DeKalb school board mess: A quick fix by Legislature gone wrong. Is anyone surprised?
Updated Sunday:
The Legislature has a fondness for the quick fix as demonstrated by its hasty vote last year to trim the nine-person DeKalb school board to seven members or fewer.
Concerned about civility and cooperation on the historically raucous DeKalb board, the lawmakers believed they could foster more efficiency by mandating fewer members. Instead, Senate Bill 79 has sparked acrimony and accusations.
In the metro area, only the DeKalb, Clayton and Atlanta school boards have nine members, and each has faced challenges in recent years with governance and with complying with accreditation standards. DeKalb had had a seven-member board, but expanded to nine members in 2001.
The unanswered question in this debate is whether the school board stumbled because it had nine members or nine members who simply couldn’t coalesce.
While a state commission on school board excellence recommended school boards have no more than seven members, I am not sure that seven people can’t squabble and bicker as much as nine.
Regardless, SB 79 was passed and essentially given to the DeKalb school board to recommend new maps. No suggestions or maps were forthcoming, according to legislators, although school board members disagree. That forced legislators to refashion the maps on their own and the outcome has been a disaster.
“The school board has been 100 percent missing-in-action in having any visible, public and honest discussion with my constituents,” said State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, D-Decatur, during a recent meeting on the matter.. “Yet, they are blaming us for this debacle.”
In defense of the school board’s reticence, state Rep. Michele Henson, D-Stone Mountain, pointed out, “We were asking them to cut members of their own body, something we have never been asked to do.”
School board members did spring into action when a committee of state lawmakers recommended that the school board shrink not to seven but five members, citing the platinum reputation of the five-member board in Gwinnett, an even larger county than DeKalb.
The problem was that legislators redrew the school board districts around the five school board members whose terms expire in 2014 and eliminated the four members up for re-election this year. DeKalb elects its school board members under a staggered calendar, and the law doesn’t allow redrawing maps to boot officials out of office before their terms are completed.
With that constraint, five single-member districts tilted in favor of south DeKalb representation resulted. The five standing board members under the new map were Sarah Copelin-Wood, Donna Edler, Jay Cunningham, Nancy Jester and Gene Walker.
And thus began the complaints that north and central DeKalb were being shortchanged and that the new board would not reflect the county’s diversity.
Allegations of racism angered state Rep. Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler, D-Lithonia. “People are unhappy with a five-member district,” she said. “But where was the outrage when SB 79 came up in the first place? Everyone told us that Gwinnett was the best school system with its five- member board. Well, we have followed Gwinnett with a five-member board and now everyone is up in arms.”
As for concerns about diversity with a five-member DeKalb board, Dawkins-Haigler noted that Gwinnett’s board — an all-white body — does not reflect that county’s vast diversity and no one complains. “I could have cared less how the five board members looked as it long it was five,” she said.
State Sen. Fran Millar, R-Dunwoody, doesn’t blame the school board for the impasse and chaos. “We didn’t handle this very well last year. I got this bill in the Senate on the last day and I assumed that it had been researched by the House. Obviously, it hadn’t because we now know we can’t shorten people’s terms.”
Millar has proposed delaying the entire process until 2015 and shortening board terms as they expire so everyone faces election in 2014 for the seven new seats. If all nine board members choose to run again, two board members in each end of the county would face off under Millar’s plan, thus defusing any charges of favoring one area over another in the reduction to seven members.
“At the end of the day, you get to vote for seven individuals at one time,” he said. “The five-person map wasn’t well received. If you put together a map, whether we want to face it or not, there are north/south divisions in the county that come up. This removes that.”
Rep. Oliver has also filed a bill, House Bill 671, to address the problem created last year. Her bill calls for board members to serve out their terms. The bill states: The General Assembly by local law, to be effective on January 1, 2013, shall divide DeKalb County into seven single-member education districts for purposes of electing the members of the board of education. On January 1, 2013, the members of the board of education representing former Education Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 shall be deemed to be representing the new districts in which their respective residences are located. In the 2012 nonpartisan general election, members shall be elected to the remaining two districts of the new seven-member board of education and shall take office on January 1, 2013.
“I agree that our Day 40 Board size reduction in the last session had gaps, and that is why I pre- filed HB 671 in November — to get better ideas on the table. I think Fran Millar’s plan to delay until 2014 is workable. We can fix it.” says Oliver.
