Does a split vote undermine new DeKalb school chief?
DeKalb made it official. Cheryl Atkinson is now the school chief.
Does Cheryl Atkinson leave Ohio and begin her tenure in DeKalb already at a disadvantage because of the 6-3 vote today by the school board to hire her as the district’s new leader?
Boards members Nancy Jester, Don McChesney and Pamela Speaks opposed hiring the 30-year veteran who now leads the Lorain city schools in Ohio. Jester and McChesney had released long public statements a few weeks ago expressing concern over her track record in Lorain.
As one poster wrote this morning after the board vote: Is 6 to 3 the kind of ringing endorsement that SACS is looking for? A 6 to 3 vote on a superintendent from a dubious-at-best little school system (one high school). I just mop the floors in one of our big high schools here in DeKalb. I am not known to be a scholar but I know that I have a lot of common sense, and I am a deacon in my church. I know something about leadership and what moves people. I also know when the pastor is more interested in what is in the collection plate than what is in a man’s heart or what food is on the family’s table. Something is just not right about this superintendent selection. Something in the milk just ain’t clean.
I can’t read anything in anyone’s heart, but I wonder what’s on Atkinson’s mind now that she has to deal with the public doubts conveyed by that split vote.
On other other hand, plenty of Georgia school superintendents glide into office on unanimous ballots by their boards of education and still end up in mortal combat with members. A unanimous vote doesn’t assure successful or even civil relationships in the long run.
Congratulations to Dr. Atkinson. We wish her and the 100,000 students of DeKalb well.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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130 comments Add your comment
Jesse on Base Two.
August 29th, 2011
5:25 pm
Tommy and Willie say that she goin’ be O. K. That’s the word from the Street Committee. The word is that she ain’t gonna change much, but she ain’t gonna wreck much like Hall in Atlanta. Ain’t this what the majority on the school board wants?
What’s the odd on the Dogs and the Broncos this Saturday? I’d say that ole Gene & Gang ought to escort the new supe to the Chick fil-A Classic. Several players from DeKalb County will be playing for the Dogs. This will be more fun for her than trip to the much-vaunted and very boring Fernbank.
BobDog
August 29th, 2011
5:41 pm
She’s already within two votes of the five needed to fire her. That is a terrible starting point for her. Maybe she can win some of the three over, but it’s doubtful.
chillywilly
August 29th, 2011
6:13 pm
@Tiger – If “white in-town democrats” like you would stop voting for republicans like Nathan Deal, we wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place. Sitting on park benches, sipping lemon extract & sprite, hugging your dogs and complaining won’t solve a damn thing. So would you like to fire all of the blacks and replace them with whites?
Tiger
August 29th, 2011
7:05 pm
Chilly: White in-town Democrats voted for Obama, just like you, and voted for Roy Barnes, not Nathan Deal. But Nathan Deal did not cause the problems in Atlanta and Fulton county governments, DeKalb government, Dekalb schools, and APS that white in-town Democrats are concerned about. Black politicians and administrators did. “Sitting on park benches, sipping lemon extract & sprite, hugging your dogs and complaining”?? See, that’s just the kind of attitude that white in-town folks perceive and are talking about. Believe it or not, we’re generally ideologically and philosophically on your side. We don’t care if local governments or schools are being run by blacks or whites — but we do expect competence and respect. We can only take city and county governments and the school districts being run into the ground by blacks for so long — especially when it is also delivered with a dash of attitude. Keep it up, and as gentrification continues things may change.
MANA resident
August 29th, 2011
7:33 pm
The AJC reporting on the meeting is inaccurate; please ask the reporter to check with someone who was actually in attendance and correct this article. Jester, McChesney, Walker and Copelin Woods spoke prior to the vote, and Speaks afterward.
Good for Goosie
August 29th, 2011
7:36 pm
@Melanie: “Glad I’m Retired: I am glad that you are retired too. Did you not know that every Supt. in the State of Ga. is under a 3 year contract which is usually renewed each year to maintain the 3 years by law (as Max) as long as the Board is pleased with the Supt.When they are not pleased, they will either let the contract run out or do a butout. A Supt. is not going to walk away from a job that is secure to one that is not.”
Funny, that’s exactly what Lilly Cox asked for and was described to be outrageous! (According to the leaks)
Maureen Downey
August 29th, 2011
9:20 pm
@MANA, Nancy Jester copied me on a note she sent to our news staff noting that she did speak at the meeting: She wrote:
Maureen
.
