Two DeKalb board members: We cannot support school chief choice because of her record
Two DeKalb school board members have sent open letters expressing their opposition to the selection of Cheryl Atkinson of Ohio to lead the system.
Here are the letters from Don McChesney and Nancy Jester expressing their concerns over Atkinson’s record in her small Ohio system.
“Dear DeKalb Citizens:
I think it is important for me to comment on the choice of Dr. Cheryl Atkinson as the prospective school superintendent for DeKalb County. The opinions I express are mine and I do not profess to speak for anyone else.
My first priority in finding a superintendent was to find the best candidate to raise student achievement in the school system and give the taxpayer equity for money spent. The theme for me was the students. Beyond that all else was secondary.
It is not possible for me to support this choice based on the record. This is the most important decision that has been made since I came on the board. We need to get it right based on an informed study of the facts available. It is too serious to go with only your “gut feeling”.
We had several candidates with better records of student achievement but, unfortunately, as you know, their candidacy was plagued with leaks of confidential information to the press. I hope that you will note that there were no press leaks regarding this candidate.
We have read recently published reports in the media that the Lorain City Schools may move up one step on the Ohio ratings scale. These scores have not yet been released by the Ohio Department of Education so we have no confirmation. The most current data available show only 1 of 24 academic indicators being met. Let me remind you that there were candidates not chosen that bested this record. Some showed a substantially better record.
Ohio has Lorain schools on “Academic Watch”. This is step 4 out of 5 on their sanctions scale. The next step is “Academic Emergency”. That is the most serious sanction. Compare this with the rejected candidates.
Let me be clear. No urban school system superintendent in America will have an unblemished record. It is the nature of the business. I do not expect perfection because that record is unobtainable, but there were other candidates with better records.
Do not take my word for it. Do your own research. You will be led to the same set of facts as me. The only difference will be the spin folks attempt to apply to these facts. Also check the contract. See if you see any danger points there.
Dr. Atkinson is a fine person and delightful to converse with. However, a business decision for academic betterment of our students and not a personal referendum on personality was my goal.
Don McChesney
Now, here is the letter from school board member Nancy Jester:
I’m in agreement with Mr. McChesney’s statement. He and I spent hours researching the student achievement records of the candidates that were brought before us. I believe we saw several candidates with significantly better records of student achievement. We also considered professionals who were credible change agents that could help our district attract top-flight talent to key positions and reorganize our district.
If you are interested in examining Dr. Atkinson’s record of student achievement, click here to go to her district’s “report card” given by the Ohio Department of Education. Over the last three years there have been increases in 9 out of 24 state academic indicators. Those increases range from a high of 9.1% to .8%. The remaining 15 indicators have losses that range from -2.9% to -16.3%. All of the academic indicators for the high school grades showed a decrease in scores over the last three years. For the most recent report card available, Dr. Atkinson’s district met only one state academic measurement. Additionally, when compared to other similar districts in Ohio (based on demographic, socioeconomic and geographic factors), they score below the average for similar districts in all categories except one.
The district did not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and is on “Academic Watch”. (Ohio rates districts on a 5 level basis and Academic Watch is the next to lowest status. The lowest status is Academic Emergency.) When looking at the AYP determination, I noted that the African American population did not meet AYP for either of the proficiency standards (reading and math). This was also the case for students with limited English proficiency (LEP) and students with disabilities (SWD). The largest demographic for our district is African-American so this record, in a small district, concerns me.
I thought that Dr. Atkinson was very professional and charming. I enjoyed meeting her and believe her to be devoted to educating children. I cannot support Dr. Atkinson’s candidacy for the Superintendency of DeKalb based on her record of student achievement in a small district. We have serious student achievement issues in DeKalb. We are last or next to last in 23 of 25 data points for the CRCT when compared to 8 metro districts (DeKalb, Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett, Clayton, City of Atlanta, City of Decatur and City of Marietta.) If our school system does not drastically improve, the implications for our county are dire. I do not see anything in Dr. Atkinson’s record with her current district that convinces me she will be able to move our district in the right direction.
