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
Beverly Fraud
February 11th, 2013
3:38 pm
Maybe if there had been a Nancy Jester on the APS board, Atlanta wouldn’t have had a decade of academic genocide.
Hard to say which is worse; a board that acts like Clown Central, or a “professional acting” board that betrays children in the best interest of the “narrative.”
Concernedmom30329
February 11th, 2013
3:43 pm
Thank you Maureen. If only they would listen…
Concerned Lakeside Mom
February 11th, 2013
3:55 pm
Amen! And thank you for putting this in writing. We know they hear us. If only they would listen…
Home-tutoring parent
February 11th, 2013
4:02 pm
Some of us have institutional memory. Going back waay long ago. Grandma, great uncle, soo century-ago.
But in the 1980s-2000s, we remember Stanford and Columbia devising “Outstanding Education Reforms”. Here’s how their “Curriculum Researched-Based Reforms” worked: For “field=-test studies”, they took the most energetic, smartest classroom teachers, as their new-curriculum subjects, and tested them against dreck-regular teachers as “controls”.
Then, after “proving” the new paradigms were “great”, they promulgated them, often inducing state-legislated changes, and the “new research-proven curricula” proved to have zero worth when teachers across the board had to implement them.
But somebody proved to get rich on this, ala the promoters.
I know nothing. I taught my kids to read, write, do math, ride 15 foot Hawaiian waves, get planted in Canadian snow banks, catch and eat salmon, ahi and mahi mahi, work hard, discover life.
SouthDekalbParent
February 11th, 2013
4:10 pm
This was passed by the GA House today, regarding BOE and local school boards:
http://legiscan.com/GA/text/HB115/id/711108
Bernie
February 11th, 2013
4:10 pm
Choosing a New Superintendent without any Education administrative experience and who lives outside of the County does not bode well for a ground swell of support by parents nor teachers. This current enviroment is too important and too critical to allow anyone to get on the job training at this juncture.
A search for a more experienced SUPER should have been opened and currently ongoing. If, this were COBB or Gwinnett County this choice would not be ALLOWED at ALL! PERIOD!
DunMoody
February 11th, 2013
4:18 pm
In case your straight talk doesn’t make it clear enough, DeKalb students deserve a
Do-over
Mulligan
Clean slate
Fresh start
Rebirth
Strong post and timely.
chillywilly
February 11th, 2013
4:22 pm
I don’t know why folks keep praising Nancy Jester. She’s a big part of the problem. They all need to resign from the board, including Nancy Jester. I believe that Thurmond will do a good job in the interim. Cobb & Gwinnett are nothing to write home about as they have their own problems
Ed Advocate
February 11th, 2013
4:24 pm
I agree Maureen. It’s a shame it has come to this.
Jennifer
February 11th, 2013
4:25 pm
I sincerely hope there is as much consensus among the DOE and Gov. Deal as I am hearing within the communities of DeKalb. Thank you Maureen for giving us stakeholders in DeKalb a voice. They could hire the MOST qualified superintendent on the planet and still he/she would fail. This board has proven over and over again that they CANNOT do what needs to be done to right this mess. It is time for the powers that be to step in and remove them. Then, the first order of business MUST be to create & implement a code of ethics going forward. It should NEVER have gotten to this point and we must ensure that it never does again.
devildog0300
February 11th, 2013
4:27 pm
The same idiots would vote for the new crowd. No change, unless you can ship out those idiots to Clayton County.
Make It Happen
February 11th, 2013
4:31 pm
Want to understand part of the problem with Dekalb BOE? Read the blog scribed by former board member Don McChesney.
http://blog.donfordekalb.com/2013/02/04/179/
Greg
February 11th, 2013
4:33 pm
They will never resign. They have the same issue that the Board in Clayton had, most of the members depend on the small salary that job pays to make ends meet. These aren’t a group of high achievers.
Prof
February 11th, 2013
4:43 pm
@ SouthDekalbParent. Wow. This HB 115 extends any hearing by the State BOE to 90 days if a majority of the local BOE so petitions, with testimony and recommendation made in open meeting. Governor may remove members of the local BOE, who may petition for reinstatement with a hearing for such members. If petition is turned down, the member is permanently removed. Zap, gone, never to be seen again.
Still has the Senate to get through, but…….
bu2
February 11th, 2013
4:47 pm
Dekalb is not united on removing the board members. I don’t trust the state to take away our voice and our votes which have removed incumbents in 5 of the last 9 elections and came close in at least 2 others (Woods and Speaks). I don’t know how Deal will select new board members and I don’t know who those new board members will be representing. The Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta and the local politicians in APS weren’t representing the students. They tried to hide the cheating scandal. Are the local Chamber of Commerce and Dekalb legislative delegation going to be giving Deal his potential candidates?
bu2
February 11th, 2013
4:48 pm
@Greg
While I agree they won’t resign, they aren’t dependent on the salary. Certainly not Jester, McMahan, Orson and Edler. I doubt Speaks, Walker, Johnson or Cunningham (with his pizza business) are either.
Eugene Walker Must Go
February 11th, 2013
4:49 pm
I am totally against democratically elected officials being removed and replaced with non-elected administrators. If you want real change, an engaged citizenry would demand resignations of those who caused this mess……specifically Eugene Walker. If the citizens don’t care about the incompetence, corruption and fraud, then they get what they deserve.