Real Talk
August 29th, 2011
9:44 pm
Howdy1942…..Build a Bridge and get over it…..
Melanie
August 29th, 2011
9:56 pm
So Jester still wants Cox. Excuse me, please, Cox didn’t want DeKalb. She used us in contract negoiations. Yet, the contracts of Cox and Atkinson are very similar. No problem with Cox, huh, Jester but BIG PROBLEM with Atkinson. The majority of Dekalb County has been represented and the majority is pleased. I am please with one of my Board members and can’t wait to get the other one out. Bye Pam!
Real Talk
August 29th, 2011
9:59 pm
Tiger: Spoken like a true “W” entitlement proponent. Columbus started gentrification (genocide) and he and his cohorts felt justified too. Respect is for everyone not just the so called “chosen ones.” I am sure you like lemonade too and you probably have the luxury of having parks in your neighborhood. Remember that the first will be last and the last will be first! Prophecy is unfolding and you cannot stop it. Your arms are too short to box with God. Pharaoh that found out and you will too.
Good for Goosie
August 29th, 2011
10:05 pm
Looks like the (liberal) “In-town Democrats” are deluded. They don’t know that no matter what they do, they will never be perceived as “being on their side”. How entertaining they are.
DK parent
August 29th, 2011
10:13 pm
@Melanie, Jester never had Cox as her first choice. Wasn’t that made explicitly clear in the letter she sent out earlier this summer? You don’t know what Jester thought of anyone’s (possible) contract because it never was something she discussed in the public. Jester made her statement and said there were candidates with better records. She said candidates – as in more than one. She has spent most of her time addressing that point. What she said about the contract (not being a good deal for the taxpayers) was short in comparison. I think she’s focused on student outcomes. Rightly so, I might add. Thanks Nancy!
Bring on the Vouchers!
August 29th, 2011
10:35 pm
First APS, now DeKalb. Wake up people, lets stop throwing our money down a rat hole!
If public education is not working, lets open it up to competition. The world has changed!
Melanie
August 29th, 2011
10:39 pm
DKParent: I agree that therewere more qualified candidates. Candidates that were interviewed that we were not aware of unless you knew the candidate, personally. For example, Georgia State School Supt. of they Year, Dr. Samuel King from Rockdale County, where ALL SCHOOLS made AYP for the past 5 years even with the large number of llow SES schools. Now, that’s a fact. He was interviewed early on with the first group and eliminate. Why? Maybe, his record wasn’t considered simply because he was from Ga? How stupid? Anyway, Rockdale has just realized the jewel thay have and extended his contract with even more pay.$225,000 with only 16,000 students. By the way that Board has only one black member. No Race problems in Rockdale ” Lessons to be learned in Dekalb”. Thank God, King is where he can continue to make a difference!
Homer Jepson O'Dell, F. W. (former wrestler)
August 29th, 2011
10:55 pm
Dr. King, Sometimes it’s good that you don’t get what you think at a time that you want. You’re much better off with the good folk of Rockdale County. They seem to appreciate a good leader. Good for you!
Homer Jepson O'Dell, F. W. (former wrestler)
August 29th, 2011
11:03 pm
Karen Waldon hired in Atlanta? Cough, cough, cough. Ugh. Do school boards learn dumber or what? Is this your first big hire, Erroll? You flunked the test.
Nice BOE Ya Got There DeKalb
August 30th, 2011
12:10 am
When will DeKalbers stop electing clowns for BOE?
Jay Cunningham
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/dekalb-school-officials-record-690212.html
Gene Walker
http://www.accessnorthgeorgia.com/detail.php?n=150517
Zepora Roberts
http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2010/08/09/saltzman-vs-roberts-wouldnt-be-a-fair-fight-but-the-tv-reporter-asked-a-fair-question-about-nepotism-in-dekalb-school-board/
Paul Womack
http://championnewspaper.com/news/articles/852tiff-leads-sen-jones-to-file-ethics-complaint-against-school-board-member-852.html
Sarah Copelin-Wood
http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2010/04/sarah-copelin-wood-look-at-her-as-why.html
Write Your Board Members
August 30th, 2011
5:29 am
Board districts will be redrawn this year. Does anyone know when the new lines come out?