By state law, districts must announce a candidate 14 days in advance of voting to approve their employment. Additionally, we must make every document we have regarding the candidate available to the public at this time. In closing, I will say that if it is the will of the Board to bring Dr. Atkinson to DeKalb, no one will offer her more service than me. As a mom with three young children, I am invested in the success of our schools with my most precious resources. Thank you for allowing me the honor of serving you.
–Nancy
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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318 comments Add your comment
Anna Bell
August 14th, 2011
7:20 pm
I am appalled at the attitude of the Dunwoody group who have stiffled the DeKalb community with taking taxes and resources that ALL of DeKalb constituents paid for through tax revenue. Go on and get your chater school system as you have planned. We do not need to build or rennovate anymore schools for you to take into your city charter system. We know your game.
Brad Bryant, ex-DeKalb School Board member interviewed for the job. He has not a clue about being a lawyer, his profession, let alone running a large school district. There is still a push to get him in. Parents, he has no on-the-job knowledge about what it is like to be a teacher, principal, let alone district level decision making. He is the cause for the decline in achievement in DeKalb. It is under his leadership as Chairman of DeKalb Board of Education that the “Inverted Pyramid” was introduced for decentralizing the educational process in DeKalb. That Inverted Pyramid has been rocking every since and has spiraled out of control. That is not all of his story. Stay tuned.
Austin Parent
August 14th, 2011
7:29 pm
Not everyone in Dunwoody wants a charter system.
This is like a bad reality show
August 14th, 2011
7:32 pm
I just wish that we could have a decent candidate who comes without baggage and can show actual gains in academics and not just attendance. Board members Nancy Jester and Don McChesney describe her as charming and easy to talk to. That is all very nice, but I still have not seen much to convince me that she is capable of surmounting the mountain of problems facing DCSS. Just the fact that she is supported by certain board members makes me skeptical. I just don’t trust HRH T-Bow and his court to choose wisely for us. I appreciate the two board members that did the homework and had the fortitude to come forward and say why they believe she is not the best candidate for the job. I don’t understand why the others cannot come forward with facts that show why they think she is the best candidate. I won’t hold my breath on that happening. They believe they know best and will go forward just because they can. If Dr. A comes here, she should know that she will be expected to cut all BOE family members off the payroll if they cannot justify their position and salary like every other employee. I still think there should be a policy that the relatives of board members should not be eligible for employment. Why do you think this is a policy for game shows, research firms, etc. It is all about the appearance of impropriety. Sadly in DCSS impropriety is all too real.
T-Bow has a bridge in Brooklyn he'd like to sell you, too
August 14th, 2011
7:47 pm
Okay, where is the “strong academic improvement??” It’s not in Lorain. Thank you, Ms. Jester for providing the link to the Ohio DOE.
teacher reader
August 14th, 2011
7:52 pm
@ Conserving Our schools need stronger academics and discipline. As a former DCSS teacher, our children aren’t really required to think too hard or be engaged in their learning. Increasing school attendance does not make a good superintendent. Increasing academics does, and she hasn’t done that in Lorrain.
GrannyCares
August 14th, 2011
8:03 pm
What will the board ultimately do? Offer her $300,000 per year, with an Escalade and driver; a $30,000 expense account; a $40,000 per year clothing and cleaning allowance; with a TWO YEAR GUARANTEE REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY DAYS OR WEEKS SHE WORKS? Plus, a promise of a $150,000 bonus per year for each improvement category she receives on the CRCTs (wink, wink)??
Former Principal
August 14th, 2011
8:10 pm
They should pay her $500,000 per a year, a driver, a house, a maid, a body gaurd and much more. It aint a problem when white folks get those perks but its a major problem when black folks do. White folks amaze me.
