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O c t o b e r 1 , 2 0 2 0 | N o r t h F u l t o n . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 1 5 , N o . 4 0

School doors reopen for in-person classes

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Officials approve 2021 budget

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Westward expansion

CARL APPEN/HERALD

Construction continues on the new Crabapple West development in downtown Milton. The work expands on Orkin & Associates’ existing Crabapple Market and will add retail, restaurant and office space, a parking deck, and — in a future phase — high-end residential units with a raised stage on The Green.

Polling changes aim to ease voting woes

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2 | October 1, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

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Job seeker flimflammed, swindled for $3,500 770-442-3278 | NorthFulton.com 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009 PUBLISHER EMERITUS: Ray Appen PUBLISHER: Hans Appen MANAGING EDITOR: Patrick Fox EDITORIAL QUESTIONS: Alpharetta-Roswell Herald: Alpharetta: ext. 118, Roswell ext. 122 Dunwoody Crier: ext. 143 Forsyth Herald: ext. 118 Johns Creek Herald: ext. 123 Milton Herald: ext. 139 Calendar: ext. 122 TO SUBMIT EDITORIAL: News/Press Releases: NorthFulton.com/Sponsored Calendar/Events: NorthFulton.com/Calendar ADVERTISING QUESTIONS: General Advertising: ext. 100 advertising@appenmediagroup.com Classified Advertising: ext. 119 classifieds@appenmediagroup.com Circulation/Subscriptions/Delivery: ext. 100 circulation@appenmediagroup.com OUR PUBLICATIONS: Alpharetta-Roswell Herald: 28,000 circulation Johns Creek Herald: 20,000 circulation Dunwoody Crier: 18,000 circulation Forsyth Herald: 17,000 circulation Milton Herald: 10,000 circulation Answer Book: 40,000 circulation

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MILTON, Ga. — A Milton man lost $3,500 after signing up for a new job that proved to be a scam, according to Milton police. The victim, 21, told investigators he got a random text message Aug. 21 from someone offering him a job promoting Pure Life Nestle Water by driving around with the company’s logo on his car. According to the police report, the text promised to pay him at least $500 a week for three months. The victim told police he signed up for the gig and provided his name, address and a photo of his car. He said he received a $3,950 check in the mail days later from a business. He deposited the check into his bank account Sept. 2 and got texts from the company advising him to send $3,500 to a professional installer to emblazon the water brand’s logo on his vehicle.

POLICE BLOTTER All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

City says phishing emails sent to several employees MILTON, Ga. — Milton police were called to City Hall Sept. 17 to investigate a string of phishing emails sent to city officials. According to a police report, several employees in the city’s administration reported they got the same suspicious email from someone pretending to a city of Milton staff member. The emails proved to be a phishing scheme designed to hack into city employees’ emails if they responded, the police report stated. Police indicated the phishing email has been circulating City Hall and frequently sent to city employees. Investigators sent a subpoena to Google for the sender’s subscriber information, the report stated.

Video game maker receives death threats in letter ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police responded to allegations of a terroristic threat Sept. 17 at a local video game developer’s offices.

The victim complied with the request, mailing $3,500 in cash to a New Jersey address. But the original $3,950 check proved to be fraudulent, according to police reports. Days after the victim mailed the cash, the fake check bounced, leaving him on the hook for the $3,500 he sent to New Jersey. The victim said he reported the scam to his bank, and they launched an investigation, but they could not refund the money. Police questioned the victim’s mother, who said she also signed up for the promotional job. She told officers she too had received the check and the same text messages her son got. She said she figured out it was a scam after her son told her he mailed the cash. She gave police the fraudulent check that she received.

According to police, a disgruntled customer sent Hi-Rez Studios a written complaint threatening to kill the company’s employees and their families. A member of the company’s legal team notified police of the Aug. 19 complaint, which had not been opened until the day police were contacted. Officers responded to the company’s headquarters on Brookside Parkway and reviewed the written complaint. The suspect, who purchased one of the company’s games for the PlayStation 4 console, sent a profanity-laced complaint to customer service and alleged that their account had been suspended “based strictly on my skin color,” according to the police report. The suspect accused the company’s staff of being racist and the letter included several death threats. “I refuse to take this lieing (sic) down,” the suspect wrote, according to the police report. The letter writer went on to issue threats against employees and their families, and that he would then turn himself in and accept a live sentence. “This is not a threat it’s a promise,” the letter went on to state. “I’m willing to give up everything i have to make you all suffer the exact same way you do to black players SEE YOU SOON asap.” A Hi-Rez Studios employee emailed police a PDF of the threats and provided officers the suspect’s username, email address and IP address.

State lifts summer burn ban for North Georgia NORTH METRO ATLANTA, Ga. — Georgia’s annual ban on outdoor burning will ended Sept. 30 in 54 counties, primarily in the northern half of the state. From May 1 through the end of September, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division mandates the restrictions to protect air quality from emissions that may increase ground level ozone. “Our first concern is always safety,” said Georgia Forestry Commission Protection Chief Frank Sorrells. “Recent rainfall from tropical storms have provided sufficient moisture in some parts of the state to lower the overall fire danger, however there are some pockets of dryness in the northwest part of the state and in the greater Savannah area.” The 54 counties whose burn bans were lifted on Oct. 1 include Forsyth, Fulton, Hall, Cobb and Gwinnett. Sorrells said the leading cause of wildfire in Georgia is debris burning that gets out of control. In addition to a permit, burners should take extra precautions by clearing flammable material and vegetation from around the fire area, and have a shovel, water and cell phone on hand. Never leave a fire unattended.

SCHOOLS

Fulton school buildings finally open for students

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | October 1, 2020 | 3

Alpharetta Alpharetta

Full return to in-person classes remains on track for Oct. 14 By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON — Classrooms across the Fulton School System opened up Sept. 21, welcoming back thousands of students for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered school buildings in mid-March. The return was a gradual one in Phase 3 of a five-phase reopening, with groups of approximately 25 percent of students allowed in school for one day a week. Chief Academic Officer Cliff Jones said approximately 15,000 of the district’s 90,000 students returned to in-person learning the first day. Similar-sized groups took turns each day the rest of the week, except for Wednesday. District leaders and school staff spent weeks developing a plan for a safe return to school, Jones said, and new protocols may be devised after lessons learned the first week. “With any first day, our schools reported learning a few things,” Jones said. “Schools tweaked their class change procedures to allow parts of the building less or more time for passing, and some schools adjusted their cafeteria procedures for Day 2 to allow more flexibility in seating. Students were divided into four groups and assigned a day to return to school. All students remained at home on Wednesday for remote learning. “Wednesdays are used for remote instruction in small groups [as well as] to clean and prepare the school for Thursday and Friday,” Jones explained. Teachers were challenged by the need to simultaneously teach students both in-person and remotely. Although in-class groups were small — as few as eight in some classrooms — teachers took to the district’s social media sites to express concerns about the long-term sustainability of the model. One teacher asked parents to be understanding, and “lift teachers up” instead of tearing down teachers on social media.