MamaH
August 30th, 2011
7:40 am
@ Write Your Board Members – it is my understanding that first of all, one of the SACS criteria is that the Board be pared down to (not sure if correct) five. I think there should be qualifying criteria to even be put on the ballot, in other words, no criminal background, higher education degree, and a knowledge of business (actual experience would be great). That way we have people there that really understand what is put in front of them and are good stewards of the DCSS. As far as districts, there needs to be equal representation from the North side of the county as well as the South side with maybe one being an at large candidate or better yet one appointed by the State. This might work not just for DeKalb but for all school boards in Georgia.
I applaud the three members that voted against Dr. Atkinson because they appeared to be the only members who truly did their homework. Again, Dr. Atkinson is a pleasant person with a wonderful personality but was not qualified to be named the Superintendent. She strikes me as a “yes” person who could be easily manipulated or swayed when it comes to certain individuals or situations. She also strikes me as an individual that will let her personal bias’, opinions, and agenda dictate policy.
Dr NO aka Mr Sunshine
August 30th, 2011
9:19 am
It doesnt really matter because 2 to 4 years from now not much will have changed and the same cryers will be crying and the same 2nd chance givers will be screaming “give her a chance” and all the other non-sense.
PS…Im gonna go out on a limb now and say “Told ya SO!!”
Kanarstead
August 30th, 2011
9:37 am
“Im gonna go out on a limb”
You are not going out on a limb, you have been planted there for a long, long, time.
The Deal
August 30th, 2011
10:25 am
I wonder if SACS cares about the behavior of those three who walked out while McChesney was speaking.
Dunwoody Mom
August 30th, 2011
10:36 am
@The Deal…I had the same question. SACS put APS on probation for the behavior of their Board. It appears to me that the DCSS board is “behaving badly” in the same manner.
Here are a couple of Board Member Code of Ethics Requirements that this Board has ignored:
3. Board members shall work with each other in a spirit of harmony and cooperation even when there are differences of opinion. Board members shall interact with each other in a respectful and professional manner. Disagreements among Board members shall be handled in a professional and non-confrontational manner.
17. Board members shall not disclose to anyone confidential or privileged information, including information discussed and documents distributed during executive session.
MamaH
August 30th, 2011
10:56 am
“Buckle your seatbelts, its going to be a bumpy ride!”
Ladalang
August 30th, 2011
11:39 am
This is like entertainment, she totally snowed your community and you all fell for it. She thinks she’s starting with a clean slate that all her “issues” in Lorain were swept under the rug but this woman hasn’t changed she’s still the do nothing talk a big game money hungry individual she was in our district. I’ll be watching from Ohio. People don’t change, she isn’t suddenly going to work wonders. She talks a good game until you figure out that all it is all talk and then she moves on. She did it us she’ll do it to you. I promise I won’t come back and say, told you so. Ok I lied I will, you were warned about her you just didn’t listen.
Dunwoody Mom
August 30th, 2011
11:43 am
@Write your Board Members…I believe the redrawn BOE districts come about in January of 2012.
The Deal
August 30th, 2011
12:24 pm
@Dunwoody Mom, do you think there is any point to contacting SACS with a copy of the ethics and the actions that have been violated in the past couple of months – and the inaction of the Chair related to these incidents?
Dunwoody Mom
August 30th, 2011
12:37 pm
It wouldn’t hurt to contact Mark Elgart – though just a guess that he is probably aware.
Hydrogenized Protein
August 30th, 2011
1:00 pm
I have seen them all up close. Clayton. Atlanta. DeKalb. Cobb. Gwinnett. As far as a school system is concerned, Atlanta is the worst hands down, especially under the Dark Ages of Beverly Hall. Khaatim El tried to reign her in, but her connections in the business community (lucrative contracts, you know) targeted Mr. El and made his time as Chair quite miserable. Erroll Davis’s first big hire, Karen Waldon of Henry County, was a bad choice, in my personal opinion. She’s been known to be a little heavy-handed and drew out MACE’s only picket ever in Henry County…at Austin Road Middle School a few years back.
DeKalb. Full of nepotism. The school system really does look like a jobs program for the well-connected — or perhaps even an extension of Eddie Long’s New Birth Baptist. Right now, you have a gang of thugs running the board and school system. They didn’t want an excellent superintendent. They had one right next door, Dr. Samuel King, in Rockdale County, but they were very content to reach up to Lorain, Ohio to bring down a rather mediocre-at-best supe. I hear that there is a New Birth connection.
