DeKalb parents will get chance to quiz school chief finalist. They have lots of questions.
There will be a meet and greet with the DeKalb superintendent finalist on Saturday, Aug. 27, at 10 a.m. at the DeKalb administrative center at 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd, Tucker.
Here is her candidate file online.
Here is her pending contract, which lists the salary as $275,000. It gives her $2,600 for monthly expenses. It allows her $750 for her car/gas/travel each month. It gives her $2,000 a month for temporary living/relocation costs during her initial six months on the job.
Here is an interesting provision considering that the past school chief awaits criminal trial:
With respect to criminal actions, whether they involve misdemeanor or felony charges, the BOARD may, but is not required to, reimburse the SUPERINTENDENT for some or all of her defense costs if the SUPERINTENDENT is acquitted or the charges are dropped.
Here are the details from the district:
The DeKalb County Board of Education is pleased to announce that the board’s finalist for superintendent, Dr. Cheryl Atkinson, will visit with parents, community members and others on Saturday, Aug. 27. Dr. Atkinson will share her vision for the school system and meet with parents, community leaders and other DCSS stakeholders.
“We’re pleased to introduce Dr. Atkinson to our community of parents and concerned citizens,” said Thomas Bowen, chairman of the DeKalb County School System. “It was Dr. Atkinson’s desire to come immediately to share her vision with our parents and citizens, but she is rightfully focused on the start of the school year in Lorain, Ohio, where she remains superintendent.”
Dr. Atkinson will give a brief overview of her vision for the school system and answer questions submitted by community members. “We are confident that once DeKalb residents get an opportunity to hear directly from her, our parents and community members will be impressed with her creative approaches to increasing academic performance,” said Bowen.
I had raised questions earlier this week about why DeKalb parents were concerned about the selection of Atkinson. Several sent me long, thoughtful e-mails explaining their concerns with the process and the selection.
Here are some of them:
I do not care that she is from a smaller district (she’s had experience in larger districts before Lorain); however, the fact that there is some evidence that more scores have gone down rather than up in her district is incredibly concerning. There may be excellent answers to these concerns, but if we do not get a chance to ask about them, then it seems as if something is being covered up. I am very open to hearing what some of these answers might be. She may truly be the best candidate, and I’m open to learning that.
And here is another:
We need change and we need it now. Not four years from now or 48 years from now if you consider that it took Dr. Atkinson 4 years merely to improve a district some 12 times smaller than our own in a single category. We cannot afford to hire someone who will maintain the status quo with regard to nepotism and cronyism. The only highlights I have heard or read about Dr. Atkinson’s career are that she brought in laptops and e-textbooks for grades 6 through 12 and that she built a controversial new high school in her Lorain district.
I saw that one of your readers who claimed to be from Lorain listed an interesting and compelling list of her accomplishments. And if those are true, Dr. Atkinson instantly becomes more appealing as a potential leader for DeKalb. However, if those accomplishments are true, why then, can’t the members of our Board of Education give us a single reason they want her as our new superintendent rather than accusing parents of racism and being unsupportive of our elected officials?
I and most of the other parents I know are very open-minded and we welcome dialogue about this issue with our elected officials. However, they refuse to engage with us in this discussion and that, I fear, is the most troubling sign of all that Dr. Atkinson, while I’m certain a very nice and sincere individual, is not up to the task at hand.
And this final one:
When we make inquiries as to Ms. Atkinson’s specific qualifications from the BOE’s perspective, members should be able to provide justification for their own support of the candidate. So far, I and parents that I know have been directed to a Lorain newspaper piece, the same one you published in your column, as a matter of fact. Did you know that the author of this article is listed as one of Ms. Atkinson’s references on her job application?
The very reason that many people doubt this candidate is because of where her support is coming from. The two board members who have written letters of opposition were the same two members who last Spring brought unethical behavior by other board members to light. They were subsequently publicly chastised by the board chair, Thomas Bowen while the members who were actually accused of acting unethically and leaking confidential information to the press about another candidate were not. So you see Ms. Downey, when those same unethical board members support a candidate and cannot provide even a basic rationale for why it is that they do when pressed about it, it causes parents to doubt the candidate. Then when Mr. McChesney & Ms. Jester speak out in opposition, it causes even more doubt. When we attempt to get more information about this candidate, such as her employment contract and other evidence that she is qualified and none is produced, it causes even more doubt.