Beverly Fraud
February 11th, 2013
4:55 pm
I don’t know why folks keep praising Nancy Jester.
I think chilly it’s because ironically she doesn’t act like a court jester.
She seems to be willing to tell the truth a commodity in short supply in DCSS.
Disgusted in Dekalb
February 11th, 2013
5:03 pm
At the meeting with the State BOE, Chairman Walker stated that the system was running fine and that the board had done nothing wrong, and then declared that they would address all of SACS’ complaints. Anybody see any problem with that?
Prof
February 11th, 2013
5:10 pm
@ Eugene Walker Must Go, February 11th, 4:49 pm.
Hmm. Read the text of House Bill 115 that SouthDekalbParent thoughtfully provided above, especially the section on removal of individual local board members, with the grounds spelled out. Testimonies, witnesses allowed on both sides.
Aren’t democratically elected officials at the federal level allowed to be removed if their actions are egregious enough?
skipper
February 11th, 2013
5:22 pm
Get over it, folks. This board, this system is one big CLUSTER. Nothing Maureen or any poster on this blog can say can or will change that. Folks who do not see that this is an incompetant board running an incompetant system cannot see at all.
The Deal
February 11th, 2013
5:22 pm
Wow, Maureen. This is certainly a new tone for you. Congratulations on seeing the light. Those of us who have been mired in this mess for the last 6 years have been waiting for a strong statement like this. Thank you.
Dr. John Trotter
February 11th, 2013
5:31 pm
Beverly Fraud, you know that I tend to agree with you. In fact, I rarely disagree with you. SACS would rather not have the Nancy Jesters on the school board — those school board members who ask questions. Then SACS wants to blame the school boards for the actions of the administration. SACS stands for Still Advocating for Cronies and Superintendents.
Nothing irks me more than the “professional pretending” hacks who just nod their heads at any aciton that the superintendents do. They are the proverbial “head-nodders” of whom Mark Elgart and SACS approve.
I like the rough and tumble of school board politics. You are never going to take politics off the school board or out of the school system. The difference is that some are just more up front and open about their politics. I guarantee you that the uppidy-acting school boards of Fulton and Gwinnett have just as much politics on them as Clayton and Atlanta and DeKalb. The difference? Just not as loud about it. Just a cultural difference, I presume. But, ole Markie seems to like the ones who pretend to be so pious that they would say “pie” because it starts with a “p.”
Beverly Fraud
February 11th, 2013
5:34 pm
Wow, Maureen. This is certainly a new tone for you.
@The Deal, you mean in contrast to suggesting that Beverly Hall remain at the helm of APS for the “stability” she provides?
Guess Sam Williams isn’t as infatuated with Eugene Walker as he apparently was with Beverly Hall.
Dr. John Trotter
February 11th, 2013
5:47 pm
@ The Deal: I suggest that you engage in the political process. I know that this will make the many DeKalb School Board detractors mad, but, I don’t know…I just have an affinity for the democratic process. I don’ t trust the Gnostics to appoint the “enlightened ones” for us “craftsmen” class of folk. Oligarchies may have fine intentions but they end up being things like The Third Reich. How’s this for ticking off folks? Sorry, folks, but the big push to get the Guv to remove the duly-elected board members is wrong. If you just can’t stand their politics, then get yourself or others elected, send your kids or grandkids to private school, or move out of the county. 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.
Beverly Fraud
February 11th, 2013
5:50 pm
“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.
So Mighty ODE finally notices? Hmm…can’t wait until the year 2020 when Mighty ODE makes a strong condemnation of Lance Armstrong.
Dr. John Trotter
February 11th, 2013
5:55 pm
@ Beverly Fraud: Don’t get on Mr. Shutten’s case too much. He has to represent the administrators too. He may appear to be an administrative lackey, but he’s really just break bread with his brethren.
agent
February 11th, 2013
6:07 pm
Wow Maureen,
I very rarely agree with you, but I’m with you on this. Unfortunately, they won’t because they will do what’s in their best interest.
Bob Miles
February 11th, 2013
6:14 pm
As 34 year resident of DeKalb County; I have concluded that our county government and school board has been on a continuous downward spiral for the past 17 years and get worse unless the majority of voters have a mental reconstruction. In my opinion, we have the incompetency, self serving slick willies in county government and the school board that the majority of us asked for and received. I am throughly disappointed in my Governor for not having the intestinal fortiude to dismantle the school board exceop those recently elected. in my opinion, DeKalb, Clayton and Fulton commissioners and school boards members share common characteristics of incompetent management/leadership. Remember, the ones we elect represent the mind set and thought process of the majority of voters.
Dr. John Trotter
February 11th, 2013
6:16 pm
By the way, I was typing too hastily and left off “not” when talking about those school board members who pretend to be so pious that they would NOT say “pie” because it starts with “p.” That’s a big difference in the meaning. My granddaddy used this among many other expressions in his lffe. Fakes have always irked the crap out me. This is why I have urged the fake organization called SACS to send its fake leader, Mark Elgart, to engage me in a formal public debate over whether SACS’s so-called standards are arbitrarily and capriciously applied. I will gladly take the Affirmative that they are. He can take the Negative. I have asked him for the last four or five years to debate me on this issue. I don’t know, but I think that he is chickent. I don’t think that he wants to even try to defend the indefensible. SACS is fake. Very fake. It is a control mechanism for the politically-connected.
