Former Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond will be DeKalb interim chief. “Guts, vision and passion,” says Roy Barnes.
DeKalb Schools just issued a statement announcing that former Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond will be appointed interim superintendent
Former Gov. Roy Barnes, at the AJC today for a meeting with reporters, praised Thurmond, with whom he worked for years in state government.
“Michael Thurmond is one of the most inspirational speakers I’ve ever heard. If DeKalb can be brought over with guts, vision and passion, he can do it. For an interim to kind of stir things up, Michael would be an excellent choice,” said Barnes. (More later on Barnes’ view of where Georgia is on education issues.)
Michael Thurmond (AJC photo)
Here is the official DeKalb statement:
“We are delighted Mr. Thurmond has agreed to serve as our interim superintendent,” said Board Chairman Eugene Walker. “Our school district is facing significant challenges, and we need a leader with a strong record of making fundamental changes in large, complex organizations. Throughout our state, you’ll find almost universal agreement that Michael Thurmond has consistently demonstrated those abilities.”
“The board is committed to working with Mr. Thurmond,” said Jim McMahan, vice-chair of the DeKalb board. “Under his leadership, we will work to ensure that every child in DeKalb has equal access to a quality education.”
“I welcome the opportunity to serve the 99,000 students of the DeKalb County Schools,” said Mr. Thurmond. “By all of us coming together across our county – parents, employees, citizens and businesses North and South – there’s no limit to what we will accomplish for our schoolchildren.”
Thurmond is credited with transforming two unwieldy state agencies, first as director of the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and then as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor. At DFCS, Thurmond instituted a shift away from a culture of dependency for welfare recipients to a new focus on employment, job-training and personal responsibility. The Department of Labor underwent a similar change under his leadership, from a department that administered jobless benefits into a statewide resource for Georgians seeking career opportunities and training at newly created Career Centers throughout the state.
“We think that fundamental change is what our parents and stakeholders are demanding,” Dr. Walker said. “We are confident that Michael Thurmond is the leader with the track record and the ability to improve education for all of our schoolchildren.”
–from Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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229 comments Add your comment
Mandella1099
February 9th, 2013
12:14 pm
@ Married with (School) Children
Its good to see you here too, Ms. Jester….
Private Citizen
February 9th, 2013
12:44 pm
Is this fellow related to Strom Thurmond? He seems to possess a certain pedigree of political success.
__________________
If Governor Deal wishes to install a “charter district” map, the coming weeks would certainly be the time to act.
Call Me Missouri
February 9th, 2013
1:33 pm
So we get a gutsy, passionate, former head of DOL who is a visionary. Wow. Will he have the guts, passion, and vision to tell his old buddy, Gene, that the taxpayers are footing the bill for THREE superintendents too many and do something about that? Will he have the guts, passion, and vision to remove the remnants of the Atkinson administration still loitering in the “Palace?” Will Mr. Thurmomd have the passion, guts, and vision to get real educators with THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CHILDREN (note to MT: Ramona and the other Clew-less parasites do not) to advise him since he has no background in education? Will he have the guts, vision, and passion to clean out the top heavy administration? Will he have all that and whatever else he needs to regain the trust of the DCSD educators and parents? That alone will require more than guts, vision, and passion. I hope you are a praying man, Mr. Thurmond. Will he restore what has been taken away from those who work with our children IN THE CLASSROOM EVERYDAY because they (and their families) are HURTING!! Will he, especially as the former head of the Georgia Department of Labor, heve the guts, passion, and vision to say, “How in the heck are you guys NOT making TRS contributions and/or NOT withholding for Social Security for your employees???” Will he right that wrong and take steps to restore and reimburse those funds? Will he have the guts, passion, and glory to tell that Board of Miseducation they are largely responsible for all that is wrong with our school system? Will Mr. Thurmond be able to cut my son’s social studies class of 40 students by at least 10 students? Can our students have soap, papertowels, and toilet tissue every day? Can every elementary school have a full time art teacher and music teacher? Can we have band and orchestra again in all of our schools???? I could go on and on but what would be the point? I think we all KNOW the answer to these questions. This name was not pulled out of a hat, although that might have been preferable. Mr. Thurmond was approached and approved because he has probably assured the powers that be that he will not derail their gravy train. More of the same. I will take it back when I see something different; until then I am still from Missouri. You can show me better than you can tell me.