“At the end of the day, the Legislature is responsible for this, not the school board,” said Millar.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
148 comments Add your comment
Dunwoody Mom
February 17th, 2012
10:24 am
Mary Margaret Oliver is completely and utterly wrong. Her assertion that the DCSS School Board was “mia” is just a way to divert attention away from her culpability in all of this. Ms. Oliver, just own your role in this debacle and then move on to “fix” it. You’ll be much more respected than trying to place blame on others.
Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure
February 17th, 2012
10:29 am
It’s been troubling watching this, with every local & state official representing Dekalb pointing fingers at one another. They are all at fault. By not holding meetings on this last year after SB 79 was signed, the Dekalb delegation has managed to make the school board members look like heroes. How is that even possible?!?! SB 79 was necessary, as was SB 54 in 2006-07, which changed the make-up of the county commission. The Board needs to be reduced to 7 members, phasing out the super districts, and it’s a shame that friendships & political allegiances produced some of the most gerrymandered maps I’ve seen in years. We are ALL better of with a study committee, as long at these meetings actually take place.
Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure
February 17th, 2012
10:37 am
@Maureen I’d like to add that it’s the Dekalb School Board members who began this mess with their record of corruption, nepotism, backroom dealing & media leaks that led to SB 79. It’s such an easy out for them to point fingers at the Dekalb delegation. They are ALL culpable.
Voice of Reason
February 17th, 2012
10:42 am
All resient
C Jae of EAV
February 17th, 2012
10:49 am
I’m not surprised. This is just another example of legislation crafted without due dillgence guidence offered in some prescriptive way to net a quality result when implemented.
This happens far too often under the gold dome, which is why in GA the same laws seems to get re-written and voted upon multiple times to correct obvious oversights and mistakes introduced with its inital adoption.
skipper
February 17th, 2012
10:54 am
It is apparant that being able to pour #$*% out of a boot is NOT a prerequisite to be on the school board. When you have ignorance leading inefficiency, the end result is the election of folks incapable of getting the job done. I know that a school board cannot solve the worlds problems, especially in the APS cluster. However, putting unqualified people in board positions will never solve any problem, nor will it launch the beginning of any solution!
Truth In 2012
February 17th, 2012
10:58 am
I find it most hypocritical that so many north Dekalb residents hail Gwinnett’s Board as a model and it does not reflect the diversity of it’s community. Now, after much insistence of reducing the school board and after realizing the possibilities that the Board may end up with proportional representation in light of the fact that 80% or more of the school system are people of color, now the issue of race and equity is taking center stage with most opponents from north Dekalb where there is the possibility of reduced representation. For too long, the minority of the county has had disproportional influence on the district’s decisions as clearly seen during redistricting. Now, everyone needs a voice. However, if the county’s school population is approximately 10% White, I find it difficult to support the idea that Whites should have 43% representation on a potential 7 member board. There was no resistance from the Board members when the legislation was introduced and voted into law. Now, as all things do have unintended consequences, there is outcry of racism and fear of losing representation from north Dekalb–the initial and vocal supporters of the legislation. There is no end to the hypocrisy and schizophrenia in DeKalb.
Truth in 2012
February 17th, 2012
11:06 am
If truth is told, while board members should have no influence in hiring beyond the superintendent,nepotism did not initiate in Dekalb. Qualified family members work in all school districts in Georgia. The cry of nepotism is a political way of saying I did not get the job because I was not related to some decision maker or I think too many people of color are working in this district. Oddly enough, it is often heard the loudest from the vocal minority in DeKalb. Truth be told, many people are related and have many friends. They should not be excluded due to a relationship or friendship. No one is asking Gwinnett to address such.
Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure
February 17th, 2012
11:07 am
@Truth Your statement basically suggests that everyone who is white supports a five-member board. I live in north Dekalb and I don’t support the Gwinnett model. The outcry is about having someone who lives no where near your home represent you on the School Board, and not having the opportunity to vote on your school board representative for 6 years.
Brandy
February 17th, 2012
11:09 am
Could anyone please explain that initial reason for raising it to 9? I’d love to understand as I don’t have “a dog in this fight”, as they say.
Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure
February 17th, 2012
11:10 am
So, basically, your saying that nepotism is OK in the Dekalb School System, because it didin’t originate in Dekalb. It’s OK that DCSS admin is top-heavy with overpaid employees, because other counties & cities do that too.
Maureen Downey
February 17th, 2012
11:10 am
@Truth, I made a comment earlier this week that nepotism is rampant in government in general — but we also have to remember that in rural Georgia schools are often the largest employers. Given few other options for decent paying jobs, it is understandable how three generations of a family could all work for the schools.
People single out DeKalb but I toured schools in rural Georgia where mom and daughter taught at the same school, and and an uncle was on the school board. And a second cousin or two worked in food services.
Is this a model for DeKalb or any other system? No, but it is a longstanding practice across the state.
Maureen
Maureen Downey
February 17th, 2012
11:11 am
@Brandy, I haven’t found too much discussion about it in the media back then but I believe the argument was better representation of growth areas in the county at the time. (But I think Rickster’s explanation is probably closer to the truth. As I still can’t understand in view of all the grief that they get, folks will do anything to get re-elected — even to dog catcher, as they say.)
Maureen
Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure
February 17th, 2012
11:13 am
@ Maureen on your tour, did you find any instances where school board members required books authored by a relative to become part of the school system’s curriculum? Did any of those employees threaten to “slug” you?
Rickster
February 17th, 2012
11:14 am
Two words, Brandy: “Incumbent Protection”
Rickster
February 17th, 2012
11:17 am
Back when the boundaries were being re-drawn after the 2000 census, the decision was made to go to 9 districts so that incumbents could run in newl-created districts that would more likely allow them to remain in office – rather than get defeated in districts that had changed drastically during their term.
Maureen Downey
February 17th, 2012
11:17 am
@Bill. No inside book deals. No threats of bodily harm.
Maureen
skipper
February 17th, 2012
11:22 am
@truth
You want the truth? Quit using the “Diversity” buzz-word and look at the CLUSTER that the APS is! If the black community would focus on the importance of education and quit worrying about putting incompetant people on the board (hard words, but true) things would be better. There is not a minority dominated school system in the state that is performing too well, and in some cases it is due to the make up of the board. Hard words, but true! Of COURSE there have been past injustices, etc. But diversity for diversities sake will not make anything good happen. Get competant people on boards and the process will start. APS is going to be a minority dominated school system for a long time. Does this mean the board, etc. has to be?
catlady
February 17th, 2012
11:26 am
Dekalb has taken nepotism to it’s highest level. It’s not teachers teaching with their children, it’s principals hiring their just-out-of-college kids. It’s CO staff hiring their kids, husbands, wives, for cushy clerical or assistant jobs when they have minimal qualifications. THAT is what undermines school systems.
In thie fight we will get a good idea who on the board is a “public servant” and who is in it for the power and prestige. (If there is any from being on the DCSS school board, that is)
Truth in 2012
February 17th, 2012
11:30 am
Skipper, you need to become more informed. Most minority run districts are heavily political due to race issues, Economic issues, and cultural issues. If you look far enough, you will find many minority-majority communities and schools outperforming their non-minority counterparts. I agree we need competent people. However, I totally reject the idea that competency is automatic with a White majority Board or face. If we had NCLB in place years ago, you would have seen that many White Majority Boards were not meeting the needs of all children. If they were, then the data at the onset of NCLB would have been much different for minorities. Interestingly enough, Most minority children are taught by White teachers. While governance may be an issue, the quality of the classroom tea her is the greater issue.
Beverly Fraud
February 17th, 2012
11:34 am
But but but…the NINE member APS board was AWARD WINNING! Remember? Of course the schools were ACTIVELY engaged in THE largest cheating scandal in US educational history at the time, but still…
Truth in 2012
February 17th, 2012
11:41 am
Catlady, if I follow your reasoning, Nepotism and cronyism continues today. The new Superintendent has been given approval by the board to hire all new leadership without a competitive interview and hiring process and it appears the use of external consultants has occurred without a competitive process with a few exceptions noted such as the pay study. Many of the consultants seem to be past acquaintances or co-workers of the current Superintendent. However, I hear no outcry. Is it because she appears to be removing individuals with whom they may had had an issue with or may not have bent the way their wind was blowing. How are current practices any different from previous administrations? If it is not right for the goose, then it is not right for the gander. Is it right to repeat past behaviors in the name of addressing past behaviors? If you think so, then you have been drinking the same water as many DeKalb residents.
