Atlanta school board members marching off the same cliff as Clayton counterparts and dragging students with them
With Atlanta’s accreditation in jeopardy, the five-member majority of the Atlanta school board that is operating in probable violation of the law ought to come to its senses and comply with the state attorney general. In refusing to acknowledge that the policy change they forced through to enable them to elect a new chair and co-chair violated their charter, the five are putting the children of Atlanta in the crossfire.
And those kids have already paid enough of a price because of the self-serving and illegal actions of adults in the system.
The cheating by some APS teachers and administrators on state exams has cast a shadow on the legitimate achievements of Atlanta schools. It has tarnished the reputation of honest teachers and sparked tensions with the governor who has now sent GBI agents into the schools to investigate cheating.
This week, Mark Elgart, president and CEO of AdvancED, warned that his accrediting agency would be concerned if the board continued to operate in conflict with state law. If the APS board does not resolve its conflicts by Dec. 1, he said his agency will make a recommendation to its governing body concerning the system’s accreditation status. A loss of accreditation undermines the ability of APS high school students to qualify for scholarships, including HOPE.
To Khaatim Sherrer El, Yolanda Johnson, Courtney English, Nancy Meister and Brenda Muhammad, this is not about taking a stand. This is about taking the children of Atlanta into account and acting in their best interest.
The five board members have every right to question how Superintendent Beverly Hall has handled the CRCT investigation. They should ask hard questions. They should hold her and her staff accountable.
But they should do so within the confines of the law under which they were elected and under which they must operate.
Their policy change and their coup d’état were deemed in conflict with the law by Attorney General Thurbert Baker earlier this month. Baker ruled that the board’s governing charter — last revised in 2003 and approved by the General Assembly — spells out six specific situations when a board chairman or vice chairman may be removed from those positions in the middle of the two-year term. None of those six justifications was present when the five staged their revolt in September and commandeered leadership of the board, ousting Chairwoman LaChandra Butler Burks and replacing her with El.
This is not the moment to engage in a court battle with the Atlanta Public Schools in free fall and GBI agents roaming the halls.
The APS board is headed down the road taken by the dysfunctional and damaging Clayton County board of old. It ought to reverse direction now before it ends up in the same dismal place — with the schools losing accreditation and parents losing faith.
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116 comments Add your comment
Dr NO
October 27th, 2010
1:34 pm
yea…isnt it funny!!
Al
October 27th, 2010
1:40 pm
…..and this is the same school system which Joe Martin brags of leading. I know he is not a current member of this board but it just seems the Atlanta School System has not done well with him or without him. They need to get their act together or Ol’ Joe will sue them also (like the failing lawsuit he pushed schools to foot the bill.)
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
1:49 pm
“Atlanta school board members marching off the same cliff as Clayton counterparts and dragging students with them”
Every single board member on the Clayton Co school board is black and they purposely got rid of white people. Just saying…
Aiken Faque
October 27th, 2010
1:49 pm
This is just sad, sick and so funny all at the same time.
money
October 27th, 2010
1:53 pm
“if the board continued to operate in conflict with state law”, the case would have to go to court to see if they overstepped their bounds. The AG is just an opinion; must like his opinion on Obama care and guess what a judge says the Indiviual mandate may not be Constitutional, but our AG says it is. Hall must be calling in some big favors for SACS to cover HER “yes” board. 300,000 dollars a year; yes, 70000 dollar bonus; new car with driver 200000; travel priceless…… yes, yes , yes……..
Dr NO
October 27th, 2010
2:03 pm
I think “Cupcake” Hall makes more than her hero Obama…is that correct?
Dr NO
October 27th, 2010
2:12 pm
“Every single board member on the Clayton Co school board is black and they purposely got rid of white people. Just saying…”
And as I recall the mantra was “NOW its our turn”…LMAO!! What a group of jerkoffs.
Proud Black Man
October 27th, 2010
2:14 pm
“Every single board member on the Clayton Co school board is black and they purposely got rid of white people. Just saying…”
If thats true why don’t the white citizens of Clayton County file a lawsuit? Just saying…
Atlanta Mom
October 27th, 2010
2:18 pm
Surely, surely, five people would not put their egos before the good of 48,000 students. Surely.
DeKalb Educated
October 27th, 2010
2:19 pm
If next week’s election do not make some valid changes on the Dekalb School Board, you can save these headlines for next year when DeKalb fails our students again and uses our tax dollars to support their bone-headed decisions.
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
2:20 pm
“If thats true why don’t the white citizens of Clayton County file a lawsuit? Just saying…”
Because they moved.
Dr NO
October 27th, 2010
2:20 pm
Atl Mom…ABSOLUTELY they would. After all most of them are ministers, preachers, bishops and God has spoken to them in they hearts and advised them they are doing not only work for the children but work for God!
Praise God, HO GLOOWREE!!
Dr NO
October 27th, 2010
2:21 pm
“Because they moved.”
LOL…yea they did.
Doble Zero Eight
October 27th, 2010
2:22 pm
It is obvious that the board’s paramount concern has nothing to do with the best interests of its students. Unfortunately, the board members appear to be a bunch of self serving egomaniacs.
Ormewood Native
October 27th, 2010
2:29 pm
Sadly (and this from a graduate of 12 years in the APS) this is the trend in Atlanta city governence and governence of the schools in the city. This once proud system is a shambles, a political toy for egregiously silly board “members” who are more interested in political posturing that in teaching children. God, what a mess this city has become!
Proud Black Man
October 27th, 2010
2:50 pm
“Because they moved.”
Really?
“As of the 2000 census[3], there were 236,517 people, 82,243 households, and 59,214 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,658 people per square mile (640/km²). There were 86,461 housing units at an average density of 606 per square mile (234/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 37.94% White, 51.55% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 4.49% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 3.55% from other races, and 2.08% from two or more races. 7.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clayton_County,_Georgia#Demographics
Ok I see I’m dealing with a racist fool now. Have a nice day.
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
2:54 pm
“Ok I see I’m dealing with a racist fool now. Have a nice day.”
