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
Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure
July 19th, 2012
11:43 am
@D-mom I think we’re going to agree to disagree, bc as previously stated I don’t see how advocating for one’s community & community school is a bad thing. It is likely that most of the current board began as Mr. Orson has, as an advocate for their local schools. This does not mean that he won’t advocate for all Dekalb’s students when elected to a more expansive role, like school board member.
bu2
July 19th, 2012
11:43 am
@The Deal
Gerrymandering districts to dilute the influence of Cross Keys and Druid Hills and try to get reelected.
Horsetrading with Speaks and Jester.
Redistricting to benefit 1 school (Lakeside)
Lets see-favoritism, politics, trading favors, throwing others under the bus-That’s 4 checks for McChesney. And he hasn’t been that effective with his politics. The board couldn’t close schools it knew it needed to close in 2010. It can’t get a budget resolved and leaves teachers hanging this year.
And it sounds like you are saying he has been in office a number of years and now that it is election time, he is starting to be responsive? Another check for politics. Lots of negative attacks on his opponent on his website without any mention of his own accomplishments. Another check for politics.
Dekalbite@CTPAT
July 19th, 2012
12:10 pm
For the 2009 – 2010 school year, all Central Office personnel making above $100,000 (none of them teachers of course) took a 2% pay cut.
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. This is part of a “class” of employees. Not all of the employees. Some were Coordinators – those making above $100,000 took a cut, those below did not. Some were Directors – those making above $100,000 took a cut those below did not. Same job title – the only difference was their income level.
From the DCSS website:
“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
Dekalbite@Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
July 19th, 2012
12:20 pm
“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.”
That worked out really well for them, not so well for the rest of the county.
BTW – for the record – Ella Smith was a DeKalb County parent with a child at Lakeside in 2010. She also taught at Lakeside and was/is a teacher in Fulton County. With almost 30 years of classroom experience, I think she had a pretty good grasp on what teachers in the classroom need to be successful with students. Isn’t that what the discussion should be about – What teachers need in the classroom to be successful with students.
Dekalbite@bu2
July 19th, 2012
12:31 pm
“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.”
The “good things” in education are not having a science center or a really fancy Central Office or spending millions on scripted learning programs. The “good things” in education are attracting high quality teachers for every classroom and a small enough class so the needs of children on both ends of the spectrum and in the middle can be addressed.
We send our children to school to master the content of math, science, social studies and language arts. Only high quality teachers can ensure that this happens. By balancing the budget on the backs of the teachers, we really balance the budget on the backs of students.
If EVERY child in DeKalb had:
1. A safe and clean learning environment
2. A highly qualified teacher in a reasonably sized classroom
3. Abundant access to cutting edge science and technology equipment
….we would not have the middle class flight you speak of. People would be flocking to DeKalb because those 3 components are what every parent wants.
These 3 components should be driving EVERY decision that the Board makes.
Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure
July 19th, 2012
12:35 pm
“Isn’t that what the discussion should be about – What teachers need in the classroom to be successful with students.”
@Dekalbite yes, that discussion deserves to be more prominent in all of this mess. This thread, however, is a discussion of who EduKalb endorsed for school board this year. So, by all means, continue with the insinuations…
Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure
July 19th, 2012
12:37 pm
@Dekalbite Oh, and yes, keep attacking successful schools and programs, and please continue with the negativity and ranting…
@ Bill & Ed from Crazy Glue
July 19th, 2012
12:51 pm
Isn’t it nice to have an elementary school so close to the science center? Why, yes it is. Isn’t it nice to be the only school with such a set up? Why, yes, it is. Isn’t it nice to have ALL DEKALB TAXPAYERS support that one little community? No, it isn’t when only a small, and pretty affluent subset benefit now that all the transportation has been cut.
Local school support is great, but it is not meant for county representation when the majority of the county is poor. Our collective tax dollars are supposed to provide EVERY DeKalb child an education. Fernbank folks have never presented themselves as ever thinking about the county. The protests to save FSC shows how myopic the area is to the rest of the county and they would sacrifice the education of children who have no way out of their socioeconomic condition OTHER THAN EDUCATION for FSC that serves so few so little. We are at the first tier of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and we need to provide the BASICS. The nice-to-haves need to go. Let Fernbank get their own special tax for FSC and get it out of my pocket. We already got bamboozled with SPLOST courtesy of the Fernbank pushers. Hmm, aren’t they getting a new school out of it? Why yes, they are.
