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DeKalb voters: Save yourselves and your schools. Don’t sit out this school board election.

10:32 pm October 7, 2010, by Maureen Downey

I am convinced that DeKalb voters can save their schools but they have to start by electing a strong school board that doesn’t say it’s all about the children at the same time it’s protecting the jobs of cronies, hiring relatives and clinging to an outdated vision of the county.

(For a good story on what is happening in the county, please check out the news story that just went up on AJC.com on the problems with the DeKalb board and the SACs situation.)

I just got back from an eduKalb school board candidate forum at DeKalb Medical Center and heard several impressive candidates. The League of Women Voters of DeKalb County, Leadership DeKalb, Junior League of DeKalb and the Champion and Free Press co-sponsored the forum. Political commentator Bill Crane served as moderator.

The first spontaneous applause went to District 7 candidate Donna Edler, a CPA, when she said, speaking of the system’s new central office complex, “As long as our children have substandard accommodations, our administrators shouldn’t have first-class accommodations.”

The second burst of applause went was won by District 7 candidate Richard Gathany, a lawyer, engineer and teacher, when he told the audience of about 50 people, “I want to make sure you know that I don’t have any relatives working for the system.”

All the candidates who showed up acknowledged that DeKalb, the state’s third largest school system with 98,000 students, has lost its way and has too many lackluster schools. A few of them seemed to put a lot of faith in the restorative powers of whoever is hired as the new superintendent, but I think it is unrealistic to believe that one person will change the system’s fortunes.

One exception was District 7 candidate Willie R. Mosley, Jr, who emphasized the need to involve more parents in the schools to change the tide.

I think the restoration of DeKalb, once considered one of the best systems in the state, will take a united effort.

First, the system has to offload its top-heavy central office. Candidates noted two damaging facts about their school district: It has more $100,000-plus administrator positions than any other system in Georgia and it spends less than 50 percent of its dollars on instruction.

As moderator Bill Crane noted, the similarly sized Cobb — with a similar budget — spends $100 million more on instruction than DeKalb and earns far better results. District 7 incumbent Zepora Roberts defended the spending, saying, “Our budget may be the same as Cobb’s but our needs and demographics are different.”

Let me talk for a minute about who wasn’t there tonight: Longtime District 3 school board member Sarah Copelin-Wood, who is apparently spurning most forums and her opponent Robert Lee Holt. (Holt actually dashed in late and then left before his race was presented, telling organizers his wife was in the hospital and he couldn’t stay.)

Neither of those candidates have responded to requests from the AJC to answer questions for a planned two-page spread on the DeKalb school board races. I am putting together these pages for DeKalb and six other counties, and I don’t get why candidates would turn down a chance to present their case to the public.

In fact, I went to the eduKalb forum to talk to Copelin-Wood and Holt as I didn’t want to only run the responses of the third candidate in that District 3 race, Corey Wilson, who took the podium solo tonight and did a good job.

This is the second forum where Wilson had the stage to himself; neither Copelin-Wood nor Holt showed up at a forum last week, either. I think this race belongs to Wilson for the simple fact that he shows up.

I have to wonder why Copelin-Wood and Holt are running; neither have apparently answered other candidate questionnaires. These are not interviews, just questionnaires where the candidates write their responses and they get published.

I think Copelin-Wood has a strategy of evading questions, which she may think will keep her out of trouble. And she may be counting on older voters, with whom she still holds sway, returning her to office. But her strategy of hiding out from public forums where she doesn’t control the crowd or the questions strikes me as a danger sign.

I am not sure about Holt’s tactics as no one seems to know what is driving him and he is running a stealth campaign. (It doesn’t mean he won’t get votes. I have known candidates who never sent out a mailer, attended a forum or kissed a single baby and they still got votes.)

The third burst of applause of the night went to Jesse “Jay” Cunningham, the incumbent in District 5, in response to his long list of school committees and councils on which he has served.

But his young opponent, 23-year-old Jacques Hall, also won applause with his passionate rhetoric about the race not being about him but about making real change.

Hall was honest in his answers, saying that he couldn’t comment on such issues as the SACs report since he had not read it.  (The third candidate in that race, Kirk A. Nooks, a college administrator, could not make this forum.)

I think the District 5 race may come down to whether voters want tested experience or new passion. Cunningham is clearly in the community a lot, and I think that matters. Nooks has also impressed people at forums, so I am sorry that I didn’t get a chance tonight to hear him. This race could be interesting to watch.

