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Dear Neighbor
Welcome. On behalf of the DeKalb County House Delegation, I hope you will view this newsletter as a tool to inform the community about what is happening within our county and in the State Capitol. Please send us an email about events that would be of interest to other citizens in DeKalb County. Thanks!
Sincerely,
DeKalb County House Delegation
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Members of the DeKalb County House Delegation, Committees they Serve and County Commission District within their House District
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Stacey Abrams ( District 84)
House Code Revision, Defense and Veterans Affairs, Judiciary Non-Civil, and Ways and Means Committees
DeKalb Commission Districts 2 and 3
Simone Bell (District 58)
House Children and Youth, Human Relations and Aging, and State Planning and Community Affairs Committees
DeKalb Commission District 3
Stephanie Stuckey Benfield (District 85)
House Banks and Banking, Code Revision, Judiciary Non-Civil and, Natural Resources and Environment Committees
DeKalb Commission Districts 2, 3 and 4
Jill Chambers (District 81)
House Appropriations, Governmental Affairs, Rules, and MARTOC (Chair) Committees
DeKalb Commission Districts 1 and 2
Dee Dawkins-Haigler (District 93)
House Banks and Banking, Human Relations and Aging, and Industrial Relations Committees
DeKalb Commission District 5
Karla Drenner (District 86)
House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications; Health and Human Services; Natural Resources and Environment; Special Committee on Small Business Development; and Rules Committees
DeKalb Commission Districts 1 and 4
Pat Gardner (District 57)
House Appropriations, Higher Education, Natural Resources and Environment, and Transportation Committees
DeKalb Commission District 2
Michele Henson (District 87)
House Appropriations, Economic Development and Tourism, and Health and Human Services Committees
DeKalb Commission District 1 and 4
Mike Jacobs (District 80)
House Insurance, Judiciary (Vice-Chair), MARTOC, and Rules Committees
DeKalb Commission Districts 1 and 2
Kevin Levitas (District 82)
House Judiciary Non-Civil (Secretary), Science and Technology, Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, and Transportation Committees
DeKalb Commission Districts 1 and 2
Randal Mangham (District 94)
House Children and Youth; Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications; and Judiciary Non-Civil Committees
DeKalb Commission District 5
Rahn Mayo (District 91)
House Banks and Banking, Education, and Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment
DeKalb Commission District 5
House Economic Development and Tourism, Education (Vice-Chair), Health and Human Services, Special Committee on Small Business Development, and Rules Committees
DeKalb Commission District 1
Billy Mitchell (District 88)
House Health and Human Services, MARTOC, Regulated Industries, and State Planning and Community Affairs Committees
DeKalb Commission Districts 1 and 4
Howard Mosby (District 90)
House Government Affairs, Health and Human Services, Rules, Special Committee on Small Business Development, and Ways and Means Committees
DeKalb Commission Districts 4 and 5
Mary Margaret Oliver (District 83)
House Appropriations, Government Affairs, Judiciary, and Science and Technology Committees
DeKalb Commission Districts 2 and 4
House Banks and Banking, Children and Youth, and Insurance Committees
DeKalb Commission District 5
Pam Stephenson (District 92)
House Health and Human Services, Intragovernmental Coordination, and Judiciary Committees
DeKalb Commission District 3 and 5
House Education; Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications; and Retirement Committees
DeKalb Commission Districts 3, 4 and 5
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DeKalb County Senate Delegation
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Join to Campaign to Help Haiti
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The people of Haiti need your help. Click here to make a donation to the NAACP For Haiti Fund
On Tuesday afternoon, a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck southwest of the Haitian capital of Port Au Prince. You have seen the devastating images. Preliminary reports note that millions of people have been affected, although it will be days before the world knows the true impact of this catastrophe.
The NAACP is asking our members and supporters to do whatever they can to assist those who have lost their homes, their livelihoods, and their loved ones. In the weeks ahead, we will bring you a number of opportunities to get involved in relief efforts in your communities. Today, the need for aid is crucial, and we ask that you make an emergency donation through the NAACP For Haiti Fund.
Proceeds will go to the NAACP's relief effort to bring food, water, shelter and medical services to the people of Haiti.
