 | February 22, 2024 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

BUSINESS

Johns Creek Chamber operates as hub for small businesses City’s business licenses exceed Roswell, Alpharetta

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce, like other chambers around the area, serves as a resource hub for its members and the community.

But, President and CEO Robin Buckley says what makes the Johns Creek Chamber special is that it’s composed mostly of small businesses, mom-and-pop shops. She said more than half of the city’s businesses are home-based.

“You’ll see that in Johns Creek, there aren’t a lot of corporations and that kind of thing,” Buckley said, who had just returned from a ribbon-cutting at Moi, an Asian fusion restaurant and cafe. She goes to a lot of ribbon-cuttings, especially at the beginning of the year. “It’s very personable.

You can really make a difference in each other’s lives and each other’s days.”

The Johns Creek Chamber has 330 members, most of them businesses, with one or two individuals. At the organization’s office on Johns Creek Parkway, there’s a wall filled with members’ business cards, adjacent to stands filled

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Robin Buckley, president and CEO of Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce, sits at her desk in the organization’s office on Johns Creek Parkway. Buckley has been with the Chamber for more than a decade.

with the 2023-2024 Johns Creek Guide Book the Chamber created to showcase the city’s newest park, Cauley Creek, on the cover.

More than networking Membership grants access to exclusive events, centered around networking,

allowing members to connect to potential customers and partners.

An annual all-day event that started five to six years ago is Chicks in Charge, where the Chamber features women speakers who are leaders in their industry.

It takes place on or around International Women’s Day in March.

“When they come in, they’re talking about their story or their passion for whatever it may be, saying, ‘It’s possible,’” Buckley said. “‘You can be very successful.

It’s not just a man’s world out there.’”

The organization also hosts events with elected officials, like the luncheon with Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne that took place Feb. 15. These gatherings provide officials an opportunity to update business leaders on what they’re currently working on and what’s in the pipeline.

“Not everybody does get to meet their elected officials,” Buckley said. “I mean, I never did until I got this job, when I started coming to the Chamber.”

Buckley immediately joined the Chamber when she opened Cocktails & Canvas in 2010, then started volunteering.

Two years later she sold her paint party business and got a full-time position, eventually climbing to the top as the president and CEO, a role she’s held for four years.

While people often think of chambers as strictly networking event related, Buckley said the organization also offers educational opportunities for its members by facilitating introductions to other resources in the area, like the University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center which has a free mentorship program.

Through a partnership with the City of Johns Creek, the Chamber is also launching a new middle-management program, for members ready to expand their businesses. The program, starting in the summer, will operate like a buddy system with mentors.

Small business community Describing the health of Johns Creek’s business community, Buckley said it’s small compared to the number of residents.

The resident-to-business ratio is about 15 to 1. There are around 83,000 residents in Johns Creek, which has a little more than 5,300 businesses, based on the number of licenses issued last year.

That’s more businesses than in Alpharetta – even Roswell, whose population is 10,000 more than Johns Creek’s. Alpharetta, with a population of about 70,000 has close to 4,700 businesses, and Roswell has a little more than 4,300, according to documents obtained through an open records request.

Whether a higher number of business

reflects greater economic impact has not been determined.

While business in Johns Creek took a major hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, going under or restructuring, Buckley said space is filling up, new ideas are coming in.

Economic development has become a priority for the City of Johns Creek, propelled by the introduction of Town Center. The 192-acre area along Medlock Bridge Road will feature Medley, a mixedused development headed by Avalon’s Mark Toro, who said his project will create a halo effect.

The Town Center area will also house biomedical engineering giant Boston Scientific as well as a 62,192-squarefoot commercial development, which was recently approved by the City Council.

Johns Creek is also in the process of adopting a Revitalization Plan for the four corners of Medlock Bridge and State Bridge roads.

Thriving business Whether businesses thrive once they’re established in Johns Creek is another story, though city staff told Appen Media that the 18 to 20 percent of non-renewals seen each year is relatively even with the number of businesses entering the city.

“One of the things about Johns Creek is that the residents have a lot of expendable money, but they don’t have a lot of expendable time,” Buckley said. “...We turn into a ghost town during the major holidays … Everyone travels to get out of here because they can afford to do that. But, when they’re home, they don’t tend to necessarily spend locally.”

Buckley said it’s a tough situation for businesses when the local community shops online.

“That was a mistake I made too when I opened my studio,” Buckley said. “I was like, ‘Oh, you know, this is one of the richest cities in Georgia,’ but [residents] just don’t have the time.”

