DeKalb schools get another warning on SACS accreditation. “Why so many second chances?”
The AJC is reporting that the DeKalb school board is again being asked by an accrediting agency to respond to complaints of mismanagement.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools said it’s received dozens of complaints from a broad spectrum of people in DeKalb. Parents, public officials and school staffers have alleged everything from financial mismanagement to undue influence in hiring — all while the school system faces a financial crisis.
“The allegation is they’re getting involved in areas that aren’t their responsibility, and then in the areas that are their responsibility, they’re not being effective,” said Mark Elgart, president and chief executive officer of AdvancED, the parent company of SACS.
In a letter received by school officials Wednesday, SACS said there is “significant concern” about whether DeKalb is meeting “at least” two of five accreditation standards. SACS gave DeKalb 30 days to respond, and will then investigate and issue a report.
“I don’t see where we violated any policy,” school board chairman Eugene Walker said. He said he wants to consult the 9-member school board before issuing any detailed response. He also said he needed more details than provided in the 3-page letter.
“They need to show some evidence of these things,” Walker said.
The allegations are from about 50 people over the past year, Elgart said. SACS also has its own concerns. For instance, Elgart said, state audits over the past five years show the board spent 10 times more than it budgeted for day-to-day legal expenses — costs that were easily anticipated. “One of the problems is the board has two law firms on retainer because they couldn’t agree on one,” Elgart said. “It is highly irregular for a school system to have two law firms doing the work of one.”
Elgart said it’s unusual for SACS to send a letter like this. It does so each year with perhaps 1 percent of the school systems in the 38 states where it operates, he said.
A frustrated parent sent me this note upon reading about this development:
So, SACs sends a letter with the latest concerns and the system gets 30 days to answer the letter. If the answers aren’t satisfactory, a special review team will be sent to visit the system.
Really?
For the past several years, SACs/Advanced Ed has had concerns about the DeKalb County School System. They have sent teams to interview educators, bureaucrats, parents and others. As recently as last spring, SACs/Advanced Ed had teams here. Our Board of Education has been trained repeatedly by Mark Elgart, president of Advanced Ed, and others from his organization.
Nothing changes. Not only has our board not improved, but this administration seems reluctant to answer questions from the general public or board members. Our classrooms are bursting at the seams, our teachers have some of the lowest salaries in metro Atlanta, some high schools will be limited to less than a half a roll of toilet paper per student a month, textbooks were not repaired over the summer and no new ones were ordered, etc, etc.
This is a system on the verge of collapse as far as I can tell.
Additionally, other systems have been placed on probation or seen their accreditation pulled for reasons far more minor than the situation in DeKalb. Across the region, colleges and universities with financial issues have been placed on probation until their economics improve.
Given that DeKalb was already on SACS’ radar screen, why in the world does the clock start over? DeKalb County Schools are responsible for educating over 95,000 students. At what point will Elgart take the issues facing this system seriously?
Why so many “second” chances?
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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147 comments Add your comment
DeKalb Teacher
August 31st, 2012
3:15 pm
DeKalb has the highest millage rate in the state. The school houses are getting table scraps, but everyone else is well fed.
Fred,
You, like SACS, contradict yourself. You accuse the BOE of refusing to perform their duties in one breadth and condemn them for requesting budget information in the next breadth. There is plenty of blame to go around, but wildly throwing it around does no good.
In your expert opinion, what should the BOE do? They have brought up every month for the last 2 years (that I’ve been watching) how they are over budget on utilities and lawyer fees.
2nd Year Teacher
August 31st, 2012
3:58 pm
This is only my second year in DeKalb.
I’m still trying to comprehend WTH is going on in this county and in its schools. Amazing.
The board has two different law firms on retainer? What?
It’s the end of the third week of school and overcrowded schools are still waiting for more teachers?
I’m flabbergasted.
Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure
August 31st, 2012
4:08 pm
It’s going to take time to undo the damage, but I’m trying to be optimistic that the new blood on the board will bring about some improvement. Maybe I’m kidding myself…oh well.
skipper
August 31st, 2012
4:12 pm
Remember, the right to vote certainly does NOT mean the intelligence to do so!
DeKalb Teacher
August 31st, 2012
4:18 pm
These elections do not affect the tyranny of the majority in the DeKalb BOE. Hopefully the new blood can at least make some peripheral changes for the better.