Very Passionate About Our Schools
August 14th, 2011
8:13 pm
Lorainite – one final word to you because you are something else and I don’t mean that in a nice way. Arrogant and obnoxious do come to mind however. And I too am glad I left Ohio because if I had a neighbor like you, I’d leave anyway. You got your Buckeye nose stuck where it don’t belong and are totally clueless. Have a good day and bash away all you want because it is obvious that is the only thing you are capable of doing.
Dekalb Parent
August 14th, 2011
8:17 pm
@ Teacher Reader please make up your mind your all over the place. You also need to run a spell check since you cant seem to spell Lorain. I have a real issue with so called teachers getting here acting like they know this and that. Get your information in order before you get on here worrying about BIG FISH issues. Your probably a former teacher for a good reason. lets see old and out dated and forced to retire. Those are the teachers who normally get on here. The ones who blame everyone else for why their scores were so low.
lorainite
August 14th, 2011
8:22 pm
Very Passionate – Who cares what you think of me this about your Dekalb. Secondly who cares about being your neighbor. What does any of that have to do with anything. We are glad your gone and in a place where you can use your skill set to mess up another states school system.
teacher reader
August 14th, 2011
8:38 pm
@ DeKalb Parent I am not of retirement age. Not even close and I chose to leave the district, because I could not send my child to even the good school that I taught in and feel that he would receive an education that would prepare him to be able to compete in today’s society.
I am not all over the place. I do not feel that this is the best candidate for the job. She was chosen because of her sorority affiliation, not based on her academic record. If the board is impressed with her record, than they have no clue what a good record and good education looks like. I’ve read her dissertation and it’s poorly written. Don’t we have enough administrators who lack a command of the English language with PhDs.
Our children have little demanded of them in terms of learning. DeKalb’s policy of no zeros and giving children multiple chances to get work turned in and completed properly does not help a child, but in fact hurts them and keeps them from doing their best in the first place. We pass kids who cannot read at the end of first grade and have gifted children who do not know their basic math facts and need their fingers to add and subtract-forget about understanding place value and having an understanding of multiplication, division, and many other math ideas.
As a white teacher, I found it disgraceful when I received emails riddled with Black English errors from administrators making much more money than one of the caliber in the private sector.
Maybe you like the schools in your area. I live in the Druid Hills cluster and can’t send my son to school here. I know many well educated parents who feel the same way and have sold all that they have to get and keep their kids in private school. If they were able to sell their home and not lose their shirt they’d be out of DeKalb all together.
From what I see from Ms. Atkinson, I see more of the same. DCSS does not need more of the same. We need someone who will let administrators go when their contracts are up. We need someone who will get rid of the Title One coaches and instead put Title One reading/math teachers in our schools to work with small groups of children and put them at a teachers pay scale and not one in which they make more than a teacher. We need someone who is going to stop the friends and family program that permeates the district, and brings it down. We need to have our children taught above the standards and not to the standards, so that they really understand and grasp the standards that they are to learn each school year-this is what is done up North.
I am glad that these two board members have spoken up. At least parents that want more for their children and tax payers who want a better product for the taxes that went up again this year know that not every school board member is satisfied with DeKalb as usual.
Our children have waited 500 plus days for a leader, what is a few more months, to ensure that we get someone who has experience of improving the quality of education children receive. Our schools don’t need another program like Success For All, but smaller classes, better discipline, and higher expectations.
Jackie
August 14th, 2011
8:50 pm
It is a sad day for DeKalb race relations. I clearly see a divide here that we should be continuing to overcome. McChesney and Jester have done a lot of unnecessary damage in the way they handled this situation. In other words if I don’t get the candidate I want, I will run the candidate that the majority of the Board wants. It is perfectly fine not to vote for Dr. Atkinson but it should be done in public at a Public Board Meeting in 14 days. I commend the other seven board members for being professional. It is a great beginning of setting good examples for our children.
school observer
August 14th, 2011
9:10 pm
I think we all know what is wrong with Dekalb Schools. THE BOARD! Nancy Jester and Don Mchensey have made it clear that their priorities are their constituents. The letter that was posted on their website was unprofessional and only serves to highlight the board’s dysfunction.Their actions and those of the board members who leaked information to the AJC about the previous candidates clearly reveal that not only is the board is divided, but divided along racial lines. At least the other board members had the decency , if you can call it that , to remain anonymous. The question that comes to mind , is why is it so important for these two to let the public know that they disagree with the selection. The answer that comes to mind, is that they want to protect their own future. If they were truly thinking of the students, then they would have at least put up a public appearance of solidarity. We will not get better until we get new board members.
