DeKalb joins Sumter in challenging school board removal law. Will their lawsuits prevail? Should they?
Can the state’s law allowing the governor to oust school boards in districts at risk for losing their accreditation survive a court challenge?
We may find out this year as the law is facing two court challenges now, one filed today by the nine-member DeKalb County Board of Education.
Since the law’s passage in 2010 and amendments in 2011, I have heard many times that it will not stand a legal challenge.
DeKalb County filed suit in Fulton County Superior Court this morning arguing the law is unconstitutional. The lawsuit has three goals: Forbid the state Board of Education from holding a hearing on the DeKalb board’s status Thursday. Forbid the state board from recommending to the governor that he remove the entire nine member board. Forbid the governor from acting on that recommendation and removing the board.
DeKalb joins the Sumter County board members, who challenged the law in November and were able to stall the state hearing on their removal.
Sumter was in the midst of hearings in front of the state Board of Education when it asked a judge to enjoin the proceedings. The judge agreed. Representing the state board of ed, the state attorney general’s office has asked the court to dismiss the Sumter suit, but no hearing has been scheduled on the motion.
(Sumter County District 6 board member Michael Mock asked me to clarity that only six members of the nine-member Sumter Board are parties to the lawsuit. He is among those who are not.)
The DeKalb lawsuit, filed by former DeKalb DA Robert Wilson, alleges that the law violates the Georgia constitution because it authorizes removal of local elected officials “without any individualized finding of misconduct.”
The Sumter County lawsuit voices the same lament, saying the law does not require a “finding of individual culpability prior to the recommendation and/or suspension of a board member.”
The Sumter lawsuit picks apart the language of the law, arguing its requirement that the governor suspend “all eligible members” should not be interpreted to mean that the governor “has to suspend all or none of the board members.”
“Such a construction will lead to an absurd result and the constitutional deprivation of a board member’s right to elected office, especially where a board member is suspended from office where the evidence shows that said board member played no role in the system being placed on Accredited Probation,” states the lawsuit in an argument likely to find support among the three newcomers to the DeKalb board members who only took office last month and who had no role in DeKalb’s fall from grace with SACS.
“Failure to find individual culpability but nonetheless suspend a board member is unfair, lacks a rational basis, and violates due process,” the lawsuit contends.
The lawsuit also charges that while Georgia law gives the state Legislature the right to set qualifications for school board members, it does not authorize lawmakers to “create legislation for the removal of school board members.”
(Interestingly, the Supreme Court ruling in favor of Warren County school board members who successfully challenged their 2010 removal by Gov. Sonny Perdue would seem to disagree as the ruling says reasons for removal are part of the establishment of qualifications. Perdue removed Warren under an earlier law. )
In our meeting Friday with House Majority Whip Edward Lindsey, R-Atlanta, I asked him why the state should have the power to remove school board members. After all, there are other dysfunctional elected bodies around the state whose antics, while not criminal, border on insane at times. (Some might argue that the General Assembly is one such body.)
Why should the state Board of Education and governor get to pull the plug on ineffective school boards while crazy city councils and loose-cannon county commissions run free and run amok?
His response: The state’s responsibility to educate children is embedded in the state constitution. Educating children is critical to the state.
“Therein lies our inherent power and calling,” Lindsey said. The state Legislature is bound to pay attention to how schools are operating, he said.
“The fact is that where a child is born should not determine whether they are going to have a future. Wherever a child is born, the focus should be on how to get them the education they need.”
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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143 comments Add your comment
bootney farnsworth
February 19th, 2013
4:39 pm
will they? probably.
should they? no.
living in an outdated ed system
February 19th, 2013
4:45 pm
This is a PERFECT example of how the system is set up to protect the adults, not the children. If this lawsuit is allowed to proceed, then it truly shows that the status quo wins again.
How can our citizens allow such folly to continue? We should all be embarrassed at this series of unfortunate events, and the children will be the ones who lose if the courts believe this legal challenge has merit.
Old timer
February 19th, 2013
4:47 pm
Recall would be quicker…..
Me
February 19th, 2013
4:50 pm
Our Governor has way too much control over what is supposed to be a local matter in education. why should he be able to nullify the local community’s choices. Let the community recall the jokers. Governor should not have this much power over local politics.
Mountain Man
February 19th, 2013
4:52 pm
Just revoke the accreditation of Dekalb County Schools. Then create charter schools for all the good students to go to. Let the ones whose parents elected the current board all rot in DCSS.
bootney farnsworth
February 19th, 2013
4:53 pm
what is different in DeKalb vs Sumter is DCSS if facing documented charges of legal misdoing.
living in an outdated ed system
February 19th, 2013
4:54 pm
@Me, I respectfully disagree. If you ask me, we should allow the governor to intervene in MANY school districts in Georgia. It happens in plenty of other states – why not here? Do we REALLY want to accept the alternative? There is no precedent for recall elections as far as I know. This isn’t the UK where you can have a vote of no confidence.
The children, who are the real customers in the education system, again are the ones neglected by the callous, selfish acts of the ones who control the system.
bootney farnsworth
February 19th, 2013
4:56 pm
@ MM
my guess is this move (suing to stay in power) will force SACS to strip DCSS accreditation.
not that it will matter – look at Clayton.
its time to dissolve the entire DCSS outright. let cities and communities form their own.
Centrist
February 19th, 2013
4:57 pm
This is from the recent report from SACS concerning Sumter County when they extended their probation: “Several board members reported that there was never a vote recorded permitting these actions by their attorney, especially the action to file suit against the Governor and the State Board of Education. The public should know who authorized these types of legal actions and the cost to the system for legal bills,” the report states.
Marney
February 19th, 2013
4:58 pm
The constitution gives the state the ultimate responsibility to see kids get an “adequate” education.
What does that mean?
Apparently nothing at all….
Mountain Man
February 19th, 2013
4:58 pm
I think the State should pass legislation that allows them to cut off all funding from schools that have their accreditation removed. That would be a powerful financial incentive for these Boards to get their acts together.
bootney farnsworth
February 19th, 2013
4:58 pm
does anything in DeKalb function ethically anymore?
Me
February 19th, 2013
4:59 pm
@ living – I understand the premise and don’t disagree with your point about the children. I just think it is a very slippery slope to give one individual and his handpicked board that kind of power of the will of local voters. It sets up too many scenarios for abuse. Remember – the Warren County thing under Perdue had more to do with one of his education guru’s ties to that community than anything else. Just seems to undermine the entire process of local control and voter responsibility.
DeKalb Inside Out
February 19th, 2013
5:00 pm
All DCSD board members are up for reelection next year. If you really care, then do something about it.
I’m guessing a majority of DeKalb’s citizens are very happy with the way things are going and will elect people aligned with Walker, or at least people who will “go along to get along” with him.
