Any suggestions for new DeKalb school board? Should Georgia consider appointed boards?
Let’s suggest some folks who might be possible school board candidates in DeKalb now that the state Board of Education has recommended the ouster of six veteran members. I expect the governor to move quickly on approving that recommendation and naming the replacements.
I also wonder if Nathan Deal would reappoint any of the vanquished board members, including those who have only served two years at this point. He apparently has that prerogative.
Any names come to mind?
In the meantime, here is an interesting suggestion from retired educator John Davis that Georgia move to appointed school boards. Typically, the mayor appoints the boards. (Here’s a list of places with appointed boards.)
By John Davis
During 40 plus years in education, I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of school organizations. One of the most noteworthy
was where the mayor appointed the five-member school board.Each member
had some business background or educational experience. Nonereceived a salary, secretarial assistance or expense accounts.They were responsible for hiring a superintendent and developing and following school policy. If the public did not like the way the schools were being handled, they needed to look no further than the mayor’s office. It was a very efficient and effective operation.
It has been my experience that school systems experiencing organizational/leadership problems usually have dysfunctional school boards. When examining the causes of dysfunction, several factors seem to repeatedly occur.
The first problem is the size of school boards. When boards exceed seven members, it becomes more difficult to reach consensus and more likely members will fragment into political/district diversions. In other words, members focus more on the local district they represent rather than on what is best for the entire school system.
The second problem is offering salaries and benefits to elected school board members. This tempts some individuals to seek the elected position to bring in some extra money and, in some cases, their entire income, even though they have little or no understanding of multi-million-dollar budgets and how to make complicated business decisions. There is also the problem of individuals running for elected positions with ulterior motives that are narrowly focused and counterproductive to serving as a team player.
The third problem is the way school board members are elected. School board elections take place at the same time as county, state and/or federal elections. This places the school board nominees’ names toward the end of the ballot. Most board members do not seek or cannot afford large campaign organizations; thus, the public has very little exposure to the background or experience of those seeking a board position.
By the time most voters get to the school board portion of the ballot, they select a name that either sounds familiar or just make a wild guess. Unless the media has gotten involved with school board coverage, the general public is left pretty much in the dark about qualifications.
What I liked about the school system where the mayor
appointed the school board was that it was important for the mayor, an elected official, to appoint highly qualified individuals and then make surea highly qualified superintendent would be hired who could work with the board and the community.The dysfunctional DeKalb County Board of Education offers a golden opportunity for the state Board of Education and the governor to address organizational/structural problems that exist in many school districts. Instead of replacing board members with another group of nine individuals representing nine mini school districts, think outside the box and select representatives whose interests reflect the greater district needs.
While the DeKalb board will shrink to seven members next year as a result of state legislation, consider a five-member board. Instead of another election for the members, have the board composed
of one representative from the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, one from the DeKalb PTA, one from the Organization of DeKalb Educators, onefrom among retired educators and one at-large member.Of course, there are numerous combinations of groups that could represent the DeKalb County schools, and this is offered as one example.
My plea is to address the root problem, which is the current organizational structure of selecting school board members. Let us be honest: Any change to the structure cannot be any worse than what we now have.
–from Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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202 comments Add your comment
Pardon My Blog
February 22nd, 2013
2:38 pm
@ Private Citizen -An appointed Board won’t work because there would be constant fighting based on politics, race, etc. UNLESS the appointments were done by an agency which would then cause more fighting which is why I come back to prior to even the name being put on the ballot there should be qualifying criteria. Perhaps each High School could nominate a candidate to appear on the ballot for available spots.
And what is your issue, I don’t have a computer cellphone whatever!
genzhukov
February 22nd, 2013
2:45 pm
If the fact of being elected is critical, you may as well go back to elected superintendents. Just do away with the board. At least there would be someone with the responsibility and that we could hold responsible.