Clear Vision
August 14th, 2011
9:11 pm
Jackie, isn’t that what they will do in 14 days? What’s wrong with saying why they intend to vote no now? The citizens of DeKalb deserve to know. They are being transparent and informative. How is that doing damage? If 7 or however many intend to vote for this person, they are also perfectly welcome to send out an email explaining their thoughts in advance.
Ask this question
August 14th, 2011
9:14 pm
IF she was white would anyone complain.
Heavy Load
August 14th, 2011
9:26 pm
It was stated in an earlier post that there are no politics in the BOE. All I see are political shenanigans, especially from two members in particular. Blogs are no place for our children’s future. Board meetings are. The sole purpose in the email was to create pandemonium and support for these two members cause, whatever it maybe. Political shenanigans.
Cere
August 14th, 2011
9:30 pm
Personally, I don’t see what the problem is with a few board members disagreeing with the choice. In any election, there will be some people who voted otherwise, and a wise winner will find out those people’s sticking points and try their best to win them over. Nancy and Don are pointing out that her achievement results do not give them the assurance that she is capable of moving our system’s academic progress forward. That’s it. So, say she is hired. What’s so wrong with knowing that she will have to prove that she can reach the bar? What’s wrong with knowing that a couple of board members are going to be looking very carefully at your progress? I, for one, am happy to have a couple of watchdogs on the board. Maybe she won’t need them – but we have been robbed and abused in the past and our children have paid the price. I am personally relieved that there are at least two members of the board who will not simply rubber-stamp and cheer on every action of the superintendent. That is how Lewis got away with so much – with Tom Bowen at the helm, I might add. I am much more concerned about complacency on the board than watchful eyes.
Where is Burrell Ellis????
August 14th, 2011
9:32 pm
The Lorain Chronicle Telegram has an article detailing Dr. Atkinson’s move to Georgia. She received a five-year extension in 2009. The Lorain board will have to approve letting Atkinson out of that contract extension via an escape clause. I wanted to read comments by local citizens from this paper ( the chief editor of another local paper is listed as a reference on Dr. Atkinson’s application for APS) but comments on the article are not being allowed due to “abuse by a few.” Oh she must have done a great job in Ohio. It’s obvious how saddened the district residents are to see her leave (LOL). She was turned down by Cleveland and APS. Sounds like she was determined to leave Lorain. The question is why is she leaving her “financially strapped” district? Especially since she signed an extension and was supposedly raising the district’s standards. I’m sure she wanted more money and they couldn’t come up with the cash. The Lorain BOE probably has that escape clause ready for her to sign. They are most likely enjoying the joke at our expense ($200,000 or more plus expenses). Thanks BOE for sticking it to us again. Dekalb residents should look forward to the upcoming election (now to be known as “Independence from Incumbents Day”).
Cere
August 14th, 2011
9:38 pm
I only see their agenda as looking out for a leader who will improve children’s learning. It breaks my heart to see this dissolve into a racial debate. Really sad.
Nancy’s Facebook account really scares some people. The fact that she continues to email and communicate with her constituents is terrifying to some. In fact, one person at a meeting commented that Nancy’s use of a computer was an invasion of this person in attendance’s privacy. How funny! This is the 21st Century – get with it people! There are school boards out there that use iPads to call up all their documents! Not everyone still hauls around 5# binders! City Councilman John Heneghan provides an amazing resource to the people of Dunwoody with his blog. My reps Jeff Rader, Mary Margaret Oliver, Saxby Chambliss, and even Stan Watson send out email newsletters. It’s the communication vehicle of choice — and it’s free! I find it appalling that DeKalb County School System does not send out an email newsletter anymore – and in fact, RIFd the very person who used to produce a fabulous one for the school system. I am in the looking glass – with people who think that technology is bad – yet they want transparency and a quality education for their children in the year 2011!