Call Me Missouri
February 9th, 2013
1:42 pm
Also, Mr. Thurmond, whatever they are telling you about SFA, it is only giving the illusion of success for all and victory in every overcrowded DCSD classroom. BTW, most of us would appreciate a new slogan for whatever it is you will be selling. “Victory in Every Classroom” has left a bad taste in our mouths and a stench in our schools.
Call Me Missouri
February 9th, 2013
2:30 pm
Enter your comments here
Beverly Fraud
February 9th, 2013
6:07 pm
Time to heed the clarion call. It’s time to bring back Beverly Hall, with the educational passion and desire and most of all integrity to bring (as Maureen would vouch for I’m sure) a much needed “stability” to the system and ably assist Michael Thurmond with the “research based best practices” aspects of the job.
Pay her on par with Thurmond of course.
bootney farnsworth
February 9th, 2013
6:15 pm
I’m getting a sense some parts of the AJC are dusting off the defend Beverly machine and are making the proper alterations to defend Mikey.
bootney farnsworth
February 9th, 2013
6:18 pm
I remember when Bush 43 was allegedly “selected”, there were few columnists at the AJC saying its done, you have no choice, give him a chance.
wonder what changed here?
Disgusted in Dekalb
February 9th, 2013
7:04 pm
I must have missed the part of the SACS report that said the Board had failed to select a superintendent with guts, vision, and passion.
DeKalb Inside Out
February 9th, 2013
7:20 pm
Michael Thurmond gives GREAT speeches. Maybe if Thurmond doesn’t work out we can get Tony Robbins in here
bu2
February 9th, 2013
8:44 pm
The AJC article does a good job of explaining what they were thinking with regard to Thurmond. Unfortunately, we won’t know why they felt it was so urgent to get rid of Dr. Atkinson. I guess it was necessary to be silent, but sure leaves a range of speculation for the reason. And that’s not good for faith in the board.
bootney farnsworth
February 9th, 2013
9:00 pm
@ bu2
not to mention they don’t want to get sued.
there’s a decent chance this could end up in court at some point
bu2
February 9th, 2013
9:14 pm
And if the SBOE asks them that question in a couple of weeks, they will have to answer that they can’t answer. That won’t make SBOE happy.
Burroughston Broch
February 9th, 2013
10:01 pm
@ Starik
“running for the senate is different from labor commissioner. People pay attention to senators, not labor commissioners or school superintendents.”
Excuses on top of excuses on top of excuses.
Thurmond was slammed the last time he ran in 2010, and was the last Democrat elected statewide in 2006. If he had any political legs and guts at all, he’d be offering for the US Senate in 2014. But he’s not, which proves my point.
reduce class sizes,bloat in schools&county offices
February 9th, 2013
10:16 pm
It’s a crap shoot! We now have Thurmond, let’s see what he can do. He must…..Reduce class sizes NOW! Reduce excess staff in schools, or assign them a homeroom teaching position NOW! Reduce the bloat of the county offices NOW! They are mainly teachers who left the classroom because they weren’t teacher material in the first place, and are now doing nothing in the county offices but collecting a paycheck and awaiting retirement. The Ethicsline(Whistleblower) must be anonymous and inform staff of its location. Principals need proper training on effective management of schools and resources. Get control of the sororities and friends and family nonsense that has caused incompetence and neglect to be rampant in our schools. Morale is LOW!
reduce class sizes,bloat in schools&county offices
February 9th, 2013
10:30 pm
The board decided that Atkinson had to go, or they were to be replaced by the governor. (I’m sure some on the board and Atkinson made a deal for her severance package.) It will now be extremely difficult to remove them, or the county will end up with lawsuits, as they hold elected positions and the governor cannot overide an elected office. They now will use Atkinson’s firing and replacement for their SACS report, claiming required changes have been met to restore accreditation.
dekalbite
February 9th, 2013
11:09 pm
2012
We spent around $10,000,000 (including benefits $12,000,000) on non teaching (certified to teach) personnel entitled Instructional Supervisors.
We spent around $7,000,000 (including benefits $8,000,000) on non teaching (certified to teach) personnel entitled Instructional Specialists (not to be confused with the Instructional Specialists P-8 who are the art, music, etc. teachers).
We spent almost $500,000 (including benefits $600,000) on non teaching (certified to teach) Literacy Coaches.
We spent $650,000 (including benefits) on six Special Education Directors. They do not teach even though they are certified to teach.