She says networking and getting involved in the community are huge to the success of new businesses.

It also helps to have a plan.

“I see a lot of people that just do things on a whim, and then they wonder why people don’t come, and it’s because they didn’t do their homework, you know?”

Buckley said. “Or, you know, it’s more of a hobby for them than a real job.”

She said owners should consider the space, if the surrounding businesses are in alignment, rather than just focusing on how much the rent is. Buckley said there needs to be some cohesiveness within the city’s shopping centers.

“It’s crazy,” Buckley said. “Sometimes you look, and you’ll see that there’ll be a Taekwondo studio, and then there’s a paint store, and then there’s the tattoo shop. Nothing meshes.”

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | February 22, 2024 | 7 Sponsored Section

February 22, 2024 | Sandy Springs Crier | 7

Common questions for the dermatologist Q&A with Dr. Kehinde Raji Olumesi of Epiphany Dermatology Does my teenager need a skin screening?

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Sunscreen habits, lifestyle choices, and genetic factors can all contribute to skin health, making routine skin checks beneficial for preventive care.

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Dermatologists can assist your teenager with a range of skin-related issues. Beyond skin checks, they address common conditions like acne, providing tailored treatment plans and advice on proper skincare. Dermatologists also help with eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions that might affect teenagers. Additionally, they can offer guidance on establishing healthy skincare habits like sun protection, preventing long-term skin damage, and promoting overall skin health through adolescence and beyond.

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8 | February 22, 2024 | Sandy Springs Crier | EMPTY NEST • Sponsored Section

Vein disease is more than a cosmetic problem

PAST TENSE

OPINION

Brought to you by - Chad Aleman, MD, RPVI, RVT Nearly 40% of people develop visible varicose veins which may progress to a more severe health condition called chronic venous insufficiency. Vein disease is a slowly progressive disease, so many people don’t even realize their leg discomfort could be caused by vein problems. Others may not have visible veins, so they don’t realize that vein disease could be causing their leg discomfort.

Vein disease often causes leg discomfort at the end of the day or with prolonged sitting and standing. Vein disease may cause lower leg aching, pain, heaviness, fatigue, cramps or “Charlie horses” at night, ankle swelling, restless legs, leg rashes, or leg discoloration. In severe cases, leg ulcers or wounds may form.

Treatment for vein disease has changed greatly over the past 20 years.

Vein stripping or surgery is no longer required. Minimally-invasive treatments can be done in the office with no downtime or sedation required. Treat-

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Black troops first arrived at WWI Camp Gordon in Chamblee in October of 1917.

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Black soldiers from Georgia report to WW 1 Camp Gordon In 1917, a temporary World War I training camp was constructed on 2,000 acres in Chamblee.

U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Leonard Wood visited Atlanta to find suitable land, VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF near the railroad and with a good water supColumnist ply. Today, DeKalbPeachtree Airport is on land that was Camp Gordon. During World War II, this same land was home to Naval Air Station Atlanta.

The camp opened on Sept. 5, 1917.

Barracks had been constructed for 46,612 men. Sixteen similar training camps were set up across the country.

The first men assigned at Camp Gordon were White men from Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. Later, men were sent to Camp Gordon from all over the country and it became primarily a replacement facility. (“Atlanta’s Camp Gordon,” James Knettel) In September of 1917, the Atlanta Constitution announced the arrival of 3,755 Black soldiers at Camp Gordon on Oct. 3. Barracks were constructed for Black recruits in the northeastern section of the camp, separated by a strip of empty land.

According to the National Archives, over 380,000 Black men served in the Army during WW1, with over 200,000 being sent overseas. Over half of them were assigned to labor and stevedore battalions. They performed essential work such as building roads, bridges and trenches; and unloading and loading ships.

In November 1917, 1,300 Black soldiers from Camp Gordon were sent overseas to France, primarily as part of service battalions. (Atlanta Constitution, November

11, 1917).

Black soldiers who were sent overseas later and became part of the 92nd and 93rd divisions, fought alongside French soldiers. This included the 369th, 370th, 371st, and 372nd Infantries. According to army.mil, the 370th Infantry was the only one to be commanded by Black soldiers.