Yes, Black Man, you are a racist.
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
2:55 pm
“As of the 2000 census”
Black man, can you not count? This is 2010 not 2000.
A Very Concerned Parent
October 27th, 2010
3:09 pm
Just saw the last APS Board of Education re-run on the APS Chanel 22.
Apparently, District 1 rep. pleaded with her fellow 4 members to return power back.
If this is true, why doesn’t she just change her vote? She is the board member that made the initial policy change motion back in July. For all those out there that care, please contact her at BMuhammad@AtlantaGa.Gov
SDK
October 27th, 2010
4:05 pm
PBM, PWM, & cracker
Where did YOU go to schools?
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
4:09 pm
SDK
You tell me where you went to school and I will tell you. Deal?
A Very Concerned Parent
October 27th, 2010
4:10 pm
Can we get back on topic and stay there?
Here are the additional emails for the furious five rogue board members.
BMuhammad@AtlantaGa.Gov , yolandaj058@gmail.com , cenglish.english@gmail.com , khaatimsel@gmail.com , nancymeister@beacham.com
The Booger Bear SACS Man (aka Zacchaeus)
October 27th, 2010
4:18 pm
It’s all a game. If you can’t beat them at the polls, get SACS to take away their power. Hey, Mark and I have to take care of the Chamber folk! Yipppppppppeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! We gonna mess with Atlanta now. Corruption? Who cares? Cheating? Who cares? Hardly an ounce of classroom discipline? Who cares? It’s all about who controls the money.
Who elected SACS, anyway? This function of accreditation should be under a state organization like the Board of Regents. After all, SACS uses state employees to go around “visiting” and “evaluating.” Heck, what do the ladies who work at the SACS office do? Invoice the school systems! What else?!
SACS is a private organization and not accountable to the people of Georgia. But, when it comes to control on the school boards and who controls the purse strings, then ‘Lil Mark Elgart comes ‘a runnin’. Mark Elgart…Fake. Beverly Hall…Fake. SACS…Fake.
Mark Elgart, get back up in that Sycamore Tree!
Rich
October 27th, 2010
4:52 pm
Next the school board will say that they problem is not enough money. It is always the answer with the schools, but when they get more money they can not solve any of the problems. At some point it is not the money, it is those running the systems. This is true for all of the local school systems.
AJ
October 27th, 2010
4:53 pm
APS students and parents have an uphill battle in front of them. It’s really very sad. The parallels with the sorry mess in Clayton County are impossible to ignore. This is what happens when a group of voters decide that being from a particular race is a prerequisite for service. You get a pool of candidates that are generally limited in terms of qualifications. I urge the parents, students, and voters in Atlanta to start looking for the best candidates, rather than the best black candidates. You may like what you see!
Missing the Point
October 27th, 2010
4:54 pm
“Every single board member on the Clayton Co school board is black and they purposely got rid of white people. Just saying…”
That is NOT true. If you are going to make a statement like that, at least get your facts straight.
Rich
October 27th, 2010
4:56 pm
Race is not the issue, attitude is.
ADL
October 27th, 2010
5:00 pm
I think it is a pretty good bet where those 5 board members went to school!!!
Maureen Downey
October 27th, 2010
5:02 pm
@AJ. I can assure you that race is not a factor in incompetence or integrity. Hang around the Legislature for a while and you will agree that those traits transcend any one race. I won’t recite recent history, but there are plenty of lousy white legislators with limited qualifications.
Maureen
Stop, Look & Listen!
October 27th, 2010
5:02 pm
The legislature meets in January and the first order of business must be abolishing the elected BOE in every county but Gwinnett. The board should be an appointed body with specific qualifications and duties spelled out by law. No “activist citizens” who do not possess the qualifications required to set policy for a school system should be allowed. This job requires a specific skill set that is sorely lacking in 95% of the members of BOE’s across the state. Time to revist this outdated notion and go to a professional board. Could you imagine Microsoft or Walmart holding popular elections among the workers to seat a Board of Directors? These companies would fail within 12 months if they did this. Why, then, do we entrust our children’s future to Bozo, Groucho and Casper?
Angus
October 27th, 2010
5:13 pm
I live in-town and have a 4th grader in an APS charter school who will never set foot in an APS high school (read: we will be moving). The only real investment I have in Atlanta is my home that has lost a good chunk of value already. With all that said…..
Let the loss of accreditation begin. It may be the only way possible that APS will ever lose it’s title as the single worst, half-billion-dollar-a-year-taxpayer-investment in the state of Georgia. Out with the BOE, Hall, and the legions of do-nothing bureaucrats in the central office. We need a fresh start where our kid gets something resembling our $13k per investment.
It’s funny that you, Marueen and others, only want to blast the five – like things were all roses before the coup.
Former Springdale Park Elementary Parent
October 27th, 2010
5:13 pm
@ Bear: Kvetching about Elgart doesn’t make our Board any less dysfunctional nor Bev Hall any less compromised.
Let’s recap:
Our BOE gave Hall carte blanche, and in return Hall presided over the biggest cheating scandal in the history of public school standardized testing; a SECOND multimillion dollar technology spending scandal and the complete disintegration of the Program for Exceptional Children (special ed) which will ultimately cost APS millions in lawsuits and the loss of federal funding. (In scandal terms, the PEC is in the bullpen, and has just finished its warm-up tosses).
Panicky and in disarray after the cheating scandal, our Board swan-dove into pig s##t with its handling of the “Blue Ribbon Panel” investigation, which impressed actual grown-ups on the state level so little they essentially tore it up and threw it back in the Board’s face.
After that very public bit of humiliation, embarrassed Board members started attacking each other in a way that has quickly become more tedious than an argument between Proud Black Man and Proud White Man on the demographics of Clayton County (or any other issue, for that matter).
Bev Hall and her $100k driver must be ecstatic that our BOE exists. I thought it impossible that someone else could make her look competent by comparison, but the BOE proved me wrong.
And so it turns out that Bev does indeed have a personal relationship with her Savior.
It’s just that his name is Khateem Sherrer El.