In the District 9 panel, incumbent Gene Walker and challenger Ella Smith were both strong in their views. A Fulton teacher, Smith decried the loss of quality of DeKalb schools and said she would audit the system if elected to see where spending was inefficient.

When asked why DeKalb was no longer the “gold standard” in education and whether the county should look to the success of Fayette, Forsyth and Decatur City schools for guidance, Walker said he would not look anywhere in Georgia for inspiration but to Finland, generally recognized as the nation with the best schools.

And Finland’s secret, said Walker, was its focus on teachers and its support of them.

While there was not a full panel for District 1, candidate Nancy Jester - she is one of two women challenging incumbent Jim Redovian — spoke effectively about the need for a reform-minded superintendent from the outside and the stark rise in failing schools in the county based on AYP –  from 14 percent to 44 since 2004.

With a background in finance, Jester  wants Dekalb to become a model in turning around an urban school district by relying on bottoms-up funding formula that funds at the school level first. Her approach — let’s get past the platitudes and reprioritize how DeKalb spends money and where it spends it –  is very fact based. She worked as an actuarial consultant and it’s reflected in her precision.

The second District 1 challenger is Merope “Bobbe” Gillis, who comes across as a concerned parent. Her comments deal more with the parent response to schools and school policy, including concerns over the 4-5 grade configuration now in Dunwoody. (That holds great interest to me as my town also has a 4-5 academy, and I think it is one transition too many for kids)

The size of DeKalb  — Gillis likens it to a corporation — requires a revamping of the system, she said, calling for an audit with a focus on bringing money back to schools and looking at schools, staffing and supplies that are under utilized.

I have to hang it up now as there are dishes in the sink, laundry on the floor and a dog desperate to be walked. I have to find my husband and let him know about all these things.

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46 comments Add your comment

school choice supporter

October 7th, 2010
11:10 pm

Support board members willing to allow real, independent charter public schools.

Tweets that mention DeKalb voters: Save yourselves and your schools. Don’t sit out this school board election. | Get Schooled -- Topsy.com

October 7th, 2010
11:14 pm

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Dr. UGAKA, Maureen Downey. Maureen Downey said: DeKalb voters: Save yourselves and your schools. Don’t sit out this school board election. http://bit.ly/aASaXW [...]

Been there done that...for 33 years

October 7th, 2010
11:42 pm

Regarding…District 7 incumbent Zepora Roberts defended the spending, saying, “Our budget may be the same as Cobb’s but our needs and demographics are different.”

Seems to me like that’s all the more reason that more money should be going toward students rather than high paying central office positions.

insidedive22

October 7th, 2010
11:49 pm

Please support a candidate that will clear out Clewless’ entire crooked ”cabinet”. The state should start an investigation into all of the unethical behavior at the ”Palace”.

jtaylor

October 8th, 2010
12:04 am

You didn’t write anything about the district 1 candidates. Why not? I know some were there.

SJHS

October 8th, 2010
12:35 am

Why is there no mention of the DeKalb County District 1 School Board race in your blog? Once again, Jim Redovian (the incumbent) was a no-show. But, Nancy Jester was there — she has been at every forum — and she was superb. She is going to make an extremely strong, knowledgeable, and courageous Board of Education member.

Cheryl Matthews

October 8th, 2010
12:51 am

For the 5th District I am all for the expenience and rcord of Jay Cunningham. We were getting a Trailer Park Education when he was elected and now we have a true learning environment, He has brought 95 million dollars in construction to the 5th District. Yes, he is accessible and the most visable board member in the 5th District. Nooks, the Cobb County College SITE administrator of a small two year college is a total unknown in the community. Having moved here a year ago after 8 years in the Virginia, DC., he is clueless to what our needs really are. I would like to admire Jarques Hall because of his youth but his knowledge and research of the system leaves little to desired. His addimision that he has never attended or watched a Board Meeting says it all. He is UNEMPLOYED and lokking for a JOB.

Color me confused

October 8th, 2010
7:38 am

I have to hang it up now as there are dishes in the sink, laundry on the floor and a dog desperate to be walked. I have to find my husband and let him know about all these things.

Very Funny!

Color me confused

October 8th, 2010
7:44 am

The whole culture of DeKalb is broken and the school board is just a reflection.

Below the City

October 8th, 2010
7:49 am

It is just as bad below the city, too! Just a little bit of power (real or perceived) totally corrupts.