In a perfect world, we as Dekalb taxpayers would trust our school board to back a highly qualified candidate for superintendent, but as you well know, Dekalb county is far from a perfect world. We have a board who has run amok. They have no ethics code and no accountability for behaving badly.They are completely out of control and do not feel that they owe their constituents anything. We have less than 10 days left to impact this decision. The board is forcing our hand. We have no choice if they refuse to cooperate with us and justify this recommendation than to oppose it.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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105 comments Add your comment
Citizen
August 19th, 2011
10:35 am
Has anyone seen this? This group is supporting Dr Atkinson. Maybe they know something as well.
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wabe/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1841361/Atlanta./Educators‘.Group.Supports.Dekalb.Superintendent.Pick
yes i am worried
August 19th, 2011
10:39 am
ODE is one of the least effective advocacy groups on the planet. Shutten never stands up to the school system and their support means virtually nothing. He doesn’t like some of the board members and this is how he handles it.
Teachers generally don’t like change, so Shutten finds it critical that a superintendent is hired rather than a interim with a backbone to make changes.
Disgusted
August 19th, 2011
10:52 am
I just, I will always be disgusted by such astronomical salaries and perks while teachers are being laid off en masse.
Write Your Board Members
August 19th, 2011
11:06 am
DeKalb Mom
This board has had a tremendous amount of training. THEY JUST DON’T CARE WHAT THE RULES ARE. Far too many of them believe they are above the rules, etc.
Dunwoody Mom
August 19th, 2011
11:10 am
Didn’t the Board members just get certificates at the last board meeting for completing their required state school board training? My guess is that certain members continually sleep through this training because they keep on ignoring the rules.
alm
August 19th, 2011
11:12 am
I would give the board a big fat F on the superintendent search. Not because of who they picked but because they are very unprofessional.
I can’t comment on Dr. Atkinson because I have not read everything yet. To the people that complain that she’s not the best candidate well guess what? DeKalb will never get the best because the best can pick and choose. Would you choose to work for 9 dysfunctional bosses?
To Cindy from Good Mother
August 19th, 2011
11:17 am
You asked a really good question ” Why do we accept such high salaries for public servants, when our schools are hurting so badly?”
Parents for DeKalb County Schools
August 19th, 2011
12:16 pm
We’re engaging and connecting parents across DeKalb County to ensure that parents are engaged and informed about this and future issues so that the best possible education can be provided to our children. Please join 700 of your fellow residents who have completed the online approval rating poll of DCSS and get in the loop! http://ParentsForDeKalbSchools.org.
The Deal
August 19th, 2011
12:46 pm
I hope the new Parents for DeKalb County Schools group is going to stick around after this superintendent selection has passed? It’s obvious that most of our frustration at this point is directed at the board, and we could use a neutral group (not PTA, not ODE) that can include anyone, like neighbors, people who don’t have kids, as well as parents, to take action on any number of things related to the schools.
dekalbed
August 19th, 2011
12:55 pm
Ernest and Dunwoody Mom,
Isn’t providing “support” what got us into this mess? It seems that no matter how disingenuous educational “iniatives” are, how much DCSS ignores administrative culpability, and how much DCSS invests in its top-heavy salaries outside of the classroom, we concerned parents and teachers provide this support by teaching our students in spite of self-interested, inept board members and administrators. If this were a volunteer initiative that would be fine. But it’s not; we’re talking about the mismanagement of millions of dollars. Worse, we’re dooming all those students who lack a support system at home to a life of minimum wage or unemployment.
In good conscience, I cannot support someone because a mediocre resume (how many career administrators exist in our country? where is the stand-out hallmark of her educational, leading , pecuniary prowess?) and the dysfunctional board that got us into this mess says so.
Ernest, coaches are not the answer. Small classes are. How can we put the 50% of 8th graders failing the social studies CRCT, as one example, into 9th grade classes and expect these teachers (with a maximum number of students at 175 in schools that offer seven periods) to individualize lessons for 87 students? Lets not forget that this is in addition to recording the multiple intelligences of each student, tracking ways in which you appealed to them, writing up individualized plans, creating data walls, calling the parents of all failing students, calling the parents of all late students, calling the parents of absente students, and recording the grades for all 175 students.
