DeKalb business group releases its school board endorsements. Does it influence voters?
EduKALB today announced its endorsements in the DeKalb school board races, taking a pass in the District 4 contest in which incumbent M. Paul Womack Jr. faces three challengers, Jim McMahan, Jim Kinney and Tom Gilbert.
How valuable are such endorsements? Hard to tell. In elections held in the dead of summer, turnout seems to be the most critical factor.
I am assuming that the lack of an endorsement in District 4 reflects the lack of consensus on the best choice. As an editorial writer involved in endorsements for 12 years, we had a hard and fast rule that we could not deadlock: Voters had to make a choice so we had to as well. It can be tough in races where everyone offers something worthwhile or in races where there is no good option. Having met all four candidates for District 4, I am assuming that this is a case of the former.
A chamber-led group of business and community leaders that organized in response to the school system chaos, eduKALB endorsed five school board candidates last year. Of the five it endorsed, only two won their seats, incumbent Gene Walker in District 9 and newcomer Donna Edler in District 7.
Here is the group’s choices in the remaining three races this year:
District 2: Marshall Orson
District 6: Denise E. McGill
District 8: Pam Speaks (Incumbent.)
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
The AJC is looking for engaged voters with opinions about political issues. The AJC is building a contact list of voters to interview for future political stories leading into the November elections. If you are willing to talk with a reporter on the record about your views on state and federal races, please complete a short questionnaire and we will follow up with you.
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168 comments Add your comment
Over it
July 18th, 2012
8:43 pm
@dunwoody mom: can you tell us how Nancy Jester has supported all kids in DCSD? She and McChesney were in favor of splitting Druid Hills High School between 3 bard districts while preserving Dunwoody representation by a single board member.
David Schutten
July 18th, 2012
8:45 pm
@tim
I detect a bit of racism in your remark. So you are saying everyone whi lives south of I-20 is a loser? What a stupid remark. Go ahead and slug back at me you anonymous, clueless coward. Actually, I believe the majority of EduKalb members live north of I-20.
And unlike you, I am posting under my real name. Who is the real loser here?
nanayh@David Schutten
July 18th, 2012
8:51 pm
“He told me the school system would probably Be in violation of the Federal Equal Protection Clause if only one segment of employees was targeted for a pay cut.”
So it’s illegal to target “one segment of employees for a pay cut” if they are employed in high paying positions at the central office, but it isn’t illegal to force all Pre-K teachers to take a 40% plus pay cut? I’m very confused.
Teacher Reader
July 18th, 2012
8:52 pm
Spoke with Marshall last week at a candidates night and he seems to not understand that we don’t have money to fund Fernbank and other choice programs. His excuse was that there should be money for these programs, but it’s been spent on law suits and such. The reality is that the money isn’t there and has already been spent. We are in a deficit, and it’s even worse than the 85 million that was the second guesstimate.
Marshall, also did seem more concerned about “his piece of DeKalb” and didn’t seem to understand that we need to focus on making all of DeKalb better. What has been done is already done. We can’t rewind the clock and get back the millions misspent. We have to deal with what we have now. I don’t want to hear what we shoulda, coulda, and what he woulda done. Those decisions are water under the bridge, and we need to make decisions on what is.
I found him frustrating and condescending. For that attitude alone, I will not vote for him. He is better than no one, and EVERY child deserves to have a neighborhood school as good as Fernbank. Learning should always be fun and the goal of any school should be to create life long learners and thinkers.
A Question
July 18th, 2012
8:55 pm
So McChesney supporters get on here to trash Orson. Then the DSW regulars who seem to act far more civil on this site than on DSW. But then again the McChesney supporters and DSW idiot regulars are one and the same. The regular idiot bloggers on DSW appear to gang up on and bully anyone who disagrees with the DSW party line. The DSW regular idiot bloggers operate like an out of control mob. Back to the question: Why didn’t EduKalb make an endorsement in District 4?
David Schutten
July 18th, 2012
8:56 pm
Enter your comments here
bu2
July 18th, 2012
8:57 pm
(You forget the tremendous support Eugene Walker received from the Fernbank community. They voted for him overwhelmingly.)