D
July 19th, 2012
1:22 pm
Bill and Ed from Crazy Glue, You so mistaken about the relationship between Fernbank Elementary and the Fernbank Science Center. You may have a valid point about whether the science center should be kept or cut or whatever, but to say that Fernbank Elementary students enjoy some advantage there over other county students is complete ignorance.
bu2
July 19th, 2012
1:30 pm
@Crazy Glue
If you understood anything about FSC, you would know it doesn’t benefit Fernbank ES more than any other school.
We have this rant against one community from the DSW group. SCW rants about the rich white people north of Dekalb Avenue. Others rant about poor single parents south of Dekalb who don’t care about their children’s education. We have rants that we should be against people because of their church or where they live.
We should be discussing issues, not paranoid hypocritical prejudices that have little basis in fact.
1) Can they work with people to get things done?
2) What record of success do they have?
3) What will their favored policies achieve?
4) Will they be competent and effective?
5) Will they safeguard our assets?
6) Will they work strengthen the school system’s education?
There’s none of the 7 longtime board members who comes out positive on these questions.
Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure
July 19th, 2012
1:32 pm
@Crazy Glue I wish you could provide some facts to back your assumptions.
Please note that in the last few years, my child has not been on a trip to FSC because it has been visited daily by other schools from around Dekalb, as it has been since 1967. FSC provides a hand-on science experience to children that text books, chalkboards and chalk do not…moving forward, I hope Fernbank does use FSC more, since $2 million was cut from its budget, including transportation. At least someone will get use out of it, before Atkinson finishes drinking the “Close FSC” Kool Aid and slashes its budget entirely.
I’m sure FSC opponents like you won’t stop until it is completely defunded by Dekalb…because you don’t understand nor do you see the value in the institution. A “nice-to-have” to you is something that has been providing valuable science experience for a significant part of Dekalb County for 45 years.
There are other solutions to Dekalb’s budget woes — beginning with the Central Office and salaried positions that exceed $250,000 per year. But you just keep on ranting girl…
DeKalb Inside Out
July 19th, 2012
2:39 pm
@bu2 said
“He also came up with a redistricting plan splitting up the Cross Keys and Druid Hills areas in 3 parts in order to make it easier for Pam Speaks and himself to get relected.”
What map are you talking about? Where do you get this information? Are you guessing or just making this up?
Dr Gene Walker introduced the map I think you are referring to and asked for a majority consensus on submitting it to the DeKalb delegation. Don submitted his approval.
The map that was actually submitted by the delegation and approved by the state conveniently splits Don’s neighborhood in half.
Fred in DeKalb
July 19th, 2012
3:40 pm
@bu2, I’d like to give you two thumbs up for your post at 1:30pm, specifically your comments regarding the rants between different residents throughout the community. Some would say the anonymity pseudonyms provide allow deep seated feelings to be expressed. I’m sure comments like this are not welcome on DSW because it asks about self reflection.
@D
July 19th, 2012
3:56 pm
“You so mistaken about the relationship between Fernbank Elementary and the Fernbank Science Center.”
When the Fernbank Elementary School Council wrote an open letter in 2010 to the Board of Education urging them to enact NO budget cuts to Fernbank Science Center, they established a relationship between the two entities. This group of citizens identified themselves as the Fernbank Elemenatary School Council, and Mr. Orson signed the letter as Mrashall D. Orson, Chair, Fernbank Elementary School Council.
http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2010/03/letter-from-fernbank-elementary-school.html
Fernbank Science Center personnel costs were around $5,000,000 a year and hundreds of thousands more was allocated for student transporation and equipment and supplies. If Fernbank Science Center’s budget had been substantially trimmed or become a line item for deletion, DeKalb could have that $10,000,000 to $11,000,000 in reserves today.