Public school guy
October 27th, 2010
5:31 pm
The BOE is incompetent.
The administrators are incompetent.
The teachers are incompetent
The Students are incompetent
T
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
5:35 pm
“That is NOT true. If you are going to make a statement like that, at least get your facts straight.”
Prove me wrong then.
Public school guy
October 27th, 2010
5:37 pm
let me finish…
the parents of the students are incompetent.
The families of the students are incompetent
The community of the families is incompetent
The BOE is from the community.
to fix…
The Community does not stand for incompetence and rises to correct.
The families do not stand for incompetence and rises to correct behaviors
The parents do not stand for incompetence and rise to correct.
The students not stand for incompetence and rise to correct.
The teachers do not stand for incompetence and rise to correct.
The administrators do not stand for incompetence and rise to correct.
The BOE becomes competent.
Sadly this will never happen
Public school guy
October 27th, 2010
5:40 pm
PWM – Just stop. You have qualified yourself already.
Stop, Look & Listen!
October 27th, 2010
5:48 pm
This should be a forum for the civilized, instead, one or two neanderthals have invaded this space and insist on vomiting all over the rest of us. Please move over to one of the hate boards at Rush, Sean, Randy or the FNC and stop trying to infect the rest of us.
Pompano
October 27th, 2010
5:50 pm
So Mark Elgart now considers himself to be the equivalent of a GA Superior Court Judge. Who is this guy to appoint himself the Judge & Jury to resolve a Legal dispute? Is he some self-appointed scholar on the GA Constitution?
This is an item that should be decided by a Judge – not some megamaniac who wants to get his name in the paper anytime he disagrees with a local School Board.
How did this organization get selected for providing Accreditation for GA Schools? This guy seems more corrupt – and power hungry – than all of our dysfunctional School Boards combined.
Public school guy
October 27th, 2010
5:55 pm
Stop, Look, & Listen – you have qualified yourself as well.
Maureen Downey
October 27th, 2010
5:56 pm
@Angus, I would never say things were roses, but losing accreditation is not something the system needs to worry about right now. I am not sure why the board majority can’t continue to push its agenda even if it returns leadership to the former chair; it is the majority.
Maureen
Just Wondering
October 27th, 2010
5:58 pm
What needs to be done is to have the Atlanta BOE chair elected as an at-large position for residents to select. Board self-selection of the chair out dated. In the interim, the five have taken this as far as they can and any attempt to subvert (which is the motion under review to create a Governance & Operating Committee of three with a chair that acts on behalf of the district) will just make matters worse.
BTW Springdale – the foolish five started this well before the report went to the state. They used the current situation as a power grab and nothing else.
Disgusted parent
October 27th, 2010
6:05 pm
After the Clayton County debacle, wasn’t the law changed so the governor could remove board members. Maybe now’s the time to exercise that authority.
gogitthem
October 27th, 2010
6:17 pm
first of all, Mark Elgart is a arrogant SOB who has no place in this argument. If SACS is more concerned about the composition of a board rather than wide spread cheating and fiscal fraud by APS, they need to be abolished as well. Frankly, Dr. Hall and her den of thieves, leeches and cronies need be shown the door after refunding any and all performance bonuses. Ms. Downey, how can you call yourself a voice of reason when you preface anything you say negative with how much APS has improved before any facts come in about the breath of the cheating. Believe me it is far reaching and no one will be able to quantify the actual effect of this debauchery. The APS students are damaged goods and I, for one, as an educator wear the stench of this mess as we, the front line employees have indeed a scarlet A and no other school system will touch us. Our careers begin and end with APS and we are the second significant effected group, the first one being the children.
Bravesfan79
October 27th, 2010
6:19 pm
Proud Black Man: Theres no way you can tell me Clayton is only 51% Black!! I think 80% is more likely. And shouldn’t you be more concerned with saving your own race of women than arguing with “evil white racist”?
Last time i checked, it wasnt white peoples fault that Murder was the #1 killer of young black men, and the #2 killer of young black Women.
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
6:33 pm
“PWM – Just stop. You have qualified yourself already.”
Explain please.
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
6:34 pm
“Please move over to one of the hate boards at Rush, Sean, Randy or the FNC and stop trying to infect the rest of us.”
November 2 is gonna suck for you.
Steve
October 27th, 2010
6:41 pm
PWM – the explanation is clear. You have identified yourself as a bigoted man with a single interest. Having logged that interest, please allow the rest of us to continue the discussion.
Shannon
October 27th, 2010
6:51 pm
Elgart acted on the state attorney general’s ruling. An accreditation agency would pretty much become a laughingstock if it didn’t.
money
October 27th, 2010
7:01 pm
@Pompano
exactly… SACS is basically saying “WE ARE THE LAW”
Plain And Simple...........
October 27th, 2010
7:05 pm
Isn’t the SACS one of the (if not the only) governing body that colleges and universities across the country recognizes as the school board “accreditation” police? And if my memory serves me correctly when Clayton Co. school board lost it’s accreditation that some of the graduating seniors
had a difficult time getting into out of state colleges……..
Plain And Simple...........
October 27th, 2010
7:07 pm
Some of you on here are as about as crazy as APS scool board……………..
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
7:08 pm
“the explanation is clear. You have identified yourself as a bigoted man with a single interest. Having logged that interest, please allow the rest of us to continue the discussion.”
Ah, now we’re playing the “bigot” card. What I find interesting is people like you haven’t proved me wrong about Clayton County and instead of doing so, you resort to calling me a bigot.
Plain And Simple...........
October 27th, 2010
7:10 pm
And you might want to be careful of what you ask for. The SACS is the wrong tree to bark at in this matter.
Public School guy
October 27th, 2010
7:10 pm
PWM – since you like things explained. Lets start with your name and comment – Proud White Man – they purposely got rid of white people – just saying…
That comment simply negates anything useful you have to say. So you presume that since it has an all black panel and they lost their accreditation that black people on the Clayton BOE are inferior to white people on the BOE – which is by definition a racist – not prejudiced or bigoted – but racist comment. When you make a clearly racist comment by definition then you qualify yourself as a racist.