Joe Roberson, Henry Mitchell Vaughan and E.C. Obean were among Black recruits who reported to WW1 Camp Gordon. Roberson, born in 1896, is listed on a record of soldiers ordered to Camp Gordon from Valdosta on April 29, 1918. He began in the 157th Depot Brigade, but later became part of the 372nd Infantry Company E, and eventually was a machine gunner in the 372nd. He returned to the U.S. aboard the ship Leviathan on Feb. 11, 1919.

Feb. 12, the Atlanta Journal reported around 10,000 troops were unloaded from the Leviathan at Hoboken, New Jersey, including soldiers from the 371st, 372nd, 163rd, and 368th Infantry.

Henry Mitchell Vaughan of Nashville, Georgia, was inducted April 13, 1918 and instructed to report to Camp Gordon.

He began his service in the 157th Depot Brigade, but later was part of the 370th Infantry sent overseas. He served overseas from July 1, 1918, until Feb. 9, 1919.

Among the men inducted at Hamilton, Georgia, on July 19, 1918, was E.C. Obean. He was born in Fortson, Georgia, in 1892. Obean reported to Camp Gordon and served in the 157th Depot Brigade. He later served overseas with Company B 584 Engineers.

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Sandy Springs. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | February 22, 2024 | 9

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A local newspaper is a valuable resource that keeps us informed of what’s happening. It also helps us get to know one another better through news and event coverage, classified and display ads, and editorials. As a pastor, I am especially appreciative of the paper’s strong support of our many nonprofits.

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THE INK PENN

OPINION

Great books can be found in an author’s back list

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

This week’s reading included earlier books by two authors whose later books I enjoyed. The first is part of a cozy mystery series. The second is a standalone novel. Both are set in England, but they’re different genres.

“Death of a Cozy Writer”

by G. M. Maillet I read Malliet’s Max Tudor cozy mysteries eons ago and had a hankering to check out her St. Just series. The Max Tudor series features an Anglican priest as the main character. Det. Chief Inspector Arthur St. Just is the likeable main character in Book I— “Death of a Cozy Writer.” This 2008 entry in the series won the Agatha Award for Best First Novel and was nominated for many other awards, including the Macavity and the Anthony.

Set at a house party in a manor house in the English countryside, the mystery involves family intrigue that stretches over 40 years until, of course, it ends in murder. That a cozy mystery author is a central character made my day. I may write cozy mysteries, but I’ve yet to be involved in a reallife murder mystery and hope I never am. Imagining murders is enough for me.

The author includes a helpful cast of characters in the front, and it was reading her Max Tudor mysteries that inspired me to include one in my books, too. It’s a feature that my readers often comment on. The fifth book in the St. Just series comes out later this year, and I plan to read the next several so I’m ready.

“Ghosted” by Rosie Walsh Billed variously as romantic suspense, sisters fiction, and women’s friendship fiction, this love story is a page-turner. Sarah and Eddie meet, spend a week together, and fall instantly in love. She’s visiting England from her home in California, and he’s off on a vacation with a friend. They plan to connect when he returns from his week away — but he ghosts her.

Therein lies the mystery. Is Eddie like every other man who’s ghosted a woman? How can that be when he expressed his undying love for Sarah?

She can’t believe he ghosted her and worries that something awful has happened to him. He’s disappeared from social media and disconnected his phone. She does everything she can to locate him before returning heartbroken to California.

This alternately heartbreaking and heartwarming love story-cum-mystery kept me guessing until the very end. If I hadn’t already read Walsh’s second book, “The Love of My Life,” I’d be off to get it. It was that 2022 book that sent me in search of “Ghosted,” and I honestly can’t say that one is better than the other. My hope is that Walsh will soon release a third book.

Meanwhile, I’ve got the St. Just and Max Tudor mysteries to keep me busy, not to mention all the other books on my TBR list. Can there ever be too many?

Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a Sandy Springs resident. Find her cozy mysteries on Amazon or locally at The Enchanted Forest, Bookmiser, Tall Tales, and Johns Creek Books. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ KathyManosPennAuthor/.

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AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | February 22, 2024 | 11

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12 | February 22, 2024 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

School: Continued from Page 1 Patrons thanked school officials for their progress with the project and pushed back against any efforts to implement the Middle College program at the new high school. Middle College sets a curriculum geared more toward technical skills than traditional academics.

One North Springs student said he was concerned about the branding of the Middle College initiative. He said the connation of the program makes it unattractive to prospective students and encouraged a rebranding of alternative paths to high school graduation.

Many patrons echoed his concerns.

In his presentation, COO Maloof updated residents on the building project, including design status, cost management and next milestones.