Mountain Man
February 19th, 2013
5:00 pm
“The constitution gives the state the ultimate responsibility to see kids get an “adequate” education.
What does that mean?”
I don’t know, because then it goes on to say that control of the education system is at the local level. If the State is Constitutionally bound to provide an “adequate” education, then they should have the powers to intercede with School Boards who are obviously failing at providing an “adequate” education.
Insane in the Membrane
February 19th, 2013
5:00 pm
“there are other dysfunctional elected bodies around the state whose antics, while not criminal, border on insane.” This statement is a Catch 22 in itself, isn’t it. This is exactly the problem we are having. The actions and antics of any elected person, or any private citizen, that involve STEALING money or HARMING children should be CRIMINAL. Somehow, they continue to get away with what they are doing and it is making the entire county insane trying to find someone in a position of authority who will help. Instead all we get are loophole laws and gerrymandered districts designed to keep us quiet and busy and believing that we are safe when we are not and living amongst our peers when clearly some will sell out their own mothers to make a buck. Our peers are getting rich while our children are being dumbed down. How much more can we take? What is the penalty for refusing to pay the school portion of your property tax?
Me
February 19th, 2013
5:01 pm
Hate to agree with MM but that makes more sense than the Governor having this kind of power over local communities.
bootney farnsworth
February 19th, 2013
5:02 pm
@ DIO
I suspect you’re right.
it’s pathetic, but it is what it is.
quote Caddyshack..world needs ditch diggers too. and DeKalb is sprinting to corner the market
Me
February 19th, 2013
5:03 pm
Also need to ask our boy Lindsey why that responsibility doesn’t carry over to the boys at the Gold Dome funding education as they are supposed to and are actually obligated to. they haven’t done that in years. Hypocrisy anyone?
Mountain Man
February 19th, 2013
5:04 pm
“my guess is this move (suing to stay in power) will force SACS to strip DCSS accreditation.”
Good!
Now the State Legislators need to introduce legislation to allow cities to form school districts (again) and to make it easier for Cities to resign from counties and take their tax money with them. Also, the law should allow parts of a county to secede from the rest of the county (i.e. North Dekalb). Let South Dekalb rot in its own filth.
bootney farnsworth
February 19th, 2013
5:04 pm
amazingly enough, Beverly Hall seems to have more ethics than Gene Walker.
talk about a race to the bottom
Insane in the Membrane
February 19th, 2013
5:05 pm
Do any of our DeKalb Delegation members know how to write a bill? Seriously? First the charter school amendment wording, now this? And don’t forget they couldn’t even get our maps right. And they “accidentally” tied the SPLOST vote to the reapportionment of districts which made a bunch of people thing they had to vote yes on SPLOST in order to reduce the board, but we did and then that didn’t happen. The cell tower ban was deemed unconstitutional and ended up as a referendum that had misleading wording in it, too. And, the private school tax credit had a big loophole in it that it started benefiting kids already in private school with no intentions of switching out. Can we order THESE guys to take a class, too?
Mountain Man
February 19th, 2013
5:06 pm
“Also need to ask our boy Lindsey why that responsibility doesn’t carry over to the boys at the Gold Dome funding education as they are supposed to and are actually obligated to. they haven’t done that in years. Hypocrisy anyone?”
If the State is obligated to pay for Education, then all schools should be controlled by the State and we should not have local Boards of Education.
DeKalb Inside Out
February 19th, 2013
5:06 pm
Mountain Man
Interesting ideas. Some people suggest allowing students to go wherever they want for school if the district is under probation … and the money follows the student.
Insane in the Membrane
February 19th, 2013
5:06 pm
Can someone say VOUCHER????
Mountain Man
February 19th, 2013
5:07 pm
“world needs ditch diggers too. and DeKalb is sprinting to corner the market”
Actually, I think they are more likely cornering the market on prison inmates.
Private Citizen
February 19th, 2013
5:07 pm
They’re right about individual culpability. I guess that would take too much time and human effort from the multinational corporation aka “accreditor.”
If there was proper and specific oversight, the malfeasances and illegal actions of board members could be addressed directly instead of being allowed to build up. It is a sloppy system they have now. One might also include for state-level auditing to get a little more real and active. Pardon the phrase and no mal-intent toward cats, but “there is more than one way to skin a cat.” I think if the state wants to get hard like steel and get real, they should go full tilt on auditing money, make criminal activity criminal (in other words, misappropriation of funds), and bust up DeKlab into smaller districts or charter districts of whatever and send a crane and wrecking ball over that big building many know so well.
And please? Someone do something about the practice of executive compensation. Apparently Mr. Thurmond’s assigned spending money of the side / “expense money” ($2600. per month?) is more than a teacher’s take-home pay, and that’s before the interim superintendent’s car allowance and $275k pay. Hey, I pay for my own car. Why don’t you?
Me
February 19th, 2013
5:09 pm
MM – if that were the case then fine – it’s not however so point is moot. we allow elections and then scrap the results when we don’t like them? Fascist thinking?
do believe the State gets the money from local governments, no?
Mountain Man
February 19th, 2013
5:09 pm
“Some people suggest allowing students to go wherever they want for school if the district is under probation … and the money follows the student.”
I could agree with that – if your school system is under probation from SACS, then you can take your money to a charter or private school. Maybe THEN these hard-headed Board members would wake up.
Insane in the Membrane
February 19th, 2013
5:09 pm
Can I get a refund? My taxes are not being spent on public education.
Private Citizen
February 19th, 2013
5:10 pm
then all schools should be controlled by the State and we should not have local Boards of Education</i
That is some sweet music.
Me
February 19th, 2013
5:12 pm
“That is some sweet music”.
Maybe some Wagner?
Mountain Man
February 19th, 2013
5:12 pm
“we allow elections and then scrap the results when we don’t like them?”
So just allow the elected leaders to do what they want – but when they do things like hire relatives and friends and get their school system to lose their accreditation, then they should pay the price, not the students. Give the students some where else to go – Charters, private schools, state schools, city schools.
Mountain Man
February 19th, 2013
5:14 pm
Maybe that State should not be funding education AT ALL, since you don’t want them interfering. Let the Counties fund education 100% from their property taxes.
Me
February 19th, 2013
5:16 pm
“Give the students some where else to go – Charters, private schools, state schools, city schools.”
don’t disagree with that. Recalls are also allowed. I liked your idea about cutting all funding if they lose accreditation also. Power in the hands of a few (or 1 in this case) is never a good thing.
Me
February 19th, 2013
5:17 pm
“Maybe that State should not be funding education AT ALL, since you don’t want them interfering. Let the Counties fund education 100% from their property taxes’
I’m ok with that too as long as the local money that is collected by the state in other taxes that is supposed to be used to fund education stays there as well.