Clayton. Erick Davis and her little fiefdom got all upset when newly-elected board member Norreese Haynes began to shed the light on the now infamous Land Deal and other very dubious practices…like the illegal contract between the school board and attorney Dorsey Hopson. She hooked up with Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell to make Mr. Haynes look like the bad guy. But, Davis and the rest of the board members either resigned under duress or were removed from the school board shortly after illegally removing Mr. Haynes from the school board. Mr. Haynes has been vindicated. They did to him what the same thing was done to Khaatim El in Atlanta.
Cobb. Well, SACS won’t mess with this mess, I am sure, because of the apparent close connection between attorney Glenn Brock and SACS’s Mark Elgart. But, this board argues and rants and raves about the pettiest things…like school calendars. Perhaps they ought to turn their attention to arguing over using Dixie Cups in the PTA because change is a’comin’ in Cobb. Well, it’s already here. Half or more of their students are now minorities, and only one of seven on the school board is a minority.
Gwinnett. Talking about minority students. Over half the students in Gwinnett are now minorities. Over one-half. But, there is not a single minority on the school board. A real recipe for disaster. One lady of the five-member school board has served for nearly 40 years. My guess is that her fellow board members will talk Louise into resigning mid-term so that they can appoint a docile black person to symbolically take her place. Gwinnett has nearly a million people, and when there are only five school board seats, it is almost financially insurmountable for a newcomer to wage a costly campaign for the school board. Incumbents keep getting elected, and this is the problem. Because of the size of this county, the legislators in the General Assembly from Gwinnett ought to push for this school board to be expanded to sever or nine members, but this won’t happen.
My name is Hydrogenized Protein, and I am bad for your health. I am a member of Booger’s Cousins Writing Syndicate.
D. McCaskill
August 30th, 2011
2:07 pm
Dr. Atkinson is an excellent choice. She will get the job done! I hate we did not hire her in Charlotte, NC. Give her a chance Dekalb County and work with her, not against her. If she said her game plan will be in place in 90 days, knowing her personally, it will. Congratulations Cheryl!
MamaH
August 30th, 2011
2:15 pm
@ Hydrogenized Protein – You are absolutely right about DeKalb. The pattern not only applies to the school system; however, it applies to the county government as well. Dr. Atkinson does indeed have a strong connection to New Birth and “Mr. Eddie” probably ensured that once she was rejected by APS that she would be considered for DeKalb. Afterall, the more members that he can get into positions the more money and power (either real or perceived) he will have. That is why we have a bundle of non-performing schools because a lot of the teachers and administrators that are questionable at best. The central office is filled with non-performers and a lot of positions have been created so certain individuals could have a “job”. Crawford Lewis started all this and was allowed to employ at will. Remember, the same Board members that voted for Dr. Atkinson also gave Dr. Lewis their 100% support, even after proof of wrongdoing came out (and I know there is more to come).
MamaH
August 30th, 2011
2:18 pm
@ D. McCaskill – you can still get her, she hasn’t purchased a home yet. I am hoping Lorain won’t let her out of her contract since she hadn’t resigned prior to taking another position. After all, don’t contracts mean anything? Also, the powers that be in Charlotte obviously knew something or she would have been hired!
chillywilly
August 30th, 2011
2:44 pm
@Dunwoody Mom – Who do you think Mark Elgart is? The Grand Wizard? He’s a worthless bully that pick and chooses his battles based on the financial gain for himself. No one is afraid of Elgart. Contact him if you wish.
MamaH
August 30th, 2011
2:56 pm
Appears chilly has the willys – even though SACS may be aware it does not hurt to give them all the information they will need to make an informed decision. The Superintendent issue, the issue with the Board and shenanigans in the Central Office are all being watched very carefully, whether they realize it or not. It is good that we have an organization such as SACS that can keep school systems on the straight and narrow.
chillywilly
August 30th, 2011
3:19 pm
Appears MamaH has the sillys. SACS is a joke, period! You need not look any further than APS. We need a “legitimate” organization to keep SACS on the straight and narrow because right now, they are very crooked!
SHS
August 30th, 2011
3:42 pm
Integrity
If you have it, you don’t need to have anything else; and if you don’t have it, it doesn’t much matter what else you have.
Atkinson lied on her job application. NO Integrity.
Tyson had to have been aware of and approved, as COO, Lewis’ fraudulent use of the p-card, among other things. NO Integrity.
Turk paid for fraudulent charges on Lewis’ p-card, even after he allegedly told Lewis he could not use his p-card for personal expenditures. NO Integrity.