The Deal
February 11th, 2013
6:32 pm
@John Trotter, I didn’t create or vote for the legislation. I am just supporting what is there as a law of this state. If you have a problem with the law, please take it up with your local legislator. If he/she voted in a way that you don’t agree with, please campaign and vote for someone else. I agree with it, so I am going to support it. I don’t believe that the democratic process is perfect, and it may need laws like this to correct when it goes awry. So I really don’t have any work to do because I agree with it.
I don’t know why people attack each other on this board. None of us created this problem, and, for the most part, none of us can fix it. And certainly don’t try to tell someone anonymous to do something. For all you know, they have been working tirelessly. I don’t think any of the regular posters on here are people who just sit behind a computer and type. I think all of us have done our part to support what we think is right.
@Beverly, yes, this is in contrast to the Beverly Hall support. I cannot imagine your frustration as you saw that unfolding and saw unwavering support for her.
For better or worse, Maureen’s voice carries a lot more weight than ours, and I am happy to see her come around, if only for this post.
Dr. John Trotter
February 11th, 2013
6:46 pm
@ The Deal: The prior law that was used to remove, I think, the Miller County board (could have been another one) was declared unconstitutional by the Georgia Supreme Court, I think, in May of 2011. I don’t think that this new law has been challenged in the courts yet, but I believe that it might very well be challenged by some of the DeKalb school board members if they are removed. The local school board are set up by the Georgia Constitution. They are constitutional offices, if they matters to any. It matters to me.
Why remove all anyway? Are all part of the perceived problems? How could the two new members who just took office in January be part of the perceived problems? People just get caught up in some hysteria. This is what happens when SACS starts meddling in school board matters. SACS always makes the situation worse. SACS is fake.
Call Me Missouri
February 11th, 2013
6:46 pm
@ Prof: Aren’t democratically elected officials at the federal level allowed to be removed if their actions are egregious enough?
Well, that would make this board exempt because Eugene Walker told the AJC,”We have done egregious.” You just have to wonder what actions he WOULD consider egregious.
Thank you, Maureen, but I don’t think they will go anywhere. If Walker cannot see that what he has done is beyond egregious, then there is no hope. I just hate that the county and a system full of children are being held hostage by a cluster of uncaring, uninformed voters who continue to elect this man.
10:10 am
February 11th, 2013
6:49 pm
The DeKalb School Board—so proudly dysfunctional—exemplifies the reasons why continuing to deny school choice to parents is indefensible.
Dunwoody Mom
February 11th, 2013
6:56 pm
@The Deal…how sad is it that a newspaper blogger carries more weight than parents.
The Deal
February 11th, 2013
6:57 pm
@John, I agree with you on SACS and the pointlessness of their existence. However, in this instance, their actions have shed light and forced action on the DeKalb County School system, so they have served at least that purpose.
The law has not yet been declared unconstitutional. The judge only postponed the removal until a proper hearing could be held.
Yes, I believe they all should be removed, if only because there will never be a consensus on which ones should stay. I, for one, question the ethics, skill, and motives of all three of the new members. I don’t see them as squeaky clean. Orson, for one, plays politics as well as Gene Walker. Get rid of all of them.
bu2
February 11th, 2013
6:59 pm
@Deal
I don’t have any problem with the legislation. I think there are cases where it is necessary. What I see in Dekalb is that the people are throwing out the incumbents. Sure Cunningham and Copelin-Woods are embarrassments and I don’t agree with Walker’s priorities (and what were probably his actions that generated some of the SACS comments). But incumbents have lost in 4 of 8 elections, very nearly lost in 2 others and one didn’t run again. Of the other two, Walker might well have lost to an experienced candidate and Cunningham didn’t win overwhelmingly last time. We will be voting on 7 board members instead of 9 in new districts in just 17 months.
Overturning Democratic processes is an extreme step and shouldn’t be taken when the voters are acting. It shouldn’t be done just because one part of the county doesn’t like the priorities of the majority in another part of the county.
And, as I stated above, Governor Deal and the Dekalb legislative delegation have not demonstrated that they will have the taxpayers and students as their priorities. I know the Dekalb delegation does not. They tried to deny the vote to the county and entrench Walker, Copelin-Woods and Cunningham, along with Edler and Jester.
Maureen is asking for their resignation, but I don’t see any embarrassment among the 5 longer term board members, so none of them are going to listen to her.
concernedmom30329
February 11th, 2013
7:20 pm
Bu2
In fairness, MMO did a good job assuring that Marshall Orson would be elected with the map as drawn.
You have said that you may only use public elementary school. For children in middle school, 17 months is nearly half of their term in those buildings — it is forever.
We need immediate change. Perhaps, as a Druid Hills resident, you would be willing to lead the recall effort of Gene Walker. Walker didn’t win because he was a better person, he won because he promised to protect Fernbank from redistricting. (Check the numbers from the election. He came very close to losing. He would have lost if Fernbank had not supported him.)
bootney farnsworth
February 11th, 2013
7:22 pm
its not the inability of the board to put the needs of students first. its the willful, blatant disregard to deliberately choose not to do so that is the problem.
Prof
February 11th, 2013
7:27 pm
These are the grounds given in HB 115 for the Governor to remove an individual local school board member permanently: “whether or not the member’s continued service is more likely than not to improve the ability of the local system or school to retain or reattain its accreditation.”