Mr. Orson and the Fernbank School Council also urged NO budgetary cuts to the High Achievers Magnet Progams, an area that cost millions a year in personnel in excess of their FTE count and millions in transportation costs as students are bused out of their neighborhoods and into schools of their parents choice. Reading the Fernbank Elementary School Council’s letter shows they were for no cuts anywhere except they were for closing 4 small neighborhood schools.
They considered DeKalb’s budgetary problems “short-to intermediate revenue shortfalls” and suggested raising taxes, euphemistically called “revenue enhancements” in the letter. What were they thinking? In 2010, the media was full of news about the housing industry and had named DeKalb County as the area with the most foreclosures. Did Mr. Orson and the Fernbank Elementary School Council not realize that we were only 2 mills away from the state maximum, and that plummeting property values would bring down the actual tax collected? They were in step with the DeKalb BOE who failed to heed the warning signs of an economic collapse in the school system as reserves were spent down and taxpayers are presently reduced to borrown money to meet our school system’s payroll. The obvious losers are/will be the students.
When an entity such as the Fernbank Elementary School Council seeks to influence the economic decisions of the Board of Education, they should not be surprised by questions regarding their financial acumen and economic presicence as their ideas crash on the rocks of the reality of the Great Recession.
Vicksburg Falling
July 19th, 2012
4:23 pm
@DIO
While you’re on the subject, I want to point out that the map that was passed by the delegation was constructed by Rep. Oliver without input from anyone except Marshall and Co. It’s a Fernbank map, by the Fernbank People, Of the Fernbank People and For the Fernbank People.
Oh my! There it is @Bill and Ed and @Middle School Mom! You said that Mr. Orson would advocate for the entire school district when issues of the entire district are deliberated and decisions made. You said that he would be an “agent for change”. Would this process be the type of “change” Marshall would like to bring? Where was he in advocating to the legislative delegation to have open meetings throughout DeKalb to discuss their map and it’s impact? Isn’t this reapportionment process entirely and exclusively within the authority of the delegation?
While we are on the subject of change, why did Marshall fail to have elections at the last ELPC meeting? It appeared to many participants that he had ample time to conduct a proper discussion and election because the speaker for that meeting was extremely delayed in arriving. Why would such a professional, concerned about transparency and fairness, fail to attend to the business of this esteemed council? Could it be because he wants to continue to exercise control for as long as possible? How could his failure to adequately and openly prepare for the council’s transition be viewed as anything other than manipulative.
There you have it. Backroom negotiations. Control. Exclusive. That’s not the kind of change we need.
Works in Dekalb
July 19th, 2012
4:26 pm
Dunwoody Mom, has your handle would suggest, you live in Dunwoody, what do you care about what happens in District 2? Or are you a friend of McChesney? Lets hear some of the wonderful things Mr. McChesney has done for the entire school system if he is a better candidate than Mr. Orson. I would like to hear that.
D
July 19th, 2012
4:31 pm
@You my friend. Please read more carefully. Again, there is no advantage to Fernbank Elementary School students. Any assertion to the contrary is ignorant.
bu2
July 19th, 2012
4:48 pm
@Dekalb Inside out
Why do you say I’m making this up? Again we have this hostility against anyone who doesn’t agree with their viewpoint.
Nancy Jester, Pam Speaks and Don McChesney came up with a map after the original map discussed was presented in legislative redistricting hearings (which was apparently signed off on by the other 6 members). If its still up, its from Jester’s web site.
In a healthy system, the school board has meetings on redistricting and works together on a plan which it presents to the legislature. The 9 members of this board chose not to do that. Jester didn’t even understand when the legislature criticized the board for not doing that. She got with her group of 3, had private meetings and came up with a map. The other 6 signed off on another map with no public meeting. It isn’t clear if all of them worked on that map or a few did and the rest signed off. They didn’t acknowledge authorship at the time.
The 6 disenfranchised Oliver’s house district by moving it into SCW’s district which doesn’t vote this year. The other 3 chopped it up into 3 parts. Neither map was acceptable to the delegation as a whole. She tried to present her different map, but the only thing allowed for discussion was the map the 6 signed off on. And I’m glad Oliver and Benefield represented the parts of their districts which were thrown under the bus by the 9 board members in their private backroom maps.