We spent $1,200,000 (including benefits) on Special Education Specialists. They do not teach even though they are certified to teach.
We spent $1,800,000 (including benefits) on Staff Development Specialists. They do not teach even though they are certified to teach.
We spent $2,900,000 on Parent Coordinators who never teach a child.
We spent over $10,000,000 on Security, an amount that in is so in excess of other metro Atlanta school systems, that it is hard to compare them. We have close to 200 Security employees for 48 schools and centers. We have no Security personnel in our elementary schools. They are “on their own”. The adults in the Bryant Center, the Central Office, Sam Moss, etc. have Security personnel, but not our elementary children.
$1,244,000 was spent on travel.
2013:
This year 2013, legal fees are expected to be close to $10,000,000.
It looks like there is plenty of places for Mr. Thurmond to “cut” the budget so that ALL of our students can have:
1. A safe and clean learning environment
2. A competent, decently compensated teacher in a reasonably sized classroom
3. Abundant access to cutting edge science and technology equipment
We need to remember all of these expenditures when the next “budget shortfall” comes up or when our children sit in classes of 40.
sources:
Open Georgia
http://www.open.georgia.gov/
Open Records Request:
http://dekalbschoolwatch.wordpress.com/dcss-files/legal-civil-case/
Daily Report:
http://dekalbschoolwatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/daily-report-article-dekalb-school-bd-budget.pdf
Product of Dekalb
February 10th, 2013
12:10 am
Brad Bryant did not apply or want to be considered for the job. He is still extremely dedicated to the schools and students of DeKalb but has the intelligence to stay out of the “lions den” in the palace. I’m sure when he left he was glad to close the door and never look back. He is now in a leadership role at the SBOE. Bet it’s difficult watching what has become of the system he worked SO hard to improve for all stakeholders. Maybe he should give MThurmond some excellent insider advice!
AnonMom
February 10th, 2013
8:39 am
Brad isn’t quite as “innocent” and perfect as he’s being painted. don’t get me wrong — I like Brad and he’s been very involved for a very a long time — but that’s just it — given where we are now in DCSS I don’t think you could have been involved for that long and not have have been at least a part of the problem…..
Ella Smith
February 10th, 2013
9:24 am
I wish Mike Thurman luck in his new job. I know they approached several people who were not interested due to the situation. In the current situation many professionals who not consider a temporary job like this for a year when the school board is on probation.
I am concerned that when and if the board is removed that the new board members and many older school board members will vote for the board to take the governor and state school board to court to stop or slow the process down. If this happens I would bet that these new members and will not be placed back on the school board. At tjhat point it will not be about what is best for the students but the school board members will be showing a very selfish side which is the problem to start with. I do agree with SACs that the biggest problem is that most of the school board members have their own selfish agenda. I also think that a few of the board members see this as their full time job and they do not want to give up the income. This again may shows selfishness on their part.
mountain man
February 10th, 2013
9:35 am
“Unfortunately, we won’t know why they felt it was so urgent to get rid of Dr. Atkinson.”
Uh, HELLO? Where have you been? Have you heard about hiring a plagiarist friend and then DEFENDING his actions? SACS would have crucified the Board if they had not acted against Atkinson.
DeKalb Inside Out
February 10th, 2013
9:51 am
There will be no more State Board hearings for DCSD. Bob Wilson of Wilson, Morton & Downs, LLC has been retained to make sure of that. The State Board is preparing for this meeting, but DCSD is not. I’m guessing Bob will file a “restraining order” this week. In legalese I thought it was an “injuction” but the term “restraining order” keeps coming up.
mountain man
February 10th, 2013
9:53 am
“I am concerned that when and if the board is removed that the new board members and many older school board members will vote for the board to take the governor and state school board to court to stop or slow the process down. ”
Yep, that sounds like this Board. Cause the expenditure of large amounts of money on legal fees for a fruitless cause. Then complain that education is not “funded”. The sooner this bunch of imbeciles is gone, the better.
DeKalb Inside Out
February 10th, 2013
9:54 am
Mountain Man
The plagiarist was icing on the cake. It was the destruction of those text messages. She’s just trying to stay out of jail right now.
mountain man
February 10th, 2013
9:57 am
“There will be no more State Board hearings for DCSD. Bob Wilson of Wilson, Morton & Downs, LLC has been retained to make sure of that.”
And if a lawsuit fails, then thew will cry “Racism!” and organize rallies and marches to make sure their ability to operate a jobs program for their friends is uninterrupted.
