And then there were three, two and none. Other DeKalb finalist quits and withdraws from DeKalb search.
Arthur Culver just resigned from his job in Illinois, but also withdrew his name from the DeKalb search.
Well, this is getting interesting:
The other finalist for the DeKalb school chief job, Arthur Culver, has resigned as superintendent in Champaign, Ill. He told the local paper that he has also withdrawn his name from contention in DeKalb.
With everything that has occurred in the last several days, I felt it was in my best interest to withdraw,” Culver told the News-Gazette.
So, not one of the three original finalists is still in contention for the top slot in DeKalb, forcing the county to start anew. I wonder if this bizarre process and all the collateral damage along the way will scare away other prospects.
This very open search process seems to have destabilized Cox in North Carolina and led Culver to resign in Illinois.
Some of the fallout comes from the openness that the law requires and that even strong school chiefs like Andres Alonso in Baltimore decry as too risky.
At a panel here, Alonso made the point with which Cox is probably in full agreement: Once your current system knows that you were considering a job elsewhere, there is a wariness about your commitment and a skepticism about everything you say. I would not be surprised to see Cox take another job soon.
The law requires release of the finalists’ names, but many school systems skirt the law by releasing the name of a single finalist in clear circumvention of the transparency intent. (Fulton just did this, avoiding the messiness of open government that DeKalb is now seeing.)
Taxpayers deserve input on the school chief as they pay the salary, but it didn’t work in this case. The problem with closing the process and shutting out public — as some of you are suggesting — is that people can get enraged to find out there is only one option for school chief, and that they had no ability to participate in the vetting.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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210 comments Add your comment
Berha
April 26th, 2011
3:45 pm
@REALLY REALLY AGAIN
No we are not angry people, but those who know the facts. Just because your friends have children in Champaign County schools, does not make them the final authority. Just over the week-end, Culver still wanted the position. Suddenly, a man with only a Master’s does not want to be considered. He called it a “golden opportunity”. Your comments only reveal your ignorance and anger. Dekalb would not have done their students any justice having him. Dr. Davis would have been the better selection. She has worked closely with the University of IL and her district DID NOT want her to leave. She has a proven track record!
Berha
April 26th, 2011
3:47 pm
My friends say that there is NO lawsuit or wrongdoing. I think you are out of the loop. I checked all the Champaign county legal websites. You are slandering someone with nothing to support the allegations. One of my friends lives next to a principal who says that he did nothing illegal. She says that some of the board did want him to leave but it had nothing to do with anything he had done (ready for their own guy). If you “know” this, where is the truth. I think we lost a good candidate because of gossip, leaks from the board, and slander.
CORRUPT
April 26th, 2011
3:50 pm
This is the most corrupt school system in the state. Dr Bouie was corrupt and I saw it first hand. Ramona Tyson is right in there with them. If someone really wants to look at things INVESTIGATE WHERE ALL OF THE CABLING AND IT CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN AWARDED FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS.
Hypocrites
April 26th, 2011
3:53 pm
I noticet no one complains about unnamed sources in the news stories on CRCT cheating in APS. But when the AJC reports that a candidate from Podunk USA wants a king’s ransom and royal perks you’re all in Maureen’s face. It’s all about wanting Cox no matter how under impressive she was and you want to blame the media. I hope the AJC keeps digging; Look at what happened in that California town where no one paid attention to contracts.
30318Teacher
April 26th, 2011
4:02 pm
275K was the salary offered by DeKalb when they announced the position. Move on from that point. Some of the other items may have been unusual (ability to serve as an adjunct professor, due process, 15 months severence), but the salary was something the board had already agreed to pay.
Again, it’s not the media scrutiny, but the backhanded politics of this BOE. I’m not sure what they were thinking with SB79 and SACS hanging over their heads, but many are now watching. I fear this will taint future candidates who may have otherwise considered the job. How can they trust that the board won’t do the same thing to them, maybe at a worse time.
Mr. Tired of our schools not being right.
April 26th, 2011
4:05 pm
I would have no problem trusting this board to hire someone had the voters done as I and got rid of them all and put in fresh faces w/fresh ideals and thoughts. So what other county in the metro area doesn’t provide for their students activities like DeKalb? Just to drive my point home, most of the board and the previous (now under indictment) superintendent was so happy they saved $4million dollars when Arabia Mountain was built they forgot to build it big enough.. So where is the $4mill?
darb
April 26th, 2011
4:10 pm
The 3 finalists probably didnt like the makeup of the population in Dekalb. Sure isnt the same as when I went to Tucker High many years ago. Can you spell T.O.I.L.E.T ?