Due to a traffic study and requirements from surrounding cities, the Roswell Road entrance to the school will remain open.

Maloof said the entrance will not affect plans for the bus circle.

Renderings presented in an update to the North Springs High School Construction Advisory Committee were on display at the meeting.

Maloof said the aesthetics of the new high school will be “sophisticated industrial,” which corresponds to downtown City

FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS/PROVIDED

A rendering of the courtyard at the new North Springs High School shows where students can enjoy lunch on campus. Noel Maloof, chief operations officer for Fulton County Schools, provided a construction update Feb. 14 to community members at Spalding Drive Elementary School.

Springs.

Maloof said construction costs have increased 40 percent since the estimate in the 2027 Capital Plan project. The latest estimate for the new building has a price tag of $108 million, which does not include possible increases in materials and labor.

While the county’s Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds the project, inflation and supply chain issues have put a strain on the budget.

The full-time equivalent student count, set at 1,500 for the new high school, is

a method of accounting for students for funding purposes.

“Enrollments are projected somewhere between 1,100 and 1,200 over the next five to seven years,” Maloof said. “So, we will have ample space.”

After taking a question from City Councilwoman Jody Reichel, Maloof said the new high school will be between 300,000 and 320,000 square feet.

Prior to her time on the City Council, Reichel served as president of the high school’s Parent Teacher Organization. She

Film: Continued from Page 1

DOUG BRADBURD/PROVIDED

Moviegoers gather in the lobby of the Byers Theatre at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center Feb. 8 for the kickoff of the 2023 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. This year’s festival began Feb. 13.

The streaming encore runs from Feb. 27-March 7.

In 2015, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival became the largest Jewish film festival in the world, attracting more than 38,000 moviegoers.

The 2024 lineup features 48 fulllength films and 15 shorts from 20 countries, including world, North American and regional premiers.

The jury for the festival, composed of industry members and award-winning artists, will evaluate submissions in several categories, including Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Short Film, Emerging Filmmaker, Building Bridges and Human Rights.

Noteworthy members of the jury include Dara Jaffe, associate curator at the Academy of Motion Pictures; Eric Warren Singer, Oscar-nominated screenwriter for “Top Gun: Maverick” and “American Hustle”; and Lyn Goldfarb, Oscar-nominated, award-winning independent filmmaker.

Before and after screenings, audiences can enjoy live and pre-recorded Q&A sessions with international film artists, local community leaders and other orators.

was also a founding member of the Citizens For A New North Springs, a parent-led organization pushing for the new facility since 2015.

Maloof was peppered with dozens of questions about the construction timeline for the project.

“Our team, right now, is doing a phenomenal job of mitigating cost escalation,” Maloof said. “There are a number of things we are doing without sacrificing any of the quality or any of the design specifications we have.”

A site package for construction preparation was advertised Jan. 22, followed by a pre-proposal meeting Jan. 31.

After the deadline for site package proposals Feb. 20, the Fulton County School Board will review submissions for approval at its April or May meeting, Maloof said.

He expects construction preparation at North Springs High School, which includes demolition and preparation, to begin in July.

“It’s about a month, month-and-ahalf later than what we had anticipated,” Maloof said. “But, we expect to see a little bit of savings out of that.”

While the site package is for demolition and preparation, the building package for construction of the new North Springs High School is anticipated to go out for bid in the fall.

Maloof anticipates students will return to classes at 7447 Roswell Road in August 2027.

Tickets cost $18 for evening and weekend shows, and $16 for matinees.

Tickets for streaming through the Virtual Cinema are available at $18 per household.

Special event pricing varies, with tickets ranging from $18 to $180. All seating is reserved.

The Closing Night Selection, including the announcement of the Jury Award winners and the southeast premiere of “Shari and Lamb Chop,” screens exclusively in-theater Feb. 26 at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center.

To learn more about this year’s films or purchase tickets, visit ajff.org/tickets.

Solution

A S A P F A D E S P E E G U R U A S E A B E E R S E M I R S H A R P E N E R S D O L L T E N R A S P S O P E N C I T E F R I A R G U M D A R E M E A N S S A R A H D I D T E Q U I L A L O G E L I E T U D E U N I T E S I S H A Y S N U B S A X E S P E N D W A T T M A O R I V A T C O D E A W E S M E D I O C R I T Y O R A L S A V E R S E E P D E M S M A R S E D D Y

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14 | February 22, 2024 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

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16 | February 22, 2024 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

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