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DeKalb candidate forum went well

2:34 pm July 10, 2012, by Maureen Downey

I moderated a panel of 11 DeKalb school board candidates last night, which had a full house.

It was at 6:o0 p.m. at Westwood College, near Northlake Mall. (Details of event are here.)

In the meantime, I have received several emails on how poorly DeKalb is informing laid-off employees that they no longer have jobs. Two weeks ago, the school board approved 412 layoffs of paraprofessionals, media clerks and specialists, interpreters, school resource officers, central office workers and bus monitors

The AJC is reporting that the DeKalb board meets today and the topic is reduction in staff.

Just heard from someone who wrote:

“I was with a friend going to the county office to complete her retirement papers because her job has been cut. The office was crowded with people, many paraprofessionals and some media specialists, trying to find out whether or not they still have a job. The board/administration has not yet even sent out the letters informing those who are being terminated. My friend found out when another employee at her school happened to be out at the county office and was told to call her and tell her she no longer had a job.

This is a despicable way to notify employees,  some who have been valued employees for many years, that they no longer have a position. Will there never be responsible leadership in this county’s school system?

I am sending a note to Walter Woods to ask about this.

See you at the panel if you can make it.

–From Maureen Downey,  for the AJC Get Schooled blog

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103 comments Add your comment

@Fred in DeKalb

July 13th, 2012
6:16 pm

Why doesn’t the DeKalb administration just start their own blog instead of always sending you guys to post on this blog and DSW? If you want to get your point of view across, just start your own blog.

Question – If you start an official DeKalb County School District blog, will you let anyone and everyone come onto the DeKalb website and express ALL of THEIR opinions?

Fred in DeKalb

July 13th, 2012
7:05 pm

I can’t speak for the DeKalb administration however it is fair to speculate that they would not want to dedicate someone ( a non teaching position) to monitor and screen comments. Some might not be suitable for public consumption. Would that be a good use of taxpayer dollars? I say no.

This blog allows differing opinion, with some discretion. No one as answered yet why DSW does not. I actually agreed with recent comments posted by dekalbite on DSW and have acknowledged that in the past. I think they share insightful information however also believe they rely too much on data that has not been validated. Perhaps since dekalbite is a friend of DSW, they can get away sometimes presenting information out of context. I think that was true of some of the data (gotten from the state website yet provided without validation by the state) about FSC they presented.

Fuhslultlak

July 19th, 2012
9:41 pm

What we’ve been subject to over the last a few years has caused some individuals to question ‘Can we trust Microsoft?’
Blessed is he that has found his work; allow him to ask no other blessedness.
The meek shall inherit the Earth, although not its mineral rights.

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