Bowen, Womack, Copelin-Wood, Cunningham, Edler, Walker and Speaks think lying on a job application is “not a dealbreaker.” NO Integrity.
Bowen, Womack, Copelin-Wood, Cunningham, Edler and Walker regularly exhibit rude, ignorant, racist and unprofessional behavior — wearing it like a badge of honor. NO Integrity.
As far as these people are concerned, the end justifies the means. They couldn’t find INTEGRITY with two hands and a flashlight.
When Edler, Copelin-Wood and Cunningham got up and walked out during Don McChesney’s remarks … when Copelin-Wood and Walker engaged in personal attacks on BOE members who had done their due diligence and determined that Atkinson was not qualified to get DCSS out of the ditch … when Walker left after the vote, rudely ignoring Pam Speaks’ point of personal privilege … they weren’t just showing their a$$es to the other BOE members and those present for the vote.
Collectively, the BOE members named above for their rude, ignorant, racist and unprofessional behavior were both thumbing their noses and showing their a$$es at a whole generation of DeKalb students, most of them underserved, poverty-level black students.
After all, Bowen, Womack, Copelin-Wood, Cunningham, Edler and Walker are all about winning, not educating. But the losers are not the other BOE members they so obviously despise, but the children they profess to serve.
MamaH
August 30th, 2011
3:53 pm
And you’re using APS as an example that SACS is a joke? Really? Wow! Okay, young chilly, have you been drinking that “milk”? Seriously though, there are enough indicators that there is trouble in DCSS. For the Board to do a release late on a Friday like that truly indicates that there is something to hide. That is SOP for any business and does not give people time to research, etc. That fact that it was put to the citizens of DeKalb that this was the choice, period, and you don’t have a say so shows that there are issues. Also, the process at the meet and greet (the standard now in DeKalb thanks to Dr. Lewis of writing questions on cards for preselection) ensures that they can gloss this one over, or so they think. If I were Dr. Atkinson in any other system, I would be worried not having a 100% vote. But clearly she has received the assurances from the “Bishop” that any “problems” would be taken care of.
Dunwoody Mom
August 30th, 2011
4:15 pm
@chilly…I think SACS smacked down APS pretty hard…they ARE on probation.
Fred
August 30th, 2011
4:16 pm
MamaH, you are posting a LOT of BS! Can you show some proof of a connection to Eddie Long? I’d like to see what you have. Is Charles Stanly also
SACS does not have a criteria on Board size but legislation passed during the last session will reduce DeKalb down to 7 Board members. SACS should focus on whether a school district is providng an adequate education for its students. Citizens should be the watchdogs for Board members. They can either vote Board members out or recall them if citizens feel they are not doing the job.
Lorain voted to accept her resignation after she was approved by the DeKalb Board. That is SOP for how this is handled in Ohio.
What difference does it make what time the press release went out? GA law says you must wait 14 days before approving the hire. For all we know, they could have agreed to the parameters of the contract late that evening. Nothing sinister about negotiating late into the evening.
If sharing the negotiation terms of Cox’s supposed contract was a leak, was it a leak when Atkinson’s draft contract was released? After all, it was still being negotiatied yet several citizens submitted Open Records Requests to see it before completion. Couldn’t the same thing have happened with Cox’s preliminary contract?
Dunwoody Mom
August 30th, 2011
4:19 pm
SACS should focus on whether a school district is providng an adequate education for its students
A dysfunctional board, such as the DCSS BOE, affects the education of DCSS students. Hiring a Superintendent from a failing school district to head another failing school district, well, that is still something I just cannot get over.
Fred
August 30th, 2011
4:27 pm
Dunwoody Mom, would a superintendent from a district that is succeeding want to come to DeKalb? I’m sure there are better superintendents out there but how many of them would want to come to DeKalb? The dysfunction of the Board definitely whittles down the pool of likely candidates.
Fred
August 30th, 2011
5:12 pm
Dunwoody Mom, Lembeck in Marietta is making over 250 thousand per year for a school district with less than 9 thousand students. She has had success with test scores, especially for poor students. Would she want a 25 thousand dollar annual raise for 11 times more students, our board, and yes, our citizens?
Edwards in Decatur makes just under 210 thousand. Would she want to come to the largest school district in the county for 65 thousand dollars more?