Anyone who is by definition a racist clearly is an unintelligent individual – after you consider that science has not proven that intelligence is a purely racial component or that one race is predisposed to more or less intelligent than another race.
Would you like more? – or does just saying ‘do it’ for you?
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
7:10 pm
Steve
By the way, I went back and noticed that other than calling me a bigot, you haven’t written one comment about the topic. It is interesting that you write about “letting the rest of you continue with the discussion” yet you haven’t written one thing about the topic.
Maureen Downey
October 27th, 2010
7:10 pm
gogithim, I will stand by my statement that APS has improved under Dr. Hall.
Maureen
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
7:11 pm
“Some of you on here are as about as crazy as APS scool board”
You spelled “school” wrong.
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
7:17 pm
“since you like things explained. Lets start with your name and comment – Proud White Man – they purposely got rid of white people – just saying…”
My name is a sarcastic remark to Proud Black Man who was spewing all kinds of trash on another blog.
“So you presume that since it has an all black panel and they lost their accreditation that black people on the Clayton BOE are inferior to white people on the BOE – which is by definition a racist – not prejudiced or bigoted – but racist comment. ”
No, I presume nothing. When a school board fires every white person on the board and hires black only, THAT is how I come to the conclusion. I lived in CC for over 15 years so I know a lot about what went down and how that all black school board almost lost the county it’s accreditation.
“When you make a clearly racist comment by definition then you qualify yourself as a racist. ”
It’s people like you who have totally destroyed and misused the word. Racist, by definition, is the hatred for a particular race. Instead of acting like Jesse Jackson, maybe you should take a step back and actually look at a dictionary before name calling.
“Anyone who is by definition a racist clearly is an unintelligent individual – after you consider that science has not proven that intelligence is a purely racial component or that one race is predisposed to more or less intelligent than another race.”
I have a masters degree, school guy. The rest of your paragraph is pure crap.
“Would you like more? – or does just saying ‘do it’ for you?’
By all means, go ahead. I get a laugh out of reading total garbage from people who act like they’re superior to other people.
Public School guy
October 27th, 2010
7:20 pm
rac·ism
/ˈreɪsɪzəm/ Show Spelled[rey-siz-uhm] Show IPA
–noun
1.
a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
7:21 pm
“idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.”
And please tell me just where I wrote that white people are superior to other people?
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
7:22 pm
Oh, and you left this one out, Public School guy. Then again, public schools are the worst form of schools in America.
racism: hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
7:24 pm
Public School guy
Please point out ONE thing that I have written that is racist. One.
Thanks
Public School guy
October 27th, 2010
7:25 pm
prej·u·dice
/ˈprɛdʒədɪs/ Show Spelled [prej-uh-dis] Show IPA noun, verb, -diced, -dic·ing.
–noun
1.
an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.
2.
any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable.
3.
unreasonable feelings, opinions, or attitudes, esp. of a hostile nature, regarding a racial, religious, or national group
Ed Johnson
October 27th, 2010
7:25 pm
Be informed by this from Atlanta Education Fund:
The following letter was sent to Dr. Beverly Hall and LaChandra Butler Burks by Mark Elgart, President and CEO of AdvancED. The letter will appear in tomorrow’s edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
October 25, 2010
Dear Dr. Hall and Ms. Butler Burks,
I am writing to inform the Atlanta Public School System that AdvanceED/SACS CASI has been monitoring the ongoing dispute between the Atlanta Public School Board members. Despite the Advisory Opinion of the State’s Attorney General, the Board has failed to take steps to come into compliance with said opinion. The conclusions of law contained therein are valid and reinforce the need for the Board to correct its course of action.
The Board’s continued failure to adhere to its policies, as well as state and local laws, clearly supports a determination that the Board of Education of the Atlanta Public Schools is not meeting AdvancED Standard 2 concerning Governance and Leadership.
If the Board does not take corrective action to come into full compliance with AdvanceED Standard 2 by December 1, 2010, the Accreditation Division of AdvancED will make a recommendation to the AdvancED Georgia Council and the AdvancED Accreditation Commission concerning the accreditation status of the Atlanta Public Schools. Atlanta Public Schools should provide my office with evidence of any and all steps taken by the Board to establish its compliance with said standard by December 1, 2010.
Clearly, the ability of the current Board of Education to govern the school system is in a state of gridlock. If this situation is not resolved in an expedient and effective manner, the Board will cause irreparable harm to the school system, including negating nearly a decade worth of recognized improvement. It is essential that the Board of Education refocus its energies on the needs of the school system and its students rather than on individual members of the Board of Education and conflict over who is in control.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.
Respectfully,
Mark A. Elgart, Ed.D., President/CEO AdvancED*
cc. Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education Members
Brad Bryant, State Superintendent of Schools
Annette Bohling, Chief Accreditation Officer
Mike Byrans, Director, AdvancED Georgia
*This letter was signed by Mark A. Elgart
###
————————————————————————–
Atlanta Education Fund Board Of Directors
Executive Committee: John Rice (Board Chair), Curley Dossman, Ingrid Saunders Jones
Directors:
Kathy Augustine
LaChandra Butler Burks
Jerome Byers
Rev. Samuel Candler
Bobbi Cleveland
Evern Cooper-Epps
Charles Cornelius
Former Mayor Shirley Franklin
Michael Garrett
Dr. Beverly Hall
Lisa Hamilton
Gary Lee
Thelma Malone
Reuben McDaniel III
Penny McPhee
Katy Pattillo
Mayor Kasim Reed
Zawadaski Robinson
Donata Russell Major
Sylvia Russell
Dr. Larry Schall
Quenon J. Smith
Dr. Beverly Tatum
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
7:26 pm
Public School guy
Again, point out one thing that I wrote that is racist. You’ve managed to now change the word from racist to prejudice.
Struggling much?
Public School guy
October 27th, 2010
7:29 pm
I inferred.
in·fer
/ɪnˈfɜr/ Show Spelled [in-fur] Show IPA verb, -ferred, -fer·ring.