If you’ve seen the video of that second hearing, Oliver and Benefield are the only ones in that video who don’t come out looking bad.
bu2
July 19th, 2012
5:03 pm
@Dekalb Inside Out
In that 2nd hearing, the Dekalb state representatives could not get approval of a map. The 9 school board members had extreme maps that were unacceptable and absurd. THAT is the reason that the TSPLOST didn’t reduce the members from 9 to 7. Its because of McChesney, Speaks, Bowen, Womack and the other 5 who wouldn’t work together like normal functioning groups do. Yet McChesney supporters somehow try to pin this on someone not even on the school board.
Finally the delegation quietly came up with a 9 member map and pushed board reduction 2 years down the road. Note that it was extremely difficult to get information on the exact lines of that final map even well after it was approved.
bu2
July 19th, 2012
5:07 pm
You can choose not to believe what people say in campaign literature, but from Orson’s (all emphasis is from the mailer), FYI
GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR A NEW SCHOOL BOARD:
1. EVERY child deserves a high quality education.
2. The School Board must be accountable for results.
3. the School Board must be educationally focused, fiscally responsible, and committed to EVERY child.
Vicksburg Falling
July 19th, 2012
5:33 pm
@bu2
Clearly you don’t understand the process and reveal yourself in full. Anyone who has viewed the video can clearly see who behaved poorly and it had nothing to do with the map that the school district presented because it had yet to do so. In fact, the tortured show was all about the discord that Rep. Oliver’s previous legislation caused. It was Rep. Oliver’s poorly written legislation that didn’t understand the election cycle and caused legal contradictions that prevented the board from shrinking regardless of the natural 10 year reapportionment cycle. She and Marshall and Co. led the public to think that they could simply shrink the board. They have demonstrated their lack of familiarity with the way the law actually works. Strange, coming from lawyers, isn’t it?
I think you tried to note that many maps were presented. On that very video that you describe, Rep. Oliver asked the Board to provide a map to the legislature. They did so and with unusual cohesion. Rep. Oliver with Marshall’s blessing set out to prevent, at all costs, the Board’s map from being approved. This is interesting because this map was created and approved by representatives across DeKalb. Rep. Oliver is powerful in the delegation and she got her way. I stress again that reapportionment is a matter exclusively for the legislative delegation. The burden is not on the school board to have public discussions. They can’t make any decisions regarding the map. The responsibility to be transparent and inclusive falls to the DeKalb legislators. Then again, our state has recently been ranked 50th in the nation on state ethics. What should we expect then!
Back to that magical consensus and agent of change argument for Marshall. @bu2 and all team Marshall affiliates, you seem to be throwing various Board members under the bus regarding reapportionment. How will this work if Marshall is elected? Do you think that board members, these in particular, will work well with Marshall? I can’t wait to see that consensus building! You and Marshall is shooting his argument down before it truly gets aloft. What a shame.
Vicksburg Falling
July 19th, 2012
5:38 pm
correction – are shooting his argument down…..
bu2
July 19th, 2012
6:45 pm
@Vicksburg
http://www.eastcobber.com/school-board-reapportionment-plans-to-be-adjusted-at-aug-10-meeting/
This is the way competent school boards do reapportionment. They come up with a plan and present it to the legislative delegation who normally rubber stamps it.
The legislation was a bit of a mess, but if a map could have been generated it would have all worked. Instead, they couldn’t agree on a 7 member map. I’m not clear about what you are saying about that meeting. There was the map that was being discussed that basically entrenched the 4 south Dekalb members in control with contorted, ridiculous lines. That map was the one the 6 members signed off on. Because of procedure, the head of the meeting said no other map could be considered. That ridiculous map was rejected by the majority of the legislative delegation. At that point things were in limbo.
At some point another map keeping the 9 members was generated and approved. There were no public hearings prior to approval.
