Former TV anchor named to mayor’s team

Former television anchor Keith Whitney has been named to Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottom’s leadership team.

Whitney, who has been a decades-long fixture on local Atlanta TV newscasts and has won multiple awards for his work, will be the city’s new director of communications.

The announcement came the morning of June 22.

“I am truly excited that Keith has agreed to serve our administration,” Bottoms said. “Over the past 25 years, he has built a reputation as one of Atlanta’s most highly regarded and trustworthy reporters and he will bring that same level of integrity to the city.”

Whitney was most recently on air as part of the news team at CBS46 where he served as an anchor and reporter. In 2016 he took a buyout from 11Alive before landing at the rival station. Prior to that, he was a lead reporter, anchor and managing editor at the station for 23 years.

“Pick Your Price” Adoption Promotion by LifeLine Animal Project. Throughout June. Between 40 and 60 cats and dogs are taken in every day by the project’s DeKalb and Fulton County Animal Services shelters. All pets are eligible for the promotion, including dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. Adopters decide how much they will pay for a pet adoption, including the animal’s spay/neuter, vaccines and microchip — all a $350 value. LifeLineAnimal.org

■ LifeLine at DeKalb County Animal Services, 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Chamblee

■ LifeLine at Fulton County Animal Services, 860 Marietta Blvd. NW, Atlanta

■ LifeLine Dog House & Kitty Motel, 129 Lake St., Avondale Estates

■ LifeLine Cat Adoption Center, 3172 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Scottdale

Atlanta Summer Organ Festival: Robert Huw Morgan. 7:30-9 p.m. Wednesday. $15 suggested donation. The Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta. StPhilipsCathedral.org

For Toys R Us and Babies R Us, the end is very near.

The company took to its social media pages and announced its official closing date: Friday.

All storeswill close on or before that date, the company said.

The comp a ny o fficially announced March 15 its plan to shut down operations in all U.S. states and Puerto Rico.

Liquidation sales followed soon after, with store-wide discounts

Gwinnett Cou nty’s school board recently granted two charter school renewals, a five-year extension for New Life Academy of Excellence and an additional year for North Metro Academy of Performing Arts.

The contracts for both schools were set to expire on June 30, 2019.

At a board work session, Associate Superintendent Steve Flynt presented a recommendation from the school district’s Charter School Review Committee for a three-year renewal for North Metro Academy. The Norcross-based school originally chartered in June 2014 serves 262 students from kindergarten through fifth grade with a curriculum that integrates performing arts. But in three years of scores on the state’s College and Career Ready Performance Index, a report card on public schools, it is well below state and district averages. ranging from 50 to 70 percent off.

There are 26 Toys R Us or Babies R Us stores in Georgia and some of them are still up and running with sales galore. Many are also selling fixtures.

With less than a week left of sales, hurry to these locations in metro Atlanta if you’re looking for a deal on toys or baby products:

■ 1875 Greers Chapel Road, Kennesaw

■ 501 Roberts Court, Kennesaw

■ 7731 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta

In the 2016-2017 school year, the most recent scores available, North Metro Academy scored 67.9 while the statewide average was 75 and the Gwinnett County average was 82.4.

Although Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks said there are signs of improvement, the board rejected the committee recommendation.

“They’re onthe right track and their scores are on an upwards trajectory,” Wilbanks said. “They have a long way to go, but can hit the state standard.”

Other issues plaguing the school are its financial plan, organizational structure and leadership, said Flynt. In its four years, the school has had three principals. The recommendation of three years was to give the new leadership an opportunity to establish financial stability.

“At any time, we can come back to make recommendations based on areas where they aren’t achieving,” said Flynt. He said the principal and board are eager to improve.

■ 2205 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth

■ 2955 Cobb Parkway, Atlanta

■ 2918 Turner Hill Road, Lithonia

■ 9365 The Landing Drive, Douglasville

■ 209 So u th Point Blvd., McDonough

■ 3480 Financial Center Way, Buford

Search for more Toys R Us and Babies R Us locations in Georgia by using the company’s store locator.

“They been very collaborative and don’t hesitate to ask for help,” added Flynt.

The board agreed to the recommendation for the maximum renewal period for New Life Academy. Its current principal was one of its founders and has been with the school the entire 12 years. It serves 564 K-8 students and projects and enrollment of 720 by 2024. The school’s charter was officially granted by the school board in 2006 and was renewed in 2009 and 2012.

The Duluth school is not a language-immersive program, but every student takes Mandarin.

Although its CCRPI scores faltered in the 2014-2015 school year, it has been above state averages all other years and close to or above district averages all other years.

That was a year that the state’s new Milestones standardized test was released, said Flynt.

“This is the essence of what a charter school can be,” said board member Mary Kay Murphy.