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
not telling
August 15th, 2011
3:16 pm
Now we can tell so much more about you. You don’t like her on that board huh? Why not? She won’t follow the F&F plan? Awwwwww…
we support her
August 15th, 2011
3:17 pm
LOL comedy whew!!!
yes i am worried
August 15th, 2011
3:25 pm
The Board does not plan any meet and greets with Dr. Atkinson. What are they hiding?
They will approve her, schools may very well stay mediocre, etc and nothing will change — S. DeKalb parents will remain eerily silent regardless of the poor quality of their schools.
not telling
August 15th, 2011
3:36 pm
That’s what gets me. There is proof that she is part of their inside group, yet people still want to “give her a chance”. It’s mass stupidity or alzheimers – take your pick.
we support her
August 15th, 2011
3:46 pm
@not telling now she is apart of a inside group? I guess next she will be a Russian spy. LOL somebody please bring this back into focus. The Improv needs to be shut down.
Growing to like her
August 15th, 2011
3:47 pm
I have placed some calls to friends who have said this lady is really the real deal.
Distractions in DSW diguise
August 15th, 2011
3:49 pm
@ The Deal. At one time, people felt a need and reason for slavery to exist too. We can justify anything. Hard work in the wrong direction still gets you nowhere. Oh I agree with the fact that we are in a difficult situation in the metro area, and feel the pain. I am a parent of DeKalb County School students, that is why I am qualified to speak. Some raised issues I may agree with, however, when it comes to making the salaries and central staff the issue, we eliminate other variables such as the teachers, students, and the community. I’m sure if anything was illegal with salaries, by now we would see changes in the state salary structure. Let it go. People just dont walk in and say today i want to make x amount of dollars without it being approved on a state level. Get over salaries and who dates who and let’s not be jealous of other folks money because we dont have any, stay focused. By the way, how do you distinguish between your posters who are angry because of their personal issues with people and those who have legitimate concerns. You don’t, so be aware of using an anonymous blog as a way to control a situation. Have the courage to stand front and center for what you think is important. Wrong does not have to beget wrong. Your targets in the DSW blog for lack of success are exclusive of pertinent members and hold many biases. These are real issues to me:
Student who can not read, usually cannot write, or do math. Students who are raising themselves at home are less likely to pay attention, be disciplined, and do well in school. Teachers and administrators who are not dedicated to working with parents and students on their level should chose another profession. Unethical practices, inclusive of using media propoganda should be avoided…
not telling
August 15th, 2011
3:55 pm
@We support her
Denial of it will not make it disappear. Too many have already pulled the data and shown it to the public. You’re too late to close the lid on Pandora’s box.
we support her
August 15th, 2011
3:58 pm
@ not telling. I think your the one thats late. She will be the superintendent. In 10 days when its official I will see you back on here.
A BIG YES
August 15th, 2011
4:04 pm
I say a BIG YES to Dr Atkinson
Nothing Would Suprise Me
August 15th, 2011
4:06 pm
I would be very skeptical about any positive comments that support Dr Atkinson, especially given her inside connections and her lack luster past performance. Sounds like more of the same and business as usual for Dekalb.
The newest entrepreneurs are Internet PR firms that go viral and can clean up a personal or business related bad reputation on the www. What makes you think bloggers are not doing the same here becuase they are getting their “backs scratched” in some way
GCPS be warned of more abuse from Dekalb residents invading your schools.
The Deal
August 15th, 2011
4:26 pm
Distractions – are you somehow equating blogs with slavery? I am completely confused. And is Distractions your real name, or are you blogging anonymously as you accuse DSW posters of doing? I’m afraid you don’t make too much sense. It was proven by an Ernst & Young audit (not DSW) that the central office at DCSS is both overstaffed and overpaid. Those are your tax dollars and my tax dollars that are going to overpay people instead of educating our children. I am not jealous of their salaries. I make plenty of money. But my company was also just audited, and my salary was found to be within reason. DCSS’s central office salaries are not. So overpayment of millions is an issue that I – and others- will not drop. You don’t seem to understand the correlation between the waste of money and the awful education our kids are getting. DCSS has plenty of money, but they are choosing to spend it on themselves instead of our kids. And who said anything about salaries being illegal? Your arguments are making absolutely no sense. Does something have to be illegal for it to be wrong? And salaries are not approved by the state. I’m afraid I can’t continue to have a conversation with someone who makes very little sense.