You DeKalbites know the politics of all this better than this Fultonite does, but this seems to me like a law designed to deal with this specific situation. The length of the state BOE hearing is extended to 3 months. The grounds for removal seem so narrowly defined. At the member’s reinstatement hearing where documents are to be provided, obviously the SACS report that singled out specific DeKalb board members would be used.
And it seems that the bill is being fast-tracked if it’s already been approved by the House.
bootney farnsworth
February 11th, 2013
7:30 pm
@ Dr. John
99 times out of 100 I would strongly agree the way to change the board (and hopefully DCSS) is thru citizen involvement and elections. in this case, I don’t.
its an imperfect analogy, but here goes: keeping the board and hoping the broken process will work is akin to a stage 3 cancer patient opting not to have the tumor removed in favor or prayer and meditation.
can it effect a cure? in a very small percentage of the patients. 99 times it just means a slow painful death for the patient.
I favor wiping the slate clean, and setting new elections for two years from now. and a near complete and total revision of the qualifications for membership
bootney farnsworth
February 11th, 2013
7:35 pm
@ Dr John,
sake of argument: what if Georgia broke from SACS?
since SACS is the recognized accreditation body, and from accreditation all federal funds flow.
funds no public system can live without anymore.
IF we broke from SACS, what are the real world consequences?
10:10 am
February 11th, 2013
7:45 pm
The DeKalb School Board—so proudly dysfunctional—exemplifies the reasons why continuing to deny school choice to parents is indefensible.
But should the Board resign?
Arguing against that is the fact that the Board perfectly mirrors the DeKalb electorate—which after all repeatedly declines to remove them and their kind from power. Additionally, the present Board adds some urgency to the push for reforms. One of which might be expanded parental choice.
Wouldn’t future generations of DeKalb parents and children, therefore, benefit more by having the current Board remain in place?
Rick L in ATL
February 11th, 2013
7:54 pm
What’s the big deal with insisting that a superintendent have an education background? Many if not most of you (including–I’m absolutely sure of it–Maureen) voted –twice!–for a president who had no previous executive experience. Why? Because you thought he’d be good at the job.
Aren’t you sick and tired of the opportunists who have figured out how to leverage their weak-ass ed degrees into undeservedly high salaries inside the cozy cocoon that is our urban Educracy? Haven’t we been forced to watch that same movie over and over?
You need to effectively manage people, policy, PR and budget in a $1B organization. You’d better be a kickass manager first, and everything else second. How about we try that route this time?
Dr. John Trotter
February 11th, 2013
8:13 pm
@ Bootney: I read somewhere that some states accredit their own schools which is what I have been advocating. The General Assembly could pass the enabling legislation, and the Georgia Schools Accrediting Agency (GSAA) could operate under the overview of the Georgia Department of Education and ultimately accountable to an elected State Superintendent or the enabling legislation can provide for the Governor to appoint the members of the agency and it could operate under the overview of his or her office or under the Governor-appointed State Board of Education. Either way, it would ultimately be accountable to an statewide elected official.
I am not sure about federal funds being tied to SACS. I don’t think so. But, the HOPE Scholarship is tied to a school being accredited under SACS or the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC). GAC has been around since, I think, 1903. It has much longer standing in Georgia than SACS, and its Executive Director, Dr. Carvin L. Brown, is a highly esteemed educator here in Georgia. The General Assembly could easily change the law related to the Hope Scholarship and tie it to the schools being accredited by a public entity, GSAA, not a private and unaccounted-for company like SACS which seems fairly rapacious when it comes to taking from the public purse.
The Deal
February 11th, 2013
8:19 pm
Rick, my problem with Thurmond isn’t necessarily his lack of education experience but his clear ties to the most corrupt and pompous member of our board, Gene Walker, and to the person who brought him to the board, used-car salesman Marshall Orson. Orson stepped forward with Thurmond to shield Walker from the criticism of bringing him to the board, but make no mistake that Walker and Orson are working together. Neither of them are stupid, but, unfortunately for them, they think we are, too. I don’t doubt that the votes for the chair were schemed in advance, as well. Orson thinks we’ll assume he’s not tied to Walker just because he voted for Edler, but Edler is no better than Walker.
Again, instead of trying to figure out who is in bed with whom, we just need to clean the slate and get a very professional, serious board that is dedicated to the task of overseeing a superintendent bring this system back to where it can be. No personal agendas, just get down to business.
People say it can’t be done overnight. I beg to differ. If every central office member were placed on immediate leave and given a week to justify their positions and salary, that entire rat’s nest would be revealed. On Day 1, put the power back with the principals. Release the teachers from the scripted programs immediately, and tell them to work with their principals on the best lesson plans and syllabi to get their students where they need to be. Any teacher who cannot do this needs to be put on probation and given one semester to get it together. The money saved from cleaning out the central office goes right to hiring more teachers to lower the class size.
The two steps of cleaning out the central office and lowering class size would get us halfway to where we need to be. Does Thurmond have the guts to do it?
AnnieAD
February 11th, 2013
8:27 pm
Parents, mobilize. demand to participate in the process of hiring a new superintendent after Thurmond. There are good ones in Georgia making a lot less money who could do a good job and could take on the challenge of Dekalb.
bu2
February 11th, 2013
8:46 pm
@Rick L
My problem with the choice of Thurmond is that the higher level staff of the district has not been getting the job done. So he doesn’t have good support.
