The Cobb County School District in Georgia has proposed allocating $930,578 for 11 new school resource officers in its fiscal 2024 budget. Superintendent Chris Ragsdale cites recent school shootings as reasons for adding armed officers to the force, stating that they deter potential intruders and provide immediate response times. However, Democratic school board member Becky Sayler expressed concern that an increase in armed officers could result in more student arrests, particularly among students of color. Republican board member Randy Scamihorn assured Sayler that the officers are well-trained to de-escalate situations. The final approval of the budget is expected on May 18th.
Marietta City Council's approval of a mixed-use development project that would replace a Kroger grocery store with apartments and retail space was vetoed by Mayor Steve "Thunder" Tumlin. The project would have seen the redevelopment of a 4.8-acre lot by developer William Casaday, who requested a rezoning. Tumlin's veto was backed by Councilman Grif Chalfant, who campaigned for lower housing density. A six-month moratorium on new apartment building applications was approved after the project's rejection. The property's future remains unclear, with concerns raised about the possibility of less desirable commercial ventures worsening traffic in the area.
Kennesaw House, now home to the Marietta History Center, was once a hotel where James J. Andrews and his group of volunteer raiders from the Union Army stayed the night before embarking on the Great Locomotive Chase in 1862. The raiders commandeered The General locomotive and three box cars heading for Big Shanty, Kennesaw, cutting telegraph wires and attempting to do as much damage to the railroad as possible. They were eventually captured, and Andrews and seven others were convicted as spies and hanged. Disney turned it into a film in 1956, staring Fess Parker as Andrews and Jeffrey Hunter as Fuller.
The Southern Museum, located across the tracks in Kennesaw, now houses The General locomotive and tells the story of the Great Locomotive Chase. The Southern Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mount Paran Christian School has announced that student Claire Finch has been named a finalist for the 2023 Georgia Governor's Honors Program (GHP) as a visual arts major. The GHP is a four-week-long college immersive program for Georgia's top students in academics and the arts, and it will be held at Georgia Southern University. As a finalist, Finch represents the top quartile of the top percentile of her student peer group in the state. MPCS also set new school benchmarks with its largest contingency of nominees ever and multiple semifinalists named in one year. The program is fully funded by Georgia's state legislature.
Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale surprised many by recommending a tax cut as part of the district's $1.5 billion budget for 2024. Ragsdale proposed reducing the millage rate from 18.9 to 18.7 mills and offering 7.5% raises to all full-time employees. The budget also includes about $83 million to fund the raises, which range from 7.5% to 12.1%. Ragsdale called the budget "very employee focused." The tax rollback would reduce the district's revenue from property taxes by about $7.6 million annually. Two public hearings are scheduled to allow the public to weigh in on the proposal.
The Marietta City Council has voted to freeze new apartment applications for six months, directing city staff to conduct a study examining the city’s zoning code as it relates to apartments. The item authorizes them to hire a consultant if needed. Skepticism about apartments has been a concern for some time, as they have been associated with transiency, crime, and a lack of upkeep which leads to blight. The moratorium was approved after the mayor vetoed the council’s approval of the 322-unit apartment complex at the corner of Powers Ferry and Delk roads.
#CobbCounty #Georgia #LocalNews
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