Archived News

Commissioner May to host budget public hearings

DeKalb County Commissioner Lee May will have a public budget hearing Thursday, Feb. 9, at 6:30 p.m. at Bold Beginnings International Church, 3220 Bouldercrest Road, Ellenwood. May said he will present an in-depth overview of the budget, highlighting significant cuts and increases in spending, and explain what that could mean to county services and the public’s tax dollars.

Atlanta City Council approves truancy flexibility ordinance

The Atlanta City Council on Feb. 6 unanimously approved an ordinance allowing more flexibility in combating school truancy.

In 2009 the council created a daytime curfew for children ages 6 to 15 that forbids them from being in public places during school days from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Currently if the Atlanta Police Department finds a student breaking the daytime curfew, it will contact Atlanta Public Schools, and the parent of the child.  After this process occurs three times, the police may cite the parents, and order them to appear in Municipal Court.

Because a portion of the city of Atlanta is in DeKalb County and several schools in the Atlanta Public Schools system are in DeKalb, a number of DeKalb County students are potentially affected.

Monday’s vote gives courts more options to fashion a remedy to the parent upon the first conviction.  The remedies could include parenting classes, counseling, community service, or possibly a fine or jail time for the parent.