Yes, Dekalbite you are proving my point about the bias (BTW while I don’t doubt you, noone has ever given any data supporting your assertion about the vote). And yes, you taught at Fernbank Elementary and had a bad experience there with obnoxious parents. I’ve met some there. But not as many percentagewise as other schools my kids have gone to. And none of that has anything to do with Orson’s positions.
You may differ with him (and you have a strong objection to Fernbank Science Center-and got part of your way-they cut the FSC, but not a dime of that went into science education-it was all lost, just as I told you and everyone else at DSW2), but that doesn’t mean its special interests. Orson’s kids do not go to magnets. Fernbank Elementary kids don’t go to FSC any more than the rest of the district. As his letter says, he wants to preserve some of what is good about DCSS. Even if you and Dunwoody Mom disagree with his priorities, its not personally benefitting him or benefitting his area more than other areas. In fact, very few of the elementary magnet kids are from central Dekalb. They’re mostly from north of 85 or south of Dekalb Avenue. So its just the typical DSW paranoid nonsense that he is only interested in his area because he doesn’t agree with 100% of the accepted beliefs.
David Schutten
July 18th, 2012
9:03 pm
Pre-K teachers who are certified K-5 and signed a contract have a right to move to a certified K-5 position or choose to stay where they are and take a huge pay cut. Dr. Walker told me yesterday a lot of pre-K teachers may decide to stay in pre-K and take a drastic pay cut. I told him he was wrong. I talked to several pre-K teachers today who want to leave pre-K so as not to take a pay cut. I seriously doubt that more than one or two, if that many will choose to stay in pre-K.
@tim
July 18th, 2012
9:09 pm
Don’t be late for your KKK meeting? Did your ignorant wife starch your white robes to your satisfaction? I say ignorant because only an ignorant woman could marry an ignorant man like you.
bu2
July 18th, 2012
9:13 pm
There isn’t one of the current 9 board members who seems to have an interest in resolving the budget issue timely. They are just blaming Atkinson or the other board members. Its irresponsible. For all the blame on Atkinson for her mistreatment of teachers, if the board would resolve this, there would not be so many problems. Saint Nancy just says no. The others just pass the buck or don’t even show up (Speaks, Womack).
I think the quote in the AJC article is right. None of the members up for reelection want to make a tough decision.
What the...
July 18th, 2012
9:17 pm
Considering the quality of leadership in Dekalb County, everyone there is a loser!
David Schutten
July 18th, 2012
9:22 pm
@bu
It will be interesting to see what the Board does after July 31. Not all of the Board members are blaming Dr. Atkinson. Dr. Walker definitely is. But I am on public record stating my belief that he is leading the charge to protect the Friends and Family Network. The nicest thing I can say is that it is disingenuous for him to say and act as if he is unaware of the nepotism that has infected DCSS for far too long. But until other people stand up with me, this network will be hard to defeat.
Teacher Reader
July 18th, 2012
9:24 pm
I don’t support McChesney any more than I support Marshall. McChesney let me ask my questions and didn’t walk away from me like Marshall did when no one else wanted to speak to him. He was rude. I don’t have to agree with the candidate I chose to vote for 100%, but I do want someone who is willing to tell me his beliefs and answer my questions on why he believes the way he does. Marshall did not do that.
As far as Fernbank, if the 3 million isn’t being used for science education, than that is 3 million being wasted, and the building should be shut down. The science programs offered at Fernbank should be in the schools and be more accessible to children. I am tired of the Tale of Two DeKalbs, those who are educated and those who are left to educate themselves.
no great choice
July 18th, 2012
9:26 pm
David
I suspect the only ones who will voluntarily stay are those who are the most recent hires in the system and it is that job or no job — otherwise, Walker is out of his mind (does he even have one?)
As to Orson, before his kids started school, he spoke to a friend of mine who was a graduate student at Emory about forming some of the same support groups that he was familiar with in his work from PEN and in Atlanta. As I recall, they could never get traction and the effort faded.
However, the Orson I know now, and I know him well, really does have a fairly myopic view of DeKalb — and he frustrates me because he doesn’t understand that schools like Fernbank are not the norm, because of their parent resources. (Keep in mind that its parents fund two teacher positions, one for science and one for art as well as a part time assistant to the art teacher) There are maybe three to five elementary schools in the system that can raise those types of funds.
