Education Briefs

The Primary (Kindergarten through third grade) chess team from Mary Lin Elementary, an Atlanta Public School, recently competed and placed 18th at the 2016 Georgia K-8 Team State Championship. Through Kid Chess programs, students learn sportsmanship, problem solving, critical thinking, concentration, patience and attention span. Participation in chess has been shown to increase test scores in reading and math. Started in 1998, Kid Chess teaches chess to Atlanta-area children in a fun and educational environment, on campus at various public and private schools, with homeschool groups and at other locations. More information and a full list of schools with Kid Chess programs is available at kidchess.com.

Eight Atlanta high school students who participated in the Atlanta Regional Commission’sYouth Leadership Program presented their ideas for improving metro Atlanta at a recent ARC board meeting.The students were among 50 teens from the 10-county region who took part in the Model Atlanta Regional Commission (MARC), a youth leadership program that involves six months of study, debate and handson activities regarding regional issues and challenges.“I am so impressed with the innovative ideas that these young leaders have developed,” said Kerry Armstrong, ARC board chair. “These resolutions have the potential to help improve quality of life throughout the region. They deserve our careful review.” City of Atlanta participants were:

• Henry Cox, a sophomore at Charles R. Drew Charter School

• Khari Crooms, a sophomore at Carver Early College

• Francis Fataki, a junior at Carver Early College

• Lucy Grant, a junior at Maynard Jackson High School

• Maya Hogan, a junior at Grady High School

• Anya Lomsadze, a sophomore at Grady High School

• Mariko Shaw, a junior at Benjamin E. Mays High School

• Colby Williams, a sophomore at North Atlanta High School

Arbor Montessori School will open a second campus on 1434 Scott Boulevard in Decatur for the 2016-17 school year. When it opens in August, the Scott Blvd. campus will house two primary classrooms and one toddler classroom for a total of 72 students. The school plans to add an additional toddler classroom (12 students) by August 2017. The 10,000-square-foot building is designed by Collins Cooper Carusi Architects.

The Goddard School recently held its annual Science Fair. Teaching children to collaborate, communicate, be creative and think critically, the Science Fair is an opportunity for Goddard School preschoolers and kindergarteners to showcase their learning through projects and experiments while demonstrating The Goddard School’s unique F.L.E.X. (Fun, Learning, Experience) Learning Program in action.

Public Safety Briefs

Atlanta City Councilmember Felicia Moore introduced an ordinance at the April 18 Atlanta City Council meeting authorizing payment of $125,000 from her District 9 carry forward account to the Atlanta Police Foundation for the installation, maintenance and operation of security cameras in the city’s right of way within District 9. The police foundation started installing cameras (PTZ cam) and license plate readers (LPR) throughout the city with plans of having as many as 12,000 devices at various locations. The devices will be integrated into the city’s Operation Shield Video Integration Center, where police can monitor images from more than 5,700 high-tech cameras throughout the city. The legislation was referred to the Finance/ Executive Committee.

As part of its participation in the White House’s Police Data Initiative, the Atlanta Police Department will begin using nextdoor.com, the private social network for neighborhoods, to poll residents in Atlanta. APD has been using Nextdoor since April 2014 to better connect with residents, and is one of the first public safety agencies in the country to gain access to Nextdoor Polls. Nextdoor Polls will enable verified residents in Atlanta to provide feedback on specific programs and overall sentiment directly to the department in an open and transparent way. Through Nextdoor, the Atlanta Police Department will be able to poll more than 209 neighborhoods across Atlanta and analyze the results down to the neighborhood level. The APD will use the poll results to better understand the needs and concerns of residents and work with them to build stronger and safer Atlanta neighborhoods. Nextdoor is free for residents and the Police Department.