Dunwoody Mom

October 8th, 2010
8:03 am

Why are DeKalb’s needs different than Cobb’s Ms. Roberts. The needs of both school systems is to educate our children. I think that’s just her standard answer for everything.

November

October 8th, 2010
8:12 am

HEAVEN OR HELL

While walking down the street one day a Corrupt Senator was tragically hit by a car and died.
His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
“Welcome to heaven,” says St. Peter. “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”

“No problem, just let me in,” says the Senator.

“Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”

“Really?, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,” says the Senator.

“I’m sorry, but we have our rules.”

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.
They played a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.

They are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises.

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, “Now it’s time to visit heaven…”

So, 24 hours passed with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

“Well, then, you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.”

The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: “Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.”

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell…

Now the doors of the elevator open and he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.

“I don’t understand,” stammers the Senator. “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?”

The devil smiles at him and says,

“Yesterday we were campaigning, Today, you voted..”

Vote wisely on November 2, 2010

—————————————————————————————————————————-
“This is a person who is fundamentally out of touch with how the world works, who happened to have played a wonderful con, as a result of which he is now president.”

Private School Guy

October 8th, 2010
8:19 am

Sadly electing board members is not working. The board is supposed to be like directors of a major corporation or non-profit. What we need are individual who have influence, have experience in spending millions of dollars and can get things done. If board members served without pay I think we would see better candidates. The laughable thing is that while board members do make decisions involving millions in tax dollars the positions are almost never a stepping stone to higher political power. Most voters have no idea who they are voting in board elections so big box churches and professional organizations made up of the district staff end up giving us the winners. I wish the constitution could be changed so that school boards would be appointed.

Realist

October 8th, 2010
8:29 am

It has been said often that if voting did any good, it would be illegal. The political process will not achieve anything so long as the citizens continue to believe that the solutions are political when they clearly are not. Government cannot fix what government has caused. Those that might attempt to stand up to the entrenched bureaucracy will find themselves out on their ass, either through intimidation or violence or at minimum the next election. The political process has convinced people that they can violate the laws of economics with majority vote. They cannot. This is an economic issue that nobody wants to deal with. Not about more money, but about less government and more personal responsibility, accountability, and ownership. The free market is the only solution but again the political solution is proposed. Good luck. Eventually you will learn.

V for Vendetta

October 8th, 2010
8:41 am

Maureen,

There’s a large article on bullying on the comcast.net homepage. It would make for some good fodder, I think. Lots of issues to consider . . .

There’s also a video about a girl who was suspended for her nose ring. Sheesh.

atlmom

October 8th, 2010
8:50 am

Looking to finland might be okay for some things, but saying that that might be the end all and be all – well, it won’t work. They have a country where basically everyone is like everyone else. The same values/background/etc. Here well, it’s completely different.
Certainly, we should look to other places where they accomplish what we would like to accomplish, but we can’t look anywhere else in the world, for the most part, as we are diverse and have different issues.
Is this just a way to get some trips to Finland?

say what?

October 8th, 2010
8:53 am

Parent involvement is a must. Many parents want to be involved but when each school principal decides what time of day a parent can come, how long a parent can be inside the school building, how long a parent can sit in a classroom, whether parents can drop in or make an appointment to see what the students are learning- what do you do? @ Realist- “Those that might attempt to stand up to the entrenched bureaucracy will find themselves out on their ass, either through intimidation”- that is a great way of describing what happens to parents and their students when parents try to become engaged. I applaud any candidate who understands that you can put in place many resources and programs, but without TRUE parent involvement (not just 2 out of 6 Epstein typologies) schools will lag behind. Principals who are afraid to have two-way meaningful communication established in the school building are more of a hurt to the school, the community and the students than the board members.

I do notice that DCSS has so many “special” schools and programs DCSS will need to cut some of these magnet/theme schools and go back to focusing on the basics.