He has been told, by others, that he comes across as to interested in Fernbank and the interests of a select few and yet he doesn’t change. I do think he understands the needs for a better system, but he is mostly interested in protected his version of the status quo, in order not to impact our own community.
@What the
July 18th, 2012
9:26 pm
And it takes a loser like you to spot other losers. Do you charge dues for your loser club, or is it free to losers like you? Is there a losersdar version of gaydar that makes it so easy for you to spit each other?
Dunwoody Mom
July 18th, 2012
9:36 pm
@Over it…I have no idea what you are referring to.
Angela
July 18th, 2012
9:38 pm
@David Schutten,
Please, Oh Please answer these questions: 1) Why can’t DCSS cut Cheryl’s pay as well as take away the expense ACCOUNTS? 2) Why can’t you all look at those employees who have 30 or better years of employment and give them an insentive to retire or even force? Also, perhaps offer early retirement insentives to those with less than so many years to retirement? 3) Why does the county always look at teachers to attack when we are the true backbone of this system? 4) Why, are there bonuses being given to specific schools when we have funds problems? 5)When is the county going to start making parents more responsible for their child’s actions?
I could go on but …………………………… Thank you in advance for your response.
Marney
July 18th, 2012
9:43 pm
When did everyone’s tone have to become so uncivil? Although it is not new, it is one of the reasons that I rarely post. To the point about David sitting near Orson in subcommittee meetings, he has also sat near me. & I next to Pam Speaks and Don. I don’t know Orson and don’t intend to make any judgement as to how he will behave if elected. I do know Don well enough to have been challenged by his bluntness. But he has also returned phone calls and been forthright and concerned for the desires of the Medlock community (cell tower elimination), ICS (rent the Medlock elementary building rather than leaving it empty and abandoned) and Fernbank (remember that he was part of the redistricting discussion that responded to changes that the Fernbank parents wanted) and Avondale (they got moved into the Druid Hills High School when their middle and High were closed.) He couldn’t get a majority vote to get a more experienced candidate for Super, but he has consistently asked important questions..
nanayh@David Schutten
July 18th, 2012
9:45 pm
All the open positions in my school are already filled by administrative transfers. Are there really 100+ positions in K-5 for us to step into? We are due to report to school in less than 3 weeks. When will we be given this so called option to step into other teaching positions? We haven’t been told anything and are basically forbidden to ask questions.
Angela
July 18th, 2012
9:48 pm
Just some food for thought. There seems to be so many DCSS parents and other system parents on this blog. Might I ask a question and I really don’t mean to offend. But, when do you all spend quality time with your children and husbands and wives and man or woman? There are those MOMs that are soooooooooo addicted that they are up and on here at 5 and 6 in the morning and on here until wee hours in the night. I am on here from time to time and I have a 31 years old but you all have school age children. I cannot imagine taking away this much time from my child, man or otherwise. Please help me to understand the addiction and most of all your real family value of quality time.
Again, I do not mean to offend.
Married with (School) Children
July 18th, 2012
9:49 pm
David Schutten @ 9:03 pm — “Pre-K teachers who are certified K-5 and signed a contract have a right to move to a certified K-5 position or”
David, my understanding is that DCS Human Resources is NOT allowing Pre-K teachers to be moved out of Pre-K. Atkinson and/or her direct reports are apparently telling the board one thing (claiming that pre-K teachers are choosing to stay where they are) and doing another (prohibiting them from moving out of pre-K, just like nanayh@9:45 PM says is happening to her).
I realize that I am anonymous, so you have absolutely no reason to believe me, so consider the following: Teachers have to report to school on August 2 (eight working days from now) and children come back to school on August 8 (twelve working days from now).
DCS’s administration just implemented a hiring freeze yesterday (July 17).
How does Dr. Atkinson fill the vacated Pre-K slots in twelve days, during a hiring freeze? The answer is she does not; instead, she just screws DCS’s pre-K teachers and lies to the Board about what she has done.