Dekalb supporter
August 14th, 2011
9:49 pm
@ Burrell Ellis You would make a decision based off blogs and not FACTS. Who cares about what the people from Lorain has to say now. They are probably mad she is leaving I mean look they are all over this blog some in support of her and some you can tell just have a agenda. Cleveland didn’t turn her down. If you would take some time and read like I did you would see that she made the finals out of over 200 plus applicants. Secondly if you would just read the article posted in the morning journal which is a lorain paper!!! you would see that the board is going to let her out.
These two articles tell me all I need to know. She has a board that supports her and a local paper who said the school district is better off then the condition she received it in. Can you say that for our so called school district?
http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2011/08/14/news/mj4910561.txt
http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2011/08/14/opinion/mj4909680.txt
http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2011/07/29/opinion/mj4854233.txt
Dekalb parent
August 14th, 2011
9:50 pm
Nancy isn’t using that computer for anything but her personal gain. She is not a difference maker.
Linda
August 14th, 2011
9:57 pm
Those of you who think that any discussion of Atkinson’s qualifications should not occur until the BOE meeting have no understanding of how this process works. The BOE meeting is simply the venue for the final vote. All of the negotiating and discussion takes place in the days leading up to the meeting. McChesney and Jester are doing exactly what smart, transparent board members should do. They are clearly stating their case for opposing the selection of Atkinson early in the 14-day period. This gives parents, teachers and all taxpaying citizens a chance to consider their position and perhaps share a different point of view. They each stated their position succinctly and professionally. I wish all the other board members would do the same.
Jan - with a correction
August 14th, 2011
9:59 pm
Watch Atkinson raise those scores right through the roof! Don’t worry sweetie, they don’t prosecute the black elite in this town, especially superintendents for lying,stealing or cheating. So bully the hell out of your staff until they “change the answers” and you just might be the next national “Superintendent of the Year.”
Cere
August 14th, 2011
10:04 pm
Thank you Linda. I just don’t see the “personal gain” perspective. This is transparency. I guess people don’t actually like it after all. Seems people want all sunshine and roses and everyone to have a group hug around the new candidate. Yowsa. The mean-spririted spitefulness toward Nancy is shocking. I thought she had good points. I thought the supporters had good points too. I’m happy to have both sides of the story in-depth. I don’t like propaganda. I don’t like a fake “public appearance of solidarity”. I like American politics – it’s gritty and it’s real. We hash it out and then we compromise. I wouldn’t give that up for anything.
Dekalb parent
August 14th, 2011
10:05 pm
Nancy and McChesmo are not doing what’s smart. They are the reason we are in this mess. We need a Super stop with all this mess and lets give this lady a chance. You are cheating are kids playing this media game. Im tired of it. This is typical White I didn’t get my way politics.
Dekalb parent
August 14th, 2011
10:10 pm
If you would get out of bed with Nancy and open your eyes. She Isn’t qualified period. Forget Dr Atkinson right now because in my opinion she isn’t the problem. Its people like @ cere who place these type of people in office. Dr Atkinson is more qualified to be a superintendent then Nancy is to be a board member and McChesmo. Which brings me to another point. If all you ever qualified for was a teacher position in 34 years why should you be voted in to have control over a school district. We need to publish his scores over the last 34 years to see how his kids have done.