See SCHOOLS, Page 21

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4 | October 1, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

NEWS

Milton moves forward with 2021 spending plan By ZACH SHUGAN news@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. — The Milton City Council voted Sept. 21 to adopt a plan for the city’s budget for the 2021 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. The approval of the budget was unanimous. The approved budget includes $41.9 million in total spending across a general fund, three special revenue funds and six capital projects funds. Spending in the general fund, which pays for day-to-day operations, is expected to be $31.1 million, an increase of less than 1 percent from the current

year’s amended budget. The city projects $29.5 million in total revenues, a 1 percent decrease from the fiscal year 2020 amended budget. Milton Finance Director Bernadette Harvill cited a forecasted decrease in intangible taxes, investment income, and property taxes as the reason. Fund transfers will be used to make up the $1.6 million difference between revenues and expenditures. As part of the approved plan, city employees will receive a 3 percent increase in pay. At a previous meeting held to discuss the proposed budget, City Manager Steve Krokoff cited the competitive pay

of neighboring cities as the main reason for increasing pay in Milton. Krokoff recalled a recent case in which he lost an employee to the city of Alpharetta, which offered a $20,000 pay increase from their job with the city of Milton. Krokoff said 3 percent might not be enough of an increase. “We barely keep up with our peers at [a] 3 percent [increase],” Krokoff said at a previous meeting. Other expenditures proposed in the 2021 budget includes $93,000 for staffing Fire Station 44, the city’s new station in its new Public Safety Complex, and $92,891 to create the position of an in-house soil

and erosion control manager, which the city currently outsources. The budget also allots $35,845 for the purchase of a truck for soil and erosion control. The city expects to save more than $50,000 annually by creating the new position instead of paying an outside firm for the work, according to a preliminary hearing on the budget. Taking into consideration the revenues and expenditures of the approved spending plan, the city projects a fund balance of $8.4 million at the end of the year. No citizens offered comments or questions at the final hearing for the city’s budget for the 2021 fiscal year.

County hopes to avoid election issues with polling changes By TIFFANY GRIFFITH newsroom@appenmediagroup.com FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Thousands of Fulton County voters will learn soon whether they will have to cast their ballots in a new location this November. Elections Officials have spent September reassigning polling places and allocating grant money ahead of this year’s presidential election. It’s an effort by leaders to run a problem-free process, while avoiding more national criticism. During a special meeting Sept. 4, it took six minutes for Elections Preparation Manager Nadine Williams to read every precinct the county was interested in changing. The list focused on more than one-third of the county’s 255 polling sites. Williams said the aim is to disperse voters among polling places to reduce crowding at any one location. “All these precinct changes are to decrease the number under 5,000,” Williams said. Williams said the action creates new polling sites for thousands of voters. Targeted precincts include Johns Creek Environmental Campus. The proposed alternative is Barnwell Elementary School, more than three miles away. In addition to the greater distance,

HERALD FILE PHOTO

Fulton County is increasing the number of polling sites to promote more social distancing. Board Vice Chair Vernetta Keith Nuriddin asked Williams if she was mindful of accessibility. “I agree that we have to be complicit with the law,” Nuriddin said. “But we also have to work to make this process not harder for voters, but easier.” She said she wonders whether they have an obligation to voters, the handicapped and the elderly if they don’t have

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a car, to make a reasonable attempt to have polls they can actually get to without walking 15 minutes. Nuriddin used the polling location at Childress Dr. SW and McMurray Dr. SW in Atlanta as an example where sidewalks are inadequate and there is no nearby MARTA bus stops. Chairwoman Mary Carole Cooney said, although they don’t have the strict requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, she believes a reasonable attempt to accommodate is key. County officials also had to walk away from several precincts because of COVID-19. Four of the five board members were in attendance for the special meeting. Dr. Kathleen Ruth was absent. Board members Cooney, Nuriddin, Aaron Johnson and Mark Wingate voted in favor of the changes. Notices are expected to arrive in vot-

ers’ mailboxes at least two weeks before Election Day. Fulton County operated 164 precincts during the June Georgia Primary. Now, with nearly 100 more polling locations for November, a $6.3 million grant is being used to help run those sites efficiently. Fulton County Elections Director Richard Barron said they’ve reduced to four the number of polling locations with more than 5,000 people registered. Of the almost 7,000 people requesting to be poll workers, Barron said he expects the county will assign and train 2,900 for election staff this season. Workers will have to pass a more difficult test to make the cut. Staffing will include line managers and technicians to immediately address problems in the voting booth. Training was tailored to address issues experienced during the June Primary. And to prevent people from showing up at the wrong polling place, Barron said an assigned worker at each location will help to redirect them. “We are also going to be the first county in Georgia to unveil mobile voting units. These are essentially buses that have nine voting stations on them and two check-in stations,” Barron said. The mobile units will spend six days in each district during early voting and help with overflow at the busiest locations on Election Day. In addition, the county will debut an app to assist voters with absentee voting and access to the state’s My Voting Page. Early voting for the November General Election runs Oct. 12-30. To check your polling location for the Nov. 3 election, visit https://fultoncountyga.gov/ services/voting-and-elections/votingone-stop-shop.