Johnny
February 11th, 2013
8:49 pm
Bu2- If I follow your logic, because someone is elected, then they are above everyone else. That is not the American way. Our laws always retain power to prevent abuse by elected officials, because elections and electorates can be manipulated. The DEKALB BOE has usurped the process to keep a corrupt majority in charge. To be clear- we trust a Governor with responsibility over lesser officials to balance the system to make sure elected representatives are not immune to the law and are held accountable. Follow the link below to the petition asking the governor to remove the board. The only hope for DCSS is a non-elected board which is not tied to the corruption of the county and the school system. Sometimes a elected officials need to be shook up in order to protect democracy for the future.
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
Dekalbite@Chilly willy
February 11th, 2013
8:55 pm
“Cobb & Gwinnett are nothing to write home about as they have their own problems”
But they have good student achievement. That is the ENTIRE reason for school systems to exist. There is NO other reason for an educational system to exist unless it – well – educates students and moves them forward at a rate that they can eventually compete with other adults for jobs. The data says that low income students in Gwinnett will probably make adequate yearly progress mastering math and reading content in Gwinnett while low income students in DeKalb will not. The same is true of Cobb.
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.
If DeKalb students were achieving at rates that other demographically similar metro school systems were achieving, there would not be this discontent and controversy.
Class sizes must be lowered and good teachers must be attracted and retained with competitive compensation and a sense of respect and involvement. These components are what ensure that students move forward academically, particularly economically disadvantaged students.
Any money left over can be used for the service and administrative group.
Students MUST get what they need to be successful and low class sizes and competent teachers are NOT an option. Cutting, consolidating and outsourcing for the non teaching group should be on the table. EVERYTHING must be sacrificed for the members of the classroom – teachers and students. That should be the “core business” of DeKalb Schools.
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.
Dekalbite@Dr. John Trotter
February 12th, 2013
9:04 am
IMHO – gerrymandering I.e. redrawing district lines specifically so your opponent is defeated and your politician gets elected is not an exemplary practice, but as ou point out it is legal. That’s what happened in DeKalb in the last election. Removal of the BOE by the governor is also legal. The democratic process is not always fair, but it’s the best of the lot.
Maureen Downey
February 12th, 2013
9:12 am
@Watch, Under the law allowing the ousting of a board, the governor has to remove the entire board even the three board members recently elected. Nancy Jester and any other board member could ask for their jobs back. Deal can name former members to the newly constituted board if he chooses.
I think DeKalb needs a fresh start.
Maureen
DeKalb Educated
February 12th, 2013
9:22 am
@ Disgusted in DeKalb
How right you are about our Interim Superintendent. I believed the exact same thing when I found out they had talked to him about the job. First, they forced out a person THEY HIRED, then rather than look for a qualified person to take over this train wreck, they hired nothing more than another politician who knows how to work the system on the state level. His priority is to keep his buddies in place on the DeKalb BOE.
What a sad state of affairs. Time to put my house on the market and move. But, wait… no one in their right mind will want to move into DeKalb County unless they are sterile and will never have children or are over 80-years-old.
DeKalb Educated
February 12th, 2013
9:26 am
@Maureen Downey
I am sure the lobbying of the state school board and anyone else who has any interest in this has already begun in full force. Thurmond, Barnes and who knows who else is already working on this more than we will probably ever know.
I am heading to Las Vegas to take this bet: the state will not remove the DeKalb BOE. Mark my words.
bu2
February 12th, 2013
9:27 am
I’m not sure the Thurmond/Walker ties aren’t overstated. They worked together on redistricting over a decade ago. Mr. Thurmond is from Clarke County, not Atlanta. Rep. Oliver and Rep. Mosby are both Democrats in Dekalb and have worked together. Yet they were on opposite sides in redistricting the school board. Working together on one issue doesn’t mean they are friends. Maybe they are, but that one item doesn’t mean there is some Walker led conspiracy.
Rather than convulted conspiracy theories, often the simplest explanation is best. Orson came up with the idea as he claimed and they thought political/leadership skills and a lack of educational background was a good combination. I don’t agree that is what we need most, but I can understand it.
Pardon My Blog
February 12th, 2013
9:54 am
Well at least he confirmed his (and Walker’s) agenda last night. He intends to use all of his “influence” and contacts at the Capitol to keep the current Board in place. And don’t you just love it, he preempts his job performance by saying “I don’t have a magic wand!” At $315,000 maybe you should!
Rod Johnson
February 12th, 2013
10:10 am
yet in November,2012, Downey clearly felt that parents should NOT HAVE ANY CHOICE but to accept shenanigans, nonsense, and mismanagement like this.
This is what Maureen and others of the “NO” Crowd refer to as “local control”.
what a joke. Glad Downey removed her head from her rear on this one, at least temporarily.
Shock and Awe
February 12th, 2013
10:38 am
I am shocked and in awe about the DeKalb BOE. Walker and crew certainly don’t seem too worried about being booted out by the state now that they have hired Michael Thurmond. While Thurmond might be okay as an elected state bureaucrat, he certainly is not what the students and teachers in DeKalb County need. His hiring exemplifies what is wrong with this board: politics, cronyism and more politics while not giving a damn about the type of education (or lack thereof) in the classrooms across the county.