LOGIC
February 22nd, 2013
3:04 pm
@Maureen do you have a “cut and paste” of DeKalb Delegation emails you could put out here? I would like to send them our board recommendations.
Concerned DeKalb Mom
February 22nd, 2013
3:10 pm
As much as it pains me…DIO has a good point.
DCSS has severe challenges and requires much time and attention from a skilled BOE. Unfortunately, the pool is limited when considering the time/effort involved in THIS situation and the $$ available to compensate for that time/effort. Not every BOE requires so much investment in time…but given everyone’s issues/concerns about superintendents in DeKalb, I think DIO has a point.
Someone is going to post that a BOE shouldn’t be spending that much time…and in successful systems I’d agree…but this system is so broken and battered, THIS board will require the time.
GD
February 22nd, 2013
3:20 pm
“I am so thankful my kids are in CSD cause they are getting a fabulous education! I wish that Superintendent Edwards and the Decatur School board could take over the DeKalb system so DeKalb’s kids could get as great an education as ours are in Decatur’
Good, not great IMO. Decatur High would rank 9th in SAT scores in North Fulton County alone. Nice to see the improvement there, though, and I hope it continues.
Jason
February 22nd, 2013
3:21 pm
Yes to appointed boards. Far too many people use getting elected to a school board as a springboard to higher office. They’re not there for the children, they’re there to generate name recognition and make political connections. Education is an afterthought.
Which isn’t to say that appointed boards would be a slam dunk. There are many ways in which appointed boards could be implemented poorly. What if they’re appointed by a governor who insists that schools teach rain comes from prayers? There are dangerous pitfalls in making boards appointed but as long as those are addressed, it would be better than the current system where members are more often than not in it for something other than education.
Maureen Downey
February 22nd, 2013
3:25 pm
GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
http://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/HouseMembersList.aspx
stacey.abrams@house.ga.gov
dee.dawkins-haigler@house.ga.gov
karla.drenner@house.ga.gov
michele.henson@house.ga.gov
scott.holcomb@house.ga.gov
mike.jacobs@house.ga.gov
darshun.kendrick@house.ga.gov
rahn.mayo@house.ga.gov
billy.mitchell@house.ga.gov
howard.mosby@house.ga.gov
mary.oliver@house.ga.gov
mspete16@yahoo.com
pamela.stephenson@house.ga.gov
tom.taylor@house.ga.gov
ernest.williams@house.ga.gov
georgia.butler@senate.ga.gov
jason.carter@senate.ga.gov
gail.davenport@mindspring.com
stevehenson@mindspring.com
emanj@mindspring.com
fran.millar@senate.ga.gov
ronald.ramsey@senate.ga.gov
Beverly Fraud
February 22nd, 2013
3:38 pm
Would that be the same State Sen. Ronald Ramsey who is alleged (by John Trotter-nothing anonymous there) to have illegally shut down a grievance hearing just as a teacher was about to testify to widespread cheating?
Funny, didn’t hear much from Mighty ODE on that one. Are they willing to hold Ramsey accountable for the performance (or lack thereof) of OIR in DCSS?
Kris
February 22nd, 2013
3:41 pm
Deal make a decision to oust corrupt DeKalb school board…..Funny he should oust them then resign due to political conflict with political ETHICS.
Elect all BOE and BOR officials. Limit campaign $$$$
Term Limits on all GA elected Officials
Governor term limit of 1 term. Limited Campaign contributions.
Just my 2 cents.
Beverly Fraud
February 22nd, 2013
3:44 pm
@If we end up with 15 members on Thursday, then what?
Over the top rope Battle Royal! With a holographic Gordon Solie providing commentary.
INDEED!
Chamblee Dad
February 22nd, 2013
3:49 pm
Appointed board questions I would have:
Who would want this job?
Why would they want it?
. . . . “I’m just here to help” . . . . uh . . . yeah
Who would these DeKalb delegation members want to appoint?
Why would they want to appoint them?