Vicksburg Falling
July 19th, 2012
7:21 pm
@bu2,
Nope. That’s not how it happened. The meeting that was recorded shows the discussion of a map generated by Rep. Mosby. His map contained only 5 BOE members. The south DeKalb legislators were upset with Rep. Oliver’s efforts to shrink the board to 7 and so they came up with a map that was equally distasteful to the rest of the county. It left only one board member in the north. I think it was sort of a “live by the sword, die by the sword” maneuver to show their displeasure. That was the map that was discussed. Rep. Oliver asked the board to come up with a map.
The board came up with a map that met the requirements given to them by the legislators. By that time, the legislators acknowledged that their legislation was impossible to implement as they had told the public. In order to do away with the super districts and get the board to 7 members (what their bill had basically tried to do) you would need to cut the term of Dr. Walker from super district 9. He had just been elected to a 4 year term. It is illegal to retroactively reduce a term of office. That is seen as voter nullification. Again, I would think that Marshall and Co. would have know this with all their legal experience. So the delegation had to pass yet another piece of legislation to change the terms of those elected in this cycle to just 2 years. Then everyone’s term will end at the same time and you can shave off the super districts. The entire board, except for the super districts, which will go away, will be up for election in 2014 (for service beginning in 2015).
So back to the map the board sent to the DeKalb delegation – it met all requirements and was supported by a majority of board members. Where was the rubber stamp for it? The DeKalb delegation isn’t much different in their functionality than the board. It is their duty to hold public meetings on their legislation and reapportionment duties. They did not. This is what we get in a state that is 50th in ethics.
By the way, has anyone realized the implications of our legislators changing the election date for all non-partisan races to July? If an incumbent is defeated, they will still hold their office until December 31st. I’m not sure if anyone understands the implications that has – a full 5 months of implications – before the new member takes office. Was that a wise decision? And who was at the center of this all?
can someone help?
July 19th, 2012
7:47 pm
Mr. Schutten, you have personally walked away from me when I have come to you over Pre-K concerns, not once but twice, so why all of a sudden are you wanting to help us now? Please obtain accurate information before stating your comments. I am a Pre-K teacher who was promised a first grade position last school year but a change in principals kept me in Pre-K. As per your representative’s statement it was MY fault that I was placed back in Pre-K because I chose to work in that particular building and the principal can put anyone in any grade level because it is THEIR building. This coming school year I was notified that I would be assigned to Kindergarten BUT have now been told that I CANNOT be moved out of Pre-K as per the county offices! All I can do is wait for the letter from the county letting me know any type of information! Now, how are you going to help me ? Will you walk away or make stupid comments that I have any choice here at all? And yes I am anonymous because I do need my job and cannot risk the ramifications from our wonderful school system! I am NOT the only teacher in this position or have chosen to be a Pre-K teacher! Many of us have been assigned due to our expertise, experience, and the ability to multi-task in a very difficult grade to teach! Maybe if you LISTENED in the first place you would know more about our program and how the teachers feel or even have been treated! As per your comment about laying more teachers off…that makes me really believe that you are NOT representing teachers but the county! Too many people have lots of places to make cuts that do not include teachers but when we have the head of our organization not backing those suggestions what does that say to our board? Thanks for everything you done for ODE but honestly I can’t thank you for your current actions!
bu2
July 19th, 2012
7:51 pm
You’re right everything in Dekalb government is messed up.
And it was a 5 member board that Mosby proposed, not 7. The Jester/Speaks/McChesney and Oliver/Benefield maps which the committee refused to review had 7.
I’m not sure how you equate the legislation to make the board work better by reducing the size to Mosby’s map, which noone really wanted to admit authorship of, but supposedly had been signed off by the other 6 board members.
Again, functional boards hold public hearings and come up with a map which they send to the delegation. The delegation was at the end of the session and the school board had still not held meetings or sent them a official map. The school board had failed to do their job and the legislative delegation hearing collapsed with no resolution.
That final map, which apparently the school board also signed off on, was never discussed in public meeting by the school board.
The school board couldn’t do redistricting on a timely basis. It can’t do a budget on a timely basis. It deferred necessary school closings for a full year in 2010. It doesn’t monitor its budgets to see that they are not being followed. It didn’t monitor Lewis when he was stealing by constantly doing emergency resolutions. Tom Bowen himself said the school board was incompetent to monitor the construction projects. Yet only Bowen is leaving the board voluntarily. The board fails to take responsibility for its own failings.