I am totally surprised Thurmond came out and admitted his first priority is keeping this sorry bunch known as the DeKalb Board of Education in place. I suspected this was the reason he was hired, but I am surprised he and the board are being so aggressive and arrogant in their approach. Any respect I had for Thurmond, went right out the door when I heard his statements. This board obviously has no clue how to run a “respectable” school system and has shown they only want to save their jobs while the system itself collapses at their feet.
Come on DeKalb parents and employees! It is past time to wake up and put a stop to all this nonsense. We need to fill the state hearing room with people and let the state know we have had it with this bunch. We need to jam the streets around the building with people who are fed up too.
bootney farnsworth
February 12th, 2013
10:47 am
if Deal appoints anyone from the existing board, he may as well leave it as is.
clean sweep or nothing at all.
Prof
February 12th, 2013
11:52 am
I may sound like a broken record, but I persist in thinking that House Bill 115 approved yesterday changes the game. It amends the “provisions relating to suspension and removal of local school board members.” (SouthDekalbParent provided a link to it yesterday at 4:10 pm.) The underlined sections in the Bill are the additions, and those struck-through are now eliminated.
The hearing by the State Board of Education is now extended from 30 to 90 days, and the majority of the members of a local BOE may petition for this extension. This is not open to the public, although the testimony and recommendation is to be announced at a later open meeting.
The section stating that Code section shall pertain to all local BOE members no matter when elected has been amended. Now it pertains to “a board member who was serving on the local board at the time the accrediting agency placed the local school system or school on the level of accreditation immediately preceding loss of accreditation.”
Now, I think that would exclude recently elected local BOE members, but am not sure. I’ll leave it up to those more seasoned in this battle to decide.
Tucker mom
February 12th, 2013
11:55 am
Well, now Mr. Thurmond is declaring he will do “everything in his power” to prevent the hearing scheduled for the 21st! — Just what Walker wanted to hear.
bootney farnsworth
February 12th, 2013
12:19 pm
“I am totally surprised Thurmond came out and admitted his first priority is keeping this sorry bunch known as the DeKalb Board of Education in place”
you shouldn’t be. after all, the AJC approves of him, King Roy approves of him, and he has “guts passion and vision”
Ray
February 12th, 2013
12:56 pm
The problem in large portions of DeKalb, APS, and Clayton schools is not really the school boards, but rather with the home and parenting situation with many, many of the children they serve. The AJC ran a story over the weekend about a viral video of a downtown Atlanta shopping area security guard who had to use a taser to subdue a wildly out of control mother who was screaming and cursing and hitting the security guard. What was perhaps most disturbing about the video was that this woman, and an equally belligerent woman she was with, had 5 young kids with them, all around 3-5 years in age. These poor kids, with abusive, uncivilized parents, are what DeKalb, APS, and Clayton must try to educate. The women in this video may be an extreme example, but there are wide swaths of homes within Dekalb, APS, and Clayton with uncaring parents who do not take an interest in their child’s school or education. Last week at Inman middle school (a good APS school), two middle school girls were tased after getting in their second fight of the day. One of the girls’ mother’s reaction was to go to the local TV news and complain about her daughter being tased, but said nothing about her daughter being in two fights at school that day. During the first few weeks of school in DeKalb, APS, and Clayton, the schools must scramble to register scores (thousands) of students who were not registered prior to the first day of school because their parents apparently didn’t care or were unaware that school was starting. It doesn’t matter who the school board members are with kids and parents like this.
If certain school board members (Mr. Walker? Ms. Copelin-Wood?) need to be replaced, fine — work to have them replaced. But insisting that all 9 board members resign — including 3 that were just elected — is just trying to blame someone for what we all know is the real problem.
Prof
February 12th, 2013
1:06 pm
@ Ray. Please see my 11:52 am post above. I think that House Bill 115, approved yesterday but still to be approved by the Senate, will take care of the problem noted in your last sentence of replacing BOR members just elected.
kaitsmom
February 12th, 2013
1:16 pm
@Ray, You finally stated what is missing from this discussion. Replacing the board and superintendant is a start, but it will not solve the probably of apathetic parents who are not interested in their childs education. you will get the same test results with lack of parental involvement. My child’s teacher is always sending notes homes asking the parents to address their child’s behavior in the class. Fortunately my child is not contributing, but I often wonder how she is able to teach with ongoing discipline issues. It concerns me that my child is missing out on instruction due to the other unruly children.
Ray
February 12th, 2013
1:18 pm
Yeah, Prof, that may be a good step in the right direction with the law on this. Good to know some in the legislature are paying attention.
But even for some of the board members who were in place when SACS placed DeKalb on probation, as I said in my previous post, I still think we are scapegoating some board members for the true problem that no school board member can fix.
Ray
February 12th, 2013
1:33 pm
Yes, kaitsmom, I too shake my head at the notes that are sent home from my kids’ APS schools that talk about problems like absenteeism, or excessive tardiness, or not being dressed appropriately, or not generally being ready for school — a sort of code for behavior issues — when you know that the parents who really need to be reading this note are not reading it and don’t care.
DeKalb Inside Out
February 12th, 2013
1:59 pm
Prof
House Bill 115
DCSD is on probation partly because of the BOE members elect according to the SACS report. Doesn’t seem right that they get out of jail free when they are partly to blame … according to SACS.
DeKalb Inside Out
February 12th, 2013
2:05 pm
It’s hard to put all the blame of failing schools on kids, parents or socio-economics when KIPP and Ivy Prep has schools right down the street doing much better.