NEWS

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | October 1, 2020 | 5

Appen Podcast Network launches ‘Hustle’ By ADAM DARBY adam@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Appen Podcast Network recently launched their new show “Hustle,” with its premiere episode on Aug. 24. The podcast, co-hosted by Donna Choate and Bill Rawlings, focuses on ordinary people who overcome difficulty and hardship to accomplish significant things. With their first three episodes currently available, the two are always looking to speak with inspirational guests with big stories to tell. “They are from all walks of life, different ages, and backgrounds,” Choate said. “Bill and I loved the idea that hustle and grit can lead to success in the same way that education and opportunities do… It is fascinating to find out how people use challenges to propel themselves forward as opposed to having it define them in a negative way.” Choate is no stranger to podcasts. She also serves as the co-host of “My Second Act” with her husband, wellknown Atlanta broadcast personality Cadillac Jack. Rawlings serves as both an executive strategist and the senior vice president for Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. The show came to fruition while the two were eating dinner together. Choate

Milton resident Donna Choate is teaming with Cumming resident Bill Rawlings to present “Hustle,” a new Appen podcast that focuses on ordinary people who overcome hardship to make significant contributions to the community. initially came up with the show’s title and premise before recruiting Rawlings to join her as co-host. Rawlings said it was then when the real brainstorming began, and they discussed guest and concept ideas. However, they both wanted to ensure that everything covered in each episode was completely natural in a way that goes beyond a straightforward interview. “What makes ‘Hustle’ unique is that

we have many unknown guests sharing their stories, and we do so through the means of a conversation as opposed to a direct Q&A,” Rawlings said. “Listeners will be able to escape from their daily trials and tribulations to hopefully put their challenges in perspective.” Choate and Rawlings shake things up with each episode by featuring guests who are either famous or unknown. In their most recent episode, they spoke with Aidan Anderson, a teenager who hosts inspirational TED Talks of his own. Listeners can also look forward to upcoming episodes featuring discussions with Brian Brasher, founder of the rock band Creed, and reality television star Todd Chrisley of “Chrisley Knows Best.” “We have some fascinating people coming up on the podcast,” Choate said. “Our hope with each episode is that listeners find something in each episode that speaks to them. Many people are experiencing challenges during this time period. We believe that the people we interview will give direction and hope to anyone that needs a reboot…” “Hustle” aims to inspire and engage listeners with unforgettable stories from fascinating people. With the world still experiencing a global pandemic, there couldn’t be a better time. “Hustle” is currently available on all podcast platforms.

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6 | October 1, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

Poverty group targets hurdles that rob some of advancement By MATT BRUCE newsroom@appenmediagroup.com

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METRO ATLANTA — The widening wealth gap creates a financial minefield for the unemployed and working poor fraught with economic pitfalls. And for many, the COVID-19 pandemic has only made those hurdles harder to overcome. A group of Fulton County advocates, non-profit stakeholders, faith-based and community leaders gathered for a virtual conference Sept. 24, seeking strategies to put the county’s workforce on even footing after coronavirus. Financial vulnerability was the topic of discussion, and attendees sought solutions to create “workforce resilience” once the toll of the global outbreak dissipates. The event was organized by North Fulton Improvement Network, a coalition of leaders from all Fulton cities that focuses on helping the working poor and shedding light on “financial vulnerability” in the county. The group, formerly dubbed the North Fulton Poverty Task Force, re-branded itself after conducting a mail-in survey last year. According to the organization’s chairman Jack Murphy, the study showed that many people didn’t identify Fulton as a pocket of poverty despite the fact that about 29,000 residents in the county were living below the poverty line at the time. The Sept. 24 panel was the first in a series of monthly “fireside chats” the organization plans to host to find strategies to assist people living in financial vulnerability. Alex Ruder, a principal adviser for the Federal Reserve of Atlanta, gave a presentation on the outlook for the county’s workforce in the post-pandemic climate. Ruder said many of the institutions that the Fed is working with now are trying to gather data on the impact COVID-19 has had on families’ pocketbooks. They’re also studying to find opportunities to stabilize households now and in the near future. Ruder said one key to finding those answers will come from looking at safety net programs like SNAP, TANF and Medicaid. He demonstrated that point through the story of a fictional woman named Leia, a 25-year-old single mother raising two young children in Atlanta. In his hypothetical scenario, Leia works as a full-time food-service worker earning a $9 hourly wage and receives public assistance and tax credits to help support her family. Ruder walked through the career path Leia could take to mobilize from

The study showed that many people didn’t identify Fulton as a pocket of poverty despite the fact that about 29,000 residents in the county were living below the poverty line at the time. her dead-end, low-wage job to a higher paying nursing career, where she’d likely earn more than $45,000. In his scenario, as Leia progresses through her early career and her pay increases, she gradually becomes ineligible for many public assistance benefits. As a result, her overall financial picture actually worsens or remains stagnant for several years at the front end of her climb up the ladder, according to his model. Ruder said support programs need to take those factors into account instead of simply using wage as the litmus test for career planning. He suggested a more comprehensive “holistic” self-sufficiency model that incorporates the burdens struggling workers could face in the early years as they strive toward upward mobility. “The takeaway from this is that career advancement is a clear payoff,” he said. “But what we like to point out is that this is going to mask some of the challenges of what’s going to happen when Leia loses her public assistance... And at the same time, it doesn’t think about the financial vulnerability that Leia would be in as she climbs up this career path and struggles to pay basic expenses.” Often, he said, overcoming these short-term barriers and thinking about how to mitigate them so workers can advance is the key to long-term gains. Nesha Mason moderated the discussion. Mason is executive director of The Drake House, a Roswell shelter for homeless mothers and their children. She conceded that her organization still looks at the problem through the lens of the old model, but recognized that earning potential is a large part of understanding the full scope of economic instability. “I think in our work that we do at the Drake House, we work with Leia’s every day,” she said. “And I think what you have illustrated in the study that you’ve done are examples of the families that we serve on a regular basis.”