Pardon My Blog
February 10th, 2013
9:57 am
I still don’t understand why people classify Thurmond as an inspirational speaker. His intelligence certainly doesn’t show in his deadpan non-answers while being interviewed now as well as when he was the Labor Commissioner. We are now officially the laughingstock. Perhaps if he is so inspirational he can convince Eugene Walker to stay awake when meeting with the State BoE.
Speaking of Walker, he thinks he is doing great things for DeKalb and that it is all the divisive parents that have caused the system to be put on probation. He seems to feel that we should support all of them because “we haven’t done anything unlawful”.
Pardon My Blog
February 10th, 2013
10:00 am
Bob Wilson should be ashamed of himself!
dekalbite
February 10th, 2013
10:05 am
Caught in the filter. Not sure why. Here it is again:
2012
We spent around $10,000,000 (including benefits $12,000,000) on non teaching (certified to teach) personnel entitled Instructional Supervisors.
We spent around $7,000,000 (including benefits $8,000,000) on non teaching (certified to teach) personnel entitled Instructional Specialists (not to be confused with the Instructional Specialists P-8 who are the art, music, etc. teachers).
We spent almost $500,000 (including benefits $600,000) on non teaching (certified to teach) Literacy Coaches.
We spent $650,000 (including benefits) on six Special Education Directors. They do not teach even though they are certified to teach.
We spent $1,200,000 (including benefits) on Special Education Specialists. They do not teach even though they are certified to teach.
We spent $1,800,000 (including benefits) on Staff Development Specialists. They do not teach even though they are certified to teach.
We spent $2,900,000 on Parent Coordinators who never teach a child.
We spent over $10,000,000 on Security, an amount that in is so in excess of other metro Atlanta school systems, that it is hard to compare them. We have close to 200 Security employees for 48 schools and centers. We have no Security personnel in our elementary schools. They are “on their own”. The adults in the Bryant Center, the Central Office, Sam Moss, etc. have Security personnel, but not our elementary children.
$1,244,000 was spent on travel.
2013:
This year 2013, legal fees are expected to be close to $10,000,000.
It looks like there is plenty of places for Mr. Thurmond to “cut” the budget so that ALL of our students can have:
1. A safe and clean learning environment
2. A competent, decently compensated teacher in a reasonably sized classroom
3. Abundant access to cutting edge science and technology equipment
DeKalb Inside Out
February 10th, 2013
10:17 am
Bob Wilson will not fail. Lawyers were clamoring over each other to represent DCSD on this one. The merits of the case are reason one Bob will win. Reasons 2, 3 and 4 relate to Bob’s past performances and his connections. I’m not comfortable going into that. Hopefully somebody will research the players involved.
Pardon My Blog
I understand your frustration, but even murderers deserve a lawyer. I’m disappointed a majority of the DeKalb Board voted to use tax dollars to fight this. Of course Jester and maybe Speaks were against using tax dollars for this.
mountain man
February 10th, 2013
10:45 am
“Bob Wilson will not fail. Lawyers were clamoring over each other to represent DCSD on this one. The merits of the case are reason one Bob will win.”
In that case, I hope SACS revokes Dekalb’s accreditation. Hopefully, then the parents will file their own lawsuit. Or maybe new cities will be formed and an amendment will be introduced to allow them to form their own schools.
bu2
February 10th, 2013
11:55 am
@MM
There are a lot of reasons they could want Atkinson out. We don’t know what motivated them and why they thought it was urgent. You could do a long list of reasons, but it doesn’t mean it was what they considered. That’s what we won’t know. Just a selected list of possible reasons:
Her defense of the plagiarist
The terminated employee lawsuits
Teacher morale
Lack of turnaround in academics
Chaos with the calendar
Chaos with the budget
Chaos with the faciltiies plan
Lack of books in schools
Lack of responsiveness to board information requests
Possibly attacking the board with SACS (contributing to putting accreditation at risk)
3 new board members with different opinions
Atkinson wanted out
Ella Smith
February 10th, 2013
12:00 pm
I am hopeful the school board with not take the legal route to show down the process of removing them. If this happens I would be suprised if nay of the ones in support of this are placed backed on the board. This just shows selfishness on the board members part who would be in support of legal action. If they truely care about the students in DeKalb they would not interfere with this process. They would be willing to step down.