David Schutten
July 18th, 2012
9:59 pm
@Angela
At the risk of being accused of being a mouthpiece for administration, Dr. Atkinson has a contract that is similar to superintendents in systems of similar size. Expense accounts are a regular part of a suoerintendent’s contract. She is still using a beat up old Ford as opposed to the Cadillac Dr. Brown negotiated.
I do not think anyone is attacking teachers. However, the Board can’t agree to make significant cuts in other areas. I am certain I will be attacked for this observation,
You can’t force anyone to retire. I am on record encouraging double dippers, those drawing TRS and full time salaries, to retire, If I remember correctly, the system saved little if any money in previous retirement incentives.
The federal government has labeled some schools eligible for SIG: School Improvement Grants. These grants include bonuses for all staff. I explained this to Richard Belcher when he called me about his story. DeKalb has 5 SIG Schools. The state DOE is helping DeKalb develop the SIG plans in accordance with federal guidelines. No local or state tax money is used for this federal program.
Your last question is being asked all over the country. It is no where near as bad as it was 10-20 years ago when a parent could call Bldg A to get a school discipline overturned and the principal or teacher was not even consulted. Any other teachers had a student tell you, “Call my Mom, she won’t do anything,” or been accused of picking on a student because you expected them to follow the school rules like everyone else? The question is how do you hold those parents accountable who don’t care as well as those who believe the rules apply to all students except their children? Everyone is struggling with this question.
Miss Management
July 18th, 2012
10:04 pm
Marshall Orson, in his famous letter, said in essence, ‘we need to close schools in south DeKalb neighborhoods, saving about $600,000 per school, while preserving $4+ million to keep Fernbank Science Center (in his neighborhood) afloat.’ This includes special ‘door to door’ transportation for the lucky STT students. Same for expensive door to door magnet transportation. What part of that kind of thinking is ‘ok’? Really? It’s like the starfish story—Well, at least it worked out for ‘that’ one! (”Mine”) Too bad about all the others.
http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2010/03/letter-from-fernbank-elementary-school.html
I do agree on his one point, “We believe devolving decision-making and accountability closer to the point of implementation can create an environment of innovation and success while enabling DCSS to realize greater savings in non-instructional/non-schoolhouse expenses.”
Split the behemoth up! Give my neighborhood our school money and let us run our own schools our own way!
Miss Management
July 18th, 2012
10:06 pm
And you are SO right, Maureen! Why no choice for District 4?
Wimps.
David Schutten
July 18th, 2012
10:09 pm
@nanayh
We are working on this issue with our members. Call me tomorrow if you are an ODE member. I know that Dr. Atkinson is not telling the Board pre-K teachers are choosing to stay in pre-K because she told me yesterday they have to place almost all certified pre-K teachers in K-5 positions. (That is Dr. Walker’s line.) HR is simply overwhelmed. One of our staff members has been spending a great deal of time at HR and Internal Investigations every day helping our members get placed. As I said earlier, I talked to several pre-K teachers today. This is one of the services we provide our members, unlike the other organizations.
Ain't No Crazy Glue Strong Enough to Piece DCSD Together Again
July 18th, 2012
10:11 pm
Gotta love county elections. This is better then the new Dallas melodrama.
SOLUTION: FIGHT TO UNSEAT THE ENTIRE BOARD. We have no other way out if we are going to stay in this county. We are 3 weeks away from school and this is what we have? Shame on the Board and shame on Atkinson for not doing more to get rid of dregs like Ramsey, Tyson and other dead weight at the Palace. Stop with the insane contracts for the “fat” that keeps driving this county into the ground.
The candidate pool is sad across the “Board.” The sadder part is that this electoral representation is not for the county, but for the particular district from which they come. The first thing that needs to happen is for the state to appoint a new Board and PURGE these moronrs from laying hands on our children. If Orson wins, it is all about Fernbank because he and his constituents want to control their part of the “refined” DeKalb and give their dues to Druid Hills Country Club instead of Paideia, Atlanta International School, the Atlanta Girls School, etc. Let’s ensure that their kids get to walk to their science center while they are at it. Let’s not forget that Orson & Co. were behind the pseudo PAC that put fear in the hearts of many to VOTE FOR SPLOST to get rid of two board members (which was not true). What a debacle that turned out to be and all we get to do is watch more of taxpayer dollars get wasted by the group of degenerates.