OPINION

A glimpse into the future of the future

My PhD biologist friend told me a while back that being in this pandemic is like sitting in the stands at a ball game, except that instead of watching the competition, we are watching natural selection, live RAY APPEN before our eyes — the Publisher Emeritus future of the future as ray@appenmediagroup.com we see and observe it. My world-wise accordion-playing, half-time Dog Island resident and halftime Vermont, Boston and Cape Bretton resident, dear friend Virginia, who has seen maybe too much in her around 80 years, swears that we are done for and are just preparing the earth for our progeny — bacteria. And she is really adamant about that. Maybe those “macro” concerns are accurate and maybe they are not. What real changes in our daily lives can we expect in the future? Let’s look at just one important area of probable permanent change — education. Forward a couple years. It’s early 2023. The vaccines have finally begun to have a widespread impact, and students have started returning to campus. By the end of 2024 however, there has been an increase in brand new online-only universities — fully accredited — as well as a near-complete conversion of a small number of well-known, established institutions — outliers. Even though these changes are on their radar, the majority of colleges and universities have settled back into the status quo — in-person classes, large numbers of employees, sports-generated funding, burdensome brick and mortar fixed expenses, extremely expensive tuition and “the college experience.” By 2024, enrollment in the primarily online universities has begun to accelerate. These early-to-market pioneers have started to realize the benefits of their competitive advantages over the traditional education model, including the ability to eliminate geography from the education model. That is, the online model is beginning to allow these outlier universities to have a nationwide and worldwide student body with enrollments many times greater than any traditional-model university. Low tuition, convenience, and the same accreditation as the traditional institutions drives enrollment and proves unstoppable. Rapidly, the price of tuition

at the well-known universities that have converted primarily to the online-only model has dropped to a fraction of the average cost of the traditional-model universities. The operating costs at these onlineonly universities begins to drop precipitously. One professor is able to teach thousands of students instead of hundreds. These universities also quickly realized that their portfolio of brick and mortar, all the real estate formerly associated with their cost of operation — classrooms, dorms, maintenance facilities and stadiums — as well as costs for maintenance, insurance, property taxes and energy can be eliminated. And it is. Tuition continues to decrease and never reverses. The traditional-model institutions cling to their model. They cling to the sports revenue. They are convinced that “the university experience” is too important to their “customers” — us. They make only incremental change. Meanwhile, the number of students enrolled at the new model institutions keeps accelerating. Hedge funds discover the incredible margins in online educations and jump into the game, fully funding new universities and acquiring a number of Ivy League schools which have begun to fail. The new online-only universities begin to pay seven figure salaries for the best, most famous, most skilled professors to teach their classes. Increasingly, fewer and fewer professors are required, but those who do teach — the marquee professors — get rich, just like football coaches. In late 2027, professors begin to write case studies about the evolution of education post-pandemic. They quickly realize that they have seen this before — with the newspaper industry. The core facts are almost identical. By 2028, consolidation of education institutions has begun the final phase — worldwide. Tuition costs are now miniscule compared to pre-pandemic. College sports is no longer directly associated with specific geographic-based institutions because there are none. The value of a college education has plunged because the supply of college-educated people has multiplied, and most work is now performed by educated workers in developing countries. In early 2029, Mark Zuckerberg announces that Facebook will fund all education worldwide. Education will become free. Apple’s CEO and Google’s CEO team up to try to stop Zuckerberg but are unsuccessful. Zuckerberg has too much political power. Almost all education becomes free with the exception of a few elite private institutions in Switzerland for a small number of ultrarich families. So, what’s in it for Zuckerberg? Why would Facebook pay for the world’s education? The data, of course.

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | October 1, 2020 | 7

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I think the ones that will make it through this will have a lot of pent up energy and ideas, and they’ll think of new ways to do business. WHITNEY BRYANT, chairwoman, Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce 8 | Milton Herald | October 1, 2020

SHE-CESSION PART 3

Recession presents big challenges for female-led small businesses By TIFFANY GRIFFITH newsroom@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek business owner Shellie Dimery Noisette represents many of the issues that have defined 2020. The Black Lives Matter demonstrations were a reminder of her multicultural heritage. Her years of traveling the world as a Marine gave her early warning about the coronavirus. And her efforts to keep the doors open at Twisted Spokes Bicycles during a recession, repeated the challenges of being a female entrepreneur. “I think it would be more difficult if I didn’t have men that looked to be the face of my business,” said Noisette, even though she’s the majority owner and can fix bikes worth thousands of dollars. She had to ask potential customers to leave her store after they refused to wear masks. The coronavirus also affected sales, with bikes and necessary parts stalled in China and Taiwan. Twisted Spokes Bicycles is among the 12.3 million women-owned businesses in the United States, according to Fundera, a business funding matchmaker. Data shows America’s female entrepreneurs generate $1.8 trillion in revenue and employ approximately nine million people across the country. Women run 40 percent of all U.S. businesses, and the coronavirus recession has some local female business owners on edge. Noisette said surviving the coronavirus recession is why women in business

should be taken more seriously. “As women, being business owners, it allows men to see us in a light that we’re not in the backseat. We’re right there on par,” Noisette said. “And sometimes, more than a few steps in front of them.” Cory Holtz, owner of Holtz Creative in Johns Creek, says running a company and being there for your family was difficult enough before the pandemic. “To juggle regular business is hard, but I think a pandemic on top of that is even harder,” Holtz said. “Because you have to double your efforts to stay relevant and stay in business. The competition is a little harder.” Holtz said now is the time for female entrepreneurs to get a good business plan in place to market their services and generate more revenue. “They need to know who their target market is, who they want to reach out to, and they need to be very clear with their message,” she said. “That can be tricky with what is happening during the pandemic. A lot of companies are hitting the same keywords and using the same graphics.” Bonnie Mauldin with The Mauldin Group in Roswell said female entrepreneurs need to refocus on self-care and find support among each other. “Once women learn to support each other, and help each other with these things, we’ll have more time to focus on growing our businesses and careers,” Mauldin said. Many of these women said they know other female entrepreneurs who had to walk away from their businesses during the recession.

TIFFANY GRIFFITH/HERALD

Johns Creek business owner Shellie Dimery Noisette of Twisted Spokes Bicycles represents many of the issues that have defined 2020. Start:Me helps build and grow small businesses in the Atlanta area. Program Associate Alina Bills shared the program’s recent survey, detailing some of the tough circumstances local small businesses face because of COVID-19. “Seventy percent are cutting hours or closing operations, 76 percent saw a significant drop in sales, 67 percent required significant emergency funding,” Bills said. Going out of business can have a ripple effect. Bills said, although most female small businesses run on fewer than 10 people, operations help keep 500 related workers employed. Each woman expressed a need for more investment in woman-owned businesses. Some argued the small business loans offered by the government only helped in a limited way. However, Bills has seen a shift this year. “Access to capital is something our

entrepreneurs always struggle with,” Bills said. “More loans and grants for women and minority-owned businesses have come out within the last year.” Bills suggests business owners connect with Startup Atlanta and look into the Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship for further assistance. Whitney Bryant, chair of the all-female led Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce. Recommends employers reach out to their local chamber for funding, resources and support. She also took an optimistic view of female entrepreneurs post-coronavirus recession. “I think we’ll come roaring out of the gate,” she said. “Of course, there will be some that won’t survive. I worry about a lot of different businesses. But I think the ones that will make it through this will have a lot of pent up energy and ideas, and they’ll think of new ways to do business.”