Truth in 2012
February 17th, 2012
11:48 am
Bill, I do not mean to imply that all white persons of north Dekalb support a five member board. However, I find it hypocritical that most persons in opposition are from North DeKalb– the same geographical area that supported the initial legislation. This is exactly what I mean…no spin here.
V for Vendetta
February 17th, 2012
11:52 am
Truth,
How can you argue otherwise when those of us who have grown up in metro Atlanta have watched Clayton and Dekalb sink into laughing stock status. For all their problems, the boards in Gwinnett and Cobb have maintained consistency in those counties. Can you say the same about the once proud Clayton and Dekalb systems? Not even close.
Voice of Reason 2011
February 17th, 2012
11:53 am
Beverly, Boards do good and Boards relegate their responsibilities to others. The situation in APS should call for no more blame or reduction of a nine member board no more than we should eliminate all corporations when one or two major corporations fail. Clearly, we need to teach logical reasoning skills and strategies in our schools. If this were the case, perhaps many boards and corporations would be led by more competent persons.
say what?
February 17th, 2012
11:55 am
@Truth in 2012- you bring up an intresting point of nepotism and cronyism with the new superintendent. She looks busy making DCSS appear to be headed on the right track. But yesterday, we find that we now have a NEW division with Ramona Tyson as its new leader. It has been reported that DCSS needs to downsize but with consultants, and emergency audit teams, I am wondering what is occurring. It is not as if we can call and ask what is going on, but audit teams visiting every school and every employee having to provide a GA ID along with the school system ID makes very little sense as an expenditure. Furthermore, employees must go through background checks every 5 yeaers, that are required, and employees are required to pay for, then what is the goal of employee audit teams? Sounds as if leadership is beginning to show that this new team is not cut out for the job of managing DCSS. And with the new policy of BOE members being required to get approval from teh superintendent to visit schools, we are in more trouble than a little. BOE, superintendent, and DeKalb’s delegation are not looking for the best interest of the children and the taxpayers. All are self serving at this point.
ByteMe
February 17th, 2012
11:56 am
“At the end of the day, the Legislature is responsible for this, not the school board,” said Millar.
Which is why Millar is not in a Leadership position within the Senate. Telling the truth in public is forbidden amongst the “Leadership.”
Coco
February 17th, 2012
11:56 am
I moved here from a state where the school board members were all appointed by the county’s or city’s board of supervisors or city councils. Wasnt perfect, but it was done that way to prevent just this cf.
Truth in 2012
February 17th, 2012
11:57 am
V, I am not arguing support for incompetent boards. I just believe that you have to get to the root of the issue. The root is not the number of board members. The root is their lack of instructional expertise and their inability to hire competent superintendents who know how to improve student achievement for all learners. I by no means excuse the Board. Truth be told, The state needs to consider legislation that all persons desirous of running for local or state Board of Educations qualify as follows:
1. graduate from high school
2. Graduate with a degree from a 2 or 4 year college
3. Spend 100 hours volunteering in elementary, middle, and high schools
4. Take a course on board governance and decision-making
My thoughts only.
N Dekalb parent
February 17th, 2012
11:59 am
It is of interest that everyone keeps referring to N Dekalb as white. Please go look at our schools and you will find that this is absolutely not the case. More whites than S. Dekalb but there is absolutely no white majority.
I also think the problem was not conveyed correctly. It is not the racial division of the board that is a problem – it is the areas from which the members were originally elected. And the fact that the majority of the people that will not have had a vote on the sitting school board were from N. Dekalb. I could not possibly care less about the race of my elected school board member – but I demand the right to have voted in the election for that seat.
Truth in 2012
February 17th, 2012
12:06 pm
Say what, all should pay attention. Steen Miles may have something. the issues you have highlighted only reflect that Dekalb is a fast moving train headed for another wreck. This seems to be the sentiment of many good-willed, competent persons. Any Superintendent or person who thinks that they need all communication with the Board or between the Board and employees to go through them is setting up a dictatorship and jeopardizes the democratic process needed to improve our schools. My problem is not with her asking for such a policy. My problem is the board approving such a policy without healthy, public debate. Leadership requires one to make progress and also deal with the politics without violating the rights of others. Any leadership that removes the rights of others to get done what they perceive needs to be done is dangerous to say the least. To date, many management issues have been focused upon but no public instructional conversations. Oftentimes, leaders focus on what they are the most comfortable with. It appears this is the case in DeKalb. The Board has done it again although they will be very hesitant to admit such. Our children. Our poor little children.
Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure
February 17th, 2012
12:08 pm
@Truth you want to know what’s hypocritical? It’s hypocritical that the same folks who sabotaged the candidacy of Lillie Cox and lobbied for Dr. Atkinson’s hire are now complaining about the changes she’s trying to make. DCSS & School Board folks saw Atkinson as most likely to maintain the status quo, but now that they feel a bit of job insecurity…well.
Truth in 2012
February 17th, 2012
12:19 pm
Bill, you are right, hypocrisy exists county-wide. The new Superintendent seems to have the support of the board members. However, the approach she is taking leaves much to be desired. The kick-but attitude is a repeat of Dr. Lewis’ administration and you see where that led the district. We need change in DeKalb. Making changes is not the issue. We need change the right way. Then and only then is it sustainable. No leader can create good using wrong methods no matter how much the public support such tactics. removing competent persons without cause, jeopardizing the career of others for minor issues, hiring persons without a rigorous competitive process, and creating a hostile and fearful work environment will not produce the results DeKalb County residents are looking for. It is sad that this won’t become obvious to most until it is too late.
Truth in 2012
February 17th, 2012
12:28 pm
Bill, I had another thought. Creating a work culture where people do not have job security is counterproductive. Addressing non-performing employees is one matter. There is a process in place to address this in all organizations. Removing people arbitrarily because of their race, familial ties, or friendship ties, is wrong no matter how you spin it. The board is compliant in this if it allows it without redress. Leaders must be morale. Yes, remove incompetent people after they have been documented as incompetent. However, there should never be a culture wherein people are fearful they may lose their jobs for arbitrary reasons. This are my thoughts.
Brandy
February 17th, 2012
1:07 pm
Thanks, Maureen & Rickster! This whole debacle has had me confounded for years.
Ole Guy
February 17th, 2012
1:25 pm
Tony, don’t feel skittish about identifying a potential problem simply because it MAY/MIGHT/COULD POSSIBLY be deemed as politically incorrect. Those who start screaming RACIST at the first glimmer of anything which suggests reality…no matter how painfull it may be perceived…are, themselves, the guilty party when it boils down to just who the racists are. Quite frankly, I feel that the “politically correct bandwagon” has allowed far too many otherwise grossly unqualified folks to assume positions of responsibility, often times while disqualifying otherwise far- more qualified people…SIMPLY TO FILL A POLITICAL QUOTA. Yes indeed, facts and the hard truth hurt those who, quite frankly, need a little shaking up in the reality department. Unfortunately, PC has become the rule of the land; whenever the lazy feel threatened, they will simply yell RACIST.
Good for you, Tony, for bringing to light a glaring failure in our political system; indeed in our society.
Jack
February 17th, 2012
1:40 pm
Run for a position on the school board and put a stop to all this nonsense.
The Deal
February 17th, 2012
1:44 pm
Truth in 2012, be careful who you blame. The person who mentioned holding Gwinnett up as a model in the legislative meeting was black – clear as day on the video. Up until that video was released, no one had ever heard of anyone mention Gwinnett as a model. The fact is, no one knows where the “ideal 5″ came from. As usual, the people in power are clueless.
Those who oppose the 5-member map are those who are concerned about the geographic concentration, not the racial concentration. 4/5 are within about 10 miles of each other in south DeKalb, and Nancy is way up north. That leaves central DeKalb completely unrepresented. It is a stupid way to quickly resolve the problem at hand.
Our legislators need to do their homework and figure out a way to honor the true spirit of the law, which was that people wanted to start with a clean slate of candidates with a map that is drawn only on the census data, not the current board members’ homes.
Truth in 2012
February 17th, 2012
1:52 pm
Deal, while I do not know that race of the person who made such a comparison and don’t know how you have cone to your conclusion, I am open to hear new perspectives and analyses. I agree that representation is important and that geographical concentration should be a consideration. But my main point remains the same. Proportional representation is important and should be reflected. There is no need to change one’s position since it appears that power will be lost, that is if the decision to initially support such a reduction was non-political and in the best interest of the county.