. . . . “qualified, willing & ready to help fix this mess” . . . . uh . . . really?
Would the result be the best men/women for the job? . . . . .doubt it.
Guys . . . this is DeKalb we’re talking about . . . . guess we’ll find out next week.
God I hope I’m wrong & we get an educationally sound, legal, ethical & fiscally responsible “dream team” And that’s IF we even get to this potentially appointed board being allowed to legally serve.
NTLB
February 22nd, 2013
4:00 pm
People elected boards only…you get what you asked for.
alm
February 22nd, 2013
4:10 pm
Way to put 99,000 students first Dr. Walker.
http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2013/02/22/the-mo-ivory-show-free-your-mind-friday-was-packed-today-for-mo/
Chamblee Dad
February 22nd, 2013
4:14 pm
OK Here’s something so genius I can’t believe Walker/SCW/Cunningham haven’t suggested it:
Let our duly-elected but soon-to-booted 6 appoint their own successors!
Elected & appointed in the same sentence. Everyone’s happy.
Your Welcome . . . . My work here is done
Chamblee Dad
February 22nd, 2013
4:15 pm
You’re welcome, getting tired
Dr. John Trotter
February 22nd, 2013
4:22 pm
I guess the Governor may come up with six super-duper kiss-ups to Ivan the Terrible, uh, I mean Mark Elgart. Yes, indeed, let’s just do away with elected school boards. Isn’t this what AdvancED, Gates, Pearson, Broad, and the Bilderbergers really want? Yes, it will be sufficient for the Governor to ask some of his fellow Gridironers just whom they would recommend. This elected process is just too much. It is just too messy. Too many people of whom we don’t approve get elected by the People. Darn! This is a mess. Hey, why not just disenfranchise black voters all together? Isn’t this really what some want? Yes, indeed, go back to the days of the Black Codes in Georgia. Heck, just re-institute the Convict Lease System. Yes, let the Bourbons control everything again in Georgia. Hey, I’ve got an idea, why don’t the Disgruntled Ones in DeKalb just petition Governor Deal to just re-name the school system the DeKalb Colored School System? The only black elementary school in Clayton County for years was officially named the Jonesboro Colored Elementary School. Yes, this would be progress in the minds of those who feast on the seared salmon and asparagus at the Piedmont Dining Club. I love that metaphor. Ha!
Don't Tread
February 22nd, 2013
4:25 pm
Appoint somebody based on merit, if you’re going to appoint somebody…otherwise, there’s no point in the entire exercise.
Ginny Mae brown
February 22nd, 2013
4:37 pm
I hope our honorable governor replaces these board members for the good of our precious children and citizens of dekalb. I pray the courts will uphold what the voters of GA passed to give a governor this power.
Concernedmom30329
February 22nd, 2013
4:54 pm
ConcernedDeKalbMom
Nah. With a strong superintendent, it wouldn’t require that much time. Get a strong board, one mostly concerned with policy and academic outcomes, and they will hire a strong superintendent who can move the system forward.
DCSS needs to untangle some of the litigation surrounding the system right now. That will help as well.
This isn’t a full time job. It isn’t suppose to be and with the right leadership, it won’t be.
Comment in Moderation
February 22nd, 2013
4:57 pm
Trotter really pulling out all punches to get some money for the coffers….why don’t you just state “He’s gonna put ya’ll back in chainss” and then pass around the offering plate at your next sermon, John?
Bernie
February 22nd, 2013
4:59 pm
We have a Governor who has run nothing but failed bussinesses, Governing a Failed State with a failing economy, who is being given 100% healthcare coverage for 3 years then with a 10% responsibilty afterwards for his most neediest citizens and he says No way!
This same Governor Making will make a decision about a failing school system with a failing school board Leadership with an unqualified and inexperenced Superintendent that is severely OVERPAID!
Can We really expect to see any worthwhile sucess from ALL of this Failure, that is behind it?