LEADERSHIP NORTH FULTON ANNOUNCES CLASS of 2021 The Greater North Fulton Chamber is excited to announce the NEW Leadership North Fulton Class of 2020-2021. Leaders are often created during times of uncertainty, and the newly selected members of this year’s class have accepted that challenge. Learn more about the Chamber’s leadership programs at www.gnfcc.com and join us in congratulating the following leaders! Alex Battle Spencer Benfield Charlie Brown Erin Carper Katie Carr Jordan Corbitt Cynthia Douglas

North Fulton CID Choate Loyal Trust Bank Carper Wealth Management State Farm Kimley Horn Taylor Morrison

Jeff Dorris Scotty Duncan Stephanie Johnson Sandy Jones Kiran Fatania Tori Kerlin Dequies Lanier

Mauldin & Jenkins Andersen Tate & Carr The Cottage School Artisan Financial Strategies City of Roswell Greater North Fulton Chamber Troy University

BJ Martin Jalpa Patel Nicky Rudd Felix Soto Sean Spitzer Vinay Uchil Jason Wells

Pond Georgia Power Morgan Stanley Wellstar North Fulton Smith & Howard Jacobs Kaiser Permanente

www.gnfcc.com

Crier 10/1/20 Crossword

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10 | Milton Herald | October 1, 2020

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The 3 most important factors that will affect the sale of your home Brought to you by — Rhonda Haran Trusted Advisor, Ansley Atlanta Real Estate In any market, the three most important factors that affect the sale of every home are PRICE, CONDITION, and MARHARAN KETING. Understanding how you can fully leverage all three factors is to the key to a successful sale. CONDITION – There are many things that fall under “condition”. First, there are general maintenance items. Making sure the landscaping is fresh, the front entrance is appealing, and that all home repairs are addressed prior to putting the house on the market can mean the difference between a quick sale and waiting months for a buyer. Sometimes a fresh coat of paint is the winning difference! A little bit of sweat equity on the front end can mean more

money in your pocket at closing. Next, home staging is the where we see the biggest impact. The first step of our home staging process is to walk through the home and make a list of what needs to be done to make each room can look its very best. Most often, this means packing away accessories and personal photos. Less is more when it comes to selling your home! Home staging is the opposite of interior design. With interior design, we are adding our own personality to the home. With home staging, we are striving to appeal to a broad range of buyers. Next, we’ll decide whether we need to remove furniture, or bring in a few things to modernize the overall look. Think of a model home…that is the goal. There is a reason why home builders invest thousands of dollars in a model home for their new home communities! PRICE – Getting the price right on the front end is paramount. Do not rely on Zillow or other online sources that use an algorithm to determine fair mar-

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MARKETING – While selling a home may seem easy from the outside looking in, there is much, much more to a comprehensive marketing strategy than just an online posting and sign in the yard. Once the home is staged, professional high-quality photography and video is key. Nothing is more frustrating than seeing a perfectly lovely home listed online with terrible photos and no staging. The old adage, “you only get one chance at a first impression” is so true when selling your most valuable asset. While there are many other considerations when selling your home, these three factors remain key in any market. ansleyatlanta.com 31 Church St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-284-9900

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12 | October 1, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

2285 MOUNTAIN ROAD

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REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | October 1, 2020 | 13

REAL ESTATE REDEFINED FEATURED LISTINGS

12285 MCCOY WAY

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NORTH FULTON OFFICE | 33 South Main Street, Suite 201, Alpharetta, GA 30009 | 770.475.0505 ©2020 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Housing Opportunity.

14 | October 1, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

A summer of success Brought to you by — Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties overcomes adversity to achieve a record-breaking summer. As we head into the fall season, we close the chapter on what might go down as one of the most unique summers in our nation’s history. From the spread of COVID-19 to social unrest and everything in between, there is no doubt that 2020 will not soon be forgotten. One of the things that drastically changed throughout this year, is how companies have been forced to re-evaluate their business plans and transition into a different way of conducting dayto-day operations. In an industry like real estate, which is heavily dependent on face-to-face relationships, these times have been challenging, however, one real estate brokerage has found ways to stand out as a leader in innovation and success. Led by President and CEO, Dan Forsman, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties announced that the company had the best summer ever in terms of sales in the history of

its existence, despite the unprecedented challenges that continue to arise. “Our entire team came together and committed to not let the pandemic define this year’s success,” said Dan Forsman, President and CEO Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties. “Instead, we all rose above adversity and achieved an amazing accomplishment of over $500 million in sales in just one month. We stepped up to the challenge and beat our company record for the best month ever in our organization’s history. I am so fortunate to be surrounded by the best sales and marketing talent in the industry.” “A home is something that is more important than ever in this day and age,” said President and CEO, Dan Forsman. “It’s a place of security and stability, and it’s our job as Realtors to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to have a place to call home, no matter what is happening in the world around us.” Historically low interest rates continue to make this a prime time to buy, sell or refinance. With COVID-19 stay at home restrictions loosened, it appears that both buyers and sellers are taking advantage of Atlanta’s strong housing market.

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Selling or buying a house is a large financial decision with a lasting impact. That’s why it’s important to have the right team with you every step of the way. Here at NV Realty, my husband and I are not only an amazing couple; we are also an amazing team. My husband Alex is a classically trained economist with a degree from Yale University and an MBA from the Kelley School of Business. He has 15 years of experience working in the financial markets. He started his career managing over 35 billion in commercial and residential assets for an international bank. He also worked for the GSEs and has a deep understanding of the mortgage market. After obtaining my BA from Indiana University, I started my career as an accountant for The Department of Homeland Security. While there, I received a congressional commendation for my efforts. Working as an accountant required meticulous attention to detail, which I have carried over into real estate.

It is important to understand that realtors are not allowed to make decisions for you, and do not give out financial advice. They can, and should, provide you with guidance and information. A good realtor will help you consider all the angles. They will help you understand what questions you should ask your mortgage banker and lawyers. Just remember that at NV Realty, we operate as agents of fortune. If you have or need a house, if it seems like no one else will help, and if you want the best, maybe you can hire The ATeam.