Mountain Man
February 19th, 2013
5:20 pm
“I’m ok with that too as long as the local money that is collected by the state in other taxes that is supposed to be used to fund education stays there as well.”
What OTHER money – unless you are just talking about SPLOST. What other local taxes collected by the State are specially earmarked for education?
Me
February 19th, 2013
5:21 pm
Maybe we should let Obama dissolve any State Board of Education he has a problem with?
Same thing (except we don’t get to elect our State BOE) – Maybe he should be able to remove any Governor he has issues with?
Private Citizen
February 19th, 2013
5:21 pm
Imagine if you had legal services that someone else was paying for. It’s like there are some basic laws missing on this business of running up private attorney legal services like they’re out on the town running up a bar tab. It’s crazy and obviously somewhere / someway proper defined structure and legal code defining their activities is missing.
If you went to a rich country outside of the United States and described this situation to a lawmaker or judge, their jaw would drop. It’s like it’s out of the Silvio Berlusconi playbook. The phrase “John Woo law” comes to mind. (Filmmaker) John Woo Law is when you take what is illegal and change the law and make it legal. Not to be confused with “john woo’s law of aerodynamics” http://rebelsguide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=380
Me
February 19th, 2013
5:23 pm
where does the education money at the state level come from now? Let the local governments earmark it for education themselves.
Mountain Man
February 19th, 2013
5:30 pm
“where does the education money at the state level come from now? Let the local governments earmark it for education themselves.”
As I understand, education money at the State level comes from a pool of money brought in by State Income Tax and State Sales tax mainly. The same pool of money that pays for Medicaid, for state police and prisons, for state government, for roads and transportation, and for state parks and recreation. Since 2008, that pool of money has shrunk dramatically. None of that money is specially earmarked as “only for education”.
Mountain Man
February 19th, 2013
5:33 pm
“Let the local governments earmark it for education themselves.”
I cannot believe you are actually saying that local communities should dictate State spending. Perhaps I, as an individual, should be able to say exactly where I want my tax dollars spent. If I am a Pacifist, I can say none is to be spent on Defense or War. Is that what you are looking for? Maybe I want all my tax dollars spent on parks and none for education, since my kids are grown.
pull my other leg
February 19th, 2013
5:36 pm
Amazing. A county that has a money problem is spending more money! But are they spending it for the children. NO! If a teacher is held accountable for students, shouldn’t the board/superintendents shoulder just as much responsibility for student success?
Private Citizen
February 19th, 2013
5:39 pm
@Me It will never happen that all Georgia local boards of education will be eliminated and no more local intimidation, and instead, schools will be run by the state. But anyway, here’s the music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0engL-gGe6w
DeKalb joins Sumter in challenging school board removal law. Will their … – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Law Advice
February 19th, 2013
5:52 pm
[...] DeKalb joins Sumter in challenging school board removal law. Will their …Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Can the state's law allowing the governor to oust school boards in districts at risk for losing their accreditation survive a court challenge? We may find out this year as the law is facing two court challenges now, one filed today by the nine-member …and more » [...]
C;of Gramt
February 19th, 2013
6:00 pm
Why are these jerks so desperate to hang on to their positions? Makes me mighty suspicious.
Me
February 19th, 2013
6:09 pm
MM – “I cannot believe you are actually saying that local communities should dictate State spending”
Good because that wasn’t what I was saying. Leave the money local and let the local community take care if itself. Cut all the state bureaucrats and their chances to handle money down to the bare minimum and rely on local control. Quit funding the centralized power that is ‘the State’.
Private – good choice! I was thinking more Ride of the Valkarie
Private Citizen
February 19th, 2013
6:17 pm
If anyone wishes to see the spreadsheet of last year’s per- high school graduation rate for high schools in Georgia, including all of DeKalb County, http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/External-Affairs-and-Policy/communications/Documents/2011%20Cohort%20Graduation%20Rate%20-%20School%20Level.xls
Private Citizen
February 19th, 2013
6:20 pm
That should say “4 year graduation rate.” It only shows percentage of students who complete high school in 4 years. Also, it is 2011 information.
mountain man
February 19th, 2013
6:38 pm
“Good because that wasn’t what I was saying. Leave the money local and let the local community take care if itself. Cut all the state bureaucrats and their chances to handle money down to the bare minimum and rely on local control. Quit funding the centralized power that is ‘the State’.”
Isn’t that exactly what I was saying when I said let the counties fund education solely from the (local) property tax and SPLOST taxes? Leave the State funds to fund things other than education.
mountain man
February 19th, 2013
6:39 pm
“Why are these jerks so desperate to hang on to their positions?”
If they are ousted, then their friends and relatives that they insisted be hired might be fired.
Private Citizen
February 19th, 2013
6:42 pm
@Me Here’s the song we get instead. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49WwUgdU6yE#t=26m4s
dekalbite
February 19th, 2013
6:44 pm
The state of Georgia has a very easy and constitutionally viable fix here.
Lower class sizes considerably and do not permit ANY waivers under any circumstances. This will force the money back into the classroom. The county administrators will only be able to use “leftover” money for admin and support after the classroom is taken care of.
This worked when Barnes did it. The superintendents and BOEs protested they could not fund all their programs and adequately staff those smaller class sizes, but they had no wiggle room so they did what they HAD to do – reduce the admin and support side to fund the class size requirements. That is ONLY time in 40+ years (I started in DeKalb in 1972) that I ever saw the admin and support and in particular the Central Office staff reduced.
The state can set class sizes. As long as they set class sizes high and give superintendents latitude and waivers, the administrations will continue to create jobs programs for their friends and family (DeKalb is not the only school system guilty of this – just the most egregious) by diverting money from the classroom.
dekalbite@mountain man
February 19th, 2013
6:59 pm
“Good because that wasn’t what I was saying. Leave the money local and let the local community take care if itself”
Sounds good to me. DeKalb loses around $100,000,000 a year in equalization grants because we are considered a “wealthy” county while Gwinnett gains around that much because it is considered a “poor, rural” county.
Part of the reason DeKalb is considered “wealthy” is because our millage rate is so high (close to state max of 25 because the BOE keeps raising it). Every time our property tax rates are raised, we lose more money to other counties.
We have a greater poverty rate than Gwinnett, but the way the equalization law is written we lose close to $100,000,000 a year and other “poor, rural” counties gain (including Gwinnett). Georgia takes in money from all the counties and then sends it back to the counties to run the school system. We get our money back – minus $100,000,000 a year.