All the citizens of Dekalb County should prepare for is MORE FAILURE! That Failure will finally be passed along to the most neediest group of all, the children. The Children will be left by the failure of the Parents,community and Taxpayors not demanding a change that will result in SUCCESS!
chillywilly
February 22nd, 2013
5:00 pm
I predict that all hell will break loose if the right to vote for school board members is taken away from the citizens of Dekalb County. Folks are not going to let a tea party backed governor or anybody else take away their right to vote.
Bernie
February 22nd, 2013
5:01 pm
correction
We have a Governor who has run nothing but failed bussinesses, Governing a Failed State with a failing economy, who is being given 100% healthcare coverage for 3 years then with a 10% responsibilty afterwards for his most neediest citizens and he says No way!
This same Governor will soon make a decision about a failing school system with a failing school board Leadership with an unqualified and inexperenced Superintendent that is severely OVERPAID!
Can We really expect to see any worthwhile sucess from ALL of this Failure, that is behind it?
All the citizens of Dekalb County should prepare for is MORE FAILURE! That Failure will finally be passed along to the most neediest group of all, the children. The Children will be left by the failure of the Parents,community and Taxpayors not demanding a change that will result in SUCCESS!
Comment in Moderation
February 22nd, 2013
5:02 pm
Just think for only $44/month you can have the great LION speak for you, too! That’s just $528/year to the coffers of the great LION!!
kevin
February 22nd, 2013
5:09 pm
SACS has not went into the county that had the worse cheating ever, and then SACS has went into Clayton and Dekalb Countie creating a lot of mess. SACS needs to be investigated and then you will find the problem….that SACS is deeply nasty themselves. If those that are serving on the school board has done wrong….the people who voted them in needs to recall and get them out. No govonero or anyone else should have such power; they are elected people elected by the people. We need to stop using race, money etc., to make thing the way we want them and just….tell the honest truth. Deal himself has been or still is involved in mess and so if he do anything, he needs to do it to himself too!
Dr. John Trotter
February 22nd, 2013
5:13 pm
Hey “Comment”: Why don’t you address the fact that Mark Elgart does nothing to Fulton County (his home county which has had, from my understanding, many complaints to SACS), Cobb County (remember those 57 illegal school board meetings?), or Gwinnett County (remember those 45,000 serious disciplinary offenses that were not reported?)? Perhaps you might want to “comment” on this instead of making your usual immature ad hominem attacks.
I have found that people in general don’t like it when you point out the racial disparities. No collection plates, please. Just pointing out the obvious.
Disappointed DeKalbite
February 22nd, 2013
5:29 pm
I think Marcia Coward, the President of the DeKalb County Council of PTAs, would be a great asset to the board. She is smart, dedicated, and her first priority is the children.
Ella Smith
February 22nd, 2013
5:35 pm
The governor already has recommendations on his desk for all the positions.
There really are some very qualified individuals throughout the county that can be appointed thats interest will be turning the system around and doing what is best for all the stakeholders. However, I do not see the situation being turned around in a hurry as it took years of dyfunction for us to get in this situation. I personally saw the corruption 12-15 years ago when I got involved politically to try to make changes. I have seen the situation get worse each year. I have seen good board members elected who thought they could make a difference and after elected they realized it was a very disfunctional situation and a very frustrating situation.
I recently heard a recent board member speak who is no longer on the school board who said the problem was that there were 9 people on the school board had different agendas for being on the school board (this person included themself). I thought this was an interesting prospective and probable was the true root of the problem.
However, I do feel sorry for some of the school board members who were removed.
USMC
February 22nd, 2013
5:38 pm
“@gs. RENTERS PAY TAXES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”–Vietnam Vet
NO YOU DON’T!
Renters pay RENT.
The owner of the property pays PROPERTY TAXES.
gsmith
February 22nd, 2013
9:13 pm
i think i speak for a lot of people i know who live in dekalb. lets get the school board fixed and clean up all the problems and scandal in dekalb county. so hopefully my property value will go back up and i can sell my home and get the hell out of here!!!!!