I agree that some of the members will scream racism. However, just like the lady who has been recommended to fill the empty Ga State Board DeKalb Seat race will not be a factor as there are very qualified members in the community to replace the board members who are of all different races. I do feel sensitivity will be a factor in replacing the DeKalb County School Board if the board is removed. Sensitivity to this should be a factor but again there are qualified individuals to replace the school board. I am fairly certain that the Governor and politicians already has resumes from extremely qualified candidates from all sides of the county.
I am just sad that things got so out of control. I am sad for the students, employees and taxpayers of DeKalb County. I do not think changing school superintendent will change the outcome of the hearing. I see the DeKalb County School Board reactions to the hearing as only hurting the students of DeKalb. I see SACS as possible taking away accreditation if the board takes legal action against the State Board of Education or the Governor. I personally do not see keeping the current board as more important that keeping the school systems accreditation. Do you?
DeKalb Inside Out
February 10th, 2013
12:34 pm
bu2
I don’t think Atkinson will be able to find another super job after this. Her husband doesn’t work. I’m guessing they are on food stamps in 18 months. That’s the only reason I think she could put up with everything except jail.
Ella Smith
DCSD and Sumter County are going to win their lawsuits against the state. The State BOE hearings will never happen and the board reps will not be removed. Bob Wilson, representing DCSD, is uniquely qualified for this task.
If anything comes out of this, it will be a referendum on oversight of school districts and not the districts themselves. We continue to elect these board members and they are running the school districts like their constituency wants them to. The unhappy are a vocal minority.
mountain man
February 10th, 2013
12:37 pm
“We don’t know what motivated them and why they thought it was urgent.”
My personal opinion is that they wanted to do this to demonstrate to the State BOE that they were capable of solving their problems – starting with Atkinson. I even urged them to do this in this blog.
But I still think they need to go.
DeKalb Inside Out
February 10th, 2013
1:06 pm
A number of board members wanted Atkinson gone but not enough to fire her. She quit on her own volition. DCSD board doesn’t care about the State BOE. They aren’t making any preparations whatsoever regarding their next hearing.
mountain man
February 10th, 2013
1:54 pm
“The unhappy are a vocal minority.”
Then the unhappy should get the heck out of Dekalb and let it rot and fester like APS. Our representatives should introduce an amendment this year to allow cities to run their own school districts. Then cities could get out of Dekalb and let Dekalb continue. I hope SACS revokes Dekalb’s accreditation. The people of Dekalb county would get exactly what they deserve for electing that school Board.
mountain man
February 10th, 2013
1:56 pm
And people wonder why “white flight” happens? It is not just whites not wanting to attend school with blacks. It is about wanting a decent education for your kids. It is why we always checked the school system before we bought a house.
mountain man
February 10th, 2013
1:57 pm
Too bad the State can’t just pull all its funding from Dekalb.
Oh goody
February 10th, 2013
2:45 pm
Has anyone introduced the bill to amend the constitution to allow city school systems yet?
WOW!
February 10th, 2013
3:29 pm
I am floored beyond comprehension! Michael Thurmond as interim superintendent?!
My view on him putting himself into this arena is that he is very selfish and greedy, knowing fully well he does not have the knowledge base in this industry of what is required to manage a school system that is in CRISIS. He is lacking the qualification to do this job even for a short time. I get that he now needs a pay check, but not at the expense of other people’s children. Who is supposed to respect this decision? He cannot be the most qualified candidate that this Board can find in all of these United States. With any job offer, prospective employers have an expectation that the potential candidate for the job has some knowledge base to be efficient and effective in the position the employer is trying to fill. How can this Board think that they can present to him to parents as an indication of having the children’s best interest at heart?
I do not live in DeKalb County, but as a resident of Georgia and parent who is/was invested in my child’s education I feel for all the parents who are invested in getting their child/children the best education available to them. If I were in their shoes, I would be beside myself with outrage. To be stuck in a school district that is in CRISIS; owning a home that is difficult to sell or losing value; without the resources to pay for private school; with a job that daily one wonders if the job will be there the next day, reduced family income or without a job; not being able to move and rent or buy in a better school district must be maddening for the parents who really care about their children’s future.
If the amounts of unnecessary spending that were quoted in an earlier post are accurate, it seems to be the tip of the dysfunction, financial mismanagement and corruption that exist in DeKalb. Now this Board wants to engage taxpayers’ funds in another round of costly litigation, so that they are not removed from office in order to continue their dysfunction, corruption, and stupidity? The money should be spent on the children, not fostering a bunch of self-absorbed greedy and overly ambitious adults many of whom are on the back end of their careers. They need to be gracious and resign.