Prof
February 12th, 2013
2:30 pm
@Ray, 1:18 pm. HB 115 provides that the board members removed by the Governor can petition for reinstatement, and have a hearing where both sides present testimony and evidence for whether or not the board member “improves the ability of the local school system to retain or reattain its accreditation.” So if they really haven’t damaged the system’s chances for this and can prove it, they should be OK.
@Dekalb Inside Out. So you think that the newly elected Board members, according to the SACS report, are as much (or almost) to blame for the probation as the longtime members? Why do you think that HB 115 would amend the former section stating that all board members–without any distinction–would be subject to dismissal by the Governor? It seems clear to me that this House Bill is tailored to the present DCSS situation.
Ray
February 12th, 2013
2:34 pm
DIO: The parents at KIPP and Ivy Prep actually do care enough to enroll those kids at those schools, unlike the masses that DeKalb, APS, and Clayton serve that don’t even bother to enroll anywhere until after the school year starts. The KIPP and Ivy Prep kids, and parents, are also much less likely to need an occasional tasing to keep in line.
As far as the school board members elect being cited by SACS, I think I know what you are talking about, and I can’t believe you even bring it up it is so ridiculous, but since you do, please explain what the school board members elect have done that you think warrants their resignation or removal from the board.
Finally, aren’t you Nancy Jester, or her alter ego? I’d think you would thank me for pointing out how wrong it is to scapegoat you for things you can’t possibly control.
Prof
February 12th, 2013
2:39 pm
Here’s the link to HB 115,provided here by SouthDekalbParent, February 11th, 4:10 pm:
This was passed by the GA House today, regarding BOE and local school boards:
http://legiscan.com/GA/text/HB115/id/711108
Shock and Awe
February 12th, 2013
2:46 pm
It is stil a total farce to me to think the interim superintendent was hired mostly to allow a board that includes ignoramuses and crooks to maintain their positions. Too many injustices have been allowed to continue for way too long in DCPS.
Walker does not even know how to properly run a board meeting and we expect him to be a leader? Copelin-Wood can’t wrap her head around even the most basic concepts and we wonder why we are in the mess we are. According to McChesney, some board members wanted pictures of the superintendent candidates. Gee, I wonder why that is? Does anyone else in this county think that might have been a serious racial issue and highly illegal?
I do agree that the voting public and the parents do play a role in the mess too. They keep electing the same air heads and too many parents expect the school system to do the parenting for them.
Fed Up
February 12th, 2013
2:56 pm
For those of you hoping something will change on 2/21/13 when the DeKalb BOE goes before the state board again, forget about it.
The hiring of Michael Thurmond has been acknowlegded as nothing more than a ploy for the current board to stay put. His stated goal is to use his influence to avoid the board being removed and the system losing accreditation with SACS. Let us not try to fix the problems by improving the school system, let us use influence and politics to maintain the status que.
Only in DeKalb can this be allowed to happen without total public outrage. The long standing members of this board have ruined what once was truely a great school system. Nepotism, incompetence and corruption have brough the system to it’s knees and sadly it appears nothing is going to change. Under the current administration, it will be business as usual in DCPS… sad, really sad!
DCPS Parent
February 12th, 2013
3:08 pm
I agree with many of you are saying about the board definitely not having the best interest of the students in mind. I have witnessed too much division in this county over the years based on race and what part of the county you live in. The black south versus the white north. Why else do we still spend money on magnet school transportation? This was something that should have been stopped not years ago, but decades ago. It is nothing but a continuation of the old court ordered M to M busing program. No other school system in the state provides magnet school transportation, but DeKalb would rather furlough teachers and increase class room size so a select few can leave their “under performing” school and get a free ride to one that might be okay. Time to be rid of all of this old baggage by getting rid of the existing board and appointing one that can work as a team for ALL of DeKalb’s schools.
DeKalb Inside Out
February 12th, 2013
3:19 pm
Teacher Reader, thanks for your thoughts.
Ray
Do I talk like Nancy Jester? Quite the compliment … thanks. Please explain the scapegoat reference.
Ray and Prof
SACS cites the BOE elect as one of the reasons for being put on probation. SACS doesn’t rate the seriousness of the infractions.
Personally, I think SACS and their report is a load of crap. It’s crap producing crap. That still doesn’t change the fact that SACS put DCSD on probation and they cited the BOE elect as one of the reasons.
HB 115 says that a BOE elect can run around the county with impunity until they are sworn in. That doesn’t seem right either.
DCPS Parent
February 12th, 2013
3:26 pm
The current board MUST go if anything is going to change. If the governor wants to re-appoint the newly elected ones, then fine.
If you have never sat in one of the DeKalb BOE meetings, you owe it to yourself to go and see it first hand. You will see the absolute dysfunction and incompetence on display. The current board MUST go. If they even think about spending a dime on a court battle about maintaining their positions, the voters need to rise up and remove them immediately.
Prof
February 12th, 2013
4:00 pm
@ DeKalb Inside Out. Yes, I knew about SACS giving the actions of the BOE as a reason for possible lack of accreditation. The issue for many is that 3 of those member are newly elected and have nothing to do with those past actions of the other BOE members. It seems to me that HB 115 is addressing that, among other things….although I understand you’re putting a different spin on it: “HB 115 says that a BOE elect can run around the county with impunity until they are sworn in.”