Our BOE should have been concentrating on this imbalance instead of hiring lawyers for everything else under the sun.
mountain man
February 19th, 2013
7:04 pm
“DeKalb loses around $100,000,000 a year in equalization grants”
You are talking about STATE funds, not Dekalb county property taxes. Dekalb county taxes stay in Dekalb county. The State can decide how to spend State money any way they please.
dekalbite@mountain man
February 19th, 2013
7:13 pm
“You are talking about STATE funds, not Dekalb county property taxes. Dekalb county taxes stay in Dekalb county. The State can decide how to spend State money any way they please.’
No. I’m talking about the total in taxes for education DeKalb sends TO the state (mainly school property taxes) and the total DeKalb receives BACK from the state. The difference is around $100,000,000 less every year because we are considered a “wealthy” county.
http://www.casfg.org/reports/gaps_in_the_qbe_formula.html
mountain man
February 19th, 2013
7:16 pm
“No. I’m talking about the total in taxes for education DeKalb sends TO the state (mainly school property taxes) ”
Someone correct me if I am wrong here, but County Property taxes NEVER leave the county – they are NEVER sent to the State. State Education funding comes from Income and Sales taxes.
Private Citizen
February 19th, 2013
7:27 pm
parody – “Frustrated Inner-City Students Running Out Of Ideas To Motivate Teachers” http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HOJKjK-JQpQ
Jack ®
February 19th, 2013
7:29 pm
Those board members really want to keep their jobs. And I really don’t understand that. Why would anybody want a job where you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
dekalbite@mountain man
February 19th, 2013
7:35 pm
You are correct that income, sales, excise taxes, etc. are the ones sent to the state. However, DeKalb does not get back what we send in ($100,000,000 less than what we send in) because we are considered a “wealthy” county in part due to our “ability” to pay the highest millage rates (slightly under 25) in property taxes in the state.
http://www.lwvga.org/uploads/documents/education/EducationFundingFactSheet.pdf
What is sad is that the property taxes in DeKalb used to go for teacher local salary supplements (we paid over and above what the state allotment was for each teacher), but now they go to support the bloated admin and support side of the school system as well as the many vendors (lawyers, consultants, educational companies, etc.) that depend on so much of their revenue from DeKalb. The $100,000,000 we give to the state and don’t get back from the state was affordable when we were mainly an affluent county and when we were more efficient in our expenditures. Not so now. Still the BOE refuses to realize that every time they raise the property tax millage rate we look “wealthier” and thus the problem worsens. They still have the mindset that we are “wealthy”. The $150,000 they allocated for lawyers to fight their removal is considered “chump change” to them.
dekalbite@jcak
February 19th, 2013
7:37 pm
“Why would anybody want a job where you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.’
Because many of the Board members have friends and family employed in the school system in highly paid non teaching jobs.
mountain man
February 19th, 2013
7:41 pm
“You are correct that income, sales, excise taxes, etc. are the ones sent to the state.”
THANK YOU. Took enough prying to finally get that out of you.
Disgusted in Dekalb
February 19th, 2013
7:48 pm
Why would Eugene Walker so desperately want to keep his school board job (aside from the “walking around money” it provides)? Imagine being able to call an old political pal and bestow upon him a position for which he has no evident qualifications and for which he does not have to compete with any other applicants. Imagine that this position has an annual salary of a quarter of a million dollars and “bennies” which take it well over $300,000. Imagine being able to bestow this largesse upon a buddy at no cost to one’s self—it’s all OTHER PEOPLE”S MONEY. Imagine the gratitude that such a gift engenders. That is power. That is why Eugene Walker won’t let go.
crankee-yankee
February 19th, 2013
7:49 pm
I said this awhile back (month ago?) and it aligns me with (gasp) MM.
I agree, allowing the state to remove a locally elected official is a slippery slope.
It is incumbent on the local municipality to recall, oust, vote out idiots who were voted into office.
You get what you deserve.
You need to step up and do something when you make a mistake.
Holding state funds back is an interesting idea but would need some harsh rules & regs so it too would not be misused. Another slippery slope.
Does anyone here actually believe our state legislature would act in the best interests of those in need? Really?
Lee
February 19th, 2013
7:58 pm
Count me in with the folks who think this action by the state is a large step down a very slippery slope and is most likely violates state constitution. If the voters elect someone, I think there are provisions to remove an INDIVIDUAL office holder (petition for recall, impeachment?, etc.). If the Dekalb electorate keep voting idiots into office, then, well, they get what they deserve.
When I look at my county BOE, I think we (voters in my county) are perfectly capable of electing someone without having the state come in and tell us how to run our business.
dekalbite@mountain man
February 19th, 2013
8:01 pm
“THANK YOU. Took enough prying to finally get that out of you.”
So sorry. I’m not always the most fluent person. I hope that is a clearer explanation. Thanks for your persistence.
Me
February 19th, 2013
8:02 pm
Nah Yankee. You’re safe. MM was arguing with me. He is all for letting the State remove locally elected officials. He likes the dictatorial approach it seems.
living in an outdated ed system
February 19th, 2013
8:06 pm
@Me, I appreciate your comments, but I just feel that the state has a right to intervene when the governance puts the education system at risk. I would rather see some focus on fixing the problem, then rely on the foolhardy notion that DCSS will be able to reform itself. Won’t happen, sadly.
It’s time for bold reforms, but with Thurmond coming in with the support of a corrupt, dysfunctional board, the situation is a hopeless mess!
living in an outdated ed system
February 19th, 2013
8:10 pm
It’s very simple everyone. The reason why Walker and other board members won’t resign, is that they have POWER. Why would they want to give up one of the most powerful positions in a local school system???
This is the problem with our education system. The interests of the grownups outweigh the interests of the students!!
catlady
February 19th, 2013
8:16 pm
Well, someone should also challenge the “taxes to private schools” law that provides, in fact requires, that the Sunshine Law in Georgia be decimated.
I am not confident with Deal choosing Board Members. That is switching one set of friends and family for another. However, you have to wonder about the average IQ of voters in Dekalb.
Would love it if everyone agrees to chuck SACS accreditation for something that looks at the students instead of propping up superintendents. Perhaps our governor could work on that.
Pardon My Blog
February 19th, 2013
8:22 pm
Perhaps those of us in DeKalb should just refuse to pay any more taxes until we can get some accountability. I don’t remember agreeing to allow this bunch of buffoons to spend even more money on legal fees to defend this bunch of crooks!
Wilbur
February 19th, 2013
8:30 pm
SACS probably has the only real power here. The voters like the mess in Dekalb. At least a majority does.
Of course they want the rest of the state to go away and leave them alone. Then 20 years from now we will hear how the state abandoned the country and the mess is the state’s fault.
dekalbite@mountain man
February 19th, 2013
8:33 pm
Go to this link to see the effect of the Equalization Funding in Georgia:
http://app.doe.k12.ga.us/ows-bin/owa/qbe_reports.public_menu
dekalbite@Lee
February 19th, 2013
8:40 pm
“If the Dekalb electorate keep voting idiots into office, then, well, they get what they deserve.’