Now, if I had to choose between McChesney and Orson – I would hold my nose and vote for Orson, but watch him ever so carefully as he engages with scumbags like Walker, because i would put good money on Orson to contnue to woo him for his little piece of DeKalb. McChesney’s buddy is Jester and NJ has done everything to support him and build herself a nice little area in Dunwoody, leaving her old Hawthorne (Briarcliff area) behind and she will get his support when she is up for reelection in two years. McChesney has been poor representation and has actually defended CLew! Shocking that there are still people who do not think he is a warp, twisted and crooked individual.
District 4 – you just want to take a pass on this one, but you can’t. Womack knows too much and could be an asset to spearhead a substantive investigation, yet he did oversee the finance committee throughout this mess. Now, the Board members are not supposed to be in the details, so the fact that the Board members were not smart enough to catch blatant errors and that the STATE auditors also missed key line items really leads us to how the Central Office operates. Former CFO is out and that was a good step by Atkinson. McMahan is NEW to District 4 and is fresh out of District 2 post the census redistricting where he was pretty closely aligned with Orson and the Fernbank contingent. Well versed and intelligent, but his addition could align a trifecta with Walker, Orson and McMahan “breaking a deadlock” but trading favors for their special interests. Kinney – who doesn’t love a real intellectual tied to education? Sigh – love what he says, but I would not wish this group of degenerates upon him. Don’t know if he has the political chops to deal with the truly low IQ that makes up both the central office and the BOE. Gilbert is not even worth a sentence and is a joke. The reason eduKalb passed – there really isn’t a good decision here.
District 6 – McGill is the only viable candidate. Johnson is old Friends and Family, New Birth and just the epitome of everything that is WRONG with this county. Latasha Walker and her advocacy goes back to redistricting when she filed a lawsuit that added John Evans and the NAACP without his knowledge. The last candidate, whose name escapes me, was not impressive.
So, after thoughtful analysis, I say it is time to disband this mockery and embarassment. The fact that each one of us has spent time evaluating the sad options in front of us shows that we all care and want to get some resolution; HOWEVER, the DCSD BOE will never attract strong candidates until we take these jobs seriously. Have the state bring the number of districts down to 5 immediately, eliminate the Super Districts and look to eliminate elected representation and replace the seats with qualified educational policy folks. This county is too big to be in the shape we are in. AND, let DeKalb keep its tax dollars from going to other counties!!!
Angela
July 18th, 2012
10:19 pm
@David Schutten,
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I appreciate your responses. As for being attacked – I repeat unless these who attack are in the system they really don’t know what is going on. They just think they do. Thanks Again!
AQuestion
July 18th, 2012
10:22 pm
Maybe they are not wimps. Maybe they know something no one else knows. All feedback from the forums indicate that two of Womak’s opponents are wacky: a disgruntled arrogant parent, and another one who can only talk about the way “we do things at Home Depot.” And why would Mr. Womak, who represents a relatively affluent district, start his remarks with “I am just a South Georgia redneck,” instead of, “I am a successful business man?”
Correction
July 18th, 2012
10:31 pm
Teachers report back on Aug 7. Students Aug 13.
AQuestion
July 18th, 2012
10:33 pm
@Ain’t No Crazy Glue
Insightful analysis. I don’t take Kinney seriously with his me and my kids are smarter than everybody else at Tucker Middle School. The new Dallas is too melodramatic to pay much attention to it.
bu2
July 18th, 2012
10:46 pm
@no great choice
I don’t know Mr. Orson well and have never talked in depth with him, but as he has a child that goes to Druid Hills MS, I find it hard to believe he thinks all the district is like Fernbank ES. As Fernbank ES had a book drive for one of the other schools in the Druid Hills cluster and he is very involved, again, it stretches the imagination to believe he doesn’t understand, despite your perception.
tank
July 18th, 2012
11:07 pm
Based on what I’ve seen and others have relayed here, McChesney seems like an honest guy. He is prepared for meetings and asks good questions. He tries to do his best and doesn’t appear to have a special interest agenda. I think it is important that he was a teacher too. What I’ve observed and heard about Orson consistently seems to give the impression that he does have a narrow, Fernbank-centric view. I’m sticking with the honest, reliable, teacher.