Board Ethics
August 15th, 2011
4:36 pm
Just because someone calls NJ and Don out on their questionable ethics, does not mean they think the rest of the board is reputable. It is just on this and all the blogs, NJ has become some sort of untouchable wonder, which she is not!
Smoke Rise Mom
August 15th, 2011
4:44 pm
It seems the board’s approval of Dr. Atkinson is imminent. I have been trying to find something positive to grasp so that I can accept the inevitable.
The reports, numbers, and facts on her current district’s performance are horrible. The only argument those who support her can articulate is that she’s nice.
I’m sorry. I can live without nice, but I can’t live with “Academic Watch”, one step away from “Academic Emergency”. That’s just not good enough for any of our kids here in DeKalb.
But the really sad thing about it is that even with generous salary we’re offering, we can’t attract a quality candidate. That is a direct reflection on the BOE.
One Thought
August 15th, 2011
4:51 pm
“Get over salaries and who dates who”
Not sure of the point you are attempting to make but I have read many times now about concerns over nepotism, sorority associations, and so on. Being guarded against that sort of thing makes sense because you want to know that hirings go to the best qualified candidates. Makes the system better, see? I applaud these two Board Members who can plainly see that this candidate does not have experience as the head of a large school system. While some may say that size of the system shouldn’t matter, it really does matter in terms of budget, HR, and just about everything else. I understand that she has had success in raising attendance in Lorain but isn’t that easier to do with a system sporting a single high school? We were hoping for excellence in this hire and right now, I am dissapointed.
Dr. John Trotter
August 15th, 2011
5:12 pm
Hey School Board: If you are determined to go out of the State of Georgia to bring in a superintendent, why not just call upon Dr. Lonnie Edwards of Jackson, Mississippi? After all, Dr. Edwards was a long-time employee of the DeKalb County School System and knows the community and the players. Two former DeKalb employees, Dr. Sam King and Dr. Lonnie Edwards, both would have been heads and shoulders above Cheryl Atkinson. Something in the milk ain’t clean!
Jackie
August 15th, 2011
5:23 pm
Lorain’s Local Paper ” The Morning Journal” 7/29/2011
“Lorain City Schools’ academic performance is getting better according to the Ohio Department of Education. On Tuesday, Supt. Cheryl Atkinson tentatively reported to the school board the district is moving up one grade on its state report card from “Academic Watch” to “Continuous Improvement.”
“Atkinson said, unofficially, the district has met the state standards in four of 24 categories and showed improvement in 18 categories since the previous school year.
Lorain students passed writing and reading in both 10th and 11th grades and saw increased attendance in the entire didtrict”.
“The achievements are even more notable because LORAIN IS AN URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH A STUDENT RATE EXCEEDING 80%.”
I am excited about the possibility of academic growth expecially in losw achieving schools where progreee hasn’t been made since Dr. Freeman was Supt. Welcome Dr. Atkinson. I am sure that all of the stakeholders who really want to be a part of the solution will embrace and support you.
@ Deal
August 15th, 2011
5:34 pm
Instead of commenting on the issues that were raised with the inequities in communities and breakdown in society, you chose to take issue with someone’s salary. Again, you are using your intelligence to sway opinion because you may be a better communicator. the point made by distractions is that because you are white doesn’t make you right, just because someone else is wrong does not open the door for you and yours to take over and be what you have been in the past for minorities. It is obvious you and the dekalb school watch blog would prefer a candidate that looks more like you do. I say, that makes you no better than those you talk about so expertly. that’s all. As far as the comment on salary and dating, it just seems like you cant get past the state salary scale for educators with degrees. I am not defending educators with high salaries, but wondering what your obsession is with people making decent salaries that may deserve them. You lump all in the same basket. Do you blog as well for those who are below the poverty lines or are they right where we are “supposed” to be. So your great salary is okay and secure because the company that did your audit said it was? That’s funny. Oh, it might just make a little more sense to others than you would like, Deal.