Private Citizen
February 22nd, 2013
9:43 pm
Chamblee Dad, I’ve seen good people run for school board. They’re not charismatic like the person who gets elected.
It’s sort of ilke music in the USA, the vulgar too much make-up singer or man who looks like a girl gets the hits and record sales, meanwhile the best performances of classical music and composers are ignored in comparison. I know a caring career experienced school professional lifer with real management experience, real ethics, real knowledge of the system, real care for kids. This person was not elected. The shiny player with the hard shellac exterior and the fancy funded plentiful signs is the one who got elected. It’s a weird deal. Basically, the general populace is not competent to elect people to head the operations of school systems. Democracy is a bunch of rubbah in this regard, a rubber chicken.
Dr. Monica Henson
February 22nd, 2013
11:04 pm
DeKalb Inside Out asked, “If your Board of Directors, state-chartered special school, was infiltrated by ‘evil doers’ … how would you root the evil doers out if they block nominated/voted and had a majority?”
I wouldn’t have to root them out. The State Board of Education would when it was time to renew the charter. That’s the beauty of an independent state-chartered school–a dysfunctional board cannot keep a chokehold indefinitely. The authorizer will shut them down.
When was the last time that happened to a district with a dysfunctional board?
Truth in Moderation
February 23rd, 2013
1:22 am
@ Dr. John Trotter
Your points are well made. Those that call public schools “government” schools are often criticized on this blog. However, Maureen has allowed communist ideologue John Davis to sing the praises of “taxation without representation” by promoting the removal of the representative of the people; you know, the ones that put the “public” in public education. It is interesting to note that Mr. Davis did NOT choose that state with an appointed school board to retire in. I wonder why? Perhaps his retirement paycheck goes further in Georgia than in those overtaxed Yankee cities? Let’s look at those states on Maureen’s list:
Oakland, CA
Chicago, IL
Indiana
Baltimore, MD
Boston, MA
Detroit, MI
New Jersey
New York, NY
Yonkers, NY
Cleveland, OH
Philadelphia, PA
Providence, RI
Yes, these cities and states are paragons of virtue and fiscal responsibility! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
N.J. and N.Y: How’s that $50 BILLION BAILOUT GOING FOR YA’?
The Godfather has all the gun violence “under control” in lovely Chicago.
Oakland has great schools……and CRIME. LOL!
Detroit? Well, a picture is worth a thousand words……
http://www.globalresearch.ca/dying-detroit-the-impacts-of-globalization-social-decay-and-destruction-of-an-entire-urban-area/19856
Taxed to death
February 23rd, 2013
9:30 am
I too find it hard to believe rent includes $1,500 year in school tax.
Truth in Moderation
February 23rd, 2013
10:41 am
Mr. Davis, why don’t you move to Chicago so you can have the beloved Mayor to appoint school boards? LOL!
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Mayor-Emanuels-Approval-Rating-In-The-Tank-192300781.html
Please read some of the local comments from his “fans.” LOL!
ADS Parent
February 23rd, 2013
10:44 am
There are still openings for next year pre-K through 4th grade at ADS. adsdirector@hotmail.com for more information. Located on Clairemont at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Atlanta. Serving diverse population from all over the metro, esp. Decatur, Atlanta, Tucker and surrounding communities. Not as expensive as other privates, but still maintain small class sizes, certified teachers, quality instruction in a caring environment with excellent parent involvement by choice, not required. Current year transfers considered on a case-by-case basis. School may expand to middle school years in two years if there is sufficient demand. http://annunciationdayschool.org/Home.html
Suggestion for public school future in DeKalb: at-large elections or appointed boards since all school board members cast a vote that affects outcome for all students. They must be accountable to the people who they are affecting. Right now, the elections process is not working because you only vote for your area and therefore your area is reduced to a single vote on a board even if you represent a larger number of people who are educated and know what works in education.