Except DeKalb is a very big part of the economic powerhouse of metro Atlanta and thus the state of Georgia. The Perimeter area, the Clifton Corridor with Emory and CDC, Dunwoody, the Northlake area, the Druid Hills area, etc. contributes an enormous amount to state revenues which in turn contributes to the finances of the entire state. Letting DeKalb go “down the tubes” will have an enormous impact on the rest of the state including your locale as well. So getting what we deserve will allow negatively impact the rest of the state as well.
loldcss
February 19th, 2013
8:51 pm
Split the county – but not how you’d expect. Put the BOE and anyone like them in one area and see how many taxpayers getting screwed give them money freely. Put everyone else in another area and let it thrive.
bu2
February 19th, 2013
9:04 pm
@dekalbite
Maybe Thurmond could use his political skills to get a new look at the equalization formula.
Married with (School) Children
February 19th, 2013
9:05 pm
There was an all-day long meeting today for Dekalb School Administrators and Principals. The very first item on the meeting agenda was a speech from Michael Thurmond. He did not bother to show up.
Michael Thurmond was supposed to meet with his leaders – the School Principals and high-level administrators in the central office – but played hooky instead.
His actions truly speak louder than his words.
Maureen Downey
February 19th, 2013
9:10 pm
@Married, I think he may have been meeting with the SACS this morning.
Maureen
bu2
February 19th, 2013
9:14 pm
I don’t understand how the courts can stop the hearings. Until someone actually orders the board removed, they can’t be doing anything unconstitutional. The only reason for a lawsuit before the hearing is to avoid embarrassment. The SBOE can only recommend removal. Only the governor can do it under the law.
I dislike the mentality in Georgia that the offices “belong” to the person holding the office. IMO, the offices belong to the people. If they want to eliminate 2 at-large positions on the board, they should be able to do it at any time. Yet it is precisely that that caused all the difficulties in reducing the size of the board last summer. Walker threatened to sue last summer.
Now I do think the offices “belong” to the people and not the governor. Removing a board should be an extreme step. Merely getting on probation should not be sufficient grounds.
bu2
February 19th, 2013
9:17 pm
@married
That he had the meeting with SACS is in Maureen’s interview with him. He also had to cancel a meeting with the Dekalb County Commissioners. So the principals and admins were not the only ones who got put in line behind Mark Elgart.
Truth in Moderation
February 19th, 2013
9:30 pm
Of course the governor’s actions would be unconstitutional. For better or for worse, the DeKalb County School Board are duly elected officials. If they have committed crimes, they could be arrested and removed. Otherwise, the citizens have to live with those elected. If they are that bad, why are they reelected? It is up to the citizens against the school board members to work hard to get them voted out. Their only other recourse is to VOTE WITH THEIR FEET and leave the county. The governor has no jurisdiction. Of course, I have always contended that all public schools are unconstitutional. You reap what you sow.
tjatl
February 19th, 2013
9:43 pm
Why not pass a law that prohibits school board members from running for a different public office for 2 years after they serve out their board term? That way you might weed out some of the folks who are only interested in serving on a school board in order to further their political ambitions.
That might be easier to defend than the state removing locally elected boards, and might make School Boards more attractive to people who actually have the interest of education at heart rather than seeing it as a political springboard.
Dekalbite
February 19th, 2013
9:50 pm
From DeKalb School Watch:
“DCS had an All-Principals meeting today (Tuesday, Feb 19) – every Principal had to attend. The very first item on the printed agenda was remarks from Mr. Thurmond; he did NOT show up.”
Can you imagine? Was he helping the BOE try to get out of this meeting? Why would he not show up to for his first meeting with the personnel who are in the schoolhouse running the schools? What a mess.
Anonymous
February 19th, 2013
9:54 pm
I think the Governor should disband the current DeKalb BOE. However, several folks have suggested that a recall petition is a better route, since the DeKalb BOE has chosen to spend even more of the $$ that should be educating our children to file suit about the constitutionality of the new law.
Here’s a question: My BOE members are Dr. Pam Speaks and Nancy Jester. While, sadly, I would sacrifice them if the BOE is dissolved, I could NOT support a recall petition for them individually. I happen to think they do a good job.
The others, though, leave so much to be desired. However, does anyone know if I can do anything about recalling BOE members who do not represent my district? I would think it is up to the electorate to recall politicians.
And that, my friends, is a big part of the problem. I can’t do anything about the other BOE members but they certainly can affect my child’s education.
Mandella1099
February 19th, 2013
9:55 pm
I am interested to see if any DCSS Board members will resign in protest against the use of taxpayer dollars to fund this lawsuit.
Let’s see who REALLY is ethical – its time to put your money where your mouth is boys and girls….
Sandy Springs Parent
February 19th, 2013
9:56 pm
Unfortunately, the way the Georgia Constitution is currently written their is currently very little local control of the schools. Only a very few pre-existing small cities were lucky enough to be in existance when the arbitrary 180 district cap was written in. The only lucky ones are those like Decatur City Schools, Marietta City Schools, Buford City Schools, which are the ideal one high school and their feeder school districts. The true proof of what true local control does, it suceeds. People are willing to pay tuition to go to these districts.
The legislature needs to quickly make its top priority removing the artificial cap of 180 on the number of school district. They need to allow every geographic area, including area’s such as Vinings and Buckhead to have their own School districts. These are two blatant area’s that pay some of the highest taxes of Cobb County and Fulton Co/City of Atlanta yet each is screwed by not having schools up to par with the taxes that they pay to Cobb County and City of Atlanta respectively. The same thing with the Cities of Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Dunwoody etc… they all need their own school Districts of no more than two high schools large.
West Lake are is night and day from Sandy Springs. Even Sandy Springs is night and day from Milton or Johns Creek. Someone that lives in Sandy Springs at the Permeter is not going to venture outside the perimeter even to Milton or Johns Creek. We Shop at Phipps, Lennox or Perimeter Mall, we do not go to that one up 400. Sometimes we go to the Outlet one up 400, on a venture up to the Lake. Never in the light of Day would some one who lives in Sandy Springs find them selves going down to the Westlake area, unless it was to drop off a maid or handiman. The Milton Man would barely make it down to Sandy Springs let alone even driving down to Westlake. To the person from Westlake, what we expect of our kids education wise in Sandy Springs, Milton, and Johnscreek is too White.
Dekalbite
February 19th, 2013
9:57 pm
Mr. Thurmond should have called off the principals’ meeting or rescheduled it. Does he have any idea how much work a principal in a school has? Most principals in high schools have over 100 DIRECT reports and many if not most put in 10 to 12 hour days at a minimum.
