DeKalb school board: Resign to allow district a fresh start
The state Board of Education gave the DeKalb County school board a month to straighten up or risk dissolution.
Rather than pull itself together, the school board overseeing the state’s third-largest district appears nearer to falling apart.
With accreditation at risk, the superintendent out the door and an interim taking the reins today, the situation in DeKalb is dire, and the board bears a lot of the blame.
All nine members of the DeKalb school board ought to resign en masse. They’ve lost the trust of the community and the confidence of employees and are risking the welfare of students.
Under the policies and management of this board, DeKalb has experienced constant political intrigue and churn. For the third time in three years, DeKalb schools have a new leader after Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson, hired amid great fanfare 16 months ago, resigned Friday. Former Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond was appointed interim superintendent.
While Thurmond is politically adroit and a proven manager, he lacks an education background, making it all the more vital that those elected to shape education policy in DeKalb are united in a vision to enhance education quality and assure equity.
DeKalb needs stability after a chain reaction of damaging crises, including the 2010 indictment of former Superintendent Crawford Lewis on conspiracy and fraud charges.
But it also needs reinvention and reinvigoration. It needs dynamic school-based leaders. It needs an intense student-achievement focus that addresses both the district’s high performing and struggling students.
This board has not demonstrated the capacity to provide either stability or innovation.
In a scathing critique of the DeKalb board, SACS noted, “There was frequent mention of board members who make special requests of district office staff, bus drivers and teachers, making threats to fire them if they do not comply with their individual requests. These interviewees used terms like fear, harassment, and intimidation to describe the behaviors of board members. Those interviewed consistently expressed that board members have created a level of animosity, and that both teachers and principals operate in fear.”
When the state board ordered the DeKalb school board members to report back on Feb. 21, DeKalb Chairman Eugene Walker promised there would be measurable progress on the required improvements outlined by SACS to avoid losing accreditation.
“We pledge our total commitment to staying fully accredited, ” he reassured the state board.
But, despite its pledge to work collaboratively, the board couldn’t muster five votes last week to elect a new chair, which means Walker keeps the top job for the moment. Walker received four votes against two other nominees and four again in a runoff when two board members abstained.
“What appears to be the dismal and total lack of integrity and transparency of the present DeKalb Board of Education is endangering the future of the DeKalb school system, ” said David Schutten, president of the Organization of DeKalb Educators.
Some board members counter that they’re not the problem. It’s their self-serving colleagues who’ve allowed personal agendas, petty politics and a penchant for litigation to endanger the district’s accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which placed DeKalb on probation in December because of mismanagement, meddling, nepotism and fiscal failings.
The three newly elected members can rightfully insist that it’s unfair to freight them with the wrongdoings of the board’s veterans.
But it’s an all-or-nothing deal under a 2011 state law that allows the governor to oust a dysfunctional school board and appoint a new slate (Those DeKalb members who feel wronged and desire another chance on the board can ask the governor to reappoint them, which the Department of Education assured me was permissible).
At the state board meeting in January, DeKalb school board members presented four hours of reasons why they should retain their seats.
But here are 99,000 reasons why they should not: The students of DeKalb have been shortchanged by the inability of this board to put their needs first.
After emerging from a private meeting with the board a week ago, Thurmond told reporters, “I’m here today because I’m interested in the future of public education in DeKalb County. I made it clear. I’m here to help.”
That’s good. Because if anything is clear in this mess, it’s that DeKalb needs help.
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137 comments Add your comment
Janusz Maciuba
February 11th, 2013
8:57 pm
I looked up Michael Thurmond’s law firm and they claim the largest product liablity payouts, etc. So, one can assume that he’s a millionaire. If he turns the DCSS around by the time for the senate race, he might have a chance of going to Washington if the Republicans nominee is a wild-eyed tea-bagger.
He doesn’t have a doctorate in education but that has been an indicator for failure in the past bunch of superintendents.
I googled him and “scandal,” “nepotism,” and other such words. Nothing.
Now, if he can cut the central office staff to 200, find the missing $12million text book money, fire all the inept principals, etc., he can run for president in 2016. He’ll have my vote.
Ed Johnson
February 11th, 2013
8:58 pm
http://whatsupwiththat.nancyjester.com/2013/02/08/303/
Certainly, applaud DCPS Board member Nancy Jester for flying at the poor state of public education in DeKalb County head on. Unfortunately, her seven recommendations pose much the same old threaten-to-punish-people-and-that-will-incentivize-them-to-do-right way of thinking that can only make matters worse. Rep. Ed Lindsey and similar others already embody that slothful character trait when it comes to learning to improve public education.