I don’t want platitudes; I want action.
Real innovation involves meaningful collaboration with the community; smaller, remedial classes;using the many certified “educators” employed outside the building to work with students in substituting and instructional capacities.
amazed
August 19th, 2011
1:05 pm
@William Casey
I think the biggest problem with the BOEs is that aspiring politicians have discovered they can be used as stepping stones to other offices. We have too many people who want to be politicians instead of wanting to help govern the schools. And in Dekalb we have members wanting to sell pizzas, books, get jobs for relatives….
Ernest
August 19th, 2011
1:15 pm
dekalbed, no one disagrees that smaller class sizes can be the best remedy for helping students that need the greatest amount of help. The reality is there is a limit in tax dollars that citizens are willing to pay to have this. When you consider the declining property tax revenues along with the increasing cost of goods and services, you can see how we’ve reach the point where every dollar is scrutized.
I saw someone post that using simple math that there are approximately 17 students per teacher in DeKalb. You look in most classrooms and see far more than that. Government regulations specify the teacher-student ratio for some students such as special needs and gifted. As a result, some schools may have classes with upwards of 30+ students. Title 1 dollars does help but DCSS has not realized a significant impact from them.
Take a look around the country and you will see that teachers are being laid off. I read that over 200 teachers were scheduled to be laid of the Dr. Atkinson’s district prior to her arrival. Given the size of that district, one would think that would significantly impact class sizes however she was able find grant money to retain many of them. The class size problem is not unique to this school district. There is a cost associated with adding more classroom teachers
dekalbed
August 19th, 2011
2:42 pm
Ernest,
You’re right. There are many school districts laying off teachers. Sadly, though, this is because education has become a business. As a teacher who works more each year despite less pay and more hassle, I cannot support tax increases or the request for more money. Dekalb gets enough. It just spends it on the wrong things: pr firms (student achievement is the best pr), lawyers (often unnecessary if we were doing the right thing), expensive administrative complex, useless computer upgrades, packaged curricula, and superfluous adminstrators (aren’t we spending 40% of our salary budget outside the school building?).
According to public records, last year Dekalb employed 20 transportation directors (5 made +$100,000), 16 transportation secretaries and clerks (wouldn’t it be nice if teachers or departments had these? how much do these directors do each day? how many students do they interact with and how much paperwork are they required to fill out?): 3 directors of curriculum/instruction making +$105,000, 59 instructional supervisos (21 made +$100,000 and 19 made +$90,000), and 41 other instruction (curious title); 19 finance/business personnel (6 made +$100,00 and 3 made +$85,000), and another 34 IS personell in finance/business.
That’s alot of money for teachers. In fact, those overpaid administrators are making more than a phd-holding teacher who maxes out. Are dollars really being “scrutinized”?
catlady
August 19th, 2011
2:42 pm
So, about $23,000 per MONTH for salary, plus about $5300 Per MONTH for expenses for the first six months, (which drops to “only” $3350 after six months)? My God! This must be the richest school system in the country! Oh, no, it is Dekalb? The county that has not kept its word with its teachers regarding retirement pay-in?
Folks, NO ONE not doing the work in education does anything to earn that kind of money! She should be rejected and the board recalled immediately for gross misuse of funds!
catlady
August 19th, 2011
2:45 pm
” Title 1 dollars does help but DCSS has not realized a significant impact from them.”
Ernest, too busy buying books written by an administrator with those Title 1 dollars.
redweather
August 19th, 2011
2:46 pm
As I have posted in another blog, and as others have continued to note, Dr. Atkinson never stays anywhere very long. If I’m considering hiring her, that is about as red as a red flag can get.
catlady
August 19th, 2011
2:49 pm
My proposal: No superintendent should be paid more than twice the rate for its most highly-paid, hands-on, instructing teacher. In my system, that would be less than $150,000. No additional bennies that rank and file teachers don’t get, other than a limit of 2 professional association memberships.