Leo
February 19th, 2013
9:58 pm
The only person who is going to win in this legal fight is the lawyers. The state has no choice but to fight DCSD to the GA Supreme Court if the county is successful. Long, arduous and expensive process. Nice work Dekalb BOE. Even if you’re right, the students still lose as you spend more of the funds that you should be spending on them and their teachers fighting for your own damn selves.
Dekalbite
February 19th, 2013
10:04 pm
If the governor would reduce class sizes dramatically, he wold give the BOEs everywhere no recourse but to spend money in the classrooms. Instead he waived the class size limits numerous times for DeKalb. Setting small class sizes is legal and it is the MOST effective way to ensure spending is in the classrooms. The superintendents and BOE would have no other choice but to tow the line on class sizes and this gives them much less to spend on admin and support. When Barnes lowered class sizes and insisted superintendents follow them if they wanted state funding that is the ONLY time in 40+ years I saw DeKalb reduce their Central Office staff.
Jono
February 19th, 2013
10:17 pm
When I moved to DeKalb County in 1971, our schools were considered among the best in the nation.
Certainly the gravity of our problems would get more attention during the process of adjudication, but Crawford & Pope’s cases have not gone to trial. From Walker’s perspective, no one has been found guilty, so the Board are “victims” of poor or unconstitutional public policy.
Surely, this latest action will force a face-off between the Board and SACS. The clear losers will not only include 100,000 students, but every single homeowner and business owner in the county, as we watch out property values decline, probably in the 100’s of millions in aggregate losses.
The staggering downside to loss of accreditation demands that some emergency action be taken, as nothing else that DeKalb can do (build stadiums, you name it) will repair the damage to the loss of value and reputation.
The real injustice is that there doesn’t appear to be any legal mechanism that can be exercised to stop this train wreck. DeKalb citizens are in effect hostages to these Board members.
my2cents
February 19th, 2013
10:46 pm
This is inconsistent with the purpose of the Board of Education, which should be the one question that is asked of every decision they make. This group of people has shown that it doesn’t have what it takes to be good public servants and should vacate their positions without demeaning themselves, their positions and the institution they were meant to shepherd.
Teacher Reader
February 19th, 2013
10:48 pm
After being at Orson’s meeting tonight and hearing his perspective, the total board needs to go. The entire palace needs to go, and we need to have as few employees in the palace as possible and focus on our kids. No one is focused on the kids. We have a hypocrite superintendent who didn’t send his kids to DeKalb schools, so why should it be good enough for my kid or anyone elses?
Charles Douglas Edwards
February 19th, 2013
10:49 pm
The Georgia Bill that allow the Governor to oust school board should be challenged !!!
The will of the people (voters) in the United States should be SACRED. No one should have the power or right to nullify or void that right. It is wrong and unconstitutional in my opinion.
Dekalb County Board of Education made a very good move by challenging this Republican sponsored law and amendment.
This is a constitutional deprivation of Dekalb County BOE members rights.
The state Board of Education and SACS are not GOD.
The United States of America is still a country of due process and fairness to all.
Teacher Reader
February 19th, 2013
10:59 pm
Don’t worry about the board, Orson also said that he felt the board could have the SACHS action items accomplished by May. Somehow, I don’t trust the board to do the right thing and to put kids first. We have politicians who are out for their own well being. Nothing more or less. It also sounded like the new board president was a done deal as well. Sickening.
Teacher Reader
February 19th, 2013
11:03 pm
Well, Edward, when the board has misspent tens of millions of dollars, continuously has budget short falls, leaks private hiring information to the media when a superintendent is being hired, and a mired of other unethical things, these people need to go and should not be able to put adult interests above those of the children. The board members have not shown that they are in it for the children of DeKalb and need to all go. Hopefully the next board elections will find 5 new board members running the district.
Flabberghasted4sure
February 19th, 2013
11:09 pm
@ Maureen: Thurmond made a huge mis-step not meeting with the principals or taking time to even reach out to them. Elgart could wait – heck it might have even been a postive if Thurmond had told him he needed to spend some time focused on the school house today. Instead the clear message was that they are not important and he has better things to do.
Was there a public vote on moving forward with filing the law suit? Wouldn’t the BOE have to come out and vote publicly? If not, now that they have filed a suit, is the information about executive session now “public” so we can find out how each member voted?
Dekalbite@Teacher Reader
February 19th, 2013
11:21 pm
“After being at Orson’s meeting tonight and hearing his perspective, the total board needs to go.”
What did Orson say that made you think that?
I’ll say it again, Fernbank is the most powerful community in the the school system and knows how to wield influence better than any other group in the metro area. They are very smart, very well connected and like to win.
kiersty
February 20th, 2013
5:55 am
Who is paying for their defense? The taxpayers?
bootney farnsworth
February 20th, 2013
7:13 am
DeKalb residents – do you really want to stop this? you can, and it only will take a few of you.
sue the board.
Pardon My Blog
February 20th, 2013
7:21 am
@bootney – I agree and I think the process should start immediately.
Dunwoody Mom
February 20th, 2013
7:49 am
I’d love to sue the BOE – have the name of any good lawyers that would be willing to take this on?
gdfo
February 20th, 2013
8:18 am
What I have not seen nor heard about from DCSS Board is what and how they are gixing the problems. They seem to be more interested in protecting themselves. There has to be some oversight from the
Stated of Georgia in these kinds of matters. Check and balances.
Do you all really want to wait for a school board election with questionalbe results? I do not.
I want the Govenor to replace the school board. The shock of that happenening will have another value. Value to the people who are the Board are supposed to be supervising. It will also have a value in regards to other school boards who may be in trouble. Shape up! Follow the established parameters of Administering a School system or this can happen to you!!!! The future of education in Dekalb is at stake as well as the rest of the State. Standards are something to live up to and work toward not something to be held in contempt and the failure to achieve them covered up. Think about Living up to education standards and when that is accomplished exceeding them. Set a goal. Work for it. Achieve it. That is Success.
joel edwards
February 20th, 2013
8:24 am
recall;recall;recall; then gut the cancer out of the admin. dept. thats the only way u can clean the system up………..,.
GD
February 20th, 2013
8:31 am
“… Orson also said that he felt the board could have the SACHS action items accomplished by May.”
Sounds worth of a story or, at least, a blog mention.
Maureen Downey
February 20th, 2013
8:33 am
Kiersty, In both Sumter and DeKalb, taxpayers are paying for the legal challenge to the state law.
Maureen
History Teacher
February 20th, 2013
8:38 am
We used to have elected officials on school boards and other local elected offices that were interested in working for the public good. Now elected officials on all levels are more interested in themselves and their friends than they are in the common good. And school boards are the most visible of these politicians.