Private Citizen
February 23rd, 2013
10:57 am
The “at large” voting is a good idea. That way you do not have neighborhood / caste infighting and “I’m going to be a stubborn pigeon” play-acting on important coordinated decision-making. But how would you do it? Have 5 or 7 or 9 or whatever positions all running for election at once, at large?
The whole school board thing needs to be reverse-engineered and looked at. I suggest some international comparison to how it is done elsewhere, because this U. S. system is nuts and produces a lot of conflict.
bu2
February 23rd, 2013
11:07 am
Dr. Walker was elected at large (at least over half the county).
At large voting IMHO is absolutely the worst idea I have heard mentioned on these blogs. You’d have the Milton County secession movement played out in Dekalb. The neighborhood/ caste infighting is a reflection of the electorate. The board is merely a symptom.
Jennifer
February 23rd, 2013
11:44 am
So according to mr Anthony’s reasoning, our president shouldn’t be president because this country isn’t majority af-am. Hmm, wonder how that would go over. I would like to remind everyone to read the words of MLK, jr. ‘judged not by the color of my skin, but by the content of my character.’. I heard these words yesterday at a black history month celebration at our school and hit me that Dr King must surely be rolling over in his grave at some of the statements being tossed around by the af-am community if Dekalb these days. I like to believe (and maybe I.m wrong) that he really wanted equality for everyone and if he were still alive he would tell this community to come together to represent ALL students – black, white, green, asian, hispanic. So stop with the ‘the poor black community is being hurt’ because at this point all of dekalb is being hurt!
no mas
February 23rd, 2013
11:54 am
Kim Goeke
Ella Smith
Shayna Steinfeld
Viola Davis
Pam Speaks
bu2
February 23rd, 2013
12:13 pm
@no mas
Pam Speaks was on the board when Lewis was stealing. She should absolutely not be an appointee.
IMO Ella Smith would not be a good choice. She would get run over on the board, like she did in a debate by her own admission. She was not a good campaigner and didn’t communicate her positions other than in vague banalities.
Kim Goeke is certainly intelligent and thoughtful. The question I have is whether he should be overseeing an $800 million dollar business. I don’t know enough about him.
Truth in Moderation
February 23rd, 2013
12:27 pm
“The whole school board thing needs to be reverse-engineered and looked at”
I HEARTILY AGREE! It’s a very simple process:
SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD OVERTURN THE COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE LAW. This would solve all current problems. SELL OFF ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL CAPITAL and citizens will be RICH and can now afford good private schools or home school, and BEVERLY FRAUD WILL BE OUT OF A BLOG GIG BECAUSE ALL THE EDUCATIONAL CORRUPTOCRATS WILL BE OUT OF A JOB!
GETtheCELLoutATL
February 23rd, 2013
2:30 pm
Paul Miller
Viola Davis
Denise McGill
Ella Smith
Willie Pringle
Tom Gilbert
Bill Clinton
Ted Turner, Jr.