Is it
August 15th, 2011
5:35 pm
LORAIN IS AN URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
I don’t know. Looks a little more suburban to me being about 35 miles to Cleveland. City poulation about 70,000. School system about 70% white and again, only one high school.
Is it
August 15th, 2011
5:37 pm
One high school that is now rated just above academic watch.
@ Deal
August 15th, 2011
5:43 pm
So the salaries of DCSS employees are not goverened by any outside entity and are arbitrary? Is this factual or an opinion of the Dekalb School Watch Blog?
Atlanta Media Guy
August 15th, 2011
5:44 pm
Distractions, I have never met Cere in my life! The only agenda I have is for the teachers and students at our school. I have volunteered many hours of my time, reading, raking, pulling weeds, assisting in school events, PTA boards and keeping DCSS honest!
I have only asked for an open and transparent BOE and staff. The truth hurts and it’s time someone is held accountable for the student achievement, or lack thereof, and the waste that has permeated DCSS for many years.
So distractions, if I read your blog post correctly, you’re not in favor of free speech? I’d love to know what I have said that is not truthful? If and when I say something wrong, Cere is quick to link me to the facts. That’s what I love about DSW, it’s an information source as well as a place to discuss public education. Are people mad? Hell yea, we’re mad! Sounds like you’re mad too! There are some wild times ahead as we await the trial of our former Super and COO, they have been charged with running a criminal operation at DCSS? Like I said earlier, the truth can hurt, but what’s wrong with getting all the facts out on the table and discussing them? The BOE has presented us with a candidate and I look forward to meeting her.
Distractions, maybe you need a vacation or something, if you play golf there is Reynold’s Plantation or maybe the Bahamas, if you like the beach? There are some great deals right now.. I just got back a few weeks ago from DC with my family, my 6th and 7th graders had a blast!
The Deal
August 15th, 2011
5:53 pm
@ @Deal When did I say my own company did the audit? That sounds like something stupid DCSS would do. It was an independent audit, just like the one your tax dollars paid for years ago in DeKalb. You seem to be new to all of this news. Let me catch you up. Years ago, Ernst & Young is the entity you paid with your tax dollars to evaluate our school system and THEY determined that salaries were too high – not me. DeKalb administrators buried the audit and “can’t find it” because they know how damning the results were. And how do you know what color my skin is – and why does that matter? That seems like a racist comment for you to make. The only thing I said is that I am happy with the money I make. And, unlike you, I am concerned with the entire county and the absolute failure of a school system we have. I am actually 100% pleased with the education my kids are getting in DeKalb. If my actions were determined by the education my children are getting, I wouldn’t be on here. I understand that there are thousands of people who cannot fight for themselves, who are so mired in awful situations that they cannot fight the fight. It is the fact that thousands of my tax dollars a year go to complete waste and failure for so many other schools that I advocate for improvement. So, as it turns out, all of your suppositions about me are incorrect. I suspect you are one of the many people sent by DCSS employees to flood these blogs with ridiculous, pointless, and senseless posts to disrupt the actual discussion that usually goes on here. Unlike you, I use a consistent blog name and am on here on a fairly regular basis to keep a pulse on what people are thinking. Since the Atkinson announcement, all of the school-related blogs have been flooded with moronic and unthoughtful posts meant to distract from the real problem – a failing school system that is wasting millions of dollars and thousands of lives.
not telling
August 15th, 2011
5:55 pm
Tyson sure doesn’t deserve her salary.
elrod
August 15th, 2011
6:07 pm
How funny is it that people who lack basic grammar, spelling and punctuation skills are pontificating on a blog about public education? Some of you wear your ignorance like a badge of honor.
Atlanta Media Guy
August 15th, 2011
6:10 pm
Elrod, I couldn’t have said it better myself! I tend to miss punctuation when using my blackberry. My fingers are a bit large for the keyboard. Plus I have a key sticking…………………. Guess which one?