Disgusted
August 19th, 2011
2:49 pm
So with the meet and greet scheduled after the 14 day waiting period this must mean she is hired, no matter what. What is truly sad is the total destruction of our system under Lewis and the continued destruction under Tyson. The Board should have let her leave, not given her a raise. Clean house and get rid of the total incompetance at the Central Office all the way to some Administrators at some schools. When, as a volunteer, I am having to oversee certain activities that DeKalb has a paid staff member that is supposed to take care of, I question the whole system.
Dekalbite@ Ernest and dekalbed
August 19th, 2011
2:54 pm
Let’s look at Marietta City Schools which is almost identical to DCSS in demographics except they have a greater poverty rate.
Look how Emily Lembeck, the Marietta superintendent of school system feels about the “core business of educating students”:
From the AJC June 20, 2011:
School officials said the budget process has been challenging since 2008. Lembeck said privatizing custodial jobs was a difficult decision based on the economy, which has driven school systems to look at business and staffing practices….
…It becomes more difficult to protect what happens in the classroom without looking at some services that are not directly related,” Lembeck said. “Reducing days of instruction through furloughs and larger class sizes is not in the best interest of our core business of educating students.”
50% of Marietta City School personnel are teachers. They have preserved their teaching personnel at all costs.
Compare class sizes for Marietta City and DCSS:
Ms. Tyson has stated DCSS has around 6,400 teachers, but I’m going to go with 6,500 figure. Let’s use 97,000 for student numbers (that’s the figure on all of the DOE sites).
Regular Education teachers in DCSS have around a 28 to 1 ratio of students to teacher while Marietta City Schools have around a 19 to 1 ratio of students to teacher. Regular Education teachers are the teachers who teach students math, science, social studies and language arts.
For Parents interested in how their child can sit in a class of 30+ in DCSS, read on.
DCSS:
97,000 students divided by 6,500 teachers = 15 to 1 students to teacher ratio.
DCSS has quite a few Special Ed teachers (around 1300+) and Media Specialists (160), Gifted, Coaches, etc. They add up to around 3,000. When you take out the almost 3,000 teachers that are NOT grade level and content area teachers, you are left with around 3,500 grade level and content area teachers (also called Regular Education Teachers).
97,000 divided by 3,500 Regular Education teachers (the ones that teach math, science, social studies, and language arts to every child) = 28 to 1 student to teacher ratio.
Let’s remember that the Primary teachers cannot have 28 in a classroom and the thousands of magnet students cannot either. So now the teachers in grades 4 – 12 in the Regular Education classes have to take on extra students. That’s how we see 34 and 35 and even higher in high school classes.
Marietta City Schools:
Marietta City Schools has 653 teachers and 7,800 students per the state DOE and state salary and travel report.
7,800 students divided by 653 teachers = 12 to 1 students to teacher ratio.
418 out of 653 Marietta City Schools teachers are grade level or content area teachers (i.e. Regular Education teachers).
7,800 students divided by 418 Regular Education teachers (the ones that teach math, science, social studies, and language arts to every child) = 19 to 1 students to teacher ratio.
Interestingly enough, I didn’t see any Pre-K teachers in the Marietta system so perhaps the Pre-K is being done by the private day care systems.
Dekalbite@ Ernest and dekalbed
August 19th, 2011
2:57 pm
Look at Marietta City Schools low income concentration of students per school as contrasted to their Adequate Yearly Progress. We are always told we have so many students in poverty that little can be done to move them forward. But this system with a greater concentration of poverty than DCSS has had consistent progress.
Marietta City Schools
Title 1 schools:
Burruss ES – 45% low income – Met AYP for the last 3 years
Dunleith ES – 100% low income – Met AYP for 2 years (Did Not Meet this year)
Hickory Hills ES – 100% low income – Met AYP for the last 3 years
Lockheed ES – 100% low income – Met AYP for the last 3 years
Marietta 6th Grade School – 64% low income – Met AYP for the last 3 years
Marietta High School – 45% low income – Met AYP for the last 3 years
Marietta Middle School – 66% low income – Met AYP for 2 years (Did Not Meet this year)
Park Street ES – 100% low income – Met AYP for the last 3 years
Sawyer Road ES – 100% low income – Met AYP for the last 3 years
Westside ES – 42% low income – met AYP for the last 3 years
Marietta Charter School – 20% low income – Met AYP for 2 years (Did Not Meet this year)
Non-Title 1 Schools:
Marietta Center for Advanced Academics – Met AYP for the last 3 years
Not to take away from the accomplishments of Dr. Atkinson, but her school system is almost the exact same size as Marietta City Schools. I wish we were looking at a similar student achievement record.