Wilbur
August 31st, 2012
5:16 pm
DeKalb schools are going to keep being a mess because DeKalb county is a mess. The issues that SACS is pointing out merely reflect the underlying attitudes and wishes of the various electorates in the county. At this point, there is likely no fixing either the schools or the county.
Taxpayer and Teacher
August 31st, 2012
5:33 pm
I am giving up. I am moving next year just like the Smoke Rise parent. Call me an elitist, but I don’t see this getting any better. Which county? I don’t know yet, but it won’t be Dekalb. I want any grandchildren that I may be blessed with to have a fighting chance. I don’t think this will happen in Dekalb County. SMH
big picture
August 31st, 2012
8:33 pm
I am experiencing DCSS trauma and crisis fatigue.
Miss Management
August 31st, 2012
10:19 pm
I agree with Fred. There is enough blame to go around. But really, after that, who cares who’s to blame? The fact is, we are beyond salvation in DeKalb. My advice: Do as I did – Move! And rent. Times are a mess. The south is a mess. The education system is a mess. Rent and use the savings to put your kids in private school or home school. Really.
Fred in DeKalb
August 31st, 2012
10:51 pm
DeKalb Teacher, when you get a chance, read Board Policy DC. It discusses how the annual budget should be prepared. Our Board members are overly involved in the details for the annual budget. The exercise with the spreadsheet and voting up and down on line items for cuts should not happen with Board members. That is the responsibility of the superintendent.
Board members should ask about the factors involved when the actuals exceed the budgeted amount for any fund balance. The should not request detailed line item expenses.
As I mentioned earlier, I think Womack was on to something when he raised questions whether employees designated for RIFs were actually let go. The budgets vs actual figures should be examined for past years to see if there was a change in the monthly payroll expenditures. This is the kind a thing a Board member should ask questions about.
cgregister
September 1st, 2012
5:15 am
One of the major problems in DCSS is the fact that the board and its members allow certain people to tell them what to do and it doesn’t pertain to the county as a whole. This has been going on for a very long time. It’s like the “Board” is scared of what will happen if they don’t do what these “groups” tell them to and now we are in a HUGE mess. Certain groups of people need to be told that all the rules are in place for all the people, not just specific ones.
TuckerMom
September 1st, 2012
6:27 am
DeKalb is a mess and our schools have little chance of improving with this superintendent and DCSB. My daughter attends Livsey. In the four short years we have been at Livsey, we have witnessed unprecedented decline from the platinum school it once was to just another Dekalb dysfunctional school. Tucker Middle is unacceptable. Neighborhood friends whose children attend the school complain about the incompetence of the administrative staff, teachers who are unprepared to teach their assigned subjects, and students who have no sense of self-discipline. Don ‘t even talk about Tucker High School which is not a neighborhood school at all but a sports magnet school for students throughout DeKalb. (Just watch how many students arrive to school on MARTA buses.)
We are going to private school next year, it’s unfortunately our only option. So are most of the other students at Livsey who haven’t already left. Pretty soon you will have another blighted school to add to the train wreck of a system that exists as a jobs programs for DCSB friends and families.
Great job DCSB! Bravo.
Another Dekalb Teacher
September 1st, 2012
7:29 am
The schools are also a mess and I too will also be moving, after 15 years with DeKalb. We have a principal who apparently slept her way to the top, therefore, has no clue how to run a school. Left this past Thursday at 1:00 pm and no one has seen her weave since then! She is only around for faculty meetings, so she can try to intimidate us. Not really sure where I will end up but definetely not DCSD for 2013-14 school year. The school is located on Dresden Dr. In Chamblee.
Fred in DeKalb
September 1st, 2012
7:56 am
cgregister is absolutely right! Some citizens and communities have had the ear of superintendents, Board members and staff members for years. This has been the culture that has evolved over the years. Not all suggestions have been bad but not all have been in the best interest of all children.
Sad for DeKalb asks about approving band for every school. Do you think that was something that originated from Dr. Atkinson or a citizen through a Board member? That is why it is important to know the true origin of some on the recommendations.
Given the current makeup of the Board and community, I think even the second coming of Jim Cherry would have a hard time being successful. The original budget presented by Dr. Atkinson caused minimal harm to teachers and the classroom though it did include a 2 mill increase. Only when the Board (along with some citizens and communities) got overly involved in the details did we have the mess that we have today. Does anyone believe Jim Cherry would put up with meddling Board members like that when putting the budget together? The superintendent is supposed to be in charge of the process along with implementing the instructional programs to improve student achievement. No superintendent could be successful in DeKalb given the current climate. You are fooling yourself if you think so.