Gil Hearn
August 14th, 2011
10:11 pm
Just in case you’ve been out of the loop: http://ParentsForDeKalbSchools.org
The Deal
August 14th, 2011
10:30 pm
Holy cow, people. You have been so mired in lying, deceipt, and underhandness that you can’t see honesty, openness and doing things the right way when it’s in front of you!!! We actually have people on this blog who are advocates of anonymously breaking their own board’s rules in leaking confidential information and then who are upset at two others for writing an open letter that 1) provides their opinion 2) has their names on it. Are you KIDDING me? I feel like I am in an alternate universe where I am seeing blue where everyone else is seeing red! Whether you agree with Nancy and Don is not the point. The point is that, as our representatives whose primary job is to hire a superintendent, they are providing us information on how they feel about the candidate. What is wrong with that? Would you have felt better if they, too, had sabotaged Atkinson anonymously and removed her from consideration by scaring her off? Honestly, I can’t believe I’m even typing this.
Mandella1099
August 14th, 2011
10:43 pm
@Cere(bration) – “I like American politics – it’s gritty and it’s real. We hash it out and then we compromise. I wouldn’t give that up for anything.”
I look forward to hearing your compromises!
Questions
August 14th, 2011
11:00 pm
Is there NOT a national attack on BLACK LEADERSHIP EVERYWHERE???????
Sarah
August 14th, 2011
11:03 pm
Wasn’t she a finalist like a month ago for the APS Job?Anyone that APS would consider hiring as super is bad news….Let the interim keep the job.
teacher reader
August 14th, 2011
11:10 pm
The fact that Atkinson names the editor of the Morning Journal as a reference tells me that she and the newspaper may not be on the up and up. With the number of jobs that she has worked, there has to be someone other than a newspaper editor that can say that she is good at what she does. If not, why not?
teacher reader
August 14th, 2011
11:15 pm
@ Ask this Question
It doesn’t matter what the woman’s color is to me. She does not appear to have the qualifications. She has made little progress in her current district, which has a bloated administration, similar to DCSS. She is not the right person for the job.
Smoke Rise Mom
August 14th, 2011
11:18 pm
Is there some reason the board members in favor of Ms. Atkinson can’t put forward their case? All this foolishness from lorainite is a waste of our time. I have not heard any logical counter to the statements put out by Mr. McChesney and Ms. Jester. Does that speak for itself?
Jackie
August 14th, 2011
11:18 pm
The Deal: What on earth do you think Jester and McChesney are tring to do. They are trying to run Dr. Atkinson out of town.
Cere: What do you mean by…EVEN STAN WATSON uses a computer? Gotcha!
Cere
August 14th, 2011
11:18 pm
Yep – even old Stan!! I like that guy!
Just for kids
August 14th, 2011
11:24 pm
I’m glad race wasn’t an issue in the selection process. It’s become clear to the world that white people are just not competent to hold high paying public jobs in Atlanta or DeKalb. The Dekalb Parent is right, Dekalb does not need Snow White running the system. Just look around the country and point to all the inner city systems being run by blacks to find shining examples of what it takes to run a school system. With inner city schools, meritocracy starts with skin color and white just can’t do the job.
Isn’t it obvious, a voucher system would solve all this nonsense. It would give parents the money and the responsibility to find the right educational program for their kids. I know all the liberals frown upon this because they’ll argue that poor, ignorant parents will not know what’s best for their kids. Only the educated elite can discern what the poor parents’ children need. Of course, liberals will point to a long list of reasons why their efforts have failed to date and the top 2 are they need more money and they need more control. Sound familiar? When public schools and government began down the slippery slope of taking away control of a parent’s responsibility to educate their children and coupled this with mountains of rules related to making everything “fair” in public schools, you get what we got today…a mess spinning wildly out of control. It would be all too easy but all too time consuming to continue this argument, but even liberals who are not too beholden to their government paychecks and party loyalties have to admit their approach is not working and will never work even if we increase the average annual per student expenditure to $25,000.00 per year. So just acknowledge it’s time to return responsibility to parents for making decisions about what’s best for their children. Vote for a voucher system and let the market place provide solutions your bureacracies are unable to provide.