GotBusted
July 19th, 2012
8:06 pm
We need to dump the school board and go with a committee. No more maps. No more superintendent. Let the finances be handled by a financial business. Get rid of ode. Get rid of buying former administrator’s books and programs. Construction companies must submit their last 50 jobs with whether the “came in” under budget and on time. DeKalb is jacked up!! Period!!
GotBusted
July 19th, 2012
8:08 pm
@bu2… thanks.. you are right. Our school board… “the system” has failed all of us. More importantly, they have FAILED THE CHILDREN!!!!
Miss Management
July 19th, 2012
8:09 pm
So, do only members of ODE get placed in new jobs?
GotBusted
July 19th, 2012
8:15 pm
hummmmmm… good question. Never thought about it like that before. Really good question.
David Schutten
July 19th, 2012
8:19 pm
@can someone help
If you have a concern you need to contact md directly, which you kniw how to do. This is a cheap shot, but of course it is the norm for anonymous bloggers. For all I know, you could be a DSW regular pretending to be an ODE member or DeKalb teacher, taking another slanderous cheap shot at me with no proof. If you are a truly an ODE member, and just not another hater, call me. I asked Dr. Atkinson today to allow HR to place pre-k teachers in open slots in their present schools. I talk to hundreds of members every month. If you want this issue resolved, call me instead of taking cheap shots on a blog. How do I know you are even a member of ODE? We provided very limited assistance to non-members, including those who drop their membership, and come back asking for help when they have a problem. The ball is in your court. How does anyone know you are not leaving out significant facts or making this up? Anyone can post anything under an anonymous screen name,
David
Vicksburg Falling
July 19th, 2012
8:21 pm
@bu2
Once again, I am forced to correct you. The map sent to the delegation had 9 because it came with the 2 member super district map as well as the 7 single member districts. This was the case because the board kept asking the delegation how to draw a map that would meet their legislative guidelines. The board kept pointing out that it was impossible. Finally, the legislators realized very late in their session, they they did need to change their flawed piece of legislation. It was impossible to comply with their original piece of legislation because it would have been illegal. In order to comply, as I already said, you would have had to reduce a term of office to someone already elected. That’s illegal. Shouldn’t they have known that? Once they admitted that, the board was able to design a map that met their guidelines.
I have never equated a five member map to anything. I’m unclear what you are saying here. I was simply saying that the video was of the discussion of the 5 member map brought to the table by Rep. Mosby. It was a “gotcha” move by some members who were irritated at Rep. Oliver and those that were trying to shrink the board. He was basically throwing it back into their faces saying that if you want to go to 7, we can go to 5 and you won’t have any control over the school district. Rep. Mosby’s map of 5 members was never signed off on by 6 board members. Their was never a map from any board member to even present at that meeting so you can take that nugget off the table now. Various legislators had maps they wanted to present and didn’t.
I must stress again that since the legislature inserted themselves into the board size argument by passing legislation that could not be legally implemented, they were responsible for the timing and communications to the public Only they can approve a map. That places the responsibility to have meetings with the public on them. The board provided them a map and they chose to ignore it. Why? We know why.
David Schutten
July 19th, 2012
8:43 pm
About the School Board Maps.
Why didn’t the School Board Chair regularly attend the DeKal delegation meetings at the Capitol during the session? I and a dozen or do other DeKalb citizens attended virtually every meeting. Why did less than half of the Board members attend when legislators were discussing redistricting? At the meeting when the final maps were being worked with the House delegation and Sen. Millar, no School Board members bothered to attend. A handful of parents and I were there. In my opinion, the Svhool Board Chair did not provide the necessary leadership when it came to redistricting. If the county commissioners are able to regularly attend DeKalb Delegation meetings, why can’t School Board members attend them, especially since the majority are apparently retired, and do not have an every day job like most of the rest of us. Some BOE members did attend some of the meetings.
Married with (School) Children
July 19th, 2012
9:20 pm
David Schutten @ 8:19 PM on July 19, 2012: “I asked Dr. Atkinson today to allow HR to place pre-k teachers in open slots in their present schools”.