The irony is the Dr. Atkinson has to provide the response to SACS in 30 days about the allegations. It will be interesting to see what she will say about the allegations and Board members, especially since she was hired by them, at least in a 6 -3 vote. The last superintendent that commented on something like this lost his job in a coup. He has been successful in his current superintendency, implementing many of the same programs he attempted to implement here.
redweather
September 1st, 2012
8:28 am
If Dr. Atkinsons is smart, and I think she is, she is already looking for a way out of DeKalb County.
Bernie
September 1st, 2012
9:50 am
If Dr.ATkinson was REALLY a SMART Leader. She would step away and out of the financial decisions of this No win situation. Establish and appoint a financial committee of financial professionals and charge them with establishing new goals and plans for the school system. what goals are presented by this committee adopt, establish and implement. A Real Leader would say this is the best option and with least Liability for ALL. To Take on All of those massive decisions is suicidal and will never succeed. Stick to doing what she does Best. Managing and overseeing the day to day operations of the school system. She would be far safer in her Job, better run school system, improved education and testing numbers, a happier citizenry and Parents.
Everybody Wins!
bootney farnsworth
September 1st, 2012
10:21 am
@ Fred
Jim Cherry was a hustler, a good ole boy, and (in some accounts) a tyrant.
that said, he was a smart enough hustler to know his success and the counties success was linked to making DeKalb an educational powerhouse. his education mafia (my term) took no prisoners when it came to creating a (then) superior education system..
the system he created made DeKalb county the place to live in Georgia, and a vital part of the economic engine which created the modern Atlanta. the right person with the right vision in the right place at the right time. and the overall community saw the wisdom of what he was doing.
today’s DeKalb, for better and worse, is the result of what he created. except a once fairly politically homogeneous citizenry and business population is now engaged in trench warfare to protect their turf at all costs.
I’m not sure Jesus himself could move this group of “citizens” to think beyond the end of the Balkanized noses.
South Georgia
September 1st, 2012
10:42 am
What does John Barge say?
Woody
September 1st, 2012
12:29 pm
This is all very sad. Dekalb in the 60’s was a showcase school system, something for other systems to try to emulate. Without know for sure, the problem is probably not money – there is never ‘enough’ money. The problem is probably: priorities and hidden agendas, and top-heavy administration.
Claudia Stucke
September 1st, 2012
12:54 pm
I went through DeKalb County schools, 1955-1967, and Jim Cherry was certainly a felt presence. Yes, the school system was “exemplary”; but at that time DeKalb County’s population was one of the most affluent (if not the most affluent) in the state. There were no special classes for English-language learners at the schools I attended; everyone was simply expected to come into the system speaking English. There were very few special-education classes, and those students who were identified as needing special services were contained in separate classrooms–no “inclusion” or “mainstreaming.” There was little if any sensitvity to dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, or other learning problems; if you didn’t “get it,” you failed. Period. My high school classmates, especially the boys, stayed in school because they would have been drafted and sent to Vietnam (and were as soon as they graduated, unless they could afford college, which many could not). And at the risk of sounding like Grandpa on “Rugrats,” we didn’t have air-conditioning, either.
Shop class was restricted to boys; no girls allowed. No boy would ever have thought of taking home economics (now “family and consumer science”). One of my classmates was harassed for being the only girl in a drafting class. Our principal freely quoted from the New Testament, and a local minister preached at school assemblies.
Exemplary or just restricted? A relatively homogeneous population is cheaper to educate and easier to administer.
Claudia Stucke
September 1st, 2012
12:58 pm
I should add, by the way, that teaching a diverse population was lots more fun, more personally rewarding, and I think a richer educational experience, both for myself and for my students. The DeKalb County where I taught bears little resemblance to the DeKalb County where I went to school. But that’s not a bad thing.
Ole Guy
September 1st, 2012
3:40 pm
There are two…let’s call them trends; very uneasy trends…which, over the past decade or so, have infiltrated/infected the very fabric of society, the economy, and our very posture on the global stage:
1) the endless “second chances” which have become the automatic “court of appeals” in everything we think, say, or do. There is no longer a need to “do it right the first time”, or at least “to the best of our abilities” since, “HEY…what the hell, we’ll get that second chance”.