Cere
August 14th, 2011
11:25 pm
You want to know another one? One of my favorite old time ministers – he’s 83 and has an email newsletter he sends out via Mail Chimp!
How about PTAs? Most of them send out electronic newsletters and many have Facebook accounts.
In fact, our new PR guy says that he will set up a Facebook for DCSS…. Personally, I would recommend a blog – more info – you can answer questions (and moderate them) and categorize posts by topics. It’s a great way to communicate and offer transparency.
Cere
August 14th, 2011
11:30 pm
Just for kids: I agree. School systems have become behemoth bureaucracies. They are now jobs programs, money troughs and the newest multi-BILLION dollar business. Why do you think Bill Gates is so involved? Maybe to help kids – but mostly for the money! It’s a market – a channel – one of the few sure bets to make a buck these days.
Do you realize that our BOARD has a million dollar budget? Yes, we pay a million dollars just to keep these people arguing all day and night! Small systems like Decatur have board members who serve for free. And they’re doing a terrific job by all standards.
The Deal
August 14th, 2011
11:32 pm
Jackie, I am assuming you posted the same type of comments regarding our loss of two other candidates, right? I am not saying I agree or disagree with Jester/McChesney’s opinion. I am saying that they are following the RIGHT PROCESS. If they wanted to run her out of town, they would have underhandedly put out misinformation or leaked private negotiations, like how much moving $ she wants or how long of a contract she wants. Instead, they openly published a respectful, well-written letter telling their VOTERS how they planned to vote. They did not reveal confidential information, they did not trash her, they even complimented her. How is that “running her out of town”?
Anna Bell
August 14th, 2011
11:39 pm
Here we go?
Did you have input in the selection of the following DeKalb County School Superintendents?
Jim Cherry
James Hinson
Robert Freeman, SR
James R. Hallford
The answer is no. It is not your responsibility to hire the superintendent. Get over it.
teacher reader
August 14th, 2011
11:40 pm
@ Smoke Rise Mom
Have you looked at Lorain’s numbers? Their report card speaks for itself. You can find it here:
http://www.ode.state.oh.us/reportcardfiles/2009-2010/DIST/044263.p
Have you read her application to APS? You can find it here: http://www.edjohnsoninseat9.com/uploads/EdJohnsonInSeat9/APS-Superintendent-Finalist-Cheryl-Atkinson.pdf
Her dissertation can be found here: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-32098-1546/unrestricted/DIS2.PDF
She is mediocre at best. She provides one of her references as the local newspaper editor. She cannot write, a quality that many in high office already possess. Her district did not make AYP. Her district is administrative heavy. Only one of 26 state indicators were made in the district, which was 11th grade writing.
Is this someone that you want in charge of educating your children? Is this someone that is going to change the already top heavy administration in DCSS? Is this someone going to make the necessary changes that every single child in DCSS gets a quality education?
I don’t think that the other board members are capable of defending her. They like her because APS wanted her (something that is very telling given their school board and district problems) and need someone anyone to come aboard to try and stop SACS from taking accreditation. I’d much rather lose accreditation and have the chance at hiring someone better, than taking a candidate that is not as good as others that were up for the position and who were much better qualified.
Performance Index: (0-120 point) 78.1 points
Number of State Indicators Met out of 26: 1
The only passing category out of 26 is 11th grade writing.
Logic
August 14th, 2011
11:41 pm
Let’s all solve our problems and recall this entire worthless DCSS Board, starting with Bowen and create a state mandate that would not allow any of them to seek political office in the state of Georgia again. We have good cause – THEY HAVE NOT DONE THEIR JOB. We have not had a superintendent in over a year, our scores are in the toilet, and there is no hope in sight. We have immature, uneducated (Sarah, have that degree yet) and immoral criminals (JC, EW) who are deciding the fate of our children. It is DeKalb’s fault because these people are actually elected. It is like an oppressive Cuban or Venezuelan dictatorship – they make you so poor, steal right in front of your eyes and then make you feel better with a new building that they squeezed out of “the Man” and people give their vote to these idiots. The crap that is spewed from the fraternities and sororities – HRH has his on his license plate, btw, is just fueling an elite that wants to keep the majority of DeKalb down.