–verb (used with object)
1.
to derive by reasoning; conclude or judge from premises or evidence: They inferred his displeasure from his cool tone of voice.
2.
(of facts, circumstances, statements, etc.) to indicate or involve as a conclusion; lead to.
3.
to guess; speculate; surmise.
4.
to hint; imply; suggest.
because you gave no other explanation than “just saying” then I read your further comments, which qualified you as a racist.
Or – would you like to now explain yourself why the Clayton BOE with all black people is inferior to the Clayon County BOE with black and white people? – without racism or prejudice.
Bob Barr
October 27th, 2010
7:29 pm
Is there a governing board that can de-certify other dysfunctional bodies like the Gwinnett Co. Commission or the Republican Party?
Public School guy
October 27th, 2010
7:30 pm
no no – It was laid out. you do not know the difference between a racist and a prejudice individual
Ed Johnson
October 27th, 2010
7:40 pm
@Proud White Man,
What took you so long? Your point is well taken. For some of us seeing ourselves in the mirror can be down right horrifying, I guess.
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
7:41 pm
“What were you just saying?”
Are you totally and utterly stupid? THAT’S all you have?????????????
1: I never said ANYTHING racist. You, like other dimwits, see racism in anything and everything.
2: I pointed out facts which you haven’t even attempted to debunk.
Bottom line: You’re a below average half-wit who needs to get a life.
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
7:42 pm
“What took you so long? Your point is well taken. For some of us seeing ourselves in the mirror can be down right horrifying, I guess.”
Ok, whatever you say.
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
7:45 pm
Public School guy
Racism is saying that you hate/disdain another race. Pointing out that one race purposely fired another race is not racism.
Proud White Man
October 27th, 2010
7:52 pm
“You were the one who brought race into the thread…in addition to your moniker.”
Uh, the title of this blog is about marching off the Clayton Co cliff. My moniker has more to do with Proud Black Man who was spewing garbage on another blog.
“What facts have you pointed out?’
You can’t really be this dumb…..
“Resorting to name calling in every post, referring to your education level”
HA!!!! Pot meet kettle! You called me a racist and said that I was unintelligent. You may want to do yourself a favor and read what you write before you insert your foot into your mouth.
“Again – I say you have qualified yourself.”
And again, I will say that you are a very dumb individual.
Ed Johnson
October 27th, 2010
8:00 pm
Now be informed by the new APS BOE Chair:
With any luck, today’s news reports will NOT distract the larger Atlanta community from the critical issues facing Atlanta Public Schools, namely the widely reported testing scandal, and the under reported 20-point drop in the performance on Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) and the lowest graduation rates in the metro area.
Today, amidst political high jinks, a letter was released to the media today from Mark Elgart, president and CEO of AdvancED. While we welcome Dr. Elgart’s interest in Atlanta’s schools, there are several points about which he is apparently misinformed.
First, the change in leadership that prompted Dr. Elgart’s attempt to influence Board policy stems from a concern by a majority of the School Board members that they were not being represented by the former Board leadership. That is an extremely important point: The Board chairperson is not independent from the direction of the Board. Yet, the majority constantly found that we were not being informed of important decisions, that the Board chairperson was making far-reaching decisions without the consent of the Board or even advising the Board that decisions were being made. Our first message to the community, the children in Atlanta’s schools, and Dr. Elgart is that majority will must prevail or else a mockery is made of electing representatives to the Board.
Next, there are real issues that could impact the accreditation of Atlanta’s schools – the CRCT scandal, the plunging performance on AYP, the issues with graduation rates, the meltdown on the provenance and performance of the Blue Ribbon Commission, the state and federal investigations, to name just a few. I’d like to remind Dr. Elgart that all of those problems festered and grew to unmanageable proportions under the former leadership of the Board of Education. It was the majority’s concern over the former leadership’s refusal or inability to confront those problems, as well as the lack of transparency and accountability by that former leadership, that forced us to take extraordinary measures.
We deeply respect the opinion of the Attorney General. However, there is no basis for Dr. Elgart to contend that the opinion is “valid” law. Only a court could do that. The Attorney General’s opinion is just that, an opinion without the power of enforcement. We too have a legal opinion, from the counsel to the Georgia General Assembly, that asserts we acted correctly. We hope to achieve consensus among Board members, but Dr. Elgart’s siding with a minority political faction and asserting that he is a legal authority is not constructive.
Finally, any process involving accreditation entails rigorous investigation and analysis. Dr. Elgart cannot assert a finding and penalty without the proper – and lengthy – process. He runs the risk of undermining the credibility of his own organization by contending that his position on a political dispute enables him to make summary judgments and exact extreme penalties.
Respectfully,
Khaatim S. El, Chairman
Board of Education
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Proud Black Man
October 27th, 2010
8:25 pm
” My moniker has more to do with Proud Black Man who was spewing garbage on another blog.”
Keep my name out ya mouth.
fed up taxpayer
October 27th, 2010
8:30 pm
Political correctness is OVER, and has been for some time. As long as these all-black boards continue to steal tax dollars from the taxpaying public while ignoring their students, the school systems they represent will continue to deteriorate. White flight happens for a reason. Stop pointing fingers, get some whites on the board, and turn this ship around before it sinks.
BnB
October 27th, 2010
8:48 pm
SACS took away Clayton schools accreditation because the BOE was dysfunctional – infighting and micromanaging. There was never a charge that the students education was being affected.
Atlanta BOE shows themselves to be dysfunctional and may lose accreditation. Sad is the fact that so many of the administrators and teachers were involved in a systematic cheating scandal is not a reason for SACS involvement. Shouldn’t that be at the forefront of why SACS exists – to see kids are being educated.
Stop, Look & Listen!
October 27th, 2010
8:52 pm
@Ed your post did a lot to explain the actions of the majority of the BOE. And, I agree that Dr. Elgart is a school yard bully. However, I still contend that every member of the BOE is in way over their heads and your post by the “Chairman” proves it. Neither the majority or the minority have any idea what they are doing. This is more of an indictment of the current process that is in place for selecting a board. This relic must be abandoned in favor of a process that allows for the selection of people qualified by experience or education for a policy making position of this magnitude. As it stands now, any person with enough saavy to get 51% of the 6% of registered voters who bother to show up get to reek havoc in the lives of our children. This is truly insane and resulted in one example after another of malfeasance.
