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News Roundup

State Superintendent Orders Immediate Action at Druid Hills High School

Your AM Rundown: Plus, Rockdale County has the nation’s second-highest percentage increase in rent prices since 2020.

State School Superintendent Richard Woods, seen in 2014, issued a letter Monday ordering the DeKalb County School District to take immediate action. (John Bazemore/Associated Press)

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Here is Your AM Rundown, with news updates in 400 words or less. Get caught up on headlines and other developments you might’ve missed. 

Here’s what to know for today: 

  • Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods said in a letter Monday that if DeKalb County School District fails to take immediate action in the renovation of Druid Hills High School, he will not approve the district’s facilities plans for the 2022-2023 school year. By law, school districts must receive approval from the state board to access state funding for facility improvements. The news comes after students at Druid Hills released a viral video detailing deteriorating facilities on campus after the district removed the school from its modernization project list earlier this year.
  • Local leaders are calling for 100 days of peace ahead of a new event that will push for an end to gun violence. Atlanta plans to host an  Anti-Gun Violence Conference and Rally on May 5 at Clark Atlanta University. The event will feature conversations about conflict resolution, as well as music performances and a career fair for over 500 Atlanta Public Schools students.
  • Atlanta residents who live in DeKalb County will vote on three ballot measures, including one that could help the city receive $300 million in tax funds to address transportation issues. If passed, residents would see the return of a 0.4% sales tax increase, which was first approved in 2015 and expired this past March. 
  • Rental costs are rising rapidly across Atlanta, but residents in Rockdale County are feeling the increase more than others, according to new data. The report from CoStar Group, a real estate research firm, found that rent increased in Rockdale County by 40.2% since 2019, the second-highest percentage growth among counties in the United States.

ICYMI: Want the latest updates out of the Gold Dome and Atlanta City Hall? Capital B ATL’s Chauncey Alcorn has got you covered! Check out the Political Reporter’s Notebook roundup for everything political in ATL.

Got tips, pitches, or other updates to include in Your AM Rundown? Hit us up at atltips@capitalbatl.org.