Perhaps if DeKalb offered more money, they may have gotten interest from more quality candidates. You are looking at Dr. Atkinson in a snapshot. I prefer to look over a reel of time. I find it hard to believe that she got the promotions she did over the years by being inadequate. If so, she has fooled a LOT of people over her lifetime. I think if DeKalb gives her a chance, Board and citizens together, she can be successful. Will either allow her to make the tough decisions? That remains to be seen.
Write Your Board Members
August 30th, 2011
6:00 pm
Fred
We had no way of knowing that Cox was the finalist for the position. Atkinson had been announced.
We are you defending the actions of certain members of this board?
There is clearly something wrong with personnel in DCSS. You seem to be in denial about how poor quality the system is.
chillywilly
August 30th, 2011
6:23 pm
@MamaH – Go sit! And take dunwoodymom with you. The two of you need a job……or a man. lol.
cultured milk
August 30th, 2011
8:26 pm
Hydrogenized Protein looks like John Trotter or one of his “cousins” who are fairly transparent. Well…at least Trotter tells the truth. He doesn’t really care who he offends.
Dekalbite@Write Your Board Members
August 30th, 2011
11:13 pm
Fred is the alias for a number of DCSS administrators that blog on DeKalb School Watch blog and the AJC Get Schooled blog. Generally after Audria Berry’s name or the Office of School Improvement is mentioned, Fred shows up to defend the administration. At one point he admits that Fred is a compilation of people.
See DSW links:
June 20, 2011 A Tale of Two School Systems: Part III
http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2011/06/tale-of-two-school-systems-part-iii.html
This post is all about Berry and the Office of School Improvement and “Fred “ shows up as the second commenter and posts 19 times.
6. July 5, 2011 The Governor’s report is in
http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2011/07/governors-report-is-in.html
“Fred” shows up and instead starts on there is enough blame to go around and posts 9 times – always the same. There are more times he shows up, but these examples
It’s generally during a work day, so I wonder if the Office of School Improvement is using Title 1 funds to pay these people to blog.
Concerned DeKalb Mom
August 31st, 2011
7:48 am
I think a very good superintendent would do their homework and wait a year before trying to come work for DeKalb. The board is so dysfunctional…at least by waiting a year, there would be the potential to work for 7 new board members as opposed to the crew that’s there now. Maybe that’s why others have stayed away…
Fred
August 31st, 2011
10:17 am
@Write Your Board Members
“We are you defending the actions of certain members of this board? ”
What statement did I make to suggest I was defending the board? I agree there is much dysfunction that exists between the 9 members. That should not keep them from doing their job.
The only one who knows who provided the information to Belcher is Belcher. He’s not talking. All we are left to do is speculate who provided the information. Given the leak surrounded Cox’s request to be an adjunct professor, it could have been someone that had a problem with that aspect of the contract. It could have been one of her representatives because she may not have wanted this job. Everyone should be able to admit, dropping out for the reason given by Cox seems lame.
Atlanta Media Guy
August 31st, 2011
10:23 am
Fred is getting awfully defensive! Maybe Fred can ask his bosses why they would wait until 11pm on a Friday, to release the biggest news at DCSS, since Clew and Pope were arrested. The second the Executive BOE session ended and Dr. Atkinson agreed to come, it should have been announced. Friday’s are the graveyard for media releases. Why? The powers hope the story gets buried in the weekend chatter and clutter. Go figure! Seems to me that late release was not very Open and transparent, but DCSS is famous for that. Last year, DCSS sent out an email after 5pm on a Friday, asking parents and employees for ideas on the ethics policy. The deadline for submission was that Sunday at midnight. I remember being sent those links to the old policy, they were over 20 pages. Cere, remember when this happened? I think they extended the deadline after the public outcry. Hopefully, Dr. Atkinson is here to change that perception! She has a whole lot of perceptions to change. Welcome aboard Dr. Atkinson. I hope you succeed. You’re in for one wild ride at the Palace.
Fred
August 31st, 2011
10:25 am
@Dekalbite, my only point is to present the other side of the story. It is easy to sit behind a screen name and flame people with no regard as to whether a post is true. I can admit there are some educators that should probably look for another profession, from custodians up to superintendents. I also know of many more educators that most bloggers don’t know that put their heart and souls into a job that can be thankless by those that choose to simply throw stones.
If you have an issue with a clarification I have shared, be specific. I can admit if I am wrong. MamaH kept posting things that were not true and I responded to it since no one else would. If you merely want to acknowledge something that most people already know, that is OK also. Everyone knows that given the current state of our schools, there is enough blame to go around.