How much longer will DeKalb go through this embarrassing process? Where is SACS? Where is the governor? DCSS needs to be supervised by the state – it has gotten that bad.
Cere
August 14th, 2011
11:52 pm
Anna Bell you can add Johnny Brown and Crawford Lewis to the list. I don’t think people paid a whole lot of attention to boring things like school boards and superintendents in the past. That is, until our superintendent and his right hand construction manager were indicted on RICO charges. Then Atlanta was found to have a pervasive cheating problem. And the pay scales of the top level administrators have skyrocketed so that it’s now become quite a sought after job to lead a school system or be in the “cabinet”. Add to this the fact that we now have the internet – and Google – and Twitter – and we not only know everything about a candidate – we can know it in under 15 minutes.
The times have changed. I don’t know if it’s good or bad. I surely didn’t ever need to know about a US Representative sending pictures of himself in his underwear to various young ladies – much less SEE the pictures. Some of this really is TMI. But school superintendents really are important people. We should know more about them.
The Deal
August 14th, 2011
11:54 pm
Anna Bell, no one is saying they want to cast a vote themselves. What some of us are saying is that it is not wrong for the people who are voting, i.e. the BOE, to tell the voters who elected them how they plan to vote and why. Neither Nancy nor Don is my elected representative. I would LOVE to hear research and opinion from my rep. At least I will know they care about the responsibility we gave them when we voted them in.
Anna Bell
August 14th, 2011
11:54 pm
Deal, do you understand ethics as it relates to Board decisions? It does not matter what Board it is; the majority rules and the others are to support the decision and move forward with a united front for the good of the children and the school system. Let’s give the candidate a chance; she and no other person can do it alone; she needs the support of all stakeholders; we in DeKalb will rise to the occasion for the good of the children and taxpayers.
Cere
August 14th, 2011
11:56 pm
I think Nancy says that in her email. IF Atkinson is voted in, she will support her fully. Anna Bell, that vote won’t take place for two weeks.
Stop it
August 15th, 2011
12:05 am
Why do I keep reading comments about someone being in a fraternity or sorority? Many of you are filled with hate and envy. You don’t care about all children in DeKalb. You only care about the white children in the schools north of Memorial Dr. I’m sick of the racial tactics that many of you use on these blogs. Cere and company will not be happy until they have a white superintendent and anyone that does not fit this will be unqualified in their eyes. It’s easy to hide behind a keyboard and spew rhetoric but how many of you go to the schools and assist the teachers and ask the teachers what they need. Stop trying to tear us apart! Black and white need to work together to improve conditions. Teachers haven’t had a raise in years and it seems like nobody cares about us. I work with the greatest group of dedicated teachers if many races. We all like each other and we teach all that come before us regardless of race. We work together, why can’t you work together?
The Deal
August 15th, 2011
12:14 am
Anna Bell, I am fully aware of board procedures, so I know that the board is required to give 14 days’ notice before the vote. Are you aware no vote has been cast? Boards do not appoint a superintendent. They vote. Boards are also elected representatives of (some) voters who like to get as much information as they can on who is going to lead our school system. I am not going to roll over and play dead during this evaluation period – no one should. And this BOE has given no one a reason to trust their decision-making ability over the past few years. This BOE gave a raise to Dr. Lewis! Just as I would do research on any curriculum choices, policy changes, or redistricting proposals, I will also do research on a superintendent hire. More board procedure 101 – discuss items up for a vote at meetings and provide consituents the opportunity to provide feedback to their elected representatives. Again, I am feeling like I am in an alternate universe here – one where voters do not want to hear what their elected representatives have to say and where they want their representatives to cast votes without hearing from the voters.
Cere
August 15th, 2011
12:20 am
Stop it, you are way off base. And insulting. But you did make a good suggestion, I think I will stop conversing here.