Hopefully Nancy will throttle up her spitfire and mustang drive to help DCPS do the hard work of learning how to improve DCPS, which must include, as with APS, boldly confronting the lose-lose racialist ideology so clearly and plainly operating at the board level. DCPS Board’s push-out of then-superintendent candidate Lily Cox in order to hire “urban” Cheryl Atkinson illustrates the matter. Now, perhaps “urban” Michael Thurmond as interim superintendent — as opposed to, say, a Brad Bryant for that role — also illustrates the matter.
bu2
February 11th, 2013
8:59 pm
@concerned
In fairness, McChesney lost decisively and lost every single precinct but one. MMO had nothing to do with him losing.
And who knows who did the redistricting. The original map that MMO put out wasn’t even considered by the Dekalb delegation. The Dekalb delegation did the final map in secret and it was very different from MMO’s. That type of behavior and the dysfunction of the public meeting where Ms. Oliver and Ms. Benfield were about the only responsible ones is part of what gives me concerns about letting Deal appoint the board. They often defer to the state legislative delegations and I don’t want Rep. Mosby, et.al. selecting the school board.
Charles Douglas Edwards
February 11th, 2013
9:01 pm
We urge the state Board of Education and SACS to treat the Dekalb County Board of Education fair and just !!!
There are 99,000 students depending on the BOE for a good quality education.
The parents, students and citizens of beautiful Dekalb County should unite and hold their heads high in these difficult times.
Dekalb County is still a wonderful place to live and educate our children.
We wish Michael Thurmond and the Dekalb Board of Education the best of luck and success.
living in an outdated ed system
February 11th, 2013
9:16 pm
@Maureen, AGREED!
bu2
February 11th, 2013
9:17 pm
@concerned
You are making the claim about the last election, so you should produce the facts. There’s a LOT of falsehoods that get passed off as facts on the internet, particularly from certain quarters. This appears to be another urban legend. I did look up the election once and decided there weren’t enough votes in 1 or 2 precincts to make up the margin. This was an election covering half the county.
Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure
February 11th, 2013
9:33 pm
The only way this Board goes is if Deal decides to remove them, and I’m not sure he wants that drama.
@Maureen I’m curious…specifically because last week you blogged that the Dekalb BOE was no different than many other BOEs and City Councils in their dysfunction, and that Dekalb actually wasn’t that bad. This seemed to raise the ire of some of the regs here. Now, you’re asking them to step down. What prompted the change? Do you feel bad for Atkinson? Or is it just because of Thurmond. I think the hire of Thurmond is comparable to Erroll Davis in APS, though Davis has higher ed experience.
Grob Hahn
February 11th, 2013
9:41 pm
Where are the parents in all of this? If any situation merits torches and pitch forks, THIS is it. Just like Beverly Hall’s fiasco. So where are they? Why aren’t that standing in a ring around the school board’s cushy headquarters daring them to enter?
Grob
Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure
February 11th, 2013
9:44 pm
And don’t get me wrong, I’m not endorsing Thurmond’s hire. Just trying to break up the monotony of the outraged cries to clean house with no solutions behind them.
@billanded
February 11th, 2013
9:46 pm
Bill and Ed,
Big difference is relationship between Walker and Thurmond. I hope he can be independent.
Big problem with lack of education background is that the is surrounded by many incompetents. Will he know? Students have really suffered this year at many schools because of decisions of Atkinson and her people. Will Thurmond understand and know what to do?
I fear his priority is to maintain accreditation and protect Walker.
Pride and Joy
February 11th, 2013
9:48 pm
Good post, Get Schooled!
yes, all of them need to be fired and never ever ever rehired…
but…
Thurmond is board member, Gene Walker’s good buddy.
I fear Thurmond will do gene’s bidding and hire walker as a consultant to drain more blood out of dying dekalb tax payers.
I want the state to come in and take over this district, not just help it from afar. i mean, really come in and run it until we can divide this district into smaller mroe manageable pieces.
Race baiting and race relations has never ended in Dekalb county. The Northern Dekalb mostly-white families have different values and beliefs than the Southern dekalb mostly-black families and it shows up on the board. Blacks vote one way and white vote another.