Dekalbite@bu2
July 18th, 2012
11:24 pm
Fernbank is a very involved community that provides great educational opportunities for its students. Most of the parents got where they are by being smart and working exceptionally hard. They work equally hard passing these values along to their children. We could only wish that Title 1 money was spent as wisely in our low income schools as Fernbank spends its PTA and Foundation money. This would go a long way toward “leveling the playing field”, the very reason Title 1 is supposed to exist. Working hard to ensure the children in your school have as many enrichment opportunities as possible is laudable.
Should they have inserted themselves into the Fernbank Science Center debate using their influence with the Board to ensure the center was virtually protected from budget cuts while science teachers in the rest of Dekalb took on as many as 37 students in a class and subsisted on 50 cents a child a year for science supplies and equipment? IMO – this was not appropriate. If the Fernbank community was so intent on keeping Fernbank Science Center intact, they should have put their efforts into making it self sustaining.
It is natural to advocate for your school – e.g. escaping redistricting, obtaining a new school, etc. but when you always get your way while others give way, it seems that compromise is not a value the Fernbank community espouses.
Blip
July 18th, 2012
11:43 pm
Orson v.McChesney: although McChesney is far from the worse on the board, he has been in office for the past four years . He was on the board while the board fecklessly pursued the money draining lawsuit. He was on the board during Marcus Turk’s bungling of the books. He was on the board while the graduation rate and test scores dropped. His record speaks for itself.
Over it
July 18th, 2012
11:48 pm
Fernbank Science Center is not intact. All employees there including 28 science teachers, one who is the ditstrictwide teacher of the year, have been terminated as of July 31. Now with a hiring freeze, it is unclear if any will be hired back to wok at the Science Center.
The Deal
July 19th, 2012
12:07 am
Voting McChesney over Orson for several reasons. For the past year, McChesney has really stepped up his community involvement hosting forums at various coffee shops, he has repeatedly asked the questions his constituents email to him, he responds to every email, and he expresses a point of view with respect to current issues that is in alignment with mine.
Orson, on the other hand, in addition to his myopic view, really turned me off when he and other Fernbank parents formed the PAC for the SPLOST vote and perpetuated the myth that voting for SPLOST was the only way to reduce the board by 2 members. I also question the fact that the Fernbank PTO was advocating for Eugene Walker in the last election and then was magically bumped to the top of the SPLOST list for a replacement building when they had a multimillion dollar addition in 2006. Too much of what we’re trying to get away from: favoritism, politics, trading favors, throwing others under the bus, and ego.
Dekalbite@Over It
July 19th, 2012
12:44 am
“Fernbank Science Center is not intact.”
It is not intact now, but it was from 2010 when Mr. Orson and the Fernbank Elementary School Council began to lobby for no budgetary changes until last month.
In 2010 Mr. Orson and the Fernbank Elementary School Council wrote “At the same time, we believe that Fernbank Science Center is one of the DCSS entities best positioned to seek longer term third party external support, particularly in the absence of any other science museum or center in the close-in Metro Atlanta area.” Yet nothing was done to move the science center off the DeKalb Schools books and make it a non profit self sustaining entity.
Fernbank Science Center was greatly overstaffed with admin and support – in 2010 there were more admin and support than teachers and even as these changes were made in June, 2012, there were still 28 admin and support personnel to 28 teachers. In addition, Fernbank Science Center was/is in desperate need of millions in renovations, had lost the rights to use the Fernbank Forest, lost their NASA funding, and in possession of aging equipment such as the 1972 telescope and an outdated electron microscope. These are all liabilities for a non profit that might want to take it over.
Fernbank’s greatest asset has always been its instructors. While a non profit would love to take on these talented individuals, keeping an overstaffed admin and support group and taking on an aging facility would be a difficult sell. That was probably a deterrent to making it self sustaining.