The elected school board chairman in Detroit could not read and did not graduate from high school. He went on to distinguish himself by exposing and fondling himself in a meeting with the female school superintendent. He was just convicted of lude conduct. This is an extreme example of what happens when we allow the political winds to blow in any idiot.
Proud Black Man
October 27th, 2010
8:53 pm
@ fed up taxpayer”
Political correctness is OVER, and has been for some time. As long as these all-black boards continue to steal tax dollars from the taxpaying public while ignoring their students, the school systems they represent will continue to deteriorate. White flight happens for a reason. Stop pointing fingers, get some whites on the board, and turn this ship around before it sinks.”
Then how did this predominately white town go bankrupt fool?
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2026914,00.html
Enron anyone?
Ray
October 27th, 2010
8:58 pm
Yup, they’re all black.
But ‘w’ and the retard palin are both white as Christmas…just sayin’
APSFinest
October 27th, 2010
9:43 pm
To all willing to take my comment into thought, I would like to touch on a couple of things. I am a product of APS, an Atlanta native, and now a teacher in the APS system. The APS system has changed a lot since I was in school. As teachers, we are faced with a lot of challenges i.e. academic success, behavior, etc. Some of the comments refer to or pinpoint the administators, teachers, students, families, communities, etc as the blame. Everyone has a piece in the pie. Clayton County may have been first, APS is being looked at now, but please note that in Georgia this is continue to become a trend in school systems state wide. We need to push improvement in the educational systems of Georgia period. Talk is cheap and ineffective at best with not positive action and reinforcement. We, not just the board members, admins, teachers, etc but WE meaning everyone needs to help correct this and make it better for us all.
jim
October 27th, 2010
9:48 pm
SACS is full of it. Fulton County schools was a mess a few years back and SACS and its republican leadership sat on its hands. There was clear interference from the board in day-to-day operations of the schools. They interfered with the capital program to the point of running away several good superintendents. We complained to SACS to no avail. Clearly SACS was playing politics. You see Fulton County has republicans running its system therefore SACS which is headed by republicans will not dare step in. Atlanta, Clayton and Dekalb are clearly different so we’ll see plenty of SACS chest thumping.
jim
October 27th, 2010
9:57 pm
FYI you guys better put the Mayor of Atlanta Kasim Reed in check. I suspect he has his hand in the “SACS scare”. Don’t overlook that bit of information. Remember he’s plays both sides against the middle.
Maureen your current or former colleague Ms. McDonald can attest to the mess that was Fulton County School Board a number of years ago. You may want to give her a call.
November
October 27th, 2010
10:01 pm
To PBM……you’ve got entirely too much time on your hands…..you need to get a job.
I’ve been saying for some time now that the APS’s BOE’s only interest is power and they’re using their BOE status to feed their enormous egos and have absolutely no concern whatsoever for the children that attend APS schools. I have also been advocating for some time now that the APS should be split into two groups……SAPS for the schools in the south part of Atlanta which are causing all the problems for the whole system, and NAPS, those schools in northern Atlanta which are suffering because of the ineptitude of the southside schools leadership and Beverly Hall. You Buckhead Boys need to do something because the black leadership in Atlanta is doing absolutely nothing but screwing things up……..I don’t know what to tell you to do but, if the APS loses accreditation, the whole of Atlanta will suffer for years to come. It’s so sad that the black leadership in APS has taken what was once a great, great school system and turned it into what it is today…..
Remember to vote responsibly on November 2nd
sine die
October 27th, 2010
10:12 pm
in response to the comments of “a very concerned parent” shown below, i would only add that if one member from the four board members in the minority would join the majority, then the change in leadership would conform to the system’s charter.
————————————————————————————-
Just saw the last APS Board of Education re-run on the APS Chanel 22.
Apparently, District 1 rep. pleaded with her fellow 4 members to return power back.
If this is true, why doesn’t she just change her vote? She is the board member that made the initial policy change motion back in July. For all those out there that care, please contact her at
JusticeForAll
October 27th, 2010
10:18 pm
Mr. El, I applaud you for being transparent and standing up for what is right. You pointed out some significant facts that the public must be reminded about. Things are often reported in a bias manner in the news. It is apparent, that Maureen is an advocate for the previous leadership of the board and Dr. Hall. As an employee of APS, and a taxpayer, the system must have someone with the guts to stand up for what is right. It is evident that Dr. Hall and her power brokers are pulling out all strings to continue destroying this school system. It is hurtful to those of us that come to work daily to provide a quality education for all students. As you know, not all of us are incompetent or uncaring. We deserve to have an ethically functioning school system for our students, employees, parents, and all stakeholders. Dr. Hall and her staff continue to operate with the business as usual mentality. They will get what they want by any means necessary.
Mr. Khaatim, why is the board allowing Dr. Hall and her staff at CLL and outlined areas to continue to hire new people? The system is so top heavy and the schools are not allowed to hire anyone but every time you turn around, someone is hiring a program coordinator, director, administrative assistant, or whatever. It would see that since the system is soon to go through a leadership change, ALL hiring would be put on hold except for critical positions. If the schools had to buckle down and double up on duties, they should do the same! Can someone please tell these people to STOP! Who is watching and counting? Who is asking the hard questions and just saying NO? Please do not rubber stamp their every move like the previous leadership. It is appalling that no one has taken the time to address the employees of this system about how we feel and what we think about all of this mess. We run the risk of experiencing career suicide and blackballing just because we want to make a difference in the lives of children. Many of us are devastated about this process and all of the issues the system is facing; however, those of you on the board had to have known some of this stuff was too good to be true and did NOTHING! Well, now is the time for redemption and I pray that under your leadership right will prevail and JUSTICE WILL BE DONE!
