Welcome PEACE Academy

A K-8 Public Charter School

Commissioner Larry Johnson welcomes and congratulates PEACE Academy on their opening year. 

PEACE Academy is a tuition-free, K-8 Public Charter School located at 1954 Candler Road in District 3. Ebony Keys, Founder, is a champion for educational equity. She spearheaded the creation of PEACE Academy to give Black and Brown students in underserved communities access to schools that are not only academically rigorous but also culturally nourishing. 

"We are excited to see the students from PEACE Academy soar," said Commissioner Johnson. "An educational environment that serves the whole student, mind and spirit, is sure to produce nothing less than academic excellence."

PEACE Academy is an inclusive community of students, families, educators, and community members who celebrate the African Diaspora's rich heritage, people, and cultures and have a holistic understanding of our impact on this world. By conscientiously participating in activities that widen our perspectives and foster positive self-awareness, we are prepared to lead within our communities.

Congratulations on your opening year, PEACE Academy. 

On July 21, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced 17 new Urban Service Centers and 10 new urban county committees. These committees will increase market access and revenue streams for urban farmers while simultaneously giving county residents greater access to locally grown, healthy foods.

Urban Service Centers will allow county residents to work directly with USDA staff to learn how USDA can support urban farming. These service centers will be staffed by Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) employees. Urban Service Centers are valuable resources for counties, as they guide farmers towards programs most suited to their needs and can assist county residents’ access federal resources. 

Urban county committees will support the local administration of FSA programs, allow for grassroots input on federal farm programs and help educate counties about new programs and strategies.   

To help strengthen these new programs, USDA is investing $40 million into partnerships with community-based organizations in urban counties. These partnerships will conduct outreach, research, education and technical assistance to support urban farmers. In Philadelphia County, USDA is working with Pasa Sustainable Agriculture to hold regular community workshops, offering custom training and workshops for resident’s needs, and providing technical assistance to enroll in USDA programs. USDA is also working with universities to collect and analyze data to reveal program effectiveness and barriers to successful implementation. 

New safety technology, weapons detection systems installed at DCSD schools

The DeKalb County School District is using new technology to improve safety in schools throughout the district, according to officials.

On Aug. 3, a crowd gathered at Columbia High School in Decatur to watch Bradley Gober, executive director of Public Safety for the DeKalb County School District (DCSD), and other resource officers demonstrate the new technology recently installed for the 2023-24 school year.

One new enhancement is the CENTEGIX CrisisAlert system, which is now installed at all DCSD schools, according to officials.

“With CENTEGIX CrisisAlert, staff and security personnel can quickly request help and activate emergency procedures anywhere on campus,” stated officials. “This enables fast response and resolution to any potential threats.”

Using a keycard-like device worn by all staff, the emergency management system responds to different taps – for example, three taps on the keycard could trigger resource officers and alert them to a fight in a classroom.

The system will be used for staff to report medical emergencies, threats to safety and other crisis situations, stated officials.

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