Maureen Downey

October 8th, 2010
9:08 am

@V, Just read that sad article on comcast. I will post about bullying shortly as I interviewed a researcher on girls and aggression and am writing it up now.
Maureen

atlmom clueless

October 8th, 2010
9:16 am

“A country where basically everyone is like everyone else”…What does this mean? A country where people actually believe in self determination and not sitting around waiting on a handout?

msbssy

October 8th, 2010
9:17 am

@Cheryl, a true learning environment? Really? Why are our scores so dismal if this is a true learning environment? Lakeside is in shambles, DHHS is overcrowded and they out perform the schools in our district every year! Does a true learning environment encourage children to turn in their assignments when they feel like it? Does the No Zero Policy help the children or hinder them? Does voting to extend Lewis’ contract and give him raise create a true learning environment? Sure, he’s done a lot facility-wise, however, the scores are dismal. Flat Rock, nice looking school—why are teachers pulling their children out of the school to send them to private schools? Is a true learning environment one that is so laser focused on passing the ridiculous CRCT instead of providing a quality, well rounded educations. Does a true learning environment resemble Salem MS, where there is daily chaos? Kids are passed on to HS that didn’t pass the CRCT, but parents whined and complained that my baby can’t be held back? Yes, Jay is out and about constantly touting all his brought the district facility-wise, but what about academically? Arabia Mtn–really nice, but wasn’t the original plan to help relieve overcrowding at MLK and other schools in the area?

Spread the education around

October 8th, 2010
9:43 am

Nice article Ms. Downey

I also had several questions about the people who didn’t show up.

The video of the event will be posted on several web sites.

SJHS

October 8th, 2010
9:51 am

Maureen –

Can you help me understand why you made no mention at all of DeKalb County School Board of Education District 1 in your report on last night’s EduKalb Forum?

Typically, Jim Redovian, the incumbent, was a no-show. But, Nancy Jester was there and she was superbly well-spoken.

Overlooking District 1 was brought to your attention last night, right after you posted your blog. I realize there were dishes in the sink, laundry on the floor and a dog to be walked — plus a husband to be notified that these things needed doing — but I really expected to see a correction to your blog by now.

Maureen Downey

October 8th, 2010
9:51 am

SJHS, I will add something shortly. Maureen

SJHS

October 8th, 2010
9:53 am

Thank you.

jtaylor

October 8th, 2010
10:11 am

Maureen – perhaps you should also provide the clickable link (highlighted in blue) to Jester’s website as you did for the other candidates in your blog. http://www.nancyjester.com

Maureen Downey

October 8th, 2010
10:18 am

jytaylor, I have added Nancy Jester to the blog and her web site is also there. (And by the way, she has a great web site. I think all candidates should have blogs.)
Maureen

Nikole

October 8th, 2010
10:27 am

Someone should address the amount of money being spent in MIS. The only people truly needed in that department are the CTSS’s that are located IN school buildings, and some of them were let go last year! Meanwhile, the MIS dept. sent contractors to replace teacher workstations and a contractor to explain the changes in windows 2010. What exactly do the people in MIS do?

bootney farnsworth

October 8th, 2010
10:32 am

don’t just show up and vote – that how we got stuck with Obama.
show up and vote for the peson you feel best qualified

REGARDLESS of their race, religion, orientation, gender, ect.

Color me confused

October 8th, 2010
11:35 am

How many DeKalb residents do you think were in attendance? The other two edukalb forums were very poorly attended.

Maureen Downey

October 8th, 2010
11:36 am

@Color me, I think the one last night started with 50 people. How many were regular folks not involved with any of the sponsoring groups? I would guess 25 of them.
Maureen

Cere

October 8th, 2010
12:47 pm

That’s exactly what scares me. We have some really excellent candidates in this election and I’m afraid we have too many inattentive voters will continue to vote for the same board members who rubber-stamped every little manipulation by Crawford Lewis and turned their backs on the needs of the students and teachers, spending countless millions on an expensive palace for their own use and bloating Lewis’ self-proclaimed “cabinet”. They have not managed the annual BILLION dollar budget well for years and it’s time to place people on the board who will. But I have to wonder if voters in some of these districts just have too much love for their long-time reps or too much apathy to vote in someone with an up to date skill set – or if they just click the box with the “I” next to it. We’ll soon find out.

Maureen Downey

October 8th, 2010
12:52 pm

@Cere, I have that fear with the state school chief race. I just don’t think voters are paying attention to it, given the focus on the governor’s race. I have seen very few yard signs for any of the three candidates.
Kira, You are one of them. Do you get a sense that voters know about your race?
Maureen

Burroughston Broch

October 8th, 2010
12:58 pm

This is DeKalb’s last chance to elect a school board that will prevent a descent into the Clayton County abyss.

I suggest that we require every incumbent standing for re-election to clearly explain why the voters should consider them as part of the solution rather than part of the problem. If they cannot explain to our satisfaction, vote them out.