Martavious Washington III
April 26th, 2011
4:13 pm
“…I think that taxpayers deserve input…”
Absolutely NOT!!! I wouldn’t ask for the “taxpayers” input on which brand of toilet tissue to buy. Taxpayers should have no say in this type of matter for several obvious reasons.
Cere
April 26th, 2011
4:19 pm
Yep, that’s right Jo. And sadly, once again, it doesn’t appear as though SACS minds. And Tom is going to do his best to sweep it under the rug so that SACS can go on not minding.
The thing is – salary negotiations are supposed to be “personnel issues” which the board is absolutely forbidden to discuss publicly. These are legal negotiations and are very delicate. To violate the sacred trust of executive session and the legal responsibility to uphold a person’s privacy is unconscionable.
It is obvious that ’someone’ was very afraid that the board was going to vote to hire Dr. Cox and this ’someone’ didn’t want Dr. Cox so this ’someone’ sabotaged the negotiations.
This is so bad on so many levels. If the board thought they didn’t have the public’s trust before, they have no idea just how untrustworthy they have now painted themselves.
Write Your Board Members
April 26th, 2011
4:23 pm
Cere
The Board needs to regulate itself. That doesn’t happen –rather they continually want to work together for the good of, well their own pet project or desire, certainly not for the good of the whole system. Not only do most of the board members not fear consequences from their own constituents but they don’t fear each other.
By the way, your blog is awesome!
Need new folks
April 26th, 2011
4:29 pm
As mentioned above, two or three of the Board members seem to lack a basic understanding of grammar. The mind boggles at how people who seem so uneducated are on the Board of Education. We need sharp, professional people to instill confidence in the system.
Speaking of professionalism, did you ever walk down one of those run-down malls and pass a store selling those clowny, pimp suits? I was reminded of those places when a guy spoke at the board meeting the other day wearing a suit with weird piping all over it. I think he is the head of instruction.
justin
April 26th, 2011
4:33 pm
@Hypocrite,
Cheating on the CRCT was an illegal activity. Negotiating for a job contract is a legal activity, which is best done confidentially. Do you see the difference?
I agree with thomas on this one – AJC, WSB, etc. were simply used as pawns by those board members, nothing more nothing less.
Dekalbite@maureen
April 26th, 2011
4:41 pm
“This was an extraordinary contract, given standard school chief deals in Georgia. I also think that many people in DeKalb would have been alarmed at some of the provisions.”
DCSS is an extraordinarily corrupt and ineffective school system. Dr. Brown was undermined by the an extraordinarily entrenched and self serving administration and BOE. I think anyone who takes the superintendent job in DCSS and removes the friends and relatives of the former and current BOE members and the upper level administrators will need all the job protection he/she can get. You have now seen the manipulation they are capable of.
Lizzie
April 26th, 2011
4:50 pm
Honestly, what qualified person would apply for this position, knowing that their name will be on blasted on the news and it is sure to get back to their current employer? Dekalb parents – get real! They need to close the process and protect the privacy of the candidates.
justbrowsing
April 26th, 2011
4:59 pm
There are open processes in other places; however, they conduct business in a more tactful and considerate manner. It just speaks to the nature and culture of that district. Someone needs to come in and clean house. The details of that negotiation should have never been leaked.
Write Your Board Members
April 26th, 2011
6:13 pm
Unfortunately for the children of DeKalb, I suspect the next round will be done behind closed doors. None of these three candidates blew me away but at least none had ties to DeKalb and all held degrees from real colleges. I think, if they can just appoint someone, the odds are not as good that it will be a true outsider.
I don’t think this board can be trusted. Too many agendas, most of which have little to do with the well being of the entire system.
Dave
April 26th, 2011
6:13 pm
Maybe Obama will be interested after 2012.
amazed
April 26th, 2011
6:37 pm
@Maureen–”I assume she was not used to this degree of attention.”
That’s just self-justification for the AJC contributing to messing up the process to the detriment of the students. Now AJC didn’t do anything other papers wouldn’t have done, but don’t justify it.
No self-respecting person would take the job after seeing that they were being undermined before they even took the job. I’m sure that’s why Culver withdrew also.
amazed
April 26th, 2011
6:53 pm
As for the significance of the provisions, even Bowen, who supposedly voted against Cox, said it was very early in the negotiations (so he probably was not the leaker). Several of those provisions were probably just points to give away to get what was really desired. The leaker and AJC didn’t explain these things in context. If Bowen, Cunningham and Elder were the no votes and 5 other than Walker really did try to get her to reconsider, my guess is Walker or Elder leaked, directly or indirectly. But it could have been one of her supporters who just talks too much.