Disgusted
August 19th, 2011
2:58 pm
Actually, disgusted is an understatement. I have teacher friends in Dekalb that have not seen a meager 2% cost of living increase in over FOUR YEARS. Same salary for several years, yet here these jokers are getting thousands in monthly expenses stipends ON TOP OF their six figure salary??? Have mercy.
Happy Feet
August 19th, 2011
3:11 pm
So it appears she worked in Rockdale County for a couple of years (did not stay in any one place for a decent amount of time), has anyone bothered to check there?
teacher reader
August 19th, 2011
3:25 pm
Besides her high salary and expenses each month, her salary cannot be lowered unless she agrees to it. Teachers on the front line have not had that option. They have had retirement benefits taken away from them as well.
The entire way this was handled was poor. Hopefully if she does keep things as they are, that people will wise up and elect better people for our school board. Something in education has to change. Our children are falling further and further behind.
Write Your Board Members
August 19th, 2011
3:31 pm
This Board does not want change– they are very interested in protecting the status quo, at least the majority of them.
Happy Feet, at most of her other jobs, she was so far down the food chain, that people don’t have a reason to remember her.
Wrong person for the wrong job — but she will be hired anyway.
Dekalb taxpayer
August 19th, 2011
4:07 pm
She gets more in expense money than some DCSS employees get in salary. If we lowered the amount of the salary and benefit package, would we get lower caliber applicants? It’s hard to imagine. I think it would be worth a try. We might get fewer professional job-hoppers applying.
Abandon hope all ye who enter here
August 20th, 2011
7:49 am
Well, it would appear that we are entering an even lower level here in DeKalb. At this point, I don’t believe it will improve until SACS takes away accreditation from what passes as a school system here in DeKalb County. I doubt that will happen, though. Do I want that to happen? No, especially since I have a child that is in the 11th grade. I liken the whole DCS crisis to a wound on the body. Currently, we are in the inflammatory phase and the wound will not improve until some strong medicine is applied (I don’t think Dr. Atkinson is what any good doctor would prescribe). Perhaps losing accreditation may do it. Maybe then self- proclaimed communtity leaders, silent county and state government officials, apathetic parents, and uninformed citizens who re-elect ineffective, unethical board members will sit up and take notice of the pain that is inflicted on our children. Only then will we be able to move on to the proliferative and remodeling phases of the healing process. I am amazed at how seven out of nine people can choose to ignore the concerns of the public and appoint this candidate as superintendent. I am angered by the arrogance of board members who can subject us to one poor decision after another, yet they are relatively unchecked by the state accreditation agency, or even chastised by our governor or county commissioner. I wonder just how desperate or greedy this candidate must be to come here knowing how little support she would have from the parent base. Do not expect anything different from Dr. Atkinson; that is why the board wants her to have the position. I feel bad for the schoolhouse employees; the people who work directly with, and support our children each school day. As with Ramona Tyson, when it came time for layoffs, those layoffs did not come from “administrative obesity.” Shamefully, (most) layoffs came from the lowest paid employees in DCS. Statistically, it is very likely some of these same people are still looking for a job, given the current economic climate. Yes. business as usual will continue in DCS. However, when it comes time for more SPLOST money, I wll give to them what they have given to me and mine. NOTHING.
Abandon hope all ye who enter here
August 20th, 2011
7:51 am
Sorry, I meant to say how our board can go unchecked by our county commissioners and CEO.
WAKE UP
August 20th, 2011
8:53 am
“As I said, Dr. Atkinson will have my support, because there is no other option.”
This is truely the saddest statement of sentiment I have see! I guess your children have “no other option” beacause you are giving up?
If Atkinson was the right person for the Dekalb super job, then …
- Lorain, OH would be begging her to stay and not created a this cheesy PR campaign (they seem to be happily kicking her to the curb).
- The several other school systems she has interviewed with would have gobbled her up.
- The Dekalb Board would not have had to hire her so in such mysterious circumstances.
She seems to be climbing all these ladders and jumping from school district to school district and yet she is known as someone who “cleans up” districts? C’mon people, WAKE UP!