I never thought I’d say it but we need to break apart and manage our own — and I’m a voting, tax-paying adult who is a liberal Democrat and I voted for Obama twice.
I am terrified of the horrific mess in Dekalb. If I could, I would homeschool my children. I simply cannot afford to do so. It’s not about religion for me it’s about getting my kids out of the horrible public education systems known as cheating, lying APS and waste, fraud, and abusive Dekalb SNAFU County schools.
FIRE THE WHOLE BOARD NOW! DO NOT LET THEM BACK IN!
DO NOT ALLOW THIS BOARD TO BE HIRED AS CONSULTANTS…and
if possible….
tar and feather them and banish them from public schools altogehter.
Shheesh ! Good riddance to this bunch of despicable idiots!
Pride and Joy
February 11th, 2013
9:49 pm
To Grob — you ask where are teh parents?
I’m RIGHT HERE!
I’m right here saying “OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!”
Dekalbite@Dr. John Trotter
February 11th, 2013
11:12 pm
“But, messing with the democratic process is plain wrong, and I don’t give a rat’s a$s who gets mad at me for saying so.”
But you feel comfortable that the district lines were moved so that one of the newly elected BOE members was included in a district up for election. It’s okay to gerrymander and move district lines around so an insider can qualify as a candidate for a vacant seat. Is that part of the democratic process you are speaking up for?
Dekalbite@Dr. John Trotter
February 11th, 2013
11:12 pm
Enter your comments here
rookie math teacher
February 11th, 2013
11:15 pm
Gonna take more than afew resignations to fix this. Dekalb is at the tipping point. I teach math in the county and its ugly. This could take a generation to reverse, that is if we see a greatly improved local economy. We are in deep denial overall.
alistair
February 11th, 2013
11:51 pm
this corrupt, incompetent board–no way they will resign with all the money they can make with all that taxpayer money on deals, contracts, jobs for friends… — crooked to the core.
Moderation
February 12th, 2013
12:58 am
I am surprised by the number of people who have no problem
with the governor removing an elected school board without
any option for a recall election by the local citizenry to determine
who shall serve on the school board. If appointing school board
members is acceptable for voters in DeKalb County,why shouldn’t
the same system be acceptable in every county? There should
be a legal way to appoint a state auditor to oversee the educational
policy and budget without dismantling the democratic process.
say what?
February 12th, 2013
12:58 am
So disappointed that the interim superintendent has stated that his goal is to use his connections to keep the board members from losing their positions. I was hoping that his friendship with Dr. Walker would not interfere with him ensuring 99,000 students and 13,000 employees are in an accredited school district. So goes hoping!
Home-tutoring parent
February 12th, 2013
1:11 am
Let’s become Imagineers, and imagine electing only really well educated people to the DeKalb school board: top 5% graduating class members from Albany, Augusta, and Savannah State (and their peers), top 10% grads of Agnes Scott, Georgia State, Morehouse and Spelman (and their peers), top 15% UGA, top 20% Tech and Emory.
Hold the same standards for DeKalb Superintendent and building principals. Loosen the preceding standards a little for classroom teachers, but don’t go below, stand firm.
All across America, the state teacher certification undergraduate GPA requirement is 2.5-2.75, and the vast majority of teachers come from crappy universities. That’s good enough to earn a degree. It isn’t good enough to teach OTHER PEOPLE’s CHILDREN.
This is what the vast majority of people fail to understand. Even a 3.5 at Augusta State is not good enough. 3.8, yes that’s good enough. A 3.6 from UGA, yes, that’s good enough. A 3.4 from Tech, a 3.3 from Emory, yes that’s good enough. Now add 0.2 GPA for non-education-college, teaching-subject-degree-major classes, for middle school teachers, and 0.3 for high school teachers.
This creates an exemplary-level-knowledge school leadership and teaching corps. If you’re not willing to do this, stop whining about public school failure..
Dr. John Trotter
February 12th, 2013
2:31 am
Yes, DeKalbite, gerrymandering is apparently part of the democratic process because elected officials of all ilk do it — Republicans, Democrats, Conservatives, Liberals, school boafd members, Congressmen, et al. Yes, those who are elected engage in what we see as nefarious, but the courts have held that reasonable gerrymandering is O. K. I believe it was Andrew Jackson who said to the victor goes the spoils. But, in this case, it is to the appointed goes the spoils.