I suggest that we require every challenger to clearly explain what they will do to resolve the evident problems. If they cannot explain to our satisfaction, consider not voting for them.

If neither the incumbent or the challenger provides satisfactory explanations, then vote for the challenger. They can’t be any worse than the incumbent.

The time for a “friends and family”, rubber stamp school board is past.

Ernest

October 8th, 2010
1:04 pm

Maureen, good summary from the forum last night. As I understand, this was one of the larger audiences thus far. You should also factor in there were candidates for other offices in attendance also. Hats off to the sponsoring organizations for providing opportunities like these to see and hear from the candidates up close. As we get closer to November 2, hopefully more citizens will take advantage of these opportunities.

We also have to remember and emphasize, we don’t have to wait until November 2nd to vote. Early voting has begun and Advanced voting is right around the corner.

The Southwest DeKalb High School PTSA is sponsoring Board of Education Candidate Forum for
DeKalb County School Districts 5 & 9. Following is the infomation for the forum:

WHERE: Southwest DeKalb High School Cafeteria
WHEN: Tuesday, October 12th
TIME: 7:30pm – 9:00pm

Hopefully the AJC will have someone to attend, schedules permitting.

Flabberghasted4sure

October 8th, 2010
10:18 pm

Jim Redovian was not at the eduKalb forum because he was at the benefit performance for the Tim Redovian Memorial Fund held at Dunwoody’s Stage Door Players in memory of his son. It has given over $200,000 in scholarships to students interested in fine arts and performing arts. The date was selected far in advance of eduKalb’s dates for forums.

Cere

October 8th, 2010
10:41 pm

It’s too bad that the eduKALB leaders didn’t make that known about Redovian at the forum. Did they know why he didn’t attend and where he was? I was disappointed that the forum they held in Dunwoody (which is in District 1) didn’t include Redovian either (I think he was away on business). I would think they would have vetted the dates at least with the candidates in that area before booking the space. Too bad.

jtaylor

October 8th, 2010
11:34 pm

Maybe Redovian should get off the board. It’s not his primary interest, obviously. Maybe he should focus on his memorial fund work or his day job. He made none of the forums and misses many of his obligations. Perhaps he’s spread too thin. He doesn’t want to face his constituents. That’s obvious. Jester is smart and tough. She’ll be an excellent district 1 representative.

Color me confused

October 9th, 2010
8:15 am

eduKalb is only recently formed and fairly hastily thrown together. They aren’t raising much money and are finding little financial support from the business community.

The whole thing hasn’t been well thought out.

The organization would have been much more effective if it had existed for longer and had actually recruited candidates. Of course, having real funds would help as well.

Color me confused

October 9th, 2010
8:16 am

“They can’t be any worse than the incumbent.” You must not know DeKalb that well.

Color me confused

October 9th, 2010
8:25 am

Maureen

do you even think most voters are really paying attention to the Governor’s race

no mas

October 9th, 2010
12:17 pm

Maureen –
I counted heads just as the forum began and then again after about 30 minutes. There were 50-60 to begin with, but later on, the auditorium (capacity 200) was about 3/4 filled. I don’t know how many were just “regular people” rather than associated in some way with a candidate.

Ella Smith

October 9th, 2010
7:20 pm

There have been more forums than any years before that I can remember. I have been around for awhile.

I will have to saw that there have been more political figures attending the debates than in the past. There were many politicians at the Debate on Thursday night at DeKalb Medical. Maybe this is why some individuals decided to show up just to this forum.

I also was extremely shocked that some of the current school board members running for election did not feel they needed to show up to the reception held by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce. Whether they needed to show up or not to be elected I thought it was extremely disrespectful to the Chamber of Commerce. The DeKalb County School Board has got to have better working relationships with the Chamber of Commerce, County Commissioners, Parents, and the Community in general.

d

October 9th, 2010
8:38 pm

I wonder if Jester will be able to stand up to Womack.

jtaylor

October 10th, 2010
12:50 pm

I think Womack and Jester will work together very well. She’ll come armed with ideas and facts and is very politically persuasive.

Write Your Board Members

October 12th, 2010
6:28 pm

JTaylor

Womack doesn’t want to be persuaded, he is always right.

jtaylor

October 12th, 2010
7:02 pm

LOL….always right! That’s good. He’s not always wrong, that’s for sure. You asked about her standing up to him. Yes she’s tough and I think they’ll work together well. Sometimes they’ll agree, sometimes they won’t. He’s not her constituent or the only other board member.