2) the recent expenditure of (I believe it was…) several hundred billion on the “troubled” auto industry (remember those corporate vermins who flew to Washington on corporate aircraft aircraft so they could plead financial hardship to congressional leaders…) in support of a recently-coined lexicon…TOO BIG TO FAIL. We have come to think that old institutions, be they automotive, educational or otherwise, need not keep up with current demands, trends, and economic realities because, WHAT THE FREQ, WE’RE TOO BIG TO FAIL.
One of the major themes behind these educational blogs lies behind the preparedness of generations of young folks for the (let’s see…how do those politicians pontificate?) global economy, etc, ad nauseum. Yet those very same politicians are too damn lazy; too damn timid to set the example; to do the right, though unpopular things. The trail of American history is strewn with the memories of institutions which simply did not/could not/would not keep in step with the realities of the times…to name a very few: Packard, Eastern Airlines, Brannif and any number of once-thriving organizations which comprised, if not led the way in their respective fields of endeavour. For one reason or another, good or bad, fair or unfair, they failed to meet the acid test of realities. Are the fields, in which they all once played crucial roles, any better off? Whose to say; the jury of time will be out on that one for some time, but one thing’s for sure…IN THIS LIFE, YOU EITHER HACK IT OR PACK IT! If you can hack it, personaly or organizationaly, your both a winner and a contributor. If you can’t (personaly or organizatiojnaly), you’re simply a drain…a LOOSING DRAIN…on everything and everyone whose bustin their butts to do the right things.
ANY QUESTIONS?
Fred in DeKalb
September 1st, 2012
3:41 pm
bootney farnsworth and Claudia Stucke, thank you for your comments regarding Jim Cherry and DeKalb schools of the past. I hope those that post on DSW2 read them. When I hear about the education infrastructure in Scandanavia and Japan, I point out the same thing, it is much easier and cheaper teaching a homogeneous population. I can admit there are challenges in teaching a diverse population, both in terms of race and income. Successes can be realized and I contend there are many that we don’t hear about. We shouldn’t lower our expectations because of the high population of low income and ESOL students but acknowledge that the teaching strategies and techniques used back in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s may not work with these groups. There is no silver bullet. I believe a partnership with parents along with ensuring there is a safe, disciplined learning environment are good starting points.
DeKalb commissioners made strategic decisions to establish employment centers in central and north DeKalb while south DeKalb remained rural for a long time. The more educated families lived near the employment centers hence why there was much success with those schools. I laugh when I hear suggestions about splitting DeKalb into different school systems because they primarily center on taking the commercial rich areas and creating school systems around them. Think about the lawsuits that would crop up it that were attempted.
say what?
September 1st, 2012
3:54 pm
I would not be surprised if Atkinson and March convinced some parents to forward letters to SACS to get teh BOE off of her back regarding her hiring flood of former coworkers and associates. They have been placed in old positions that were abolished, but only to come back from July 16- now.
How about the AJC do a records request to see how many out of state employees have been brought in since July? it is easy for the media to get the information than the BOE because BOE memebers will then be viewed as meddling in personnel affairs. If the cost of firing thousands, only to spend $$$ to relocate others to the state, then the BOE should be allowed to question what the superintendent and Ms. March are doing with the budget.
I have checked ( up to last week) for the July and August HR report online. Why is the June 2012 HR report the only uploaded HR report in July? Something is not right in DCSD.
DCSD and Macon-Bibb must have twins in the superintendent roles b/c they believe everyone, except themselves are stupid. And that includes SACS.
Dr. Craig Spinks/ Georgians for Educational Excellence
September 1st, 2012
6:17 pm
“Follow the money.”
bu2
September 1st, 2012
10:07 pm
Fred;
I couldn’t disagree more about the budget. The board’s primary purpose is to set priorities. Many of those line items are priorities. Atkinson lacks financials skills as she demonstrated in Lorain. Putting the millage rate at the max when every indication is that the problem will be worse next year is not wise at all. Setting the tax rate is most certainly the board’s choice. The mess was when Atkinson produced a very controversial budget very late. The BOE then naturally made the problem worse, but it started with Atkinson.
Atkinson needs strong direction from the board. She just lacks some practical sense with her e-books plan in a huge district with financial problems and many other higher priorities being one instance. Her trying to change the already approved calendar at the last minute was another.
Someone needs to tell the Empress to put some clothes on. From everything I’ve heard about the DCSS culture, its not likely to be someone who works for her (and that culture pre-dated Atkinson).