Cindy Lutenbacher
April 26th, 2011
7:12 pm
This lengthy discussion has been an interesting one, and many folks have tried to view the whole situation from a variety of perspectives. I appreciate you, Maureen, for making possible this opportunity.
I do have several requests for a few of the responders. Please avoid trying to make fun of the way people talk. It’s disrespectful and does not help foster engaging discussion.
To “Cindy” and others who offer beliefs concerning the race of a superintendent, I ask that you follow Dr. King’s counsel to look to the content of character. You are free to have your beliefs, but they really don’t belong in discussions such as these.
Maureen Downey
April 26th, 2011
7:15 pm
@Cindy, Thanks for both those requests. I hope folks heed them.
Maureen
The Cynical Dekalbian
April 26th, 2011
7:25 pm
Of course, Dekalb gets the leadership it deserves . . . and votes for. At this point, I would be deeply suspicious of ANY candiate who actually wanted this job. Who in their right mind would associate themselves with the circus that is Dekalb government, much less the Dekalb school system? Unfortunately, I’m old enough to remember when Dekalb was such a nice place to be. [sigh]
JAP
April 26th, 2011
8:05 pm
The voters of DeKalb County need to vote in new board members!! None of them are qualified to shop at the grocery store, let alone pick a superintendent. If I am not mistaken, none of them have ever taught in a classroom or had any responsibility at a school. Knowing them, they will pick another Crawford Lewis and DeKalb will be in deep, deep trouble then.
Ernest
April 26th, 2011
9:20 pm
JAP, you are mistaken. Don McChesney, Dr. Pam Speaks, and Dr. Eugene Walker all are former teachers. Jay Cunningham is a business owner. Paul Womack was President of at least 2 companies. Tom Bowen is legal counsel for a major software company. I believe Donna Edler and Nancy Jester have accounting backgrounds. Not sure what profession Sarah Copelin-Woods was in.
David Sims
April 26th, 2011
9:23 pm
The “free market” does seem to have its internal contradictions. This one forces administrators–and workers in general, in both colors of collar–seeking to improve their positions to do so through covert ops, through deception. If they aren’t duplicitous enough, they’ll get caught with their fishing pole line in the water and fired by their current employer. But a man who will cleverly deceive one employer, in pursuit of his legitimate self-interests, might also deceive another employer in ways that aren’t so legitimate. Okay, ye Libertarians. Let’s see you explain that one.
dekalbcitizen
April 26th, 2011
10:52 pm
copelin-wood is probably the least qualified to be on the BOE. according to the Dekalb County site, she is trying to complete her Bachelor’s degree from Morris Brown. Is there really not a degree requirement for the BOE? prior to that, she ran a non-profit called South Dekalb Community Development Corporation and has held a bunch of board positions with civic interests.
dekalbcitizen
April 26th, 2011
11:04 pm
the rest of the board has pretty impressive credentials especially Dr Speaks, Womack and a few others. Although, the dekalb site does not list anything for Elder and it looks like Cunningham did not graduate from college either. If Cunningham was a business owner, he does not provide that info on his own bio. It says he quit Fort Valley State to enter McDonalds Supervisor Training Program and held various mgt positions for the last 25 years.
UpCloseU4Champaign
April 27th, 2011
12:18 am
Culver was really choked up when he announced his leaving to the district. I’m curious as to how so many people know so much? I think that a lot of what’s been said are rumors (lawsuits) and no one in a position to do so has confirmed any of this. It’s a wonder that anyone applies for anything is public comments can derail a person’s career. He’s gone and all of his detractors are happy, so leave him alone. Why kick a man when he’s down? I don’t understand the need to humiliate anyone for being ambitious?
OTOH
April 27th, 2011
1:36 am
I am from Champaign many, many years ago. My how that wonderful place to grow up has changed. A Consent Decree????? really? Needing to import education experts when the Uof I is the largest part of the twin cities? Truly sad. I’ve been reading local C-U stuff on Culver and it is mixed. Discipline is the one weakness everyone seems to agree on. The announced press conference on Culver today has not shown up at the New Gazette or any of the blogs I read. Anyone else see something on it?
@War
April 27th, 2011
8:55 am
@dekalbcitizen
“Cunningham was a business owner, he does not provide that info on his own bio. It says he quit Fort Valley State to enter McDonalds Supervisor Training Program and held various mgt positions for the last 25 years.”