Resident
February 12th, 2013
3:11 am
I have lived in DeKalb for over 15 years and worked for DeKalb County School system for more than three years at the Central Office when it was on North Decatur Road and like any organization, it has some awful leaders however, more often than not, the majority of employees are hardworking, thoughtful, and professional. All it takes is a few to give the wrong impression and because the media loves to focus on the negative, defeat is always emphasized to the 10th power. There is not one school in GA that can brag. There is not one company or organization that can not state without lying that they don’t have development and growth area’s. No leader leads without having to grow, develop, change, and embrace shortcomings. Not one. It is clearly very easy to lead, coach and develop from the safety of the computer and sofa instead of sitting in the seat of leadership one day and having to constantly deal with ramblings from the selfish, often unedcuated, poor, glory seeking residents. Parent’s don’t come to schools except when their children have failed or suspended. Public education has become nothing more than tax payer provided free day care. When you are comfortable with any educational system providing a ‘diploma’ of attendance, you are beyond stupid and don’t deserve a voice in anything. To have a child walk across the stage just to feed your ego and you know they don’t know their left from their right is ridiculous! Education is still about A-B-C’s and 1-2-3 and many children in DeKalb are coming to school without proper nurishment, sleep, or home training. Don’t get mad at the leadership, get mad at yourself for sending kids to school with their pants on the ground, $200 cell phones and $300 gym shoes unprepared to learn. Perhaps Mr. Thurmond will do what no other leader has focused on, attempt to prepare these students for the expectations of the employers we attempt to attract to GA. Nasty attitudes and a sense of entitlement are parenting issues. The majority of GA teachers are over qualified and underpaid. If you wanna be helpful, question teaching to test. Question national exams that are not regionally sensitive. Question benchmarks that are not culturally unbiased. As for teachers from more diverse professional backgrounds. Not all students are college bound; nor should they be; more emphasis needs to be placed on realistic expectations for students life-learning goals. Trades, certifications in IT, HVAC, Electrical wiring, etc. Prepare them to not just survive, but succeed and teach them what success really means; and it does not mean just enrolling in a college to party, haze and impregant. Train them to get skills they can use to pay bills, as they take their time to discover their true passions.
Private Citizen
February 12th, 2013
6:49 am
Grob, You seem to be confusing “parents” with dumbed down peasants.
Hard to believe Dekalb once top distict in GA
February 12th, 2013
6:55 am
What is so great about elected school boards? 20 of 50 states have appointed boards.
Hard to believe Dekalb once top distict in GA
February 12th, 2013
6:56 am
http://www.nsba.org/SchoolLaw/Issues/Governance/electionschart.pdf
senseandsensibility
February 12th, 2013
7:03 am
Dear Fellow Employees:
Today is the first day of a new beginning for the DeKalb County School District. I am honored to serve as your Interim Superintendent.
Maintaining the School District’s accreditation is my number one priority. I need your support and assistance. During this critical period, we must focus on fulfilling the School District’s core mission — providing our students with a quality education. Please rededicate yourself to the important task of improving student academic achievement at every grade level.
Together, we will move this School District forward. We cannot rest until it is once again ranked among the best public school systems in America. This will require a united effort by all stakeholders — students, parents, board members, administrators, teachers, support staff, community/business leaders and taxpayers. Our challenges are great, but our opportunities are greater!
Thank you for serving the children of the DeKalb County District. I look forward to meeting and working with you.
Sincerely,
Michael L. Thurmond
Interim Superintendent
As employees we need your assistance paying our bills and explaining to banks why we can’t make our mortgage payments, or telling Kroger we will pay for food next week. 7 years is a long time to go with no raise or any steps and 5 years with no contributions for retirement. Im offended that you don’t think were dedicated because for 5 years there has been furlough days and we have lost thousands of dollars, yet test scores are up. The SACS report doesn’t even mention teachers, it mentions the mismanagement of the school board. I’m so offended right now steam is coming out of my ears.. rededicate myself???? how much more can one be dedicated to a school district who steals money from them to pay for lawyers and superintendent cars, i pads, i phones, and retirement packages?????? GET A CLUE!!!!!
MiltonMan
February 12th, 2013
7:08 am
“With accreditation at risk, the superintendent out the door and an interim taking the reins today, the situation in DeKalb is dire, and the board bears a lot of the blame.”
Not blame for the residents who vote these clowns in??? See what happens when you have democrats in control of everything???