The Cynical White Boy
October 27th, 2010
10:23 pm
Any parent with the means (whether borrowed or scraped together) long since yanked – I said the word YANKED – their kid out of public schools in the Atlanta metro area and placed them into private schools.
The only exceptions are certain areas of Roswell, Alpharetta.
The public schools are left to be holding tanks at best, daycare centers at worst. God bless the poor teachers who sign a years’ contract to deal with the crap that goes on in them.
Stressed Educator
October 27th, 2010
10:57 pm
Maureen can you please ask Mark Elgart why he did not make his “grand” appearance and voice his opinion during the on-going APS CRCT cheating scandal, the APS technology scandal, after the AJC reported that Dr. Hall’s driver makes more than most teachers in APS, etc.? Is it just me or does Bev Hall not get it that it is time for her to LEAVE?! Tell her not to forget to take Kathy Augustine, Keith Bromery, and Tamara Cotman with her.
Just Wondering
October 27th, 2010
11:10 pm
People forget the foolish five, except for Mr. English, have been board members for several years in which they all supported Dr. Hall until an opening presented itself. There is a process to change leadership and the only way they could do it is change the rules of the game, during the game. Mr. El’s claim that it only began “festering” in March is comical at best. The foolish five are just trying to make people forget they’ve been there for quite awhile. If they were truly about accountability they would have not voted Ms. Burks as Chair in January “if it was sooo bad”.
Mr. El and Ms. Burks should both step aside. The Board Chair needs to be elected by the people and if there’s a problem we can kick his/her butt out because they’re accountable to us.
I understand the foolish five’s frustration, but that’s all it is. They always had the power, as a block, vote NO on whatever is presented to them or make recommendations, without having to sit in the chair. The past Board Chair could not rubber stamp unless the Board itself voted on what was presented. They have always had that power to call out the administration, etc. What has inserted its ugly head is opportunism, ego and pride. That pride called SACS IN to mediate (yes the members of the BoE requested SACS get involved) and when it was not in their favor, the foolish five attack him.
They have played the most republican of cards: If we don’t like the rules, we’ll change the rules and we’ll fight, insult, berate, cry, whine if you don’t agree. And when the judge comes back with an injunction, I wonder what they will say then “his ruling doesn’t count because there’s an appeals judge that can overrule him, etc., etc.
This has played itself out.
Burroughston Broch
October 28th, 2010
12:23 am
@ PBM and PWM.
According to the Census Bureau, in 2008 Clayton County’s population was 25.2% white and 61.5% black while in 2000 it was 37.9% white and 51.6% black. In 2000 there were 89,741 whites while in 2008 there were 68,314. this is while the county’s population increased from 236,000 to 271,000.
I’d say that all of the whites moved who could afford to move.
A Very Concerned Parent
October 28th, 2010
7:34 am
@sine die, good logic on your part, but both votes to remove the chair and vice-chair are illegal per the Attorney General’s opinion. The super majority and the simple majority are board policy, not the charter statute. Don’t worry. It is all going to court and justice will prevail. Then, Gov. Sonny will exercise his power to remove the furious-five board members.
Paul
October 28th, 2010
8:06 am
Angus you are right on. Government schools are hideous bureaucracies that steal and waste the taxpayer’s money. If I lived in Atlanta I would send my children to private school where they could get a decent non government influenced education. I moved out of there so I wouldn’t have to fork over my tax dollars for that school system and corrupt Atlanta city government.
JacketFan
October 28th, 2010
8:55 am
Maureen, can you PLEASE filter some of this BS on these boards! Every single post seems to get hijacked by this pair of idiots. PBM and PWM need to find a new home.
JacketFan
October 28th, 2010
9:07 am
Hmmm …. that doesn’t sound the words of a troll at all. Maureen? Really?
Missing the Point
October 28th, 2010
9:20 am
Proud White Man:
The last time I checked, Dr. Pam Anderson and Mary Baker were white.
Proud Black Man
October 28th, 2010
9:26 am
@ JacketFan
Lets see…you called me an idiot and now you go whining to the moderator when I called you on it? What a wuss!
Missing the Point
October 28th, 2010
9:30 am
@ Proud White Man
David Ashe was also on the board during the loss of accreditation. Sorry, you’ll need to find another excuse to spew your hate……
money
October 28th, 2010
9:46 am
Trolling to change the subject;
Hall biggest cheat in APS history
APS BOE all of them are responsible
I think this train is about to derail
chillywilly
October 28th, 2010
9:57 am
SACS is a bully and has absolutely no credibility. So is Beverly Hall. Where was this Elgart chump during the past & CURRENT Erate issues at APS? Why hasn’t he taken an interest in the nepotism in the Central Office, especially Finance Division? Did the current rogue financial management team undermine & misrepresent some things so that they would get clean audits? Hmmmmmmmm. Stay tuned. As Fred Sanford would say, “this is the big one, Elizabeth”.
What's best for kids?
October 28th, 2010
10:16 am
The State School Superintendent has the ability to recommend removal of a local superintendent. Where in the heck is Brad Bryant? Why has no one running talked about the ability of the SSS to recommend removal? Atually, one has. And it is Willis.
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JacketFan
October 28th, 2010
10:29 am
PBM – Well, if the name fits … you and your counterpart are idiots. Neither of you add nothing of any substance to these discussions.
JacketFan
October 28th, 2010
10:30 am
Excuse me: “add anything of real substance to these discussions.”
Proud Black Man
October 28th, 2010
10:38 am
@ JacketFan
Your opinion, like your choice of a sports team, is faulty. Go whine somewhere else okay?
Booger
October 28th, 2010
10:54 am
I am one of John Trotter’s cousins, and I too tell the unvarnished truth. Mark Elgart is a fake…pure and simple. He is hypocritical…pure and simple. He sucks up to the rich and famous…pure and simple. An earlier poster mentioned Fulton County. Land of Goshens! Yes, micromanaging out the ying-yang. Remember that Superintendent John Haro quit after only five or six months on the job because of the egregious school board micromanaging? Remember the huge construction scandal which sent another Fulton superintendent to an early retirement? (The same construction company-financial conglomerate sent, I believe, the Mississippi governor to prison, right?) Still not a peep from Mark Elgart of SACS. Were complaints filed with SACS? Yes. Many.