Dekalbite@Fred in DeKalb
September 1st, 2012
11:18 pm
“I laugh when I hear suggestions about splitting DeKalb into different school systems because they primarily center on taking the commercial rich areas and creating school systems around them”
That seemed far fetched to me as well. However, the Republican legislature has an almost 2/3 majority in both houses. They are on the verge of simply placing such an initiative on the ballot as a Conctitutional amendment and with a simple majority vote, the Constitutional prohibition against establishing additional school systems has fallen. That is actually the hardest part of the process. Independent cities such as Brookhaven and Dunwoody would love to establish their own school system. If they do so, many more will follow.
Dr. Craig Spinks/ Georgians for Educational Excellence
September 2nd, 2012
2:36 am
The late Norman Griffin, Jr., a long-time Richmond County School System principal, opined that the biggest problem with GAPubEd was politics. The DeKalb fiasco evinces the wisdom of Skeeter’s view.
another comment
September 2nd, 2012
4:13 am
@Another Dekalb Teacher I went to the school site and your fab. principal who is “blessed ” to be there doesn’t even have a picture of her weave up. Just makes her Assts, have their photo’s up. But I see she needs multiple AP’s. She must have had a hair and nail apointment. You know those $300 dollar weaves take hours to do.
bootney farnsworth
September 2nd, 2012
7:54 am
@ Fred/DeKalb,
I’m not convinced it’s all that difficult to educate a diverse population, if we -big if, here- focus our efforts on the ones who wish to be educated. in my years at GPC I saw classrooms of Africans (real Africans, not black Americans) next to Europeans next to Asians being taught by someone from California in a classroom in the deep south.
when you have a group of individuals who wish to learn, the teaching part is EASY.
what is killing us is the cultural balkanization going on in the system and communities. there are large segments in the black and latino population which don’t see the need for education. there are large segments of the white and asian population who look at education as their birthright, not a process which takes time and effort. and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
the communities which make up the BOEs and trustees are not sending us the best and brightest, but the loudest and most obnoxious. once in power they pass out favors like Halloween candy. the give us administrators who use the faculty, the system, and the community like their personal ATM.
the last thing these fools care about are the students we’re entrusted to teach.
even back in the days when DeKalb was a white a bowl of vanilla ice cream these problems existed, but society demanded more from the people who supposedly served them. today, to paraphrase Kennedy, its “ask not what you can do for your community, but who has allegedly offended you, so you can force them to do for you”.
bootney farnsworth
September 2nd, 2012
7:58 am
I was immediately suspicious of Atkinson when Anthony Tricoli publicly praised her.
bootney farnsworth
September 2nd, 2012
8:00 am
seems old guy is longing for the England of Charles Dickens.
they knew what to do with their “surplus population”
bootney farnsworth
September 2nd, 2012
8:00 am
so commenting on Atkinson and Tricoli in the same sentence gets you tossed into the filter?
AnonMom
September 2nd, 2012
8:51 am
I think SACS may be looking to “save face” — if DCSS is really about to run out of money (which I understand may really be the case based on zero reserves and the system’s failures to implement the passed budget from the past 2 years and not necessarily directly from lack of oversight) – SACS, which has had DCSS on “watch” status for a few years — probably doesn’t want to be discovered as having failed to have revoked accreditation as it hits absolute bankrupt status on its watch and is taken over by the governor — that would not look very good, particularly given how much money they receive each year to accredit and to consult to maintain accreditation and to train the BOE. I am for reducing government’s role in our lives, across the board, but I am absolutely appalled that we allow a “private” agency such as SACS be judge, prosecutor, lawyer and jury in the school accreditation process — receive hundreds of thousands of dollars from a system such as DCSS (of taxpayer money) — this is an appropriate role for the state and the state should be the watchdog for accreditation. Boy is this so messed up! There is nothing in SACS accrediting standards that looks at whether the kids are actually learning or if resources are actually going into the classroom… it’s all about the BOE getting along and other issues of governance — well, if you’re in a system that is very diverse, with a representative board – it’s highly likely that the board isn’t going to get along so well and, in fact, lots of time, in the “real world’ — good decisions get made when people are able to “float” disagreement and share their points of view from their own perspectives, which are vastly different and then reach agreement or agree to disagree — this isn’t ‘getting along’ – this is “working together” — that’s not what SACS wants…
Jack
September 2nd, 2012
8:57 am
Even if your BOE is ineffective, even if the teachers allow cheating; your child is capable of getting a good education if enough quality time is spent at home with a dedicated parent who wants her child to succeed. It appears there is a serious shortage of dedicated parents.
