Residents of the City of Peachtree Corners will soon get a savings on their flood insurance.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that the city’s Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) has increased to a Class 7 rating, down from a Class 8 rating. That means that residents will see a 15 percent discount on their flood insurance premiums.
In CRS communities, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community’s efforts that address the three goals of the program:
- Reduce and avoid flood damage to insurable property;
- Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program; and
- Foster comprehensive floodplain management.
Police Advisory Board, high school students, meet tonight
Gwinnett high school students can make their opinion count during a town hall on public safety at Grace Church in Snellville. The Gwinnett County Police Citizens Advisory Board will hold a town hall meeting tonight (Tuesday, September 20) at 6 p.m. at Grace church in Snellville at 1400 Dogwood Road.
The event will feature a Q&A session with Gwinnett County Police Chief J.D. McClure and advisory board members. Attendees will also have an opportunity to see SWAT armored vehicles, helicopters and police cruisers up close and personal.
County commissioners established the advisory board last year, since then the group has provided recommendations on how to recruit and retain qualified officers, including the purchase of load-bearing vests, loan forgiveness, competitive salaries and retirement packages. For more information visit GwinnettCounty.com/PCAB.
Extending Special Purpose sales tax on November ballot
In August, the Gwinnett Board of County Commissioners voted to place the one-cent special purpose local option sales tax, known as SPLOST, on the November ballot. During the General Election this November, voters will decide on the renewal of the program. If approved, the 2023 SPLOST program could raise $1.35 billion over the next six years that would go directly towards funding transportation projects, public safety facilities and equipment, senior services facilities, and other infrastructure.
GGC again ranks #1 in ethnic diversity in nation
For the ninth straight year, Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) has been ranked as the most ethnically diverse Southern regional college, according to the 2023 U.S. News & World Report (USN&WR) magazine college and university rankings, released today. The same report indicated that GGC ranks Number One in ethnic diversity among public regional colleges in the nation.
The ranking was based on data reported from the college’s fall 2021 semester. The ethnic composition of GGC’s student body was 32 percent Black/African American, 26 percent White, 26 percent Hispanic, 11 percent Asian, and four percent multi-ethnic and less than one percent each for Native American, Pacific Islander and unknown. While three-quarters of students came from Gwinnett County in the fall of 2021, others came from 35 U.S. states and 112 countries.
Now retired, former educator plans to serve in the ministry
Monica Batiste of Duluth retired from Gwinnett County Public Schools after serving 32 years as an educator. She cites her career as an educator as fulfilling and rewarding. “I have enjoyed the years of service to the students, parents, and the community.”
Batiste
Now in her retirement, she turns to another area: serving people in the ministry.
She says: “My ultimate goal is to serve the community through ministry. I am an ordained minister. I planned on attending Bible School next month. In the past I have served as a minister, biblical counselor, and member of the intercessory prayer team. While I have a number of interests in the area of ministry, I am excited about the opportunity to continue my studies while developing new skills and opportunities to serve.
“The pandemic has increased my desire to support others through ministry. In addition to providing ministry support in Gwinnett and Georgia. I plan on supporting the community where I grew up in the same way. I plan on attending Bible School at World Changers Church International in College Park.”
She was born and grew up in Church Point, La. She has never been married. She plans on spending her time between Church Point and Duluth. Her first teaching assignment was in Port Arthur, Tex., teaching second and fourth grades for six years at an elementary school. In 1996 she moved to Georgia to teach fourth-grade at Rockbridge Elementary School, through April 2003.
In April 2003, she was named assistant principal at Hopkins Elementary for three years. While at Hopkins Elementary she graduated from Gwinnett County Public Schools Quality-Plus Leader Academy, Aspiring Principal Program in 2007.
In 2007 she was named the principal of Alford Elementary. She served as principal at Alford Elementary through 2010. In 2010 she accepted a district-wide administration assignment as the director of School Staffing. She also served as the Director of Equity and Compliance from 2011 until 2013.
In 2019 she was named Executive director of School Staffing. In October 2020, she was named Associate Superintendent of Human Resources and Talent Management.
In addition to supporting schools as a Gwinnett County leader, Monica has also served as an adjunct professor at a few universities. Monica has taught at the University of the Cumberlands, Thomas University, and Clark Atlanta University.
Monica earned her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and her master’s degree in Administration and Supervised from McNeese State University. She also holds an Educational Specialist’s degree in middle grades math and science from Brenau University and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Mercer University.
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