Does it strike anyone else that today (July 19) is an incredibly late date to be asking this? The first day of school is August 13; where is DCS going to find qualified pre-K teachers by then?
Or is that the plan: wait to the last minute, then fill the pre-K slots with uncertified people who happen to be F&F?
Crawford Lewis
July 19th, 2012
9:32 pm
Another example of waste, fraud and abuse
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/19045960/school-lights-left-on-tough-questions-about-waste
Married with (School) Children
July 19th, 2012
9:34 pm
David Schutten @ 8:19 PM on July 19th, 2012 — I was disappointed to see you attack “can someone help?” for his/her July 19th, 2012 @ 7:47 pm post. The tactic he/she described is the exact same tactic I described in my earlier post (July 18th, 2012 @ 9:49 pm).
I am not a DCS employee, so I am not eligible to be a member of ODE.
Married with (School) Children
July 19th, 2012
9:40 pm
Crawford Lewis @9:32 pm — Somewhere on the AJC website is an old “View From the Cop” blog post in which Steve Rose explains that leaving lights on is a really good thing to do for security.
Crawford Lewis
July 19th, 2012
9:45 pm
Not when your electricity bills are over budget and laying off employees!
Vicksburg Falling
July 19th, 2012
9:50 pm
Why didn’t the DeKalb delegation give the public ample notice of their meetings? Why did they change rooms and not publish the room they were meeting in? Why didn’t they invite the board to attend and participate? Why wouldn’t they let any board members or the public speak? I agree that it would have been nice to see the board and the delegation sit together and work on this but the delegation didn’t reach out at all and never let anyone speak.
Dekalbite@Crawford Lewis
July 19th, 2012
10:01 pm
“Not when your electricity bills are over budget and laying off employees!”
“CBS Atlanta News has uncovered a major waste that could save the district millions. ….CBS Atlanta News found lights left on in hallways, cafeterias and classrooms night after night at schools around the district……Jester first brought the problem about electricity waste to the school boards attention last year.
“We are $1 million over budget on our electricity,” she said at an October 2011 board meeting.
Now, nine months later the district is $6 million over budget in electricity alone.”
GotBusted
July 19th, 2012
10:43 pm
Obviously David has no idea what it is like to be bullied by the dekalb county school system. WE have to keep our identies close to heart, talk to each other OFF LINE and we CANNOT use first class, our email system, to communicate with each other out of fear that someone is reading our emails…. EVEN THOUGH we are “chatting” at home NOT at work, WHO has time at work? How horrible of you to accuse someone of the things you are lashing out about, when “Can you help” is quite obviously a plea from a teacher for HELP. It’s OBVIOUS that person has already been to you before with rotten results. AS HAVE I ! My advice to “Can you help” is to go get a lawyer (I hear the registrars had a good one) and let them help you sort this out. It’s obvious ode won’t help. He is too angry, too arrogant, too full of his self importance. NOW… as for the electricity…. why doesn’t someone go through the buildings and remove all the refridgerators and microwaves from the classrooms? How about all the outside doors left open so heat/air runs 24/7? Why do some admin staff members have 2 or 3 printers with their one computer? Why are there so many front office people? Just a few questions.
GotBusted
July 19th, 2012
10:45 pm
Oh…. how can the truth be a cheap shot??? david???
Miss Management
July 19th, 2012
11:02 pm
Some very interesting, less than tactful David Schutten quotes from this very blog are pasted below. For a leader, he surely comes out swinging. Is that what ODE members pay for?
“Your remarks are ridiculous.”
“Your statement that I am pushing you around is absurd.”
“And as usual a spiteful anonymous blogger throws rocks at me.”
“I detect a bit of racism in your remark.”
“Go ahead and slug back at me you anonymous, clueless coward.”
“This is a cheap shot, but of course it is the norm for anonymous bloggers.”
“For all I know, you could be a DSW regular pretending to be an ODE member or DeKalb teacher, taking another slanderous cheap shot at me with no proof.”
“If you are a truly an ODE member, and just not another hater, call me.”