Jason Carter
Scott Holcomb
The staff member at the public access channel who resigned based on ethics when Chip Rogers was hired; the teacher who fought Dr. Atkinson over her text messages and won;
or just give us all vouchers and allow us to choose whatever private school we want to send our kids to; or hold a special election in which the entire county can vote for all of the school board members ensuring they truly represent the needs of the entire district instead of special interests that will encourage better voter turnout (which is why the politicians won’t like it) which will ensure that a corrupt special interest group will have a harder time controlling the outcome; or appoint the members who were from any of the former grand juries that called for a school board investigation so they can get into the inside and find the rest of the evidence to finally convince the DA that a special grand jury is necessary; or appoint the rest of the lawyers who are not already representing DeKalb so that there will be no one left to try to sue the school system and steal the taxpayers’ money;
Please do not give us:
anyone who has been on a prior board or committee for T-SPLOST
anyone who is currently pretending to be on a non-existent board for E-SPLOST
Chip Rogers
anyone who also serves in ALEC
anyone who is related to anyone else already employed by the school system
anyone who was educated in Georgia’s public school system K – 12
anyone who has a criminal record
anyone who lies on their resume
anyone who does not like children or teachers or schools or staying awake during important meetings
anyone from the PTA or Parent Council leadership (we have two already and they are part of the problem)
anyone from the failing school system staff (we have one already and they made him their leader)
anyone who cannot pronounce the world SPLOST
anyone from the telecom industry or for-profit education sector
or, honestly, why do we need to appoint or elect anyone? Just let Thurmond figure things out as he says he can and then he can nominate several candidates for his replacement and we can vote for one of them. It sounds like the staff and Super. really do all the work and just go to the board to approve the financials without telling them the education plan that supports what they are doing, so why bother with that step? If the system fails there won’t be a bunch of figure heads pointing fingers, the blame will rest on one person and he/she will know exactly who on the staff is failing because if there is failure, the Super. will be replaced.
Or, let us vote once a year on whether or not we think there should be a vote. Weight everyone’s vote based on how much they pay in property taxes for the house they claim homestead exemption on, not their investment properties.
Or, instead of property taxes, base the system finances on a food tax so those households who have more kids will have to buy more food and therefore will have more money invested and will show up to vote. It might stop people from having too many kids and solve the obesity problem in the U.S. at the same time. Restaurants that help furnish meals for the schools can take a tax credit off the food tax they are expected to pay. And, when public meetings are held, the people with more invested will be easier to spot so the school board can stop suggesting that people wear ridiculous matching T-shirts to meeting that help them know which folks to avoid on the breaks. And then let the Grocery Stores appoint the board (except for Walmart, they are corrupt).
Problem solved.
GETtheCELLoutATL
February 23rd, 2013
2:41 pm
bu2 “Dr. Walker was elected at large (at least over half the county)” – that was several years ago for one thing when most people were unaware of the problems in the school system, and he was elected due to poor turnout of a portion of that section of the county and high turnout by another section. If the whole county would have voted, he would not have received the most votes regardless of what time of the year they try to stage the elections. Dunwoody and Fernbank are in separate districts as are Lakeside and Tucker when you look at the super districts. Most of the money and votes come from these areas. And, Walker’s power comes from controlling three votes, not just his own. So, if the whole county voted for all the positions, Walker would not have two others to control and would likely be “marginalized” as Nancy Jester has said she has been. You might not get Walker out (or those like him) but it would be much, much more difficult to get the others elected whom are obvious pawns being used in his game.
Dekalb Mom
February 23rd, 2013
3:54 pm
I second Eric Johnson’s (former candidate for governor) suggestion of Melanie Stockwell. She is his former chief of staff, an attorney, and mother of two children in DeKalb County schools with a vested interest in getting this right.
Long Time Teacher
February 23rd, 2013
5:47 pm
As a teacher in DeKalb let me just say …….. we need serious help. There are no resources going into the classrooms. If there is anything new in your child’s classroom, it is because the teacher has bought it. Our school has not even had copy paper for the last two month to run off student’s lessons or to send a note home. We are expected to buy it ourselves. Children suffer from thinking like this. We are told to do more with less. Even though we are furloughed and not given supplies we are still expected to provide an excellent education with everyone scoring high on tests. And don’t get me going about the poorly made tests DeKalb wants your child to pass……………….Someone help!!! DeKalb Schools needs people who will cut, cut, cut, and go line by line through the spending and make it right…….for the taxpayers, the students and families, and all employees.