Mark Elgart lives in Alpharetta (Fulton County), and he is not about to mess up his North Fulton buddies. Why then he couldn’t even show his face at the Country Club, the PTA, or in Publix’s Produce Section! Yes, boys and girls, Mark Elgart is, as Dr. John Trotter calls him, Georgia’s “biggest educational hypocrite.” Dr. Trotter has offered to debate this educational coward any time and any place concerning the uneven and inconsistent application of SACS’s so-called “standards” and whether a private company (with no accountability) like SACS should even be “accrediting” Georgia’s public schools, but Mark Elgart fails to answer the call. SACS also backed out of its appointed interview with John Trotter in Clayton County back in 2007. Yes, backed out! Is Mark Elgart afraid of John Trotter? John Trotter very happily agreed to be interviewed by SACS. Trotter was loaded to bear with facts about Ericka’s Davis’s (the Chair of the board at the time) and Rod Johnson’s (the Vice Chair of the board at the time) egregious and flagrant micromanaging of the school systems as well as the scandalous land deal (and the contract that was not even signed by the superintendent but by Ericka Davis, Eldrin Bell’s protegee) and the unauthorized contract “switcheroo” with attorney Dorsey Hopson. Nah, I think that ole Mark Elgart was and still is simply afraid of Dr. Trotter. Dr. Trotter says that Elgart is like the man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz. Dr. Trotter says that “Mark Elgart is a boogerbear that needs to be exposed.” I like what Norreese Haynes said about SACS back in 2008: “SACS is a sham and a farce.” Word.
Full Disclosure: John Trotter is my second cousin, and he, Rev. Jimmy Jack Bourbon, Earl of Ft. Liqourdale, and I were having supper last night at Sprayberry’s Bar-B-Que in Newnan (it was easier for Earl to drive to Newnan from the airport; normally our Secret Society Meetings take place at Butch’s Chicken House Restaurant in Jonesboro). We discussed this phoniness of SACS. Rev. Bourbon finally stated that he would ask his brothers and sisters at The Driving Club (Piedmont, that is) never to allow Mark Elgart’s name to be placed on the Social Registry. He said that he would also check with The Phantom at the Fox to make sure that Elgart and Company are always given the draftiest seats in the theatre. Now if Mark Elgart thinks that John Trotter can be a pain, he ain’t seen nothing compared to the prophetic scorn of Rev. Bourbon. Rev. Bourbon might just lead his congregation up to Alpharetta to picket Mark Elgart’s church on a Sunday morning. “Pharoah Markie: Let my people go!” (c) Booger, October 28, 2010.
JacketFan
October 28th, 2010
10:55 am
Okay … since you say so ….
Larry
October 28th, 2010
11:29 am
Now is the time for Sonny Perdue to step in and remove the board. He has the power, I just hope he has the guts!
Booger
October 28th, 2010
11:33 am
I hope that the Governor stays at home and allows the voters to solve any perceived problems. Isn’t this how democracy works. This oligarchy stuff (aka Mark Elgart and SACS) smacks of Prussian Autocracy, not American Democracy.
Flabberghasted4sure
October 28th, 2010
2:15 pm
Maureen, Can you find out when SACS plans to respond to DeKalb Schools? SACS asked Dekalb to respond to an inquiry on 6 or 7 concerns. DeKalb sent them an extensive reply. Elgart promised a response 30 days after DeKalb filed a response. That was September 10th.
zoe
October 28th, 2010
2:39 pm
True demographics of Clayton County as of 2009. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/13/13063.html
20% White, 62% Black.
Chris
October 28th, 2010
5:31 pm
Booger –
The fact that deeply unserious people like you oppose Elgart ’s decision only makes me support him more.
You have made no argument about the particulars of what Elgart is saying. Instead, you are just trying to slime him.
I have no idea what stake you have in the scam that Mr El and his cronies are pulling, but don’t think that empty, vulgar rhetoric like yours is going to do anything but solidify opposition to this disgusting behavior.
Cousin Booger
October 28th, 2010
8:38 pm
Chris: I gave so many details in a previous post that you must have gotten lost in the facts. No, Mr. Chris, Mark Elgart’s inconsistent, hypocritical, and partisan actions (partial toward those powers-that-be…hmm…like of the Chamber of Commerce ilk) slime him. He is an educational phony masquerading with a “holier than thou” pretension. I have no dog in the Atlanta school board fight, but I do know that the voters will take care of any matters of concern. We don’t need some pompous and effete educrat subverting the democratic process. Elgart is the one who has an agenda. Heck, if he were really concerned about the students in Atlanta, he and his fake SACS organization would have intervened years ago. Same thing in DeKalb and Fulton. He is simply carrying the water for Mr. Sam Williams and his Chamber friends who have supported Beverly Hall because Hall doles out money to these Chamber folk and businesses associated with the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and she also grants Kurd-like independence to the Northside schools. Now, was this snarky enough? Ha! Back to the Delta State and North Alabama game on CSS…
By the way, my cousin John Trotter asked me to do some blogging for him. He says that I have a nose for B. S. just like he does. I just cut right through the s__t! I am more snarky than Cousin John.
Maureen Downey
October 28th, 2010
10:22 pm
@Flabber, A news story tonight says:
jsh
October 29th, 2010
5:30 am
This whole things is outrageous for the future of the city and the taxpayors who are footing the bill for all this nonsense now including lawyers etc. All of the board members need to resign as well as Dr. Hall.
Is there a way we can withhold our APS tax on our property tax? Who wants to pay for this and a possiple loss of accreditation??
gogither
October 29th, 2010
7:05 am
Maureen, I understand you standing by your defense of Dr. Hall however let me pose a hypothetical: What if the GBI uncovers massive fraud and irregularities with the CRCT and accouting process, the discrepancies with graduation rates is really uncovered and the wheels fall off the wagon.
I think that these things will define the Hall administration not the Sam Williams way of obfuscating or fabricating transparency to guide support of her.