Education has been taken over by bureaucrats, teacher’s unions and organizations, parents and just about anyone seeking some political power and clout. And they will cling to it with all their might—ignoring the problems they cause and refusing to change policies that are detrimental to students actually learning. The state should have the authority to boot such school boards (as well as poor teachers and administrators) but I think the board will prevail. And cost the taxpayers a great deal of money in the process.
Just because you win an election does not mean that you should have the power to ruin the position that you were chosen to fill.
History Teacher
February 20th, 2013
8:41 am
And for all saying recall would be better—the voters chose these people in the first place. It is unlikely that their supporters will find that the board is in the wrong and recall them. Look at Clayton County to see several examples of this.
Dunwoody Mom
February 20th, 2013
8:41 am
“… Orson also said that he felt the board could have the SACHS action items accomplished by May.”
Oh, that Orson…… Here are 3 of the SACS Actions and if anyone think this BOE can accomplish this prior to May, well, I would say you are delusional.
1. Devise and implement a written, comprehensive plan for unifying the DeKalb County
Board of Education so that the focus can become serving the needs of the children of
the DeKalb County School District.
2. Ensure that all actions and decisions of the DeKalb County Board of Education are
reflective of the collective Board and consistent with approved policies and procedures
and all applicable laws, regulations and standards, rather than individual board members
acting independently and undermining the authority of the Superintendent to lead and
manage day-to-day operations.
3. Implement and adhere to fiscally responsible policies and practices that ensure the
DeKalb County Board of Education will adopt and ensure proper implementation of
budgets within the financial means of the school system and that support the delivery of
an educational program that meets the needs of the students.
Pardon My Blog
February 20th, 2013
8:46 am
Okay, I have a question and not sure what the answer is. Didn’t this issue of giving the Governor the power to remove a Board of Education when accreditation is in danger appear on a ballot? and if so, since the voters approved this, wouldn’t this supercede the issue of them being elected officials?
Jono
February 20th, 2013
8:47 am
It appears that the recall process may be the only viable legal option, although it’s a long shot — I doubt all (or enough) of DeKalb will get on board.
Nonetheless, what is the recall process, and how do we start it?
DeKalb Inside Out
February 20th, 2013
8:48 am
DSW is reporting that Orson, at the town hall meeting yesterday, let the cat out of the bag regarding the chair vote today. Orson said that a majority of the board, behind closed doors (executive session?), decided to elect Melvin Johnson as chair.
Dunwoody Mom
February 20th, 2013
8:51 am
Yes, that is true. Mike Hessinger attended the meeting and “tweeted” that piece of info last evening. Does not surprise anyone that deals have been made behind closed doors.
Once Again
February 20th, 2013
8:52 am
In the real world where productive people work to support the other half, if you don’t perform on the job, you lose it. Only in government can you vote to raise your own salary, pass laws to exempt you from the laws you impose on everyone else, and take legal action to keep yourselves from ever being fired.
And people wonder why so many want government slashed to the bare bones and all power taken away from elected officials. What’s to wonder?
Hopeful1
February 20th, 2013
8:57 am
If Representative Lindsey is so concerned about children’s education not being a function of where they happen to live, then why has he been a part of the crowd in the statehouse that has cut the state’s equalization funding (to poor school districts) by nearly half?
Disgusted in Dekalb
February 20th, 2013
9:00 am
What “Once Again” said.
Comment in Moderation
February 20th, 2013
9:02 am
Have heard alot about local control in prior comments…..Let’s remember that the state is responsible for the child’s education. Also the state is contributing a large amount of the costs associated with educating said child. You can’t have complete local control unless you are willing to completely fund said child’s education.
bootney farnsworth
February 20th, 2013
9:10 am
if it is unconstitutional for Deal to remove the board, he still retains a major weapon.
pull all their state funding, grants, support, ect. let them attempt to survive on DeKalb taxes alone.
bootney farnsworth
February 20th, 2013
9:15 am
from ehow: how to recall a school board
http://www.ehow.com/how_5880864_recall-school-board-members.html
Don't Tread
February 20th, 2013
9:21 am
This is another good argument for vouchers.
If you don’t perform, the money goes elsewhere. (That’s how it works in the corporate world.) Let the money follow the child.
Principal Skinner
February 20th, 2013
9:23 am
Charles Douglas Edwards
February 19th, 2013
10:49 pm
“The will of the people (voters) in the United States should be SACRED. No one should have the power or right to nullify or void that right. It is wrong and unconstitutional in my opinion.”
AMEN! And I just know that you are equally as interested in the Rights of the People in regards to the 2nd Amendment as well. If you’re not, you’re an absolute hypocrite.
Hey everybody, Chuck Ed Doug, and Mandella think that DCSS is wonderful and should not be touched. The DBOE are completely competent and are doing a GREAT job! THOSE people that want what’s best for the children of DeKalb are clearly Racists!
It’s time for North DeKalb to leave. Let the rest of the county wallow in it’s own filth. Can anybody say, “Detroit”!
bootney farnsworth
February 20th, 2013
9:24 am
http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/suing-a-school.html
who can be sued in education, and how to start it.
bootney farnsworth
February 20th, 2013
9:27 am
another potential venue would be to approach the ACLU of all people.
from where I sit, it seems to me the rights of DeKalb citizens are being violated by the boards flat out refusal to do their jobs
Pardon My Blog
February 20th, 2013
9:29 am
@Principal Skinner – well said! Does anyone have an answer to the question I asked?
bootney farnsworth
February 20th, 2013
9:31 am
here is where Charles point may run into trouble.
its true the voters of DeKalb have every right to wallow in their own filth, the board doesn’t have the right to violate the law. if the damage was limited to their individual districts, that would be one thing. the question I’d ask is if they have the right to inflict their violation of the law onto others.
Pardon My Blog
February 20th, 2013
9:31 am
I would think that meeting behind closed doors for this decision could be the nail in the coffin? Also, Melvin Johnson, what a joke. He is just as bad as Walker.
skipper
February 20th, 2013
9:37 am
In both Dekalb and Sumter, the race-card will be played soon enough. Not much to be said here w/o being branded racist and thus getting “moderated” or whatever. The sooner folks become more interested in education, and less about “keepin’ it real” as far as board members, jobs, etc. go the better it will get. When uneducated folks put uneducated or minimal-ability folks on a board, it is doomed from the get go. See Albany, etc.
bootney farnsworth
February 20th, 2013
9:37 am
@ pardon
I’m not a lawyer, but…
as I understand it, the citizenry does not have the right to create an unconstitutional law or reg.
despite what the bozos in DC think, the constitution trumps all
bootney farnsworth
February 20th, 2013
9:39 am
@ skipper
irony is, its the black kids who are being the most damaged by this
bootney farnsworth
February 20th, 2013
9:41 am
its actually very simple for DeKalb.
do you want to be Sudan, or do you want to be South Africa?
skipper
February 20th, 2013
9:58 am
@bootney…..
agreed.