OriginalProf
February 23rd, 2013
7:30 pm
**Formerly Prof for more than a year on this blog, I find that someone else has registered under that name with AJC–not me. So now Prof is OriginalProf.**
Many here have brought up the issue of whether the democratic elections of the school board members should be set aside by the Governor. It seems to me that if elected officials are guilty of malfeasance, or misconduct which affects the performance of their official duties, then they have broken faith with those who voted for them. In this case, these board members have given SACS grounds to remove DeKalb’s school accreditation, after they had already been warned by SACS.
dekalbite@long time teacher
February 23rd, 2013
8:54 pm
“As a teacher in DeKalb let me just say …….. we need serious help. There are no resources going into the classrooms. If there is anything new in your child’s classroom, it is because the teacher has bought it. Our school has not even had copy paper for the last two month to run off student’s lessons or to send a note home. We are expected to buy it ourselves.”
Yet DeKalb has a billion dollars to educate less than 100,000 students. We have the highest millage rate in the metro area and the lowest teacher compensation.
Where does the money go?
Do you think Mr. Thurmond who has not ONCE mentioned teachers as stakeholders or Melvin Johnson, New Birth (Eddie Long) elder and longtime DeKalb insider, will change things? Tell your parents to attend BOE meetings, write and call elected representatives, and seek meetings with Mr. Thurmond. ALL teachers should be advising parents to do this. Parents need to be visible at the schools and in the Central Office and at BOE meetings and asking for and documenting everything that is NOT happening in the classrooms for students.
dekalbite@Original Prof
February 23rd, 2013
8:57 pm
” It seems to me that if elected officials are guilty of malfeasance, or misconduct which affects the performance of their official duties, then they have broken faith with those who voted for them.”
I agree. The BOE depleted the reserve fund (only metro system to do this) and then ran a deficit. The state auditor said a school system running a deficit is against the law. The state should be investigating and prosecuting the BOE for putting the school system into a situation that is against the law.
Ella Smith
February 24th, 2013
11:05 am
I would recommend highly Ms. Piece and Mr. Brown. Both of these individuals live in south DeKalb and both of these individuals have run for school board and were not elected. There was also a young man that I remember who ran for a position on the school board who was involved as an administrator in a local college. I do not remember his name but I do remember how sharp he was. Of course he was not elected either.
I think you may need to go back and look at the percentages that Dr. Walker won by in the last election. I honestly did not spend hardly any campaign money. I did not expect to win. I knew that beating Dr. Walker was almost an impossible task but he needed someone to step up and give him some competition and I actually did do that.
Dr. Walker was scared enough to make deals with the Fernbank Parents openly which is questionable in itself if he should have ethically been making deals like this regarding school boundary lines. I have also been told he was shocked at how well I did. I think the vote was an indication that the south side of the county were beginning to realize that Dr. Walker was part of the problem. A high percentage of the citizens of DeKalb were fed up then and now they are outraged.
bu2, If you will check you will see I can hold my own in a debate. However, the forum at Fernbank was not a debate. The deal had been worked out with Dr. Walker and Dr. Walker was handed the microphone. I have been in many debates. This was not a debate. I can hold my own with Dr. Walker and most individuals in a debate and I have done so in the past if they are fair debates. At one time I did reach out and take the microphone away from Dr. Walker and stepped in. I am not easily ran over. You apparently do not know me very well. However, I am not offended as you would have had to be there to understand how bad the situation was.
However, if you knew me you would also know that I only want what is best for the students and citizens in DeKalb. I think what is best is for the governor to do is to find a highly qualified African American to replace Dr. Walker. This is just my opinion but I do feel that is what is best for the school system at this time. Race should never be a factor in making decisions like this but at this time I feel it is best to replace Dr. Walker with an African American. I also think it is time to discuss the racial issues and division that has occurred on the school board as this is a major factor in this disfunctional situaiton. I have heard at least members discuss race on issues regarding decisions. This should not be a factor in making decisions as a board member. The needs of every child in the school system should be the first priority regardless of the color of a board member’s skin, child’s skin, the religion of a child, or the ability of a child. This must be discussed and the school board and system must rise above this.