MCSD News
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December - 2019
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2
Jasmine Agyemang
Columbus, GA- In a recent release provided by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), two District fine arts schools have been named as Title I Achievement Awards schools. Each year, GaDOE honors K–12 Title I schools and school districts for significant progress in improving student achievement and/or making significant progress in closing the achievement gap.
Wynnton Arts Academy is recognized among the top ten percent of Title I schools in the state as a Title I Rewards School. The designation is for Title I schools who demonstrate the most progress in improving the performance of their total student population, over the most recent two school years, on the statewide assessments.
Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts is recognized among the top five percent of Targeted Assisted Title I Schools in the state as a Title I Distinguished School (Title I Schoolwide). These schools demonstrate the highest absolute performance of their total student population based on the current statewide assessments.
Title I Distinguished Schools are eligible to apply for the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program award sponsored by the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators.
The mission of the Muscogee County School District is to inspire and equip all students to achieve unlimited potential. For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 706.748.2034 or communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.
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November - 2019
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22
Jasmine Schetalia Agyemang
Columbus, GA – We are proud to announce that five Muscogee County School District Schools have been awarded a total of $88,746 in Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Opportunities Equipment Grants for the FY20 school year by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE). In addition, the District was awarded a $25,000 Computer Science for Georgia (CS4GA ) Computer Science Capacity Grant.
The purpose of the CTAE Opportunities Equipment Grant is to provide funds for industry-standard equipment for CTAE labs and classrooms. The equipment will enhance the instructional opportunities for the students in the CTAE programs. This grant was available to high school and middle school programs and the Elementary Agriculture pilot programs.
The following schools were awarded CTAE Equipment Grants:
School Name
Program Area
Allocation
Midland Middle School
Audio, Video, Technology & Film
$30,000
Hardaway High School
Healthcare Science
$16,000
Jordan High School
Automotive
$23,571
Rothschild Middle School
Business Management & Admin
$11,175
South Columbus Elementary
Agriculture Elementary Pilot
$8,000
According to GaDOE, to be considered eligible, a program must:
- Be a high school or middle school CTAE program or an Elementary Agriculture Pilot Program.
- Have a significant need for equipment upgrades.
- Have a current Advisory Committee to include industry and educational partners that meets two times per year
The mission of the Muscogee County School District is to inspire and equip all students to achieve unlimited potential. For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 706.748.2034 or communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.
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15
Jasmine Agyemang
The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) has announced that MCSD was one of 34 schools awarded the CS4GA Computer Science Capacity Grant in the amount of $25,000.
Computer science has become a high-demand career across multiple industries and includes skills all students need to learn. This grant will provide funding for teachers to participate in professional learning opportunities, including credential programs.
The purpose of the grant is to support students that are traditionally missing from computer science classes and ultimately all students in Georgia. Districts serving a high number of underrepresented students were given priority in the grant solicitation. The Muscogee County School District was awarded the maximum grant amount.
This Computer Science Capacity grant is part of CS4GA – an initiative focused on making Georgia a national leader in the computer science movement by developing and delivering high-quality courses, resources and professional learning, increasing the number of CS endorsements held by educators, and expanding the integration of CS throughout the K-12 curriculum. -
15
Mercedes Parham
If you missed the E-SPLOST Listening Tour, you can access the presentation here: http://bit.ly/esplosttour
FAQs
What is the five-year projection for collections based on?
It is based on previous history with collected sales tax revenue.
What is the E-SPLOST rate?
A one-cent sales tax.
Columbus is now at an eight-percent sales tax rate. Will an E-SPLOST increase the sales tax to nine percent?
We are not proposing an increase to the sales tax rate. We are asking for a continuation of the E-SPLOST which has been passed in 1997, 2003, 2009, and 2015.
Are there any scheduled sales for surplus/life-cycled equipment and furniture?
Yes, we are presenting those items to the Board of Education monthly.
How will expenditures be tracked? Annual state audit or citizens panel?
The E-SPLOST expenditures are tracked monthly through our monthly financial statements and E-SPLOST expenditures reports. The E-SPLOST expenditures are reviewed each year by the District’s external auditors. A publication of the expenditures is published annually in the local newspaper, (in compliance with State Department of Audits and Accounts), again apprising the public of the status of E-SPLOST expenditures year-to-date. Throughout the year, the expenditures are also reviewed by the citizens review committee for all active E-SPLOST projects.
With the improvement for the STEAM center, will it a section for parents and grandparents to use it?
It is our plan that parts of the STEAM center are dedicated for community use to include students, parents, grandparents, etc.
Will both Dawson and St. Mary's elementary schools be demolished?