Hopefully, the supporters that have such an interest in preserving the center, and this includes people outside the Fernbank community, will come together to help Fernbank reinvent itself in the 21st century as a non profit self sustaining entity. Fernbank has not changed appreciably since the 1950s when it was created while science has changed dramatically. Change can bring opportunities. Fernbank Science Center needs to seize some of those opportunities.
Over it
July 19th, 2012
7:21 am
I cannot hold Orson accountable for not changing the Scence Center to a more sustainable model.I also cannot hold the teachers at FSC accountable for this. Their responsibility is to teach the kids in DCSC, not raise funds. Just as teachers in a school do not have authority to make sweeping changes in the way a school operates, neither did the teachers at FSC. Sadly, the llosers in this mess, as always, are the teachers and the kids.
I do however hold McChesnet 100% accountable for his record as a member of the Board, and that record speaks for itself.
Ernest
July 19th, 2012
9:32 am
David:
Thanks for coming to this blog and participating in the discussion. I know you have skepticim and concern about some of the discussions in blogs however you provide a perspective that helps the greater community with these ongoing conversations. I hope you will continue to join from time to time as your schedule permits.
I’m not a teacher but I called David recently on behalf of a teacher who was unsure how to resolve a local school issue they found themself in. The teacher was apprehensive to speak to their principal for fear of being labeled a complainer. David offered several suggestions, including the teacher contacting him for further assistance. Perhaps there are others that had different experiences but given some of the upheaval throughout the Central Office, I know this teacher was glad to know that you would be there for them.
Ernest
July 19th, 2012
10:04 am
To the point of Maureen’s question, I don’t think the endorsements have much impact on influencing voters. I believe the current state of the school district will influence the ‘anti incumbent’ voters to turn out. Given the TSPLOST initiative is also on the ballot and there seems to be a lot of energy, both pro and con for it, I believe we will have a higher than expected turnout for a summer election. The energy that comes from that could influence who is elected.
Something to consider, if the incumbents are not re-elected, will that change how they vote on issues? I believe the office installation is still in January. Does anyone know?
Dekalbite@David Schutten
July 19th, 2012
10:12 am
“I consulted with an employment attorney this week. His initial assessment was that the Board attorney was correct, however, he will do more research. He told me the school system would probably Be in violation of the Federal Equal Protection Clause if only one segment of employees was targeted for a pay cut.”
This doesn’t ring true. In 2010, all DeKalb personnel making over $100,000 were required to take a 2% pay cut. Isn’t that “one segment” of employees? If it was okay then to cut the pay of one segment of employees, why would it be different now?
Read more: CrossRoadsNews – Superintendent’s pay proving divisive
“Earlier this year when DeKalb Schools’ highest paid employees – those making more than $100,000 a year – took a two percent pay cut, Superintendent Crawford Lewis voluntarily took a 2 percent cut even though his contract didn’t require it.”
Lewis’s cut may have been voluntary, but the $100,000 “segment” was not.
Here is the link to the CrossRoads news article.
http://www.crossroadsnews.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Superintendent%E2%80%99s+pay+proving+divisive+%20&id=5110787
Here is the the quote from and link to the DeKalb Schools website saying they singled out one “segment” of employees for a 2% pay cut:
“Additionally, DeKalb County Schools will implement a modified Transportation Efficiency Plan: cut central office equipment, travel, and supplies budget; cut by 2% central office employees making $100,000 and above; rescind the $2.00 per student supplement to principals; and eliminate three programs.”
http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/budget/comprehensive-restructuring-plan
It seems a little too convenient that now it is not legal to do this when it was done two years ago and apparently was legal then.
Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure
July 19th, 2012
10:28 am
@Crazy Glue I believe that children who live near FSC can already walk there, and your comments make NO sense really. @The Deal If I recall correctly, Dr. Walker’s 2010 opponent Ella Smith had few qualifications to serve on the board of a system Dekalb’s size. I believe that is why the Fernbank community supported him. @Dekalbite ditto this and as you continue to roll out Mr. Orson’s letter from 2010 as if that’s some dagger blow to his candidacy, please know that it’s not and your argument really is silly. I don’t see how advocating for the school that your children attend is something to be ashamed of…Mr. Orson will soon be able to advocate for all of Dekalb’s students when he wins the District 2 seat. He will be a vast improvement to the existing board.