Sincerely,
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![Ben Jealous]()
Benjamin Todd Jealous
President and CEO
NAACP |
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Agenda for Next Legislative Day--March 8, 2010
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Sponsor: Golick (R) - 34th
Committee: Judiciary
Committee Action: Do Pass
Subject Matter: County Libraries, General Fund
Summary: This bill increases the county population from 700,000 to 950,000, of which counties that are below, are allowed to retain certain funds in the county law library fund for the purpose of supporting a law library instead of the general treasury.
House Bill 1054
Sponsor: Walker (R) - 107th
Committee: House Relation and Aging
Committee Action: Do Pass
Subject Matter: Public food assistance; food stamp recipients may order food over the internet
Summary:To amend the Code relating to food stamps to allow food stamp recipients to make online food orders from non-profit corporations, pending approval of USDA.
MODIFIED OPEN RULE
Sponsor: Everson (R) - 106th
Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil
Committee Action: Do Pass by Substitute
Subject Matter: Public Health and Morals; Tattooing near eye
Summary: Amending the Code to allow tattooing around the eye-socket if performed by a physician or an appropriately licensed technician under the supervision of a physician that has its principal practice location in Georgia. Under the current Code, this is not permitted in Georgia.
Sponsor: Lane (R) - 158th
Committee: Game, Fish, & Parks
Committee Action: Do Pass
Subject Matter: Seafood; possessing weakfish
Summary: Reduces the possession limit of Weakfish from 6 to 1 for sport fishing; this does not affect commercial business and is in compliance with US Marine Commission Plan.
MODIFIED STRUCTURED RULE
Sponsor: Heath (R) - 31st
Committee: Education
Committee Action: Do Pass by Substitute
Subject Matter: Local Boards of Education, election revisions
Summary: The "School Board Governance Act," creates specific standards and regulations for local school board members":
The State Board of Education will create a code of ethics and a training program for all school board members.
A new standardized ethics policy by state school boards will be included in the ethics policy adopted by local boards as a minimum, laws relating to board and superintendent roles and responsibilities will be clarified, and qualifications for candidates will be put into force.
If a school board is in danger of losing accreditation, the Governor can suspend school board members and replace them.
STRUCTURED RULE
Sponsor: Burkhalter (R) - 50th
Committee: Ways and Means
Committee Action: Do Pass by Substitute
Subject Matter: County Municipal Sales Tax; fund domed stadium
Summary: To amend the Code relating to county and municipal tax levies on hotels and motels, so as to extend the sunset on Atlanta's hotel motel tax, from 2020 through 2050. This will allow negotiations to begin between the World Congress Center and the City of Atlanta to determine if the Falcons will continue to play in Atlanta. This bill provides that a tax extension if the same portion of the tax used to fund the Georgia Dome is used to fund a successor facility located on property owned by the World Congress Center. If a contract is entered between the World Congress Center and a NFL football team through the end of the new period, during this extension, the same portion of the tax that is currently used to fund tourism initiatives in Georgia will continue to be used for that purpose.
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Family and Policy Bulletin Legislative Report
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The General Assembly has called a 2-week break to consider the budget crisis and will reconvene March 8th.
With revenue receipts still in decline from last year, the Governor's revenue estimate for the remainder of FY 2010 may have to be revised downward by several hundred million dollars. Because the shortfall reserve now holds only $103 M, this could necessitate even deeper cuts. It would be possible instead to move federal stimulus funds from the FY 2011 budget to the FY 2010, but that would leave another deep hole in the FY 2011. Legislators will not resolve the FY 2010 amended budget until after they learn the amount of February tax receipts in the first week of March.
The Senate passed its version of the FY 2010 amended budget. The Senate made relatively few changes from the House version of the FY 2010 amended budget. See: Senate FY 2010 (organized by Appropriations subcommittee). Education. The Senate agreed with the House on restoring the proposed $17 M cut in equalization grants, but agreed with the Governor's proposed 8% cut in programs such as Communities in Schools, Information Technology, and Regional Education Service Agencies. Community Health. The Senate restored prenatal care funds in Babies Born Healthy, disagreeing with the House's 8% cut. The Senate agreed with the House on increasing cuts to Ga. Partnership for Caring ($75,000), St. Joseph Mercy Care ($45,811), Chatham Co. Board of Health ($55,901), and the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation ($62,500). The Senate cuts the Rural Health Association by $7,500 instead of the House's $15,000. The Senate further reduced funding for Low-Income Medicaid showing a $13.3 M cut instead of the House's additional $11.9 M.