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NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | October 1, 2020 | 15

How to make your home office space a selling point Brought to you by – BILL RAWLINGS Senior Vice President & Managing Broker, North Atlanta Office Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty As more employees have adjusted to RAWLINGS working from home, the demand for office space within the home has increased exponentially. According to a REALTOR.com® survey, 63% of respondents plan on buying a new home given they must work remotely. Additionally, listings with a home office sell nine days faster at a 3.4% price premium compared to homes without a home office on average. 1. Be mindful when converting rooms Although the demand for home offices has increased greatly, the number of bedrooms is still more important to buyers, according to real estate professionals. Potential buyers could overlook your property if one of the bedrooms only works as a home office. Rather, focus on creating dual-purpose spaces by potentially adding a combination guest room and office, filling a space with a freestanding desk or maximizing closet space. 2. Pick somewhere quiet Having an office in the central part of the home is not practical for a quiet, productive home office area. It’s best to choose a spacious room situated far from main living spaces like the kitchen, living room and dining room. Doing so will allow an environment conducive to work efficiency.

3. Transform unused areas This is an opportunity to get creative! By identifying underused attributes of your home, you could transform a finished basement, area under the staircase or dead space upstairs into an ideal workfrom-home spot. If you have no other option than to set up an office in the main area of the home, be sure to separate it by a curtain, folding screen or partition wall. 4. Showcase technological capabilities Buyers want to know the true functionality of a home office space. Highdemand details include a multitude of outlets, cord-minimization options and locations for wall-mounted routers. Also, the quality of Wi-Fi is critical! Be sure to advertise access to dependable, speedy internet, if possible. 5. Stage your home office well Like any other room, staging is crucial for buyers to envision themselves living in your home. Begin with a clean, clutter-free space, then invest in trendy, functional office storage and furniture. To prevent monotony, add pops of colors through rugs, décor, houseplants, curtains and more! Get to work creating your perfect home office space! Not only will you enjoy having an ideal work-from-home area, but you will also appeal to a specific buyer demand given the current global environment. If you need assistance creating your home office, please contact Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty at 770.442.7300. We would be happy to help!

MARIET TA 3660 Clubwood Trail Offered for $1,349,000 Pam Elledge 404.626.0614

MILTON 14530 Thompson Road Offered for $3,125,000 Stephanie Powell 770.560.6406

MILTON 900 Crabapple Hill Offered for $1,079,000 Kimberly Counter 678.938.5885

SUWANEE 4824 Elkhorn Hill Drive Offered for $2,700,000 Anne Stone 404.307.6416 Kathy Rice 678.697.4984

SUWANEE 779 Crescent River Pass Offered for $2,400,000 Kathy Rice 678.697.4984 Anne Stone 404.307.6416

WOODSTOCK 818 Arnold Mill Road Offered for $2,605,000 Cynthia Chandlee 770.826.8276

Compiled and edited by Holly Haynes, Marketing Coordinator

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16 | October 1, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

Avoiding DIY catastrophes Brought to you by — Remodeling Expo Center DIY shows are among the most popular programs on TV. They are instructional, materials are plentiful at big box home improvement centers, and they always come out just perfect at the conclusion of the ½ hour episode. So how could a DIY project possibly go wrong? The ugly truth about home improvement shows is that the hosts are actors, the work is actually performed by contractors (who are rarely filmed), all the products are provided free of charge in exchange for advertising (so the true project cost is grossly understated). The total time period is rarely mentioned accurately and none of the jobs are ever permitted. So, what we love to watch is a “Hollywood” like creation for the sole purpose of entertainment, not practicality or accuracy, but we knew that already. Didn’t we? “It’s not uncommon for a bathroom or kitchen to be completely demolished when we first arrive to someone’s home and learn it’s been that way for 6 months” says John Hogan, owner of Remodeling Expo Center. “TV shows are actually motivational and serve a great

purpose but occasionally they lead to DIY Bravado. It is the home improvement version of irrational exuberance; when homeowner embark on projects that exceed their skill level. It happens more frequently than I care to talk about” DIY projects are fun and extremely satisfying when they have short time frames, are on the home’s exterior, and/ or do not impede the homes normal operation, painting or landscaping are great examples. DIY catastrophes almost always involve bathroom and kitchens (because of the required careful planning of electric, plumbing, carpentry, tile, appliances, etc.) as well as basements (because of the afore mentioned), plus water intrusion and humidity issues. The lack of planning or poor execution is catastrophic because errors are very costly to fix. “My advice to homeowners is keep it simple, know your capabilities and seek professional assistance, especially in the planning phase”, John Hogan continues. To learn more about making your remodel project fun, contact The Remodeling Expo Center at 404 910-3969, via our website, www.RemodelingExpo.com or come into our Design Center at 48 King Street, Roswell, GA 30075.

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NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | October 1, 2020 | 17

Solar saves energy, money and the planet Brought to you by — Roswell Reconstruction Corporation RRC has been in the construction business since 1979 and in Georgia since 1989. We are a full service General Contracting firm offering construction services to the residential and light commercial marketplace. Our solar division has been functioning in Georgia since 2010, we provide design and installation of roof mounted and ground mounted photovoltaic solar arrays for residential and light commercial energy systems. When a homeowner installs solar panels they are creating a way to reduce the amount of energy that they would have to purchase from a local power company. The effect of having solar panels is basically to slow down the meter that is currently used to measure the energy that is purchased for the home. Solar panels when connected work in unison with the power company. If the grid is disabled for some reason, i.e. power company repair work, etc, solar panels that are connected to your home will also become disabled. This is primarily to create a safe environment for the power company to maintain the grid. Residential battery storage is a new technology and there are many options

available to homeowners who wish to store energy. Storage can be expensive and the technology as it is applied to homes is relatively new, we usually only recommend storage when we are installing a system that is off grid. These locations are generally in locations that are not serviced by local power companies. Solar systems are usually sized by the amount of space that is available

and as a percentage of offset to a current power bill. There can be many ways to size a system but a field assessment is always recommended. Using the latest solar technologies and following projects every step of the way, RRC Solar Division continues to provide clients with quality installations and customer service. We help you save energy, money and the planet.