Fred in DeKalb
September 2nd, 2012
9:39 am
@bu2, not to make an excuse for Dr. Atkinson but she had a former CFO that provided financial information she lacked confidence in. This meant she did not have a full understanding about the state of the finances. Add to that the sacred cows that Board members did not want touched, it made things that much more difficult. Ben Bernanke and Alan Greenspan together would probably have a hard time with the DeKalb budget given the current Board and inaccuracies in our finances we are hearing more about. .
@DeKalbite, please don’t pass out but I agree with you again. It would be interesting to see if the small government Republicans would request an additional balkanization of our school systems in the state. I still contend that federal lawsuits would be filed and it would never come to fuition. Take a look at what happened recently with the Texas voter id law that was ruled discriminatory.
@bootney farnsworth, likewise I agree that if you have motivated and well behaved students, regardless of their color, race, or family income, teachers and students have a greater likelihood of success. I don’t mean to sound like an elitist but I do believe income, regardless of race, influences motivation with respect to school. We are know people that have pulled themselves up from their bootstraps and made something of themselves. Much of how we see things is based upon our personal life experiences and what we are measuring.
There were job opportunities in manufacturing for those that at least had a good work ethic yet not the best students. Those opportunities are fewer and fewer. Losing the three area auto plants has had some impact. Seeing what happened in Detroit and other rust belt areas dependent on the auto industry should have given us a clue much earlier.
Dunwoody Mom
September 2nd, 2012
10:00 am
@Fred, not saying I agree with creating with separate school system, but the Texas sitation is quite different. We are talking about existing cities wishing to create their own school systems. No one would be carving out areas just to create a school district.
I agree a bit with AnonMom regarding SACS. They have kept the district on “advisement” for several years and little to no progress has been made by the BOE or school district. Stronger measures should have been taken earlier, imo. However, NO ONE saw this massive financial issue coming because the financial reports given to the board were not reflective of the financial “goings-on” of the school district. People talk about state control if the district cannot pay its bills. What law is that allowed under?
Claudia Stucke
September 2nd, 2012
10:54 am
@bootney farnsworth
Of course, many of today’s problems existed during the glory days of Jim Cherry; but they were ignored or minimized. For instance, there was no Americans with Disabilities Act; so students with physical or developmental diabilities did not have to be accommodated. Learning problems such as dyslexia were often unrecognized and poorly understood; certainly they went unaddressed much of the time, and many students were unfairly labeled as “retarded.” We were tracked into three fairly rigid categories (3-advanced, 2-general, and 1-basic), which eventually resulted in lawsuits. We could spend days and lots of blog pages on tracking’s benefits and deficits (and whether or not it still exists), but that would only take us farther off topic than we already are. My point is simply that we tend to idealize the past, including DeKalb County schools during Mr. Cherry’s tenure.
Taxpayer and Teacher
September 2nd, 2012
11:18 am
@bootney farnsworth. We are REAL Africans. I recently had my DNA test done and I am 100% real African. What you have here is a different tribe. If you test them I am sure you will find that your population of original African Atlantans all descended from the same ethnic group. I am from the East Texas/Louisiana area. There are three distinct main groups of African ethnic groups- Angolans, Ghanaians, Nigerians. We have different cultures and expectations to this day. Although you see us as all the same. We do not and never have. Our family has ALWAYS HAD EDUCATED PEOPLE including: Engineers who worked for Nasa, Professors, Physicians, Nurses, Educators, Artists, Military Officers, Bishops, Musicians (One of the first studios in Texas) and this generation is in a race to see whose family can get the most graduate degrees. So, to make a blanket statement that we are not real Africans is not only incorrect, but proves that to you even in this day and age, YOU REALLY DON’T KNOW WHO WE ARE. We don’t really interact with the other groups, but you don’t see that because you still want to categorize us as all alike. Even though we were brought over here and forced to work as a group to overcome oppression, we are separate. We often laugh at Caucasians, because you think we are all one. We are not. Learn about us before you make a generalization. Here’s another scary thought, many of us are planning to move back to West and South Africa. Mostly, the professionals and tradespersons. And no we are not from Georgia! So, you guys need to address the needs and failures of your own native population of Africans. Because we know that they are not from our groups. I know a few tof yor Africans that have been tested and they are from Senegambia, Senegal, etc. We brought our cultures with us and are now free to operate as such. We have our own associations and groups. There is much more to the dissolution of the African American Myth that is happening right in plain sight.