Wondering Allowed
February 20th, 2013
10:12 am
I am very confused…. How is it out of one side of our mouths we want the sanctity of the ballot box respected when it comes to the school board, but out of the other side of our mouths we don’t want other elected officials to have any ability to remove those elected officials? It’s not as though some king, tyrant or single madman ruler is arbitrarily decreeing who will be on the school board. Elected officials have developed a process to check and balance the school board. The Supreme Court can overturn rules enacted by the Legislature and Executive. The Executive can veto a bill voted on by the Legislature. The States can ratify an amendment to reverse a Supreme Court decision. Why should school boards be the only truly autonomous government entity? Shouldn’t there be a way for another elected body to, in rare circumstance, take care of a school board run amuck, after a fair, public laying out of the facts and an opportunity for the board to explain or refute the allegations?
TM
February 20th, 2013
10:57 am
It’s the math; the court action buys time.
SACS time horizon is 12/31/2013, with one intervening milestone 5/31/2013 – a monitoring visit.
Of the 11 required actions, the top 5 belong to board and the remaining 6 to the administration (superintendent). The suit gives both until April to research, assess, and identify best practices for the 11 requirements, and until late May to formulate a plan around their adoption and implementation, in time for the monitoring visit. If SACS buys into the plan, the BOE could chose to withdraw or suspend action on the suit, and seek technical assistance – theoretically through AdvancED – to fast track the implementation of the plan. This would give the DeKalb BOE 100 days to draft a plan and 210 to implement it.
If the BOE didn’t take this tact, they’d be forced to accept 60-90, at most, to show meaningful progress. While I’m sure this is regrettable to many (if not most), it’s understandable and perhaps predictable.
Pardon My Blog
February 20th, 2013
11:00 am
@wondering – Exactly! That is what I thought this bill that was passed provided, a check and balance. Some people are saying we elected them, we get what we deserve. I only have one voice on this Board and most of the problems are coming from individuals elected from areas where the electorate is clueless. They don’t represent me yet they are making decisions that are personally harming myself and my children.
Prof
February 20th, 2013
1:07 pm
@ Pardon My Blog. Georgia citizens vote on proposed constitutional amendments, but not on routine legislation approved by the state legislature and signed by the Governor. This law falls in the latter category. Also, when it was passed in 2011, the U.S. Justice Department reviewed and approved it.
I really have my doubts that it will be found “unconstitutional.” And @ Wondering, that same state constitution allows the removal of elected officials from office for proved malfeasance. No-one is above the law.
Prof
February 20th, 2013
1:13 pm
@ TM, February 20th, 10:57 am: “It’s the math; the court action buys time. SACS time horizon is 12/31/2013 [required date of Hearing].”
Not if HB 115 is approved, allowing 90 days for the Hearing to take place, rather than the present 30 days. HB 115 seems to be moving swiftly: introduced in the House on Jan. 28, approved by House on Feb. 11, and on to be read by the Senate on Feb. 12.
TM
February 20th, 2013
1:55 pm
@ Prof
12/31/2013 is the SASC deadline for determing compliance.
HB 115 (if passed) is a separate State of GA track that would extend the time the State BOE must conduct hearing, following notifcation of a local system being placed on probation.
Prof
February 20th, 2013
3:03 pm
@ TM. Thanks.
Truth in Moderation
February 20th, 2013
4:17 pm
“Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” John Adams
Obviously, all the moral and religious people have left the building.
Jono
February 20th, 2013
4:49 pm
Thank you, Bootney, for the info.
The lawsuit route seems counter-productive, as the Board would likely be defended by Wilson’s firm. It would probably be a long and painful procedure, and I sincerely doubt that Wilson’s firm would be willing to give the aggrieved citizens of DeKalb a “discount.”
Recall is probably a non-starter, as the folks in the districts whose representatives have been have identified as problematic are likely to support them anyway. That is, until the bottom drops out, and they have to do something with their kids and their new lower property values.
I suspect (but don’t know) if the Governor’s recall power is the only (at least for now) other viable mechanism for taking action against malfeasance or whatever other shortcomings they are accused of.
So the question is: have we exhausted or deemed ineffective ALL legal remedies for this problem? If not, what else can be done? If it would help to amass 100,000 parents in front of the School Board Building with signs an pitchforks, I’d take time off of work to be there.
Dekalbite
February 20th, 2013
6:21 pm
To clarify, DeKalb is divided into 7 districts and each district elects their own representative. Then there are 2 super districts with the county divided loosely into half and whichever super district you live in determines the slate of candidates you get to vote for. So I vote for my BOE rep from my district and then for the rep in the super district I’m in. The problem is that since the members are each elected from their district, they want to cater to the voters in that district that elected them. Seems simple until you realize they are voting on policy, procedures, and practices and all of the expenditures for the ENTIRE district. There is absolutely NO incentive electorate wise for BOE members to worry about ALL students – just the voters in their small area.
DeKalb BOE members are NOT elected “at large” – i.e. every voter has a say (vote) on every BOE member.
It’s not unusual at all to hear a BOE member say in a BOE meeting, “that’s not going to go over well in my community” or “I need to know how this will benefit my schools”. If it benefits the students as a whole but has any negative effect on their schools, they will vote no. That keeps coming up in rejoining schools or allocating funding or building new schools, etc. it’s never – how will this benefit the entire district of students – it’s always how will my voters perceive this?
This is the way the voting and BOE is set up.
Complicating it is the fact that district lines were moved around last time to benefit candidates that the “line movers” liked – aka gerrymandering.
Citizens/voters have no control over how this is set up. We can’t vote against inept members – only our member. We have no say when the lines are redrawn to benefit a candidate that the line drawers want to favor. This is true of many states as well and is not confined to one political party. Voting rules and gerrymandering are a great deal of the reasons why our Congress is so divided.
Before you say DeKalb voters could throw them out, consider that the rules and district lines are set by the “groups” in power and collectively they often have a different agenda than the average taxpayer/parent.
Truth in Moderation
February 20th, 2013
9:01 pm
Up in Pennsylvania, the students have real balls……
http://www.myfoxny.com/story/21284675/teachers-ditch-student-desk-chairs-for-yoga-balls
Truth in Moderation
February 20th, 2013
9:11 pm
Granny Clampett takes Joe Biden’s advice……MUST SEE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do7qxCzK4m8
Truth in Moderation
February 20th, 2013
9:46 pm
DeKalbites, Aaron Swartz has some advice for you….listen!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUt5gjqNI1w&feature=endscreen