Dunwoody Mom
February 12th, 2013
7:16 am
Note to Michael Thurmond…As Superintendent, you cannot maintain accreditation. The school system is on probation due to the actions of the Board of Education. The Superintendent cannot “fix” the BOE.
Pardon My Blog
February 12th, 2013
7:16 am
I hope that the DeKalb BoE will hear you but unfortunately when members like Eugene Walker make the statement that they have worked only for the best interest of the students and they have not done anything wrong, its the divisive parents that have created the problem, then you know they will not go quietly, especially if they have hired an attorney. If they truly had the best interest of the students at heart they would do the right thing and RESIGN!
Fed up
February 12th, 2013
7:17 am
I still think many of you are missing the point of the activities of Friday. I sadly believe the political fix is already in the cards.
Michael Thurmond, who has no background in education and is tied to a couple of board members is named interim superintendent. Immediately, many state level politicians come out praising the move, most notably former Gov. Roy Barnes. The DeKalb BOE has still been very dysfunctional and cannot even elect a chair person and certainly deserves to be removed from office.
My gut tells me the DeKalb BOE is banking on the fact a big name state politician may save their skins and allow them to keep their jobs. Additionally, who knows what political undercurrents there might be with Thurmond and state board members? Remember, it is all about politics.
I hope I am wrong, but something just does not feel right about all that has happened so far.
Pardon My Blog
February 12th, 2013
7:17 am
@ Dunwoody Mom – First on Thurmond’s agenda is to figure out how a school system works and what he can and can’t do.
William
February 12th, 2013
7:22 am
Y’all just racists. we in South Dekalb want people that are just like us to repersent us.
Debra
February 12th, 2013
7:26 am
First, I don’t believe they ever stood behind Ms. Atkinson. Secondly, the entire board needs to be replaced. Thirdly, how the hell did Thurman become the interim Superintendant? He has no educational background. This is a huge problem. Dekalb County stand up!!! Let’s make our voices heard. Get rid of the Board and the new interim Superintendant and select truly qualified people to the board and re-hire Ms. Atkinson. People, you can’t please everyone all the time. But if everyone is on the same page we can get things done.
Maude
February 12th, 2013
7:31 am
After hearing Thurmond on the news this morning it became clear why he was hired. To be a spokes person to keep the current board. I felt sick when he stated that he would do everything he could to keep the current board. I knew it would not be about the kids!!
frustrated dekalb teacher
February 12th, 2013
7:33 am
i have been employed in dekalb since the 1990s. it has been clear since that time that the only priorities in this county are nepotism, bullying, absconding with money, and inept “butt-covering.” heaven help the parents, students, and most of all, the teachers who have been and still are truly and sincerely trying to do a good job in a seriously flawed system. keeping any of the board members on board and being run by another non-educator seems really stupid.
Pardon My Blog
February 12th, 2013
7:35 am
@ William – LOL! @ Maude – Seriously, are you surprised? Why do you think they rushed him in and pushed Atkinson out (not that she was any jewel)?
DunMoody
February 12th, 2013
7:36 am
Mr. Thurmond appears to think DeKalb is under accreditation because of student achievement. That’s rather ironic since much of the criticism levied on SACS is that it’s all about the Board and processes, not about the classroom. I read his letter with a wince since teachers have been called on over and over again to make do with less and keep a stiff upper lip. However, he DOES need to zero in on the classroom. That’s his job. Ah, well. He’s learning. Fast, I hope.
Fed up
February 12th, 2013
7:37 am
Why should anyone be surprised about why Thurmond was hired or what he is now saying about keeping the BOE in place? The whole thing stinks of cronyism and pure politics. Those were my thoughts when I first heard what was going on. Do not look for the state to remove this board. The fix is in and the deals have all been struck.
tired
February 12th, 2013
8:00 am
Unless you have a child in a DeKalb County School – you should not be on the BOE. Get rid of them all and give the principals authority in their own school. I have absolutely NO faith that this will ever happen. I have 1 child left in a DeKalb school. That particular school has gone from being a shining star in this country – to a complete cluster. Is it any surprise though? Our county has been a plethora of deceit and corruption. Not just the schools but the police, government, CEO and so on. What a shame.
Road Scholar
February 12th, 2013
8:13 am
“While Thurmond is politically adroit and a proven manager, he lacks an education background..”
So What! We had (oh really) board members who allegedly had experience in education and what have we got? A CF! Have them resign with no severance pay or package; if they want to run again, do so. Get some of the PTA Presidents and business leaders/chamber members to run. Get rid of Walker.