@ Atlanta Media Guy
August 15th, 2011
6:12 pm
Now that you have been on vacation, I see you are rested and ready to get back to your work on the blog. As you look and judge others, make sure that we are not guilty of the same issues on different levels. I know that many general statements have caused harm to people. for example, that in order to hold certain jobs, you have to know someone of be a part of a sorority. Many hardworking individuals were offended by these statements. DSW has allowed many opinions about others to become facts based on repetition. Our children (meaning NOT just those that we give birth to) need us. Let’s not get so fixated on one thing that we are blinded by our own tar and feather tactics. Just a self check reminder is due because we are afraid of this whole situation, including systems making policies based on blogs. The school is only as good as the students, parents and administrators who attend there. Put pressure on parents, students, administrators, bloggers to uphold high standards and hold them to it. Lynch blogs are outdated along with nepotism and all of the other wrongs that have been stated.
Anna Bell
August 15th, 2011
6:24 pm
John Trotter,
Stay in Clayton where you live or did live. We do not want Lonnie Edwards for the same reason we did not want Crawford Lewis. Sam King is an excellent choice but the Board did not want anyone too close to DeKalb (LOL). However,some want Bad Bryant.
@ Deal
August 15th, 2011
6:29 pm
I can see that you are a pro blogger. I am not, so forgive me if I have a life. I’m sure you are pleased with the private education your children may have received through the public education sytem. So, you are safe to influence policy without it causing any harm to your household one way or another. You and your like are distractions, too, just like the administrators at DCSS. I could care less about the consistency of your pseudo-name. Unlike Tyson and her group, your anonymity means nothing to me. Stay focused and do your job of looking out for ALL children without drawing blood from those with whom you disagree. Lead by example.
Distractions
August 15th, 2011
6:33 pm
@ elrod. Please capitalize proper nouns. Elrod not elrod. Now that’s funny. Sorry couldn’t resist!
Teacher Dekalb
August 15th, 2011
6:34 pm
Actually Lorain high is rated Effective. The new results drop August 24th. The first time in history that this has been done.
amazed
August 15th, 2011
6:46 pm
@outsider
The 1st amendment has nothing to do with it. AJC can do what they want with their board. They triggered a lot of this with their choice of topic a couple weeks back.
Where are their packing materials?
August 15th, 2011
6:49 pm
@Dekalb Supporter I would be very skeptical of anything laudable the Lorain Morning Journal has to say. Dr. Atkinson listed that paper’s chief editor as a professional reference on her APS application. Better yet, have you read the comments that accompany the articles about her. A VERY small number of comments are supportive. The overwhelming majority are NOT sorry to see her leave. So yes, you can believe the board in Lorain is probably only too happy to release Dr. A from her contract. If you really want cold, hard facts go to the Ohio Department of Education and see the dismal report card for the Lorain school district. Those are facts.You continue to support DeKalb, but wake up and realize it does not support the citizens, especially our children. Apparently the BOE, CEO, and county commissioners don’t look at facts either. But all governmental entities should know this: the taxpayers have had enough. I will not vote for anyone who supports tax increases. I will not support any further SPLOST referendums if Dr. Cheryl Atkinson becomes superintendent. HRH T-Bow and his disloyal- to- their- constituents court can START PACKING NOW. Even the people on the south end loyal to SCW now know that this board (excepting Ms. Jester and Mr. McChesney) is concerned only with themselves.
elrod
August 15th, 2011
6:52 pm
Yeah, that’s what I was talking about. Capitalization of proper nouns.
I’m not going to quote people because that would be mean. But just read page 1 of this abomination of a thread. Surely you see the irony.
As to your confusion regarding the distinction between internet handles and proper nouns, that is a discussion for another day.
Jessie
August 15th, 2011
6:52 pm
One photo in Sunday’s AJC article shows her as quite a large having a quite a large body mass index. The there was another photo in which she appeared to be substantially smaller. Somebody please respond which one is a more realistic portrayal.
Why?
The first photo along with her “lazer-like focus” on dramatically raising test scores scares me. Quite frankly, it eerily reminds of Beverly Hall
amazed
August 15th, 2011
7:02 pm
@a nice choice
@ growing to like her
Can you expand on why she is a star or the real deal? I certainly hope that’s true. But I haven’t heard anything specific good about her except that she is personable. Noone so far has been able to articulate what it is they like about her as superintendent. That makes me wonder if she talks a good game but can’t produce.