The Deal
February 17th, 2012
2:01 pm
Here’s the video, Truth:
http://dunwoodynorth.blogspot.com/2012/02/dekalb-delegation-of-ga-general.html
Maureen Downey
February 17th, 2012
2:02 pm
@the deal. Gwinnett was held up as a model during discussions of the various bills last session to change the board. That is true.
Maureen
skipper
February 17th, 2012
2:18 pm
Maureen,
Did “tony’s” post disappear? Ole guy answered it and unless I have computer trouble it disappeared….
Halftrack
February 17th, 2012
2:29 pm
They had to pass SB 79 so that you would know what was in it. Boards & etc. have an efficiency point of members. When you get an extra “wheel or two” in the mix it becomes unmanageable and it allows for distribution of who is to blame. Too many want power and school boards are a prime example for the need of education. Pause.
Dekalb taxpayer
February 17th, 2012
3:49 pm
Maureen, in your tour of rural Georgia did you find any secretaries with GEDs making between $50k and $70k? I have no problem with hiring friends and relatives; I have a huge problem with hiring an unqualified person and paying them far more than the market value of their labor.
Maureen Downey
February 17th, 2012
3:53 pm
@Dekalb, I didn’t look at salaries of clerical staff, although one of the systems I visited only had one receptionist in the central office, the school chief, a special ed director/deputy and a finance person. Everyone else was in the school.
One of the problems — and this is true of administrative staff in the Capitol — is that people get elevated titles that push up their pay grade for the same work. I once looked at the Capitol/legislative support staff and saw many people earning more than $50,000.
Maureen
MiltonMan
February 17th, 2012
6:03 pm
DeKalb – that fine, wonderful county ran by a bunch of moronic democrats – the same people who proudly vote Obama.
The Deal
February 17th, 2012
6:03 pm
Agreed, Maureen, but holding Gwinnett up as a model is not a whites-only or north DeKalb-only thing, as Truth was intimating.
Truth, the reason why people supported SB79 was not to get the board down to 5. The wording says 7 or less. And the way it was marketed around DeKalb was that this would mean we would get a “do-over” on our current board. So when people are upset at the debacle now, it’s not because they aren’t getting what they wanted; it’s because we know the lawmakers are not honoring the true intention of the voters. If the law had included wording that we would create a new map that would last 10 years that would draw districts around current board reps, I don’t think anyone but the board members and their families would have voted for it. So no one is “changing their mind” because of racists or north/south reasons. I didn’t vote for it to begin with, but those who did are angry that their vote is being turned into a legislative mess that could wreck things for 10 years to come.
dougmo2
February 17th, 2012
6:26 pm
Gwinnett County’s school board reminds me of the “nod squad” under Bill Campbell in the city of Atlanta. Let’s be honest here Maureen, whatever Emperor Wilbanks wants, the school board gives him. Remember Gwinnett FIRED a teacher who dared to give an athlete a failing grade for sleeping in his class. (not perticipating in the class as required in the course sylibus) Wilbanks and that board are the real problem in that county.
RAMZAD
February 17th, 2012
8:22 pm
There should be no amazement here. It did not have to come to this, but the DeKalb Schools Board has operated on the edge of being a criminal enterprise or one that coddles or looks the other way.
Bullying that led to a child’s suicide. A Superintendent that ran a RICO style operation with project management department. Board member selling pizza to schools. Some of the most dysfunctional schools this side of Somalia, and of course the criminal erasure of student’s answers to make AYP and to collect bonuses and drive luxury cars.
Constitutionally, that is not really possible, but the DeKalb school system is a good candidate for a complete take over by the State. I would support in in a heartbeat.
Anonmom
February 17th, 2012
8:40 pm
For those speaking of “qualifiers” for Boards of Ed … you need an affirmative disqualifier if you have been convincted of a felony and I think you should have to have a 4 year degree if you are going to making decisions about education involving billions of dollars. You should have to be able to pass a credit check and the criminal background check — then you may run for election in my book. Of the 5 whose terms are not up this year, only 2 or 3 would pass this set of “rules.”