According to the AJC, Cunningham is a convicted felon due to theft from McDonalds.
“In 1982, Cunningham, then 23, was managing the McDonald’s on Flat Shoals Road, according to the files obtained by the AJC. Part of his job was to deliver store receipts to the bank for deposit.
At first, Cunningham told police his rental car had been broken into while he played basketball at Gresham Park and a bank deposit bag containing $3,000 in McDonald’s money was taken, according to the records.
But he was arrested after Cunningham’s manager at the McDonald’s found $11,000 cash in Cunningham’s gym bag, the records show. Further investigation revealed cash had been missing from the fast-food restaurant for two months.
“I took money little by little from [McDonald’s]. There may also be few thousand that is not counted for,” Cunningham wrote in a statement to investigators in August 1982. ”
…..”Cunningham was charged with two counts of theft by taking and one count of making a false report (relating to his claim that his car had been broken into and the money stolen from him). Prosecutors later agreed to dismiss the false report charge and one theft charge in exchange for Cunningham pleading guilty to the other theft count, according to the case records. The plea deal, which could have carried up to 10 years in prison, gave Cunningham six years on probation under the state’s first offender program.
Court records show Cunningham completed that probation and repaid McDonald’s.
Cunningham’s campaign website says he worked for McDonald’s Corp. for 26 years. But police records show that, during the investigation in 1982, McDonald’s asked him to take a polygraph and then fired him when he failed the examination.”
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/dekalb-school-officials-record-690212.html
amazed
April 27th, 2011
9:03 am
Cunningham and Copelin Woods do not have degrees. Roberts, who was defeated in the last election, also did not have a degree. 3 of the 9 board members did not have college degrees. Bowen was right when he said the board was in over its head during the Lewis regime. The 3rd largest school district in the state and they had 1/3 of the board not even qualified to be a teacher.
A Conservative Voice
April 27th, 2011
9:47 am
@Jo
April 26th, 2011
3:27 pm
Wow! Maureen — what a cop out!
Great post, Jo……however, don’t expect a public announcement naming the informer. You know, these reporters? protect the identities of their sources at all costs. The AJC nor WSB would ever do, or write anything to upset their extremely liberal base.
Concerned parent
April 27th, 2011
10:08 am
Dekalb’s best bet at this point is to hire an outside, interim cleaner (this person can be from business and not from education as far as I’m concerned as their sole job should be reorganization) to make the really tough decisions so that more qualified candidates will be interested in this job in 1-2 years. By then, we should have a different looking board as a result of SB 79
Ernest
April 27th, 2011
10:33 am
Concerned parent, I believe we may have the same Board with just 2 fewer members as a result of SB 79. I’ve spoken to many citizens in the community I think would be great representatives and they are not interested because of the expectations citizens have of Board members. If this is true, this is sad for our community.
amazed
April 27th, 2011
11:02 am
Champaign, IL, Culver’s district is looking for a new superintendent. They were quoted as saying they have learned what NOT to do from Dekalb County.
A Conservative Voice
April 27th, 2011
11:26 am
@Ernest
April 27th, 2011
10:33 am
Concerned parent, I believe we may have the same Board with just 2 fewer members as a result of SB 79. I’ve spoken to many citizens in the community I think would be great representatives and they are not interested because of the expectations citizens have of Board members. If this is true, this is sad for our community.
So, Ernest, it’s sad that we as DeKalb Citizens expect well qualified, honest and above board people on the BOE? I expect members of this board to exhibit all the above qualities, as i’m sure most other citizens of DeKalb County do. The problem is, the board now consists of many who aren’t interested in the children of DeKalb County, only in stroking their giant sized egos.
Cere
April 27th, 2011
11:44 am
We had some excellent people run for the board in the past but the voters weren’t able to hand them a win. There are good people who would like to run, but get pummeled. It’s also quite expensive to run – so if you want to support someone, you’d better do so with your wallet and your time.
almh
April 27th, 2011
12:09 pm
Ernest why don’t you run? You would get my vote.
I live in the Cross Keys zone and have young kids. I was ready to stay for the long haul but I now have second thoughts. If I move to Decatur it will be due to the BOE and NOT the schools.
Dekalbite@Ernest
April 27th, 2011
12:30 pm
You would be an excellent candidate. You have given much personal time and effort towards building a consensus in DCSS that concentrates on raising student achievement. I know you ran before, but I would encourage you to consider it again. We need thoughtful, well educated members of the community who have children in the system as BOE members. I’ve not always agreed with everything you say, but your arguments are always logical, compelling, and conveyed in the spirit of mannered discourse. Voices of reason are needed.