Dunwoody Mom
July 19th, 2012
10:33 am
Bill & Ed…you still fail to give specifics as to how Mr. Orson will advocate for all of DeKalb’s students when his past words and actions do not reflect such behavior.
GotBusted
July 19th, 2012
10:41 am
@David Schutten… your post yesterday at 8:45PM just sealed the deal on how I feel about you. Some of us teachers came to you several years ago requesting help with a really nasty situation with a volatile principal we had and YOU and your team did absolutely nothing for us. YOUR team told us to work it out with the principal who we later found out was a “family member” AND under a doctor’s care for a “condition”. You did nothing to help us. Almost all of us quit ODE at that point. Now with your very childish rant, I agree… how can you claim to be fit to protect teachers when clearly you are in the pocket of DCSS administrators???
GotBusted
July 19th, 2012
10:46 am
@ David again… your 9:03 comment…. LIE!!! I know first hand of a prek teacher offered a K or 1st grade position at her school at the end of last year. NOW she is being TOLD that she MUST STAY at prek!!!
CTPAT to @ David Schutten
July 19th, 2012
10:47 am
David, I’m an employment lawyers and my understanding is that pay cuts have to be applied equally to all people within a certain class, so we could not just say the CO takes a pay cut. Instead, all 12-month employees would have to take one (which would include some school-house personnel and some lower-paid employees in functions like maintenance). What I’m not clear on, and which someone who specializes in the rules related to public education employment practices would need to answer, is whether you can tier the cut within a class based on income. Meaning, all 12-month employees take a cut but those earning less than x$$ take a lower % cut than those earning more $$. I think that statements that everyone in the system would need a cut are inaccurate and could be overcome by saying that everyone takes a cut and then instituting special bonuses for those categories where you don’t want the cut to apply, like teachers, so that at the end of the day, they don’t take a cut at all.
Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure
July 19th, 2012
10:53 am
@D-mom please read Middle School Mom’s comments on page 1. I respectfully submit that Mr. Orson’s work as president of the Emory/Lavista Parents Council is an example of the knowledge, accountability and responsibility he will bring to the Board. He has done well to educate parents of District 2 in this role, which will only expand when he is elected. Your record of outspoken opposition to the funding of FSC, will never allow you to view Mr. Orson as a candidate who has the best interest of the entire system in mind. But there are things like this in his record that show his leadership and potential to really be an agent of positive change for the Board.
Crabs in a Bucket
July 19th, 2012
11:05 am
These BOE members climb all over each other to preserve their district- except when they form alliances in the back room for nefarious purposes. It is like some twisted version of Education Survivor. The students are just an afterthought. I just want a quality education for my children, and I think most parents do (North DeKalb AND South DeKalb). I don’t think this board is willing or able to do what is best for ANY of our children. I also think that members up for re-election are trying to stall until after July 31st, then they will do whatever they want to do. I want to be optimistic about the elections, but with this electorate I won’t hold my breath that people will actually vote for change. There is too much apathy and not enough education in DeKalb. Parents who work (with) and volunteer in the schools are tired of seeing our efforts negated by an uncaring board. It is frustrating and demoralizing for the parents and students who are mature enough to understand how continued inaction affects the quality of their education. What else can we do? What else needs to go wrong before the state intervenes?
bu2
July 19th, 2012
11:32 am
Its a zero sum mentality that says you can’t be for excellence in education in Dekalb and also be for improving bad schools. We need to figure out how to do both. If we destroy the good things, the middle class leaves, funding declines even more and the whole system starts to look like Avondale HS and MS did at the end with abysmal test scores and dropout rates and a population that was 100% low income. Noone with a choice would live in Dekalb and go to Dekalb schools.
Dunwoody Mom
July 19th, 2012
11:36 am
@Bill & Ed…my objection to Mr. Orson has little to do with his support of FSC. I have no problem with others viewpoints, even if I disagree. I actually have friends who supported keeping FSC open – that’s their view, I respect it and have moved on. Again, Mr. Orson has time and again, with his written word and interviews with the media have shown a total view of supporting only those policies which support Fernbank ES. That’s fine for a community member. It is not acceptable for a Board of Education representative.