No. The schools will be consolidated into one location. Once the new school is built the use of the buildings will be redetermined.
Where is the potential location for the consolidation of Dawson and St. Mary's elementary schools?
On the grounds of the current Dawson Elementary. We have 25 acres available on those grounds.
How will the consolidation of Dawson and St. Mary's impact traffic, roadways, and neighborhoods?
To avoid issues, we will request a longer turning lane entering Northstar Drive. For St. Mary's, this will be an improvement. Right now, the school is very close to the street which negatively impacts traffic.
Where is Georgetown Elementary School on the roofing and HVAC list?
They are included under the renovations list under "Support to Learn."
Will the proposed projects address traffic flow at Kendrick High School and Georgetown Elementary School?
We cannot provide in-depth insight on traffic patterns. However, we hope that by adding a covered drop-off area, it will alleviate some of those concerns.
Will this address the Carver retaining wall area concerns with bushes and trees overgrowing?
We have a maintenance plan with the City. There has been no concern raised with the described wall.
What security changes does the plan include? Does it include cameras and personnel?
E-SPLOST funds cannot be used for personnel. We have included items such as cameras for campus security upgrades/enhancements.
How much of the safety and security money will you use for multi-agency active shooter training?
E-SPLOST funds cannot support that specifically, but we currently work with public safety agencies across the state to address active shooter training among other campus safety and security threats.
Will the old North Columbus Library remain and second location be constructed or will it be eliminated? What will the new library house?
An alternate location will be named while the new location will be constructed. The old location will be eligible for resale. The new library will provide more space for meeting rooms, upgraded technology, and parking. Several items are still being determined.
Was there consideration given to the economic impact building a North Columbus library will have long-term on South Columbus?
Yes. There is a dedicated South Columbus Library branch on South Lumpkin Road.
Will the library hours of operation increase for Friday and Saturday with a new library?
That is being considered.
Will we ever return to reusable dishes for school nutrition? There is too much garbage.
All of the items used are recyclable materials. We ensure those items are recycled.
How will needs be decided for schools with the band and orchestra instruments?
We will conduct a needs-assessment survey for school administrators.
Will there be seat belts on the new buses?
That has not yet been determined by the manufacturers; several studies are ongoing to declare what is safest.
Which of our elementary schools are there below full-time equivalency (FTE)? Can we rezone any of those schools?
Davis, Dawson, Downtown, Forrest Road, Fox, Johnson, Key, Lonnie Jackson, River Road, and Wynnton. We are more focused on that potential down that road as part of right-sizing the District. The project listed focuses on consolidation in a specific area. -
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Jasmine Agyemang
Sixteen Columbus State University College of Education and Health Professions graduates signed their teaching contracts with the Muscogee County School District.
As part of a long-standing partnership with CSU, teaching contracts with MCSD are guaranteed to all CSU College of Education and Health Professions graduates who meet the necessary requirements.
The following graduates received an offer of employment with the District:Name
Degree Field
Recommendation for Hire
Sarah Banks
Special Education
Spencer High
Kasey Cannon
Secondary English
Richards Middle
Avery Carroll
Secondary History
Richards Middle
Daniel Collins
Secondary Math
Northside High
Haley Craft
Early Childhood Education
Wesley Heights Elementary
Meredith Donovan
Secondary History
Pending recommendation
Tanner East
Special Education
Richards Middle
Chase Freeman
Special Education
Richards Middle
Ragan Greathouse
Early Childhood Education
Fox Elementary
Anthony Kennebrew
Early Childhood Education
Georgetown Elementary
Loralee Kennedy
Special Education
Gentian Elementary
Katherine Maddox
Early Childhood Education
Pending recommendation
Katia Roberts
MG ELA/Math
Rothschild Leadership Academy
Shelby Smith
Early Childhood Education
Fox Elementary
Amy Starling
Secondary Math
Jordan High
Josh Tracy
Secondary Math
Shaw High
Congratulations, and welcome to the Muscogee County School District!
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October - 2019
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30
Mercedes C Parham
Columbus, GA- The 2019 American College Test (ACT) composite and subject results for the Muscogee County School District mark the highest set of scores for the District to date. The ACT is a college admissions test, administered by a non-profit organization, which measures English, Math, Reading, and Science to determine academic readiness for college.
“It is gratifying to report our continued progress toward all-time highs, on our composite score and in the areas of Reading and English, while also continuing to close the gap with the state average. Although our number of test-takers for the ACT declined slightly this year, more students pursued the SAT. With that in mind, we will continue to offer challenging coursework and support to ensure our students have the best opportunities for success on these assessments,” said Dr. David Lewis, Superintendent of Education.