The Senate added another $250,000 for start up of a total of two new Federally Qualified Health Centers. Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. The Senate restored $200,000 for the Marcus Autism Center (a $74,000 reduction from the House version, but agreed to delay funding for a Sexual Offender Review Board database. Human Services. The Senate agreed with the House to restore $225,000 for Alzheimer's respite services, but agreed with the Governor's cut of $177,859 for the Center for the Visually Impaired, $15,000 for the Haralson Co. Senior Center, and $20,000 for Senior Connections in DeKalb.
The Senate agreed with the House's $200,000 cut for the EMBRACE foster care program. It reduced the cut in departmental administration from the House's $2.9 M to $626,320.
Is the hospital tax dead? Scores of hospital and business interests turned out this week to protest HB 307 (Cole, 125th), which would charge the 1.6% tax on net revenues Gov. Perdue used as a building block for his budget. Many called for increasing the tobacco tax instead.
Child sexual exploitation. A new bill not yet assigned to committee, HB 1256 (Manning, 32nd), defines prostitution and masturbation for hire as applying to persons age 16 or over. Younger children could be taken into DFCS custody and placed in foster care if it is not in their best interests to return them home.
Child welfare. The House Children and Youth Committee recommended passage of HB 1085 (Dempsey, 13th) to bring the Department of Human Services into compliance with recent federal law.
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Metro Homeowners Overpaid 2009 Property Taxes by More Than $200 Million
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Despite efforts by assessors to lower property tax values, highest-foreclosure neighborhoods overpaid their taxes last year by $82.2 Million, accounting for more than 40% of the metrowide overpayment. To read report click here.
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Read Across America
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Read Across America sponsored by the Organization of DeKalb Educators.
Saturday, March 6, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Sunday, March 7, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Volunteers welcome.
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Community Calendar/News
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Decatur Career Center @ Avondale Crossing Plaza
Resources, technology and support services have been designed to help Job Seekers secure employment, and to assist in the development of Micro- Businesses. For more information contact Dee Dee Bullock at (404) 728-8635. Center located at 1295 Columbia Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30032.
Assistance for DeKalb County Seniors
If you are or know a senior living in DeKalb County who is in need of meals please contact Senior Connections at 770-455-7602.
White House Project Training
Non Partisan Campaign Training for Women Interested in Running for Office
Saturday, March 6, 2010
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
United Way Building
Woodruff Volunteer Center
40 Courtland Street SE
Atlanta, GA 30303
RSVP Now
Keep DeKalb Beautiful Electronic Recycling Event
Saturday, March 6, 2010
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Martin Luther King High School
3991 Snapfinger Road
Lithonia, Georgia 30038
For more information click here.
American Diabetes Association EXPO Atlanta
Saturday, March 27th
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Georgia World Congress Center
Buildling B, Lower Level, Hall B-2
Learn how to live healthy, be active and thrive with diabetes or reduce your risk for getting it. To register for free admission and a $4.00 parking coupon, please visit www.diabetes.org/ExpoAtlanta or call 1-888-342-2383, ext. 3166.
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Habitat for Humanity
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Congregations or Businesses
DeKalb Habitat has several parcels of land that are ready to build, the only thing lacking is a sponsor. While sponsors provide funds and volunteers to build houses, they also benefit from being a sponsor. Volunteers come together to work, but they also have fun at the same time. They build community and help make a better life for a low-income family, which makes the larger community stronger.
Sponsorships can be as little as $5,000, or as much as $100,000. The business or congregation gets publicity on the house sign, on our web site, and participates in the First Nail and Dedication ceremonies. The rewards of sponsoring a Habitat house cannot be measured in monetary terms, but the benefits will last long after the keys are turned over to the Family Partner.
Ask your employer about the posibility of house sponsorship. Click here for more information, or call Joe Stoner at 404-534-1611.
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2010 Census
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MAKE SURE YOU'RE COUNTED!