The Georgia BOE needs to remove all of them from this board. Further bar them from ever seeking re-election to any positions within the DeKalb County Public School system. The Georgia BOE needs to remove them before they spend what little is there in the budget to cover up their own foolishness. Aren’t these members the same Board that had faith in Crawford Lewis and the taxpayers’ of DeKalb are dealing with the financial fall out from that episode?
Mr. Thurmond needs to be honest with himself and decline the position in the best interest of the children of DeKalb County as well as the State. He is an attorney, surly he can go back to the practice of law? At least, it is hoped that he has the necessary training and knowledge base to have that pay check he so needs in the legal industry and not at the behest of these children who did not ask to be in this situation.
WOW!
GrD
February 10th, 2013
4:24 pm
Maureen do not become DSW2 by filtering, blocking, opposing opinions. You allow Dekalbite to copy her blog and post on yours, with her ranting and spewing. She (Dekalbite) allows no one to post opposing views on her blog.
Private Citizen
February 10th, 2013
4:34 pm
Ode to Paulo977,
I just order a copy of BLACK SKINS WHITE MASKS by Frantz Fanon (Grove Press, 1991), also a copy of the Fanon Reader (ed. by Azzedine Haddour)(Pluto Press, UK, 2006). So I should be soon read-up on the man from Martinique.
PS Not to be confused with:
White Skin, Black Masks by Gail Ching-Liang (Routledge, 1996)
or
Brown Skin, White Masks by Hamid Dabashi (Pluto Press, UK, 2009)(interesting, meant to be a follow-up to the Fanon Reader, same publisher)
Although, I am certain these works are readily available in your local library Ahm COUGH COUGH ahem
Thank you, Paulo.
Concernedmom30329
February 10th, 2013
4:48 pm
bu2
I don’t think Orson and McMahan wanted Atkinson gone. Johnson did as he is close to Walker. No, in fact, both Orson and McMahan publicly supported her.
Atkinson didn’t want to leave, she HAD to leave. She had misled or lied to the board about the text messages. And she was going to get caught.
Prof
February 10th, 2013
5:33 pm
@ Private Citizen. FYI. An Algerian psychiatrist, Franz Fanon originally wrote “Black Skin, White Masks” in 1952, although it may have been translated from the French in 1992. Incisive and passionate, it’s a classic of anti-colonialism. So is his perhaps more famous work, “The Wretched of the Earth,” 1961. Very influential writer/thinker.
DeKalb Inside Out
February 10th, 2013
5:35 pm
Mountain Man
You and Nancy Jester are on the same page. Here are her recommendations for immediate consideration to the state department of education and to our legislators.
One day, my friend …. one day soon.
Concernedmom30329
February 10th, 2013
5:47 pm
DeKalb Inside Out
For you to know all you seem to know, it clearly means that someone is violating executive session rules. Just another strike against the BoE,
Prof
February 10th, 2013
5:53 pm
This is a very interesting blog thread to read, and I am in Fulton.
Ella Smith
February 10th, 2013
6:10 pm
I foresee if the DeKalb County School Board takes this situation to court then SACS will take action. There is nothing good going to come out of this court case.
The children in DeKalb County will lose. It will cost the taxpayers a great deal of money also that will be taken away from the students in DeKalb.
I think we have some very good school board members. However, I also think we have some very bad school board members which have corrupted the school board and they need to be gone. I think the citizens of DeKalb will raise up strongly and recall the school board members also if they take this situation to court. I think the citizens of DeKalb are way over the problems this is causing our county and our students.
DeKalb Inside Out
February 10th, 2013
6:19 pm
ConcernedMom
Marshall and Jim don’t tell me anything that isn’t public knowledge as far as I know. I try to be objective.
You’re the one with all the estute observations. You seem to know that Marshall and Jim support Atkinson’s severance package even though they voted it down. You seem to have executive knowlege of who was on the list of potential interim Superintendents etc ….
Charles Douglas Edwards
February 10th, 2013
6:35 pm
We would like to wish Michael Thurmond the best of luck and success as interim superintendent of Dekalb County Schools.
Dekalb county has some of the best schools, teachers, staff and students in the state.
We urge SACS to work with the citizens of Dekalb County.
We believe that this is a fresh new start for the school system and their students.