Miss Management
July 19th, 2012
11:20 pm
Luckily for Maureen, she is not responsible for David’s statements. Comments on blogs are just comments on blogs. People can rant all day long and lose their composure. David obviously has lost it. ODE needs to find a leader who can lead, communicate and instill hope.
Dunwoody Mom
July 20th, 2012
7:24 am
I have to say the whole light issue is not an important one in my view – let’s get back to passing a budget so our Principals know what the he!! is going on in their schools and teachers know where there are going to teach. I don’t believe leaving lights on will cause electricity to be over budget by $6 million. I remember the reaction when the Chamblee HS trailers were broken into last fall – everyone was crying “where were the security lights”? Some people just really don’t want to fix the school system, they just like complaining about it.
Can someone help?
July 20th, 2012
7:25 am
OMG…I don’t know what else to say! Mr. Schutten, I HAVE been to you in the past and you WALKED away from me! A teacher in my building came to you when she needed assistance with an issue and YOU WOULD NOT return her phone calls! I am stating the TRUTH and am just trying to find some help with the Pre-K situation and you sir are NOT the answer to this problem! WOW…that’s about all I can say is WOW! And why would you want to attack me instead of saying I’m sorry for my actions? Maybe your comments should be shown to GAE or NAE for they are unprofessional, hurtful and not helpful to anyone who is just hoping to hang on to a shred of hope that DCSS will be able to pull itself together and we can all get back to what we do best and that is ensuring our precious children have the best education possible! Geez Mr. Schutten, you really have solidified that you are not the person I want to represent me in any way! The ball is NOT in my court it is in DCSS’ court and my fate lies in their hands! There IS an open classroom in the building I am at…the one I was told I was taking and I have been told that I CANNOT have that position because I am a Pre-K teacher and I CANNOT be moved from my position…as per the instructions given to my principal by his/her supervisors. I am to wait for my precious letter from the county letting me know my fate. Am I making this up? Why would I? Can someone help? I just wanted some help hoping a lawyer or someone who has been through something similar could offer assistance. YOU sir are the ONE person who should be reassuring us that you are doing EVERYTHING in YOUR power to HELP us EACH and EVERY time we need it…NOT just when it becomes something in the news! Let’s face it…you’re blogging when you could be researching or speaking with lawyers on our behalf! OMG…that’s all I can say….OMG! Unlike you sir, I DO work for the county and is why I use an anonymous name…I do not have the luxury of using my real name as do you! Really? Really? So, this is how YOU represent me and the teachers of Dekalb? Really? I am beginning to believe more and more that it is time GAE is notified for some assistance and leave you to your blogging and your attacks! Wow…that’s all I can say is Wow!
Can someone help?
July 20th, 2012
7:26 am
Oh, by the way Mr. Schutten, does the truth hurt? Is that why you return your comments by attacking?
Married with (School) Children
July 20th, 2012
8:00 am
Wow!
Everyone, pay attention to this line in the post from “Can someone help?” at 7:25 am July 20th, 2012: “I am a Pre-K teacher and I CANNOT be moved from my position…as per the instructions given to my principal by his/her supervisors.”
Can you convince your principal to talk to the media about what he or she was directed to do?
@FSC Supporters
July 20th, 2012
8:07 am
Fernbank Science Center should be completely “defunded” by DCSD and the taxpayers. That does not mean a lack of support for science programs, but the idea that a broke school system should and cannot be in the business of running science centers. This is not a North v. South comment, but a fiscally responsible one that FSC supporters can’t get a grip on. This school system has to get a grip on equity v. equality and focus on providing an education to each child by balancing the spend per school and meeting the needs of the particular student body. This requires planning for what is needed by that student body and proper financial allocations. If FSC can’t become mobile and have a small and reasonable science allocation charged back to the school, it needs to go. The old building is dated and there is so much more we could do to develop 21st century STEM programs to take our kids to the next level in sciences.
Can someone help?
July 20th, 2012
8:22 am
Principals have been told they cannot say anything and my principal is choosing words very carefully and basically will only say I cannot be moved from Pre-K at this time and I have to wait for a letter from the county!