This year the federal government is conducting the 2010 Census. The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States. All U.S. residents must be counted, including both citizens and non-citizens.
The census is important for a number of reasons. It will determine state population counts and determine representation in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as boundaries for state and local legislative and congressional districts. Census data also guides planning for new hospitals, roads, job training centers, schools and other programs essential to communities.
Your participation is particularly important in this year's census. Georgia is poised to pick up one or two Congressional seats, expanding our representation in Congress.
You should receive your census questionnaire by mail in March. If you do not receive a questionnaire, you will be able to pick one up from several public sites. Households should complete and mail back questionnaires upon receipt. Households that do not respond may receive a replacement questionnaire in early April. Census takers will visit homes that do not return questionnaires to take a count in person.
The 2010 questionnaire consists of 10 short questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Households are asked to provide key demographic information, including: whether a housing unit is rented or owned; address of the residence; and the names, genders, ages and races of others living in the household. Federal law prohibits the sharing of information from the Census with any other organization or agency, so your information is secure.
I encourage everyone to participate in the 2010 Census. It is critically important and only takes a few minutes. For more information, please visit www.2010census.gov.
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Free File Now Available to Almost All Taxpayers; Software Can Help Find New Economic Recovery Tax Breaks that Could Be Overlooked
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The Internal Revenue Service and its private-sector partners are making Free File available. Most taxpayers can have free use of helpful tax preparation software and free electronic filing of the federal tax returns.
There are many new tax breaks this filing season and Free File software can make it easier for people to find all the credits and deductions they are due. Taxpayers must go through www.IRS.gov homepage or www.IRS.gov/freefile to access the free options.
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| The 2009-2010 Georgia General Assembly Picture Books are Available. Click here to download. |
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DeKalb House Delegation Members Meeting
12:00 pm
Legislative Office Building
To learn more contact the office of Rep. Howard Mosby at (404) 656-0298.
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Temporary child care assistance program targets families affected by recession
The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) has created a new federally funded program called Temporary Child Care Assistance (TCCA) that will be operated under the state's Child Care Program. The program, which ends in September 2010, will provide time-limited assistance with child care costs for families that qualify.
To qualify for TCCA, a person must:
Be a Georgia resident
Be actively involved in either job readiness training, vocational training, technical school or college
Be unemployed or work part-time
Have income that falls within the income guidelines
Care for a child who is 12 years old or younger (or 17 years or younger if they have special needs)
To receive TCCA benefits, families must either apply directly online or call 1-866-371-8222 to receive a paper application by mail.
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In The News
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On Common Ground
No tax hike in DeKalb, no holiday pay for county workers
| DeKalb County property owners can breathe a sigh of relief for now, while county employees, including the Board of Commissioners, will have to make do with less. To read more click here.
Atlanta Journal Constitution
Jobless rate sets record; fears grow it will worsen
The state's unemployment rate hit a record high of 10.4 percent in January, up from the previous record of 10.3 percent in December, the state Labor Department reported Wednesday. To read more click here.
Atlanta Journal Constitution
Colleges, lawmakers seek 'balance' in dealing with cuts
State lawmakers and the head of the University System of Georgia promised Wednesday to find a balance between massive cuts and onerous tuition hikes as they together seek to squeeze nearly $600 million from higher education. To read more click here.
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Join the DeKalb County House
Delegation on Facebook
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Census Bureau Launches Website en Espanol
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With an innovative, unique and digitally rich experience, the U.S. Census Bureau launched its 2010 Census Spanish language Website. The site's goal is to inform the more than 34 million people who speak Spanish at home about the 2010 Census and to demonstrate to the Hispanic community that participation is easy, important and safe.
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Leadership DeKalb Extended Dates
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We have added a 3 rd Open House for Prospective Members
Thursday, March 11, from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm, at Dunwoody City Hall, 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 103, Dunwoody, GA 30346. You are invited to attend to learn more about Leadership DeKalb. For reservations, call 404-373-2491 or e-mail.
Applications Deadline - Extended to March 29, 2010
Your completed application must be received in our office by Monday, March 29, 2010, at 5:00 pm.
Class Member Notification - mid April, 2010
A Selection Committee comprised of Leadership DeKalb graduates will review the applications and determine the members of the Class of 2011. We will notify you if you have been selected.