Distractions
August 15th, 2011
7:15 pm
@Deal quote
I suspect you are one of the many people sent by DCSS employees to flood these blogs with ridiculous, pointless, and senseless posts to disrupt the actual discussion that usually goes on here. Unlike you, I use a consistent blog name and am on here on a fairly regular basis to keep a pulse on what people are thinking.
@Deal. Just include what I am thinking in your analysis too, and not discount everyone else’s comments as ridculous and pointless. Why create a decoy thought DeKalb has sent saboteurs to a site. This tactic is used a lot by you and others on the DSW blog when a blogger is in opposition with your ideals. Were you sent here by your moderator, Cerebration? You have spent a lot of time twisting, misinterpreting, and rearranging my words to make me seem unaware, yet you are well informed. Is this your only defense against Dekalb Leadership?. Look beyond my literal language and you will find that you are capable of greater understanding that may just help, Deal.
NewMinority
August 15th, 2011
7:56 pm
Talented teachers, are you FED UP with politically correct, (except they have manners and respect the teachers) corrupt dumbed down schools?
There are TONS of teaching opportunities waiting for you in ….MAINLAND CHINA! They love everything American (except they have manners and respect the teachers) and are eager to learn English. This is your ticket out of the country before the dollar crashes and we become the new high tech Soviet Union with Gulag work camps. I never thought I would see the day. Thousands of expatriates are moving there. There is even an “America” Town in a town outside of Hong Kong. Younger teachers should look into this.
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/china/
Lorainite1
August 15th, 2011
8:08 pm
You all realize that 90% of the posters here are the same dimwits from Lorain using different screen names don’t you? I can spot them a mile away. They do the same crap on our local papers. You have no identity security on this website. The same person could have an infinite number of screen names. All the site has to do is say one IP per screen name, problem solved. They are trying to sway you to think people like her and support her hiring. I guarantee there is probably a half of a percentage of people who are sad to see her go.
Concerned Parent
August 15th, 2011
8:32 pm
Get off this board we are tired of you.
Atlbraves
August 15th, 2011
8:34 pm
I kind of like this Dr Atkinson. The candidate file seems ok.
Just the Facts Please
August 15th, 2011
9:38 pm
@Maureen Have you been able to find any information about grade changing in the Lorain District that involved a federal court? Is this true and if it is true, was Dr. Atkinson involved? I agree with the comment that she seems like she would be good on the leadership team, but not as the actual superintendent. I still wonder why the BOE would make this announcement in the dark of night and then remain silent about their choice. Where is her record of ACADEMIC improvement (please do not say anything else about how much ATTENDANCE has improved)? The Ohio DOE report card that is available now is not good. The updated Ohio DOE info for the 2010-2011 school year will not be available for at least a few more days. So what is the board looking at that is so good??? Why won’t they be more specific about what assures them she is right for DCS? When did Dr. Atkinson apply for this position or was she contacted by our search firm? Did she apply after she was turned down by APS? When will she meet the public? Will it be at 11:00 pm after a one day notice? All these questions, but no answers.
Mandella1099
August 15th, 2011
10:01 pm
@ John Trotter – “Something in the milk ain’t clean!”
Most likely your fingers….
Mandella1099
August 15th, 2011
10:10 pm
@ Atlanta Media Guy – “I’d love to know what I have said that is not truthful?”
Don’t make me go and cut and paste all of the false accusations you have levied at DCSS employees over on DSW. You have named individuals as doing things that are both illegal and immoral without the slightest bit of evidence other than unsubstantiated rumors. You and DSW do it all the time and it is why DSW is over. Atlanta Media Guy had a post on this blog removed not to long ago, correct Maureen?
Mandella1099
August 15th, 2011
10:13 pm
@ The Deal – “Years ago, Ernst & Young is the entity you paid with your tax dollars to evaluate our school system and THEY determined that salaries were too high – not me”
If you know so much about this audit, why don’t you tell everyone how they came to those conclusions. What was the factors that determined salaries were too high?