Common Solar Questions: • “How much do solar panels cost?” Typically, about $1000 - $1200 each including materials, shipping, permitting, design & installation. • “How much money will solar panels save me?” Each month it ranges from $4 - $5 per panel for residential systems and more for commercial systems. • “What is the break even point?” On average for residential systems in Georgia, about 10 years. For commercial systems, about half that. • “Do solar panels require maintenance?” Most residential systems are maintenance free but some maintenance is required for commercial systems. • “What if my panels get damaged from hail, or a fallen tree?” Generally, damage is covered by your homeowners insurance. Most panels can withstand impact from hail. • “Will the power company buy back excess energy I have produced?” Yes, at a wholesale rate. Ready to take the next step? You can call us for a solar consultation at 770.560.9800 or visit our website for more information at www.roswellreconcorp.com

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18 | October 1, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

ALPHARETTA 21, CHATTAHOOCHEE 7

SPORTS

Raiders top Cougars to maintain control of rivalry By ZACH SHUGAN zach@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Though Alpharetta and Chattahoochee no longer belong to the same region, there was still plenty on the line when the two schools lined up Friday night for an intra-city football matchup. The last time Chattahoochee defeated Alpharetta was 2007, although the Raiders and Cougars didn’t play for four years between 2008-11. The Cougars struck first in the 2020 edition of the rivalry, but in the end, the Raiders came out on top for the ninth consecutive time and first in the head coach Jason Kervin era. “We had to earn it,” Kervin said. “I knew coming over here that Coach [Malone] is doing a great job with those guys. They got some dangerous players over there, and you can tell their program is on the ascend. I knew it was going to be a tough game.” Defense was the story of the first quarter, as each squad’s offenses were forced to punt multiple times. On the first play of the second quarter, senior quarterback Jaylen Smith found junior receiver Ben Godwin wide open down the sideline for a 50-yard gain to move Chattahoochee all the way to the 2-yard line. On the next play, Smith kept the ball himself and scampered for an easy touchdown run to put the Cougars in front. The Raiders countered with a sevenminute, 80-yard drive capped off with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Ben Guthrie to Tylan Johnson. The defenses bounced back to end

ZACH SHUGAN/HERALD

Alpharetta senior and Stanford commit Jaden Slocum takes a pass up field against the Chattahoochee defense. the first half, as Alpharetta recovered a fumble and Chattahoochee came up with an interception by Elijah Character at its own goal line. The two teams entered halftime tied, 7-7. In a socially distanced version of the halftime break, each team gathered on opposite ends of the field to re-group instead of using the locker rooms. To start the second half, the offenses began to find their rhythm, but the defenses did not break. Chattahoochee received the ball first in the third quarter and drove from its own 25-yard line to the Raiders’ 8-yard line.

The Cougars went for it on fourth-andgoal, but the Raiders’ defense, with playmakers like Jaden Slocum, Dylan Merrell and Vito Perri, came up with the stop. On the ensuing drive, the Raiders drove from their own 8-yard line to the Cougars’ 40-yard line. The defense won the fight once again, as Peter McVay, Billy Spradlin, Jaden Gaines and teammates forced a turnover on downs and Chattahoochee took over on offense. However, the Cougars punted for the third time of the game and quickly gave the ball back to Alpharetta. Still tied with the Cougars, Guthrie

and the Raiders took over at their own 7-yard line and went to work. The sophomore quarterback Guthrie and sophomore running back Jake Gil carried a heavy load throughout the entire game. Guthrie finished the drive with a 10-yard rushing touchdown to give Alpharetta its first lead with 7:12 left in the game. The Raiders’ defense forced the Cougars to punt on the next drive, and the Alpharetta offense capitalized. Quickly. On the first play of the drive, Guthrie lofted a pass deep downfield to Slocum, who ran under the ball and took it into the end zone. The Raiders took a twoscore lead, 21-7, with 6:25 remaining. From there, the Raiders’ defense made one final stand to seal their first victory of the season. “They’re fighters,” Kervin said. “We’re not a well-oiled machine. We’re making a lot of young mistakes … We’re still trying to find out about ourselves a little bit. What we found out tonight is that when our backs are against the wall, we’re going to keep the pedal to the metal and keep fighting. I was proud of that no matter what.” Guthrie finished with 145 yards and two touchdowns through the air and 59 yards and one touchdown on the ground. Jaylen Smith finished with 212 allpurpose yards (108 passing, 104 rushing) and one touchdown in the loss for Chattahoochee. Alpharetta (1-1) plays at home against Collins Hill next week, while Chattahoochee (1-1) opens up region play at home against River Ridge.

MILTON 16, ALPHARETTA 6

Milton softball surges to top new region foe Alpharetta By ZACH SHUGAN zach@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. — The Milton and Alpharetta softball teams took to the diamond Sept. 23 for a battle between two longtime rivals and newly minted region foes. The two teams traded the lead, but in the end, the Eagles came from behind to defeat the Raiders in their first game as region opponents since 2011. The Eagles won by mercy rule, 16-6, following a 12run bottom of the sixth inning. “It was a rather slow start,” Milton head coach Shane Holcombe said. “We’re a high-speed, high-intensity team. We let the other team play us at first until we settled in and started making things happen.”

Junior pitcher Kiley Perry, who was also celebrating her birthday, started on the mound for the Eagles and pitched six innings in the win. Perry struck out two batters in the top of the first inning, her first of seven strikeouts in the game. Junior Haydn Bendall led off for Milton with an infield single and quickly worked her way around the bases. The next batter, sophomore Nora Megenity, drove in Bendall with a sacrifice groundout to shortstop, and the Eagles took an early lead over the Raiders. Two batters later, Perry helped her own cause, as she roped a line drive over the center field fence for a solo homerun. “Kiley is Kiley,” Holcombe said. “Kiley is a competitor. That’s what you’re going

to get out of her 24/7, 365 … You’re going to have her bat, her pitching, and she can play infield too. She’s a very good ball player.” After one inning of play, Milton led Alpharetta, 2-0. Alpharetta earned one run back in the top half of the second inning, as senior Holley Sanders drove in a run for the Raiders to bring the score to 2-1. Milton pulled back by scoring one run of its own in the bottom frame of the second inning. The Raiders did not relent. In the top of the third inning, senior K.K. Farrar brought two baserunners home with a double to center, tying the game 3-3. The Raiders weren’t done for the in-

ning, though. Senior Paige Tucci, who started on the mound for Alpharetta, drove in another runner with a sacrifice groundout to third base. The next batter, Sanders, drove another run in with a single to left. In a matter of minute, the Raiders went from trailing by one run to a 5-3 lead. Meanwhile, the offense stalled for the Eagles against the pitching of Tucci. Following production on offense in the first two innings, Milton went scoreless in the third and fourth frames. Milton scored one run in the fifth inning off an RBI single from senior Ashley Abel, but the Raiders added another run in the top of the sixth to take a 6-4 lead and keep their edge at