Lisa
September 2nd, 2012
12:00 pm
I would love to know where to find the laws/rules/regulations, etc. governing what a Board of Education is allowed to do (by law and by SACS). If a BOE is truly limited by such rules to merely voting a budget up or down, it seems they are quite limited in what they can do to fix things. Likewise, if their only recourse is to fire the superintendent, that seems like a drastic measure that a BOE would be reluctant to resort to. Why in the world shouldn’t a BOE be allowed to discuss specifics on budget items with the Superintendent? Is the BOE allowed to set certain “general” budget limits for categories within the budget — for example, start the budget by allocating first the amount required for the salaries needed for the number of teachers required to meet the DSCD’s class size limits, then add the other costs related to the school buildings, etc., and then divide up what’s left for other budget categories? Such as, you only have $X left over in the budget, so you are limited to that much you can allocate to positions in the Central Office. Also, can the BOE say, “the DCSD budget history shows we always spend at least $X on utilities, so we require you, Superintendent, to use that number in your budget”, instead of the artificially low one they keep using? Certainly SACS should allow the BOE to insist on realiistic numbers being used in the budget! Also, the BOE gave the Superintendent authority to hire consultants up to $99,000 without having to get BOE pre-approval — if she is budgeted to have a pool of money that’s hers to spend on consultants as she sees fit then this approval seems fine, but is there actually a total limit on how much she gets to spend on consultants? If not, she could be increasing the expenses in the total budget in this way all by herself, without BOE approval, and without there being any money in the budget to pay for it! I understand that SACS doesn’t want too much meddling going on, but some of SACS’ rules for BOEs seem ridiculous, and rather than helping, instead prevent the BOE from (1) requiring measures that could fix the budget and (2) requiring that budget items that most affect the chassroom instruction be prioritized. I really don’t get the sense that SACS’ rules for the BOE are helpful at all — anyone who tries to get involved and fix things seems to get a slap from SACS for meddling. Can anyone enlighten me?
Dekalbite@Fred
September 2nd, 2012
1:05 pm
So why are Georgian’s still required to show their driver’s license?
I do agree with Dunwoody Mom. These are not at all similar. I can see why Dunwoody would like it’s own school system – very similar to Decatur City Schools – do you think Decatur City Schools has ever wanted to be part of DeKalb Schools even when it was not affluent and DeKalb Schools was quite affluent? And how about Marietta City Schools? They have a higher poverty rate than DeKalb Schools? Does anyone see them trying to join with the more affluent Cobb County School System? Most of the small systems are happy with their local control and the responsiveness and transparency of their school system. Perhaps you didn’t realize there are quite a few areas in South DeKalb that would like to be incorporated and have a small local school system.
bu2
September 2nd, 2012
1:18 pm
@Fred
I do agree with you about the smaller school systems. It would be tied up in endless lawsuits as it would be majority white middle class areas leaving behind all black, overwhelmingly poor areas. And the finances for the left behind school district would be a disaster and create all kinds of problems.
That is the correct comparison to Texas. They have had a series of lawsuits because they have many more school districts and vast disparities in property tax wealth. Harris County (Houston) has about 2 dozen school districts. There are districts that would be like western Dekalb south of I-20 with little tax base and districts with 1 high school and multiple oil refineries. Edgewood ISD (an impovershed San Antonio area district) vs. the state of Texas was the main lawsuit.
Unless the state is going to fund schools 100%, the property tax wealth disparities would be magnified and there would be even more problems. And if the state funded 100%, some districts would spend like a drunken sailor with others money. Despite the problems of large districts, we really do have a better system limiting it mostly to county school districts.
bootney farnsworth
September 2nd, 2012
1:34 pm
here’s the hard thing to wrap you intellectual heads around: success or failure of students is a minor part of what SACS is charged to look at.
SACS as constructed to make sure the toilets flush, the money is in order (GPC, strike 1), the faculty have the correct credentials and full to part time mix (GPC. strike 1/2), and that the evaluation processes are even and consistant (GPC, strike 1 1/2 that.s three). in short, the reality of SACS is to be sure the processes function so education (optional) can occur if desired.