Do you have any common sense
August 15th, 2011
10:18 pm
Dr Atkinson wasn’t involved in any grade changing. Your foolish for believing that. You google everything else google that. It’s a reason why you can’t find that anywhere. Lorainite is a Liar i keep telling you guys that. If he said she was really a man you would believe it. Give me a break. You are quick to believe the negative and you never believe the truth.
Ed Johnson
August 15th, 2011
10:23 pm
The Broad Barrage
http://obsyourschools.blogspot.com/2011/05/broad-barrage.html
So, be appropriately concerned with Dr. Cheryl Atkinson but just don’t lose site of the core threat, Eli Broad and his foundation.
Good
August 15th, 2011
10:28 pm
This will ensure that Dekalb is once again the laughing stock of metro Atlanta school systems. I’m amazed at how unintelligent Dekalb is at running and hiring for their school system. It is almost as if they want to fail. Garbage in…Garbage out!
The Deal
August 16th, 2011
12:07 am
@Mandella1099 Ha! Ha! “What WAS the factors?” Okay, that was funny. Anyway, you’re asking me to tell you the factors that Ernst and Young used in the audit that you paid for – that the BOE and administration that you so trust and love commissioned? Are you kidding me? Do you have some sort of conspiracy theory that Cere works at E&Y and tainted its audit or something similarly stupid? I can’t convince someone like you that the audit was accurate. That’s like trying to tell you that blue is blue. So, let’s live in fantasy world and forget the entire problem of DCSS’s overstaffed and overpaid central office. Let’s pretend all is rosy in the world of salaries and staffing numbers. That leaves, oh, about 15,000 other mismanaged and mangled school-related issues. How do you defend the millions upon millions of dollars spent on student improvement for our most needy children when student achievement has dropped by double digit percentages each year? Absolutely no one has taken responsibility for the fact that the Office of Student Improvement has overseen catastrophic failures in student achievement. Our neediest children are being left behind in the dust while the people who work in the office that claims to help them are making six figures. And here’s how it leads back to Atkinson. She may be a nice person. She may be a very talented administrator. But, by her own application data and the data of her school system, she is in NO way prepared to handle the behemoth task that this county presents. You want a Pandora’s box? We’ve got it – massive size, multiple court cases, SACS bearing down, incompetent and uneducated board members, top to bottom of socioeconomics, decades old race relations problems, a north/south battle that won’t die, a mish-mosh of programs, and, the worst to me, absolute inconsistency in offerings across the county. Almost 100% of what this school system is supposed to do is botched. It shouldn’t matter where you live in DeKalb County – if your child attends a school in DeKalb County, he or she is entitled to every opportunity that every other child is, regardless of the color of skin, price of the home, location of their home, or anything else. That is NOT HAPPENING, and Dr. Atkinson, again, while she may be nice and be successful in the level of schools she has administered, does not have the experience our absolute mess and mass of a school system needs. We are WAY beyond “let’s give her a chance.” Why are we so willing to settle? Our children – ALL of them – deserve the absolute best we can give them, not “let’s see what she can do.” This is the only time we are going to get for years to give our children the new, fresh start they deserve. If I were a single mom with children and looking for a father figure, no way would I settle for the first guy just because he’s the first willing to step in. Why are we so willing to do this for the 100,000 children that live in our county? Our BOE has a responsibility to give us better than someone whose most recent job was managing a school system with one high school, whose system has just been upgraded from the lowest academic rating. Again, she may be a nice person and talented, but DeKalb County superintendent is an absolute hell of a job, and we need an absolute stand-out candidate. If our BOE cannot deliver us the smart, innovative, exciting person (man, woman, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, whatever) that will help our children be the best they can be, then they need to resign and let us have a board that can find us that person.
Dr. John Trotter
August 16th, 2011
12:09 am
@ Anna Bell: I think that I will keep on living where I want to live, if it is alright with you. I haven’t lived in Clayton County for years. It went the way of DeKalb a good while back now. But, at least we can agree that Sam King would have been a better choice than Cheryl Atkinson, right? Ha!