Muscogee County School District ACT Reasoning Test
FIVE-YEAR TREND
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Total Tested
839
908
857
902
843
Number of students Enrolled (from FTE 1)
2171
2083
2006
2061
2053
Percentage of Students Tested
39%
44%
43%
44%
41%
MEAN SCORES
READING
Group
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Nation
21.4
21.3
21.4
21.3
21.2
Georgia
21.6
21.8
22.0
22.1
22.2
MCSD
19.6
19.9
20.2
20.0
20.7
ENGLISHGroup
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Nation
20.4
20.1
20.3
20.2
20.1
Georgia
20.6
20.7
21.0
20.9
20.9
MCSD
18.4
18.7
18.9
18.6
19.0
MATHGroup
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Nation
20.8
20.6
20.7
20.5
20.4
Georgia
20.5
20.6
20.9
20.7
20.7
MCSD
18.8
19.2
19.5
19.0
19.1
SCIENCEGroup
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Nation
20.9
20.8
21.0
20.7
20.6
Georgia
20.9
21.0
21.3
21.2
21.2
MCSD
18.8
19.4
19.6
19.4
19.6
COMPOSITE
Group
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Nation
21.0
20.8
21.0
20.8
20.7
Georgia
21.0
21.1
21.4
21.4
21.4
MCSD
19.0
19.4
19.7
19.4
19.8
The mission of the Muscogee County School District is to inspire and equip all students to achieve unlimited potential. For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 706.748.2034 or communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.
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25
Mercedes C Parham
Columbus, GA- The 2019 College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) and School Climate Star Ratings were recently released in an announcement by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE). The 2019 results represent the second year of the recently revised CCRPI framework.
College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI)
The CCRPI is Georgia’s statewide accountability measurement, as required by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), provides information on how well schools are performing. The recently revised CCRPI utilizes multiple factors including graduation rate, performance on standardized tests, student attendance, academic growth, and success in closing student performance gaps. Overall scores for schools and the district level are made up of four to five major areas: Content Mastery, Progress, Closing Gaps, College Career Readiness, and Graduation Rate (high school only).
The 2019 results represent the second year the revised CCRPI system has been implemented. 2019 and 2018 CCRPI scores are directly comparable. Scores from prior years are not comparable because the state made improvements to the CCRPI calculation as part of its State ESSA Plan. The 2018 CCRPI was the first to use the new calculation.
CCRPI highlights
- The District’s overall score on the 2019 CCRPI was 74.2, an increase in 2.5 percentage points from the 2018 CCPRI score.
- Thirty four (62 percent) of the District’s 55 schools and programs increased their CCRPI scores.
- Fourteen District schools and programs realized double digit increases: Davis, Dawson, Dorothy Height, Eagle Ridge, Johnson, Martin Luther King Jr., River Road, Wynnton, Aaron Cohn, Blackmon Road, Arnold, Rothschild, and Rainey-McCullers.
District CCRPI
2018
2019
State
76.6
75.9
MCSD
71.7
74.2
Elementary CCRPI
State
77.8
77.1
MCSD
72.8
73.0
Middle CCRPI
State
76.2
72.1
MCSD
68.0
73.4
High CCRPI
State
75.3
77.0
MCSD
72.6
77.1
Elementary Schools
2018
2019
Allen
65.4
66.0
Blanchard
73.9
72.8
Brewer
50.7
54.0
Britt David Magnet Academy
96.5
95.4
Clubview
83.3
85.2
Davis
51.5
64.3
Dawson
52.1
64.8
Dimon
67.0
57.7
Dorothy Height
47.0
61.6
Double Churches
86.1
67.0
Downtown Magnet Academy
76.0
81.3
Eagle Ridge
77.8
88.5
Forrest Road
69.3
70.0
Fox
56.7
61.1
Gentian
75.2
71.5
Georgetown
56.6
58.4
Hannan Magnet Academy
69.7
65.8
Johnson
67.1
78.8
Key
63.4
66.3
Lonnie Jackson Academy
69.1
76.9
Martin Luther King, Jr.