Concerned parent
April 27th, 2011
1:40 pm
Has there been any update on how the new board districts will be drawn for 2013? That could make a significant difference in our representation.
justbrowsing
April 27th, 2011
1:55 pm
Others out there who witness the turmoils of Georgia schools, realize the mess it is in. It is no longer a state that people yearn to come and work in, or teach in for that matter. I have never seen so many people I know leaving. As things like this continue to happen, it becomes less likely that Dekalb and Atlanta will be able to attract top quality leadership for their superintendent positions.
Dunwoody Mom
April 27th, 2011
2:25 pm
@Concerned parent – the Justice Department has to sign off on the legislation before he can become law.
darb
April 27th, 2011
5:40 pm
Who in their right mind would want to be in charge of a school distict that is full of thugs that dont want to learn or be there, and a bunch of kids who were brought into this world so they would be considered American and their non english speaking parents could have a bettr chance of staying here on the backs of all the other taxpayers.
amazed
April 27th, 2011
6:00 pm
There have been a couple of times the AJC or Maureen got criticized on one of these topics. Each time there is a FLOOD of new topics. Coincidence?
Ernest
April 27th, 2011
6:04 pm
A Conservative Voice, let me clarify what I said further. Most of the reasons I heard were due to the time committments required and requested of Board members these days. I spoke with one Board member who indicated they like attending events at schools but given the number of schools, it is almost impossible. They mentioned there are some citizens that get ‘angry’ when their school is not visited over another. They do their best but unfortunately that is realized or appreciated.
Many indicate they’d like to see someone with children in the district as Board members. Balancing family, work and the school board can be challenging for many people these days. Can it be done? Sure, but it would require those can strike the right balance between those responsibilities.
There are a LOT of great people as you described that would make great Board members. Perhaps it simply takes more encouragement and support to have them consider. How about you?
not telling
April 27th, 2011
6:56 pm
@ amazed: I have noticed that as well. Maureen, name the source!!!!!
Maureen Downey
April 27th, 2011
6:58 pm
@Amazed, As this e-mail sent to me today demonstrates, there is no making everyone happy.
C-Uhere
April 27th, 2011
7:05 pm
There is nothing being said here in Champaign about wrongdoing on the part of Superintendent Culver. The meetings scheduled to discuss personnel were likely related to finding a new or interim superintendent. Why on earth would people’s imaginations jump to something negative and dramatic like sexual harassment? if you are truly interested, go to the Circuit Clerk website. It’s all public record and yes, Culver has been named in a suit or two that were obviously lodged against the district, not him. Some kid probably got a bloody nose and the staff didn’t call the parents quick enough or maybe someone didn’t feel their child was getting enough speech therapy. This is why school districts pay ridiculous amounts for liability insurance!
Why would Culver withdraw interest from the Dekalb position ? He said after what he saw with Cox, things didn’t feel right. Mind you, the man is already paid somewhere in the 200K range for this, a smaller district, so it also might be he could read the handwriting on the wall regarding salary negotiations.
Superintendent is such a time-consuming, all encompassing, stress intensive job, I cannot believe anyone is questioning that salary in a ‘normal’ district much less one with all the challenges DeKalb presents.
I guess we will now be competing with Dekalb for candidates. I wish us both the best of luck.
Dekalbite@Maureen
April 27th, 2011
7:59 pm
No one wishes that DeKalb was out of the news more than the folks who live here. Our property values are not helped by the publicity.
I was in a large Northeastern city this summer and met and talked with a young, successful single man who lives in those condos across from the Tara Theater. He had moved from renting at Atlantic Station to those condos, but he was looking to buy a house. I suggested he look in DeKalb in the Emory or Lakeside or Decatur areas since he was so near the county line and those areas. He wrinkled up his nose and said all the news reports about the problems in the schools convinced him it was a ghetto area, and he wouldn’t dream of moving there. He said he was looking at Johns Creek. I explained that there are many lovely areas in DeKalb and Decatur, but he was totally unconvinced. He can’t be the only one who feels like that when DeKalb is constantly in the news for one misstep or another.
Ernest
April 27th, 2011
8:10 pm
DeKalbite, I concur! As a DeKalb resident, I’d welcome not seeing us in the news as often either, especially when shown in a negative light. Regretfully perceptions are shaped by the constant stories on our county. Don’t get me wrong, any malfeasance should be covered but I can’t believe some of these things are only happening in DeKalb.
Another way of looking at it is that perhaps we have more residents willing to expose wrongdoings that others. That kind of scrutiny could give some more comfort.