I must say that I can understand Ray’s suggestion that you’re really Nancy Jester. You do sound like one of the BOE members undercover.
DeKalb Inside Out
February 12th, 2013
4:20 pm
Prof
It’s FUBAR any way you look at it. I don’t think the board’s replacements will be any better, so I don’t care if the board is replaced or not. Deal would get recommendations from the DeKalb Delegation and we could end up with a far worse board than we have now.
I’m more concerned with independent school districts and parent trigger type laws.
I speak for a number of people at the palace, so I’m relatively well informed. I understand where you guys are coming from. I like Dr Jester and wish we had more like her.
Prof
February 12th, 2013
4:59 pm
@ Dekalbite Inside Out. Agree with you on all points. Glad I live in Fulton, and my child is grown and in Chicago.
Johnny
February 12th, 2013
8:39 pm
DKIO,
If you think the SACS report was crap, maybe you have not been involved with the antics and hiring in the actual schools. We tried to work within the system we raised issues, followed procedure and pushed until the true nature of the corruption became apparent. Even school administrators, under pressure of facts would admit the insanity of the system and honest county employees were undermined by the lying and corruption and which the board played here no evil, see no evil speak no evil over. Everything in the SACS report is more than believable and the BOE was unable to provide evidence to the contrary. I amazed at folks like yourself who find this level of incompetence, politics violation of the public trust acceptable. It is not. Research other states, they have set standards and held their elected officials ACCOUNTABLE. BOOT THE BOARD! Oh and on Nancy Jester- she continues to be used by the Gang of 5 to provide the BOE credibility. If she wants to help resign! Call them out and ask the GOV to re-appoint her. Her praise and begging of Thurmond was disgusting. How many superintendents do we need to pay while teachers leave and don’t get raises? the BOE hired itself a very expensive LOBBYIST instead of addressing issues and Nancy may have voted NO, but that is not enough.
DeKalb Inside Out
February 13th, 2013
10:56 am
Johnny,
I’m well aware of many of the antics regarding hiring, but apparently SACS is not. There are hundreds of incidents much more egregious than the one SACS cited. Why did they cite that piddly incident?
SACS had a real chance to go in there and really expose the lying and corruption, but they didn’t even scratch the surface. SACS, the pronoun police, spent most of their ink covering for the DCSD administration.
Dr Jester resign? Discard our only ace … you’re funny! You said voting NO is not enough. I’m not sure what it is you expect a single board member to do, but I don’t believe you are thinking it through at this point.
Let’s not forget that District #2 and #4 voted out two members of the Jester 4. People who align with Walker is what those districts want. I’m not sure why you want to take your frustrations out on Dr J.
Prof
February 13th, 2013
12:49 pm
It seems pretty obvious at this point that the Dekalb school board has no intention of resigning en masse. As for one or two individuals resigning as an example to the others, I have always staunchly believed that one should never resign in protest. Then one leaves the field to the opposition, with one less fighter to worry about. Stay while you still have some voice in the outcome.
I grant that this can leave you feeling pummeled and defeated. But it has always seemed like the easy way out to resign.
Johnny
February 13th, 2013
10:28 pm
Prof Dkio,
And who is Nancy’s one vote influencing? The Gang of 5 is not influenced by her one vote, and as I said earlier, her protest gives legitimacy to their actions. Her resignation followed by a scathing public statement and a pledge to work with anyone to help our kids would greatly increase public pressure on the board.
As far as SACS, get over the messenger and focus on the facts. You don’t really think they could list all their findings?
DeKalb Inside Out
February 14th, 2013
9:05 am
Johnny,
I don’t expect them to list all the findings, but I would expect them to prioritize them. PRONOUNS ?? They spent how many pages on PRONOUNS ?? SACS isn’t “the messenger”. Taxpayers pay SACS to oversee the health DCSD and they have failed miserably.
Nancy publishes weekly scathing reports. That’s where SACS gets half their material. You said she should resign and “pledge to work with anyone to help our kids”. That doesn’t make any sense to me … sorry.
I don’t think any amount of public pressure will affect the powers that be on the board. The board didn’t think twice about hiring Michael Thurmond and giving him $300K. That hasn’t gone over very well, but does the board care … heck no.
Johnny
February 14th, 2013
7:41 pm
DKIO- and that is why Deal is going to remove them. Nancy does come out and post, but during the meetings she sits up there and comments as if she represents them. It may not her intent, but too often the cameras go to her because she is articulate and to the TV audience she represents the entire board. You can continue to complain about SACS, help yourself, but their current actions are the medicine for a patient which has consistently refused care. Meanwhile the kids and education slips to new lows. _ I want them in JAIL- I believe an investigation could uncover criminal activity by Walker during Lewis is time as Super, which is one reason he is fighting so hard. INMHO
DeKalb Inside Out
February 14th, 2013
10:07 pm
Johnny
I don’t understand what you are saying about Nancy, so I’m not going to address it.
I hear ya, man! Education in DeKalb is terrible and getting worse. There are a lot of people not doing their jobs and SACS is one of them.
I’m trying to be objective. Doing a terrible job is not against the law.
On a side note, I swore up and down DCSD was going to seek an injunction and they haven’t done it. They hired Robert Wilson for that exact reason, but they haven’t done anything. WTH?? The next 7 days are going to be fascinating!