45.8
65.9
Mathews
86.1
93.6
Midland Academy
75.6
80.7
North Columbus
75.9
80.9
Reese Road Leadership Academy
61.3
67.3
Rigdon Road
70.7
55.1
River Road
60.6
70.9
South Columbus
73.0
70.6
St. Mary's Magnet Academy
73.4
51.9
Waddell
69.6
73.9
Wesley Heights
64.4
54.0
Wynnton
63.7
76.9
Middle Schools
2018
2019
Aaron Cohn
79.8
93.8
Arnold
55.0
66.7
Baker
58.1
47.8
Blackmon Road
79.5
89.7
Double Churches
64.1
60.0
East Columbus
62.9
60.5
Eddy
63.7
57.0
Fort
64.0
62.2
Midland Middle
73.1
78.0
Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts
78.3
94.8
Richards
79.2
78.1
Rothschild
44.3
57.1
Veterans Memorial
85.7
80.8
High Schools
2018
2019
Carver
71.8
72.4
Columbus
96.5
95.0
Early College Academy
89.6
84.7
Hardaway
69.9
69.7
Jordan Vocational
58.4
64.3
Kendrick
56.3
60.8
Northside
79.8
86.1
Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts
74.9
87.4
Shaw
72.7
69.3
Spencer
61.8
62.6
“Our academic progress is moving in a positive direction, which validates our strategic focus on individual school improvement plans. While we celebrate this academic progress, we know there is significant work ahead of us.” said Keith Seifert, Chief Academic Officer.
The District will continue to implement varied strategies within its District-wide focus on progress monitoring, to include:
- Scaling up high quality professional development to support the personalized learning initiative in middle and high schools
- Implementation of new secondary social studies instructional curriculum resources
- Implementation of a new online K-8 mathematics intervention resource, IXL Learning, to help students with skill development
School Climate Star Ratings
The School Climate Star Rating assesses the climate of a school on a one-to-five scale. School climate refers to culture, quality, and character of school life. The calculation of the School Climate Star Rating is based upon the unique characteristics of each school. Therefore, a district score is not calculated.
Each school in Georgia receives a one-to five-star rating, with five stars representing an excellent school climate, and one star representing a school climate most in need of improvement. Interpretations of each possible star rating are below:
- Five-star: schools ranked excellent according to the school climate index
- Four-star: schools ranked above average according to the school climate index
- Three-star: schools ranked average according to the school climate index
- Two-star: schools ranked below satisfactory according to the school climate index
- One-star: schools ranked unsatisfactory according to the school climate index
School Climate Star Rating highlights
- 11 District schools increased their Climate Star Ratings
- Forty-six schools (85 percent) earned ratings of three stars or above
- Thirty schools (56 percent) earned ratings of four stars or above
- Nine schools earned the highest School Climate Star Rating of five stars: Mathews Elementary, Wynnton Elementary, Aaron Cohn Middle School, Blackmon Road Middle School, Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts, Carver Columbus High, Early College Academy, and Northside High School
“We are pleased with our district’s overall progress, which has led to six consecutive years of improvement. In particular, we are especially pleased to note our high schools surpassed the state average, our middle schools surpassed the state for first time, and we are continuing to close the gap at the elementary level,” said Dr. David Lewis, Superintendent of Education.
School Name
2018
2019
Aaron Cohn Middle School
4
5
Allen Elementary School
3
3
Arnold Middle School
4
3
Baker Middle School
1
1
Blackmon Road Middle School
4
5
Blanchard Elementary School
5
4
Brewer Elementary School
3
3
Britt David Magnet Academy
4
4
Carver High School
4
5
Clubview Elementary School
4
4
Columbus High School
5
5
Davis Elementary School
1
2
Dawson Elementary School
4
3
Dimon Elementary
4
4
Dorothy Height Elementary School
3
3
Double Churches Elementary School
5
4
Double Churches Middle School
4
3
Downtown Magnet Academy
4
3
Eagle Ridge Academy
4
4
Early College Academy
5
5
East Columbus Magnet Academy
3
2
Eddy Middle School
2
2
Forrest Road Elementary School
4
4
Fort Middle School
3
3
Fox Elementary School
3
1
Gentian Elementary School
4
4
Georgetown Elementary School
3
3
Hannan Magnet Academy
4
4
Hardaway High School
3
3
Johnson Elementary School
4
4
Jordan Vocational High School
2
3
Kendrick High School
3
4
Key Elementary School
4
4
Lonnie Jackson Academy
3
3
Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School
3
3
Mathews Elementary School
5
5
Midland Academy
4
3
Midland Middle School
4
4
North Columbus Elementary
4
4
Northside High School
4
5
Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts
5
5
Reese Road Leadership Academy
3
4
Richards Middle School
4
4
Rigdon Road Elementary School
3
3
River Road Elementary School
4
4
Rothschild Leadership Academy School
2
3
Shaw High School
3
4
South Columbus Elementary School
4
4
Spencer High School
3
2
St. Mary’s Magnet Academy
1
1
Veterans Memorial Middle School
4
4
Waddell Elementary School
3
2
Wesley Heights Elementary School
3
3
Wynnton Elementary School
4
5
“This is a testament to the academic growth of our students resulting from the focused work of teachers, support staff, administrators at both the school and district levels, and our community partners. With sustained effort and support aligned to our strategic plan, I look forward to continued improvement, particularly at the elementary level where we first gain the opportunity to impact students’ pathways to success.”