SACS in universally ignored until about 18 months before it comes. at that point we get the paint out, start looking for the files we cound’t find last time, adjusting the FT/PT ratios back into place (always too many PT faculty, since they don’t get benefits or appropriate wages), and start planning the stage show to keep them distracted when they take their tour.
they don’t require too much distracting, but you damn well better stoke the egos hard so they don’t decided to look.
and why do we do this? $$$$. the Fed has pegged money to SACS standing.
bootney farnsworth
September 2nd, 2012
1:42 pm
@ Claudia
your points are very valid. one thing which has happend no one could have forseen is how much the pendulum swung in the opposite direction.
-no girls sports/title IX
-no real handicapped support/paralysis due to ADA.
-upwardly mobile population/downwardly mobile population
the list is near endless.
as a long time DCSS student/employee -before DeKalb College joined the USG- its my observation that the main thing which hampers visionary thinking in DCSS is a general lack of vision. Cherry, for all his faults, dared to try to be great, and surrounded himself mostly with people who shared the same audacity.
today’s DCSS admin and BOE: they dare to be ….? territiorial? combatitve? offended?
Fred ™
September 2nd, 2012
2:09 pm
So how many of you here voted the same incompetent twit back into office? WE gave Womack a pink slip. Did you oust your local member?
Will the new guy be better? I dunno, but he couldn’t be worse………
DeKalb Teacher
September 2nd, 2012
2:30 pm
Why has the county received Title I funds for some schools to implement a small-group reading program called “Success for All” when elementary classes are too large to form “small groups?” Also, there has been hardly any time in our schedules for teacher training to implement this program successfully. This, on top of a brand new Georgia Common Core Curriculum, which we also are expected to implement with little or no planning time built into our schedules. Parents, when it comes time soon to vote for next year’s calendar, please don’t complain about early-release days for teacher training and planning.
scipeach
September 2nd, 2012
2:43 pm
Another Comment: “. The School on the corner of Briarcliff and Clairmont sits empty after years of the board polluting the area with the Alternative School thugs. They would hang out on the corners and try to intimedate as you drove by. ”
Drive by any high school and you’ll see young people hanging out in the area. I’ve seen Dunwoody and Lakeside kids all up and down their streets. When they happen to be of a certain color in a predominant white area; then they are “Alternative School thugs”. Did you know that Open Campus was not actually an “alternative school”?
I am beyond sick of the mudslinging and ignorance here.
jsmtih
September 2nd, 2012
3:23 pm
for those of you planning on moving out of dekalb , a few things to remember when looking for a new school district. find a school with homes in the area that are above 350K. And maybe even more importantly make sure there are NO APARTMENTS FEEDING INTO THE SCHOOLS YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE ATTENDING !!!
AnonMom
September 2nd, 2012
3:36 pm
my understanding of things in Dekalb is that over the past 2 years the BOE voted a budget and the system failed to implement it — instead, internally — hard costs were off more than they should have been (fixed things like electricity) because those in charge were directed to “fudge” (who, I don’t know) to “fail to implement’ the budget that was passed — so on paper the budget shrunk but the implementation wasn’t there — there were no internal controls– no checks and balances — a ponzi scheme if you will — ultimately it runs out of money. When anyone questions what’s going on (and some did as it was happening) — they are harshly criticized and made to be and feel to be the fools and not the other way around…. the signs were there. It’s not necessarily the entire BOE’s fault — although had the ones doing the questioning been paid attention to by the whole board, then the outcome may have been different…. but the “insiders” on the BOE protected those “insiders” running the system so now the system is really going to run out of money because ultimately ponzis run out of money — they can’t last — at some point the funds run dry. Too bad the feds aren’t interested in really looking into what’s gone on….
Dekalbite@Fred in DeKalb
September 2nd, 2012
4:03 pm
Sorry. I didn’t know that was the lawsuit ou were referring to.
It appears that in the lawsuit in Texas, the system that sued wanted funding to flow to the poorer school systems to equalize the revenue for the various systems – like Equalization works in Georgia. Except Equalization in Georgia ensures that $100,000,000 LEAVES DeKalb and never returns. This dwarfs the $40,000,000+ coming into DeKalb with Title 1, and unlike Title 1, Equalization funds can be used to hire teachers in the core content areas – math, science, language arts and reading. Wouldn’t Equalization then work in favor of poorer school systems if DeKalb was split into smaller system? This seems to be the opposite of the Texas situation.