Public school -- NOT!!
August 20th, 2011
9:03 am
Off topic, but regarding a related AJC article — “No Child Left Behind forces transfer decisions on school systems, parents”, every day my wife and I are grateful we have the resources to be able to send our children to private school, since K and now high school. Though we are double paying for their education, e.g., our property taxes are approximately $6500 per year, these continuing stories about the public school systems in “Atlanta” only confirm that our decision to avoid the public school systems is spot on !!!!
Ari Silverstein
August 20th, 2011
9:04 am
Until the DeKalb residents, including those on the board, can get past making every decision based on race, regardless of whether an invidivual is qualified to hold an office or be our school supt., then why should we expect to receive the best from our efforts?
Ponder
August 20th, 2011
9:14 am
Ari Silverstein at 9:04 am — welcome to the world of Atlanta politics, political correctness, and the mentality and voting block of the generational government dependents….
John
August 20th, 2011
9:17 am
Let’s send a clear message to the school board and not re-electing them next year. I have become tired of county and government officials being paid hansom salaries to destroy the fabric of our community. Dekalb County was once the best school system in the state 30 years ago and one of the best counties to live. Now we are noted for have one of the worst school systems in the country? We as constituantes need to be more thorough in our decision process when we put people in public office. Our school system speak loud when try to attract new business opportunities and jobs. We need to take back control of our county and put THE BEST qualified person in office, not who is the easiest to find.
Reality
August 20th, 2011
9:21 am
Ari and Ponder — funny (maybe not), but you just described the process and outcome of our Presidential election of 2008!!!
Jacquie
August 20th, 2011
9:46 am
The last thing we need is another superintendant to come in here and bleed the school system and can’t produce. Just because the school system is majority black does not mean we have to have a black person fill that position. I have several friends who have moved from Dekalb County schools to either Gwinette & Cobb to offer their children a better education. Not only are some parents failing their children but our school board is failing us also. Let’s get this mess cleaned up & get it right.
DeKaldEdukated
August 20th, 2011
10:44 am
Administrators in DeKalb are bought and paid for. Anyone who understands the dynamics in the buildings on the south side understands this. Most of the administrators are painfully incompetent and very, very poorly educated. They make money that they could never make anywhere else. By all appearances, this new super will be no different. Anyone who knows and deals with the Bowens, Womacks, Walkers, Cunninghams, and Copelin-Woods knows that they likewise are way, way out of the league. Why would they get a good super, since they themselves are so incompetent? Maybe citizens will mobilize now and work for real change through the ballot box. My fear as a south DeKalb resident who has spent a lot of time in developing countries is that, for my part of the county, it is too late. We are becoming like an Atlanta version of Soweto. The money is fast drying up, and white folks are about fed up with the all corruption that infects our black-run institutions. It is embarrassing to me that I drive along roads overgrown with weeds by schools that do not teach basic reading and writing knowing that white people on the north side foot the bills.
starlight
August 20th, 2011
11:02 am
@WAKEUP-you are right on target. Cheryl Atkinson is the wrong choice, only to be found out in the coming months at the expense of our children. Does the fact that she has not be able to stay on any job more than a couple a years despite being mid-50ish mean nothing? I think it’s very telling of professional flaws/running cover-ups. Despite the flashy smile and fancy clothes, she is a very nasty person who does not hesitate to name call and belittle people who do not see things her way. Tragic choice. Phony. Incompetent. Lazy. Can’t get along with people long-term.
Duluth
August 20th, 2011
11:03 am
Agree w/ WAKE UP
I hope these FAILING SCHOOL BOARDS (because lets ADMIT they are THE problem) realize that they are creating a DOMINO EFFECT that will ….
KILL THE RECOVERY FROM RECESSION IN THE METRO ATL.
No one will want to move here and companies will look at this CRAP that is OUR public schools.
The DOMINO EFFECT started with Clayton, then Dekalb and Atlanta. Do the powers that be on these school boards realize that they will be INFECTING Gwinnett, Cobb, etc, etc, etc. Your bad decisions and receckless behavior are killing ATLANTA METRO and any chances of a quicker recovery.