For more information, contact the Georgia Department of Education by accessing www.gadoe.org or e-mail communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.
The mission of the Muscogee County School District is to inspire and equip all students to achieve unlimited potential. For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 706.748.2034 or communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.
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23
Mercedes C Parham
Columbus, GA-The Muscogee County School District (MCSD) named nine eighth-grade students as new scholars of the Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen (REACH) Georgia Scholarship Program at a ceremony Wednesday, October 23, 2019. This day was designated by Governor Brian Kemp as the MCSD REACH Georgia Signing Day. Dr. David F. Lewis, Superintendent, members of the Board of Education, educators, and supporting members of the community welcomed the following cohort of students into the program during the ceremony.
First Name
Last Name
School
Felix
Amable
Baker Middle
Celestial
Deeter
Baker Middle
Abdullah
Ellis
Rothschild Middle
Natasha
Harris
Blackmon Road
Angel
James
Arnold Middle
Keith
Lafavor, Jr.
Rothschild Middle
Amaris
Perez-Aguilar
Midland Middle
Kristiyona
Robinson
Rothschild Middle
Jeremy
Veloz
Midland Middle
Governor Nathan Deal launched REACH Georgia in 2012 as a needs-based mentorship and scholarship program that begins in the eighth grade. Each REACH Scholar is paired with a mentor and an academic coach through middle and high school to provide the needed support to graduate from high school, apply to college, achieve post-secondary success, and prepare for the 21st-century workforce. The students must maintain good grades (2.5 minimum GPA), behavior, and attendance throughout middle school and high school. Scholars who successfully complete the program and graduate from high school will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500/year) that can be used at any HOPE-eligible institution in Georgia. Eligible Georgia colleges and universities can match or double match the scholarship, which is in addition to any other grant or scholarship the student might receive.
For more information about the REACH program visit our MCSD Facebook page, Muscogee County School District REACH Georgia Facebook page, or http://reachga.org.
The mission of the Muscogee County School District is to inspire and equip all students to achieve unlimited potential. For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 706.748.2034 or communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.
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22
Jasmine S Agyemang
Columbus, GA - The Muscogee County School District has launched a new school safety tip reporting service that allows students, staff, and parents to submit safety concerns to District administration via phone, text, email, or a website. This service is administered by SafeSchools Alert and allows users to submit reports on bullying, threats of violence, harassment, mental health concerns, weapons, and drug incidents.
Through the SafeSchools Alert mobile app, parents, students, and faculty can quickly submit tips or report incidents 24/7. In addition, users can easily attach videos, screenshots, or photos when submitting an incident to provide supporting documentation to administrators. Upon submission, faculty and staff are immediately notified of every tip and can easily track and manage incidents within the alert system.
The SafeSchools Alert system is accessible on the District’s website. The mobile app can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play:
- The first time you open the app, it will ask to confirm our district’s four-digit code: 1897 in order to connect the tip submissions to our district name.
- After the code is submitted, it will ask for our district’s name: Muscogee County School District.
- Once the district name is confirmed, you’ll see the modules that are available to submit tips through (e.g. bullying, safety, violence, etc.)
- Any tips that are submitted will automatically be routed to the appropriate administrators.
- If we send any messages or replies to your tip, you will automatically receive a push notification.
Click here for more information about SafeSchools Alert.
The mission of the Muscogee County School District is to inspire and equip all students to achieve unlimited potential. For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 706.748.2034 or communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.
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18
Mercedes C Parham
Columbus, GA – The Muscogee County School District will host a listening tour to present the initial proposed list of E-SPLOST renewal projects. The tours will be held on site at various campuses. All public stakeholders are encouraged to attend, review the list, and provide feedback for the District’s consideration. The items presented are proposed and have not been officially adopted or approved by the Board of Education.
Sessions will be held as listed below:
- October 23 | 6:30 p.m. | Dorothy Height Elementary, Cafeteria
- October 28 | 6:30 p.m. | Columbus Public Library, Auditorium
- October 30 | 6:30 p.m. | Northside High School, Auditorium
- November 5 | 6:30 p.m. | Kendrick High School, Auditorium
Click here to view the full Board presentation that was presented on Monday, October 14, 2019. The information presented in this proposal has not been formally approved by the Muscogee County School District Board of Education.The mission of the Muscogee County School District is to inspire and equip all students to achieve unlimited potential. For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 706.748.2034 or communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.
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