See SOFTBALL, Page 19

Softball: Continued from Page 18 two runs. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Milton re-claimed control of the game thanks to a parade of hits and walks. The Raiders walked four batters through the first five innings of the game, but in the sixth, they walked four more Milton batters. And when they did throw the ball over the plate, the Eagles were putting the ball in play at a high rate. The Eagles tied the game at six runs apiece with a bases-loaded walk and sacrifice fly. Following two wild pitches that found the backstop, Milton scored twice and took the lead, 8-6. That was only the beginning of the dream inning for the Eagles and nightmare inning for the Raiders. Megenity and senior Olivia Stefl had back-to-back two-RBI hits to the outfield, which brought the Eagles lead to 12-6. The Raiders were unable to find a third out in the inning, as the Eagles’ bats continued to stay hot and runners continued to cross home plate. Milton won by mercy rule over its longtime rival and new region foe Alpharetta, 16-6. “The bats got hot, pressure got put

SPORTS on them, and we capitalized on some errors they had, which is what they were doing to us earlier in the game,” Holcombe said. “It flipped on us, but I sure wish we would have had those 12 runs in the first inning instead of the last.” For Milton (3-2, 1-2), the win over Alpharetta was their third of the new season. The Eagles swept Cambridge in a doubleheader to open the season but were then swept by region foe Etowah in their second series of the season. Alpharetta fell to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in region play with the loss. The Raiders

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | October 1, 2020 | 19

played new region opponent Cherokee in their third game of the season and lost 9-0. One challenge facing Alpharetta and Milton, along with fellow region member Roswell, is the game of catch-up they are forced to play in Region 5-AAAAAAA. As Fulton County schools, the three teams were unable to play their first game until Sept. 6. Their three other members of the region, Cherokee, Etowah and Woodstock, began playing games as early as Aug. 8. When the Raiders traveled to Chero-

kee to play their third game of the season, they were playing a Cherokee team that had already played 14 games. Milton opened its season against Etowah, a team that had already played 11 games. Despite the disadvantage their teams face to begin the season, Holcombe and Alpharetta head coach Edward Francis both feel their teams have a shot at making the playoffs. “Our girls have really come out firing for the most part,” Holcombe said. “How I see it is we have a team that can do some things. I’ll leave it at that.”

20 | October 1, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

SCHOOLS

Innovation Academy in final stages of opening School district announces registration starts Oct. 15 By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA — Walls are up, furnishings arriving and finishing touches are evident as the Innovation Academy in downtown Alpharetta awaits the final piece of the picture: students. After years of planning and design, the science, technology, engineering and math magnet school will open registration Oct. 15 for its first class of 9th and 10th graders in August 2021. The sprawling campus is on the site where old Milton High School stood for more than 80 years. Innovation Academy is a non-traditional high school and guides students to one of three career pathways — healthcare, information technology and engineering. Principal Tum Duncan says the focus is on practical knowledge for a career immediately after high school, or as a foundation for further education in college. “In addition to the core curriculum, Innovation Academy is a school that provides an educational experience that will push students to be creators and problem-solvers for a continuously

changing world,” Duncan said. The school is open to all students in North Fulton. A sister school, Global Impact Academy, also opens in August 2021 in South Fulton offering a similar tech-centered education. The planning for Innovation Academy goes back several years, and the school was originally scheduled to open last month. However, Fulton School officials opted to open both STEM high schools at the same time to better integrate curriculum and develop community partnerships. The decision to delay proved fortuitous. COVID-19 upended the education system and caused delays in construction that may have impacted an earlier opening. In a tour of the nearly complete school last week, Duncan pointed out elements of Innovation Academy that make the school unique. Features include “maker labs” with advanced technology, a surgical suite, ambulance prototypes and learning hubs for selfdirected activities. While much of the furniture, equipment and student resources are still waiting on construction to cease, Duncan clearly sees the vision. “I want this school to look like a science fair every day,” said Duncan, who served as principal at Chattahoochee

High School for more than a decade. “The [students’] project will define the school.” He walked through an open courtyard between buildings and said he wants this to the “messy space” for students to turn ideas into reality. Do the students want a ping pong table? Then they can build one, Duncan said, laughing. “I want this space to be their space,” Duncan said. “It’s an outside design lab where they can create and fulfill their ideas.” The school will meet all Georgia high school requirements for graduation but will focus primarily on “design thinking” to understand the roots of a problem to be solved and innovative ways to solve it. Teachers will work as collaborators, Duncan explained, to not simply provide answers but work alongside students. The goal is to understand and define the problem, then work to find innovative solutions by building prototypes, testing theories and arriving at outcomes. There is not a “typical’ student for Innovation Academy other than a desire to learn in creative ways, he said. “Students are going to get a lot more exposure [to their interests], and by the time they graduate they are narrowing down their career options,” Duncan said. “They are going to make a much better decision about their future.”

Application information Two virtual information sessions are scheduled for Sept. 29 and Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. for students/parents wanting to know more about the Innovation Academy. Applications for admission opens on Oct. 15 and are due by Dec. 15. A lottery will be held if applications exceed available space. Students zoned for high schools in North Fulton are eligible to attend Innovation Academy. Bus transportation is available between the student’s home school to Innovation Academy. For more information visit www. fultonschools.org/innovationacademy

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SCHOOLS

Continued from Page 3 Although teachers in some parts of the district staged a small walkout earlier in the month to protest the return to face-to-face instruction, no disruptions were reported last week. “Overall, the staff is very supportive of our slow and cautious return to face to face,” Jones said. “The district did not experience a high rate of absenteeism on Monday.”

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If health data continues to show a downward trend in case numbers of COVID, students will return to schools for two full days beginning Oct. 5, with a full return to school on Oct. 14. Students can opt to continue remote instruction through the end of the semester. “We are very pleased with the downward trend across the county.” Jones said. “We continue to plan for a return to face to face…[and] will continue to communicate with parents.”

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