WILBANKS better watch out because we will be getting more of Dekalb’s CRAP. We already are taking much of their failures and look at what is happening with AYP in Gwinnett. GCPS parents and taxpayers need to bombard Wilbanks and others making them realize we don’t need anymore of Dekalb’s or Atlanta’s leftovers SNEAKING over the border. Illegal Immigration is still alive and well!
DO NOT SETTLE! Your neighbors are watching and should have a say about the FIASCO you continue to create from them!
Theft Alert
August 20th, 2011
11:45 am
“I have several friends who have moved from Dekalb County schools to either Gwinette & Cobb to offer their children a better education.”
Moved just their kids (by driving them to say S Gwinnett from Lithonia) or done the right thing and sold their home and bought a home in Gwinnett. Something tells me the 1st scenario described is an accurate assessment of what has taken place. GCPS needs to be on the lookout for enrollment to swell. Gwinnett tax payers will continue to be robbed by Dekalb. BOLO for Dekalb license plates to increase dramatically at Gwinnett schools.
teacher reader
August 20th, 2011
1:39 pm
@ DeKalb Edukated
I hope that you’ll take a look at the latest entry in DeKalb County School Watch Blog.
http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/
I believe that it will open your eyes to what is going on in education. As a former educator, it makes perfect sense to me and is the reason that I left teaching. Not sure what we can really do about it, as the government is entrenched in education now.
Dunwoody Mom
August 21st, 2011
10:28 am
We already are taking much of their failures and look at what is happening with AYP in Gwinnett</i?
Gwinnett County School System has never made AYP.
Dunwoody Mom
August 21st, 2011
10:32 am
We already are taking much of their failures and look at what is happening with AYP in Gwinnett
Gwinnett County School System has never made AYP.
Duluth
August 21st, 2011
10:45 am
“Gwinnett County School System has never made AYP.”
No more sneakers / cheaters with Dekalb plates sitting in carpool at ANY GCPS!
Dekalbite@Theft Alert
August 21st, 2011
12:30 pm
Dekalb Schools (along with APS, Cobb Schools, and Fulton Schools) LOSE literally tens of millions of tax dollars every year under the “equalization” formula as the state redistributes the money to “poorer” rural systems. Gwinnett Schools continues to be classified a “poorer” rural system, so they GAIN tens of millions of dollars from the rest of us. Since Gwinnett is so populous and therefore heavily represented in the legislature, nothing ever gets done to rectify this. That is one reason my property taxes are so much higher in DeKalb – we have to make up the difference that flows out of the county. I would say any DCSS students who slip through the cracks in Gwinnett can’t even come close to the “equalization” inequity (FYI – that’s an oxymoron).
Write Your Board Members
August 21st, 2011
1:12 pm
Dunwoody Mom
Gwinnett system has never made AYP but most of their schools do. They absolutely do a better job than DCSS even with their most challenging students. From hiring principals to professional development for the teachers, GCPS is heads above DeKalb.
Dunwoody Mom
August 21st, 2011
1:27 pm
@Write your Board Members…I don’t disagree. However, to those who think AYP is the only thing that matters, I was just pointing out that the fact that GCPS has never made AYP.
Dr NO aka Mr Sunshine
August 22nd, 2011
7:09 am
$275K annually plus expenses, plus gas allowance etc. Geesh!! Where is her free cadillac? Why not just give her a blank check.
Dunwoody Mom
August 22nd, 2011
9:22 am
I know that many people will have questions about the ideas Dr. Atkinson has for turning around DCSS academically. I, for one, would like to ask how she plans to handle Board of Education members who will attempt to entrench themselves in the day to day running of the school system.
Dunwoody Mom
August 22nd, 2011
10:37 am
Charter schools which are part of an LEA can be a “receiving” school. I think the rules are a bit different for stand-alone charter schools as they are not part of an LEA.
Dunwoody Mom
August 22nd, 2011
10:37 am
Oops…wrong thread.
Ernest
August 22nd, 2011
6:33 pm
Dunwoody Mom, I understand what you are suggesting however we must remember, the superintendent is the only employee of the Board. If a subordinate believes their boss is doing something contrary to their duties, they should inform the Board member and entire Board, if necessary. If the behavior continues and no action is taken on that Board member, the superintendent could appeal to SACS. I recall Dr. Brown did that while he was superintendent.