Enough is enough!
Disgusted in Dekalb
February 12th, 2013
8:15 am
The Dekalb school board isn’t going to resign. They just hired a $315,200 a year lobbyist to go to the Capital an try to convince everyone the Board should remain in place.
There was no consideration of Thurmond’s education experience, its only his contacts at the Capital. He will never really manage the school system. He’s just there to help the school board save their positions. He’s a talking head (as most politicians are).
And how is it that he’s available anyway? Is there an abundance of former government officials laying around? This whole thing sticks. Or could he just not find a job?
Road Scholar
February 12th, 2013
8:17 am
A good manager is a good manager regardless of what they are managing! I have no problem with Thurmond. He has to suck up to the board just to keep his job to be able to do the right thing. We need quick action NOW!
Inman Parker
February 12th, 2013
8:19 am
“It has always been difficult for the non teaching employees in DeKalb to understand that EVERY service and EVERY decision should revolve around the most important people in the school system – the teacher and students.” Hear, hear!!
Concernedmom30329
February 12th, 2013
8:21 am
Actually, Thurmond is a well respected attorney at a major law firm. I think he wants one more foray into politics, and this is his chance to do something good before making another run.
I hope he can do it. I do.
I also believe that he can control Walker. Copelin-Woods isn’t controllable, but she also is irrelevant, as she doesn’t have other board members who support her. She is an embarrassment and damaging to the schools in her community. Perhaps Thurmond can shut her up.
Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure
February 12th, 2013
8:24 am
@Milton Man — As usual, thanks for the useless commentary.
DeKalb Educated
February 12th, 2013
8:28 am
Attention DeKalb Parents:
The DeKalb County Board of Education and the DeKalb County Interim Superintendent do not care about your child’s education. If this is not obvious to you by now, you are truely in denial. The school board has done nothing for years, except hire friends and family into positions they are not qualified for while causing the budget and county office to become bloated beyond anyone’s realization. The have now hired a person with no educational experience solely so they can keep their positions. They have chosen a state-level politician to influence the state to keep the inept and corrupt DeKalb BOE in place. He has even come out and said so. As stated in this blog previously, the state will not remove the current BOE, nor will any of them resign.
So, things will basically remain the same as the school system continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate. What will SACS do regarding accreditation? I honestly don’t know, nor do I think this current board or superintendent are even thinking about that right now. It is all about protecting their jobs.
Lee
February 12th, 2013
8:29 am
Dekalb school board = Exhibit A why voters should have a “None of the Above” option on the ballot.
Think about it, no more holding your nose and voting for the “least worst” candidate.
On second thought, I may legally change my name to “None of the Above” and run for Saxby Chamblis’ Senate seat. $175k per year, the best health care, 24 hr armed security, lobbyists throwing money at you left and right, and interns.
RexDogma
February 12th, 2013
8:42 am
How can you call for the whoe board to resign. I believe 2 just got elected Johnson & Orson. I don’t think they have had time to screw things up!
Betsy Parks
February 12th, 2013
8:47 am
If this video does not convince you that the DKBOE should be removed (resign, but hahaha) nothing will. http://www.wsbtv.com/videos/news/interim-superintendent-will-try-to-avoid-state/vqP9s/
Clearly this board is incapable of focusing on the children and the community they should serve and think they are above the law. Sign our petition. http://www.change.org/petitions/governor-nathan-deal-and-georgia-state-board-of-education-review-sacs-findings-if-accurate-replace-the-dekalb-county-school-board
Dunwoody Mom
February 12th, 2013
8:52 am
While Mr. Thurmond is spending his time lobbying his contacts at the State Capitol and SBOE for the DCSS BOE, who is “minding the store” back at DCSS. Isn’t there a Budget for next year to be worked on? After all, THAT is Thurmond’s job, not lobbying for School Board members.
Dekalb Watchdog
February 12th, 2013
9:03 am
While the Board Members can petition to be reinstated on any new board appointed by the Governor, I think its short-sighted to recommend the entire board resign. Nancy Jester is an intelligent voice of change that continues to be dismissed by the majority of the board due to her demographic within the county. If the Board wanted what’s best for the students, they would elect Ms. Jester Chairwoman and actually consider some of her recommendations. I guess majority rules in a democracy, but this is a prime example of why certain districts would like to carve out their own school districts.