Tuition Due - May 17, 2010
Tuition for the program is $3,200 and may be paid by either yourself or a sponsor. Your sponsor may be your employer or another organization with which you are affiliated as a volunteer. If you are selected, the full tuition is due upon acceptance but not later than May 17, 2010. A limited number of scholarships (up to $450 each) are available. See the application for details.
You may download the application from our website by going and clicking on the Application page.
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DeKalb County NAACP Activities
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DeKalb County Branch will host for the Annual Georgia State Convention this year from October 6-10, 2010.
DeKalb County Branch NAACP
Annual Membership Breakfast
"One Nation, One Dream"
Saturday, March 27, 2010
9:00 am
DeKalb Technical College Conference Center
495 Indian Creek Drive
Clarkston GA 30021
Contact: Lance Hammonds
(678) 485-3118
Join the DeKalb County Branch NAACP today. |
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Community Cafe Meeting
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Thanks to partnership with the Department of Family and Children Services unit of Community Partnership for Protecting Children we have a secured location for hosting Community Cafes in 2010.
We are working on a 12-month strategy for change lead by parents involved in community, with goal of strengthening families and communities starting in 30032.
Community Cafe in 30032 - FREE ADMISSION
Bethesda Cathedral of the Apostolic Faith - Educational Facility
Convenient entrance in the back
1989 Austin Drive, in Decatur, Georgia 30032
We meet every third Sunday at 4:00 pm/next meeting Feb. 21st
ALL ARE WELCOMED! "Let's talk, let's act, let's get results"
For more information contact Lenean Priester at: (678) 663-0800.
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All About Books
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THE ATLANTA CHILD CARE GUIDE, INC. and All About Books are hosting their first annual Spring Into Reading Book Fair. Come participate in the most exciting book fair you will ever experience. There will be: The fun filled bicycle safety presentation with massive bicycle give-a-ways. Also, a dynamic youth and parenting presentation and How to research your family history presentation for starters. Story telling, nutritional workshops, spelling bee, yoga experience, open mic poetry reading, children's activities, food, renown authors and plenty of books for sale and book give-a-ways.
The ASpring Into Reading Book Fair@ will be held Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm at the Entrepreneurium previously know as the South DeKalb Business Incubator, located at 1599 Memorial Drive in Atlanta, GA 30317. Please come and see how much fun reading is meant to be!
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Scholarship and Grant Opportunities
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Harvard University
To find out more about Harvard offering free tuition for families making less than $60,000 a year, visit Harvard's financial aid website or call (617) 495-1581.
Community Bankers Association
The Community Bankers Association (CBA) of Georgia will award at least four Julian & Jan Hester Memorial Scholarships in the amount of $1000 each for 2010. These scholarships are open to Georgia high school seniors who will be entering a Georgia college, university or trade school in fall 2010.. Applications and details are available online. Applications are due to a CBA Bank by April 2, 2010.
Scholarship Contest for High School Seniors
Student Insights is sponsoring a scholarship contest for high school seniors. The 2010 Student-View Scholarship Program is offering $8000 worth of scholarships to high school seniors who plan to attend a four year college, community or junior college or career school. Students should log on to the website to complete a 15-20 minute application survey about colleges in our area.
Award for Promising African American High School Juniors
Berea College is recognizing promising African American high school juniors with the Carter G. Woodson Enduring Legacy Award to be presented to students at an on campus event on Saturday, March 20, 2010. Students selected to receive this award will visit Berea College to receive this prestigious honor. African American juniors in high school who are actively involved in community, school, civic and/or church organization, who rank in the top 25% of their class and who have a 3.2 cumulative high school GPA or higher are eligible for the award. In addition, students must have demonstrated financial need, such as qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Students interested in being nominated should contact their guidance counsler before the nomination deadline on February 12. For more information click here.
Presbyterian College Fellow Program
The Presbyterian College Fellow Program is designed to recognize high school juniors who have excelled academically and to provide them with information about Presbyterian College academic scholarship competition. Eligible students should be in the top 10% of their class and have scored at least a 120/1200 on the PSAT/SAT or 27 on the ACT. Students interested in being nominated should contact their guidance counselor before the March 1 deadline.
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