They’re out. Governor removes all six DeKalb school board members. Bring in the lawyers.
Setting the stage for a court battle, Gov. Nathan Deal just announced at a press conference that he is removing all six veteran DeKalb school board members.
He has created a nominating committee to find replacements. The committee includes former DeKalb Schools administrator Garry McGiboney, who is now with the state Department of Education, state board member Kenneth Mason, former state board member Jim Bostic, Sadie Dennard, education chair, DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, and Alicia Phillip, president of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.
Former state and DeKalb school board member Brad Bryant will be liaison between the district and the governor’s office. (Interesting that both McGiboney and Bryant were mentioned to me as possible superintendent candidates before Michael Thurmond was hired two weeks ago.)
Deal was apparently not moved by a last-minute appeal from Thurmond who testified last week at the state Board of Education hearing that he could work with this board and that its removal will make his job harder. Nor was Deal moved by some in the DeKalb delegation who sought alternatives to the controversial removal of elected officials.
Deal’s actions could still be reversed as there are two court hearings this week on lawsuits filed by the school board. A federal judge has already said that Deal can suspend the six, as he chose to do today but he can’t name replacements, pending the outcome of a Friday court hearing. A Superior Court judge will hold a hearing Thursday.
And Deal acknowledged the precarious nature of his DeKalb decision today, saying, “Certainly, the final determination by either the Superior Court or the federal court could affect the final disposition of this matter. But we don’t know what that will be at this point. I feel it’s my responsibility to act as the current law stands.”
So, DeKalb remains in the legal limbo that we began discussing Sunday here on the blog.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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244 comments Add your comment
mountain man
February 25th, 2013
5:26 pm
“Does it bother anybody that the State BOE and the Governor have blatantly broken the law, § 20-2-73, by not removing everybody?”
No, it doesn’t bother me, because they had a reasonable explanation for doing so. Now if you just want to enforce the letter of the law (and skip the word “eligible”), then go ahead and remove all nine. Makes no difference to me.
Beverly Fraud
February 25th, 2013
5:28 pm
Re: So Walker…AND he works for GOD.
Any truth to the rumor than in light of this new Walker “crony” that Mark Elgart has placed God on “advisement” and threatened to take his accreditation if he doesn’t seek “governance training”?
Beverly Fraud
February 25th, 2013
5:29 pm
His accreditation that is…
Bernie
February 25th, 2013
5:35 pm
Master Nathan has Spoken! …….Let Be Written so Let Be Done!
JacketMan
February 25th, 2013
5:38 pm
Thank you thank you thank you. Governor Deal has shown courage and character in taking on a corrupt institution – the DeKalb County Board of Education.
howdy1942
February 25th, 2013
5:40 pm
I’m glad the Governor acted. I just wish that he had removed all nine. Of the three that remain, at least one was cited by SACS in its report as meddling in schools already. All three have voted to retain that “governance training” law firm and for that law firm suing the State. If any were to stay, it should be Jester and Speaks. They blew the whistle to SACS and to anyone that would listen and they have consistently voted against wasteful spending.
Mary Elizabeth
February 25th, 2013
5:51 pm
@ Beverly Fraud, 5:18 pm
“Now if there were integrity in the accreditation process (GAC perhaps) then MEsings, perhaps you are on to a productive solution.”
=================================================
I am not informed enough about the current SACS situation, mentioned on this blog, and any possible politics involved with SACS, to give an educated opinion about the credibility of SACS, myself.
However, if your assertions are correct about SACS, Beverly, then I agree with you that any obstacles to authenticity and objectivity in the accreditation process must be overcome before any subsequent positive help and support can be forthcoming from professional educators in Georgia’s DOE, or elsewhere, to lacking public school districts (or to lacking public charter schools).
Been there, done that
February 25th, 2013
5:51 pm
I don’t see much hope for improving student achievement no matter what happens with the board. The culture of “I got mine” doesn’t care about others but just their student, their home, their school, their, their, their. Big changes need to happen in the culture that feeds dcss in order for real change to occur. Just look at the board members that have come before, (think Littlejohn & Roberts.).
Tired Taxpayer
February 25th, 2013
5:52 pm
To Decatur Dad –
Deal & SACS are the some of the only true friends your children have now. If you want the best for them, you could ALWAYS put them in private schools. Don’t know what your problem is, but we’re sick of the racial incompetence in Dekalb. It used to be a great county and school system. And then there’s Burrell on his soapbox spending our money. Does it ever end???
Pat & Mike
February 25th, 2013
5:53 pm
@kaitsmom
” I live in South Dekalb and I have not run into any parents who feel they should be allowed to remain.”
And how many of these parents did not bother to vote or voted for the Gang of Five (Walker, Copelin-Wood, Edler, Cunningham and Bowen (now off the BOE and replaced by New Birth’s choice, because he sends so much DCSS money their way, Melvin Johnson)?
Beverly Fraud
February 25th, 2013
5:54 pm
The same Sadie Dennard that served on the APS board while Beverly Hall was gearing up a decade’s worth of academic genocide?
Well that’s comforting…
bu2
February 25th, 2013
5:55 pm
@mountain man
Here is the complete paragraph from the linked page rather than the edited part you got:
“Finally a look at the numbers in district 9. Since this is a so called super district, it encompasses neighborhoods from the south and central parts of the county. Ella Smith essentially won the precincts above Memorial Drive, and Walker those south of Memorial. There were some notable exceptions. Walker one four precincts in the Emory area. Not only did he win them, he won them by double digits. He also ran a closer race in all the other precints than Smith did. Smith won ten precints by more than ten percent. Walker on the other hand won 44 by ten percent or more. Walker recieved at least 40 percent of the vote in every precinct except one. Walkers strength was in South DeKalb precincts, but he ran strong enough in all precints unlike Smith. Walker was put back in office by residents throughout the district.”
Beverly Fraud
February 25th, 2013
6:02 pm
From the archives:
Dennard believes Paige’s success in Houston, an urban district serving mostly poor and minority students, isn’t the result of a “silver bullet” or luck.
Umm, that would be Rod “Houston Miracle” Paige? Well she’s was right. It wasn’t luck it was falsifying data
Given her evaluations of Beverly Hall and Rod Paige one would think she’s either A) a notoriously lousy judge of talent and character or B) willing to do what is politically expedient
Perhaps she has some other redeeming qualities other than the two possibilities mentioned above…
bu2
February 25th, 2013
6:06 pm
“If any were to stay, it should be Jester and Speaks. They blew the whistle to SACS and to anyone that would listen and they have consistently voted against wasteful spending.”
So they failed to achieve their objectives and helped get the district on the verge of losing accreditation? With friends like that….
Although I think you give them too much credit for getting the district on probation. They first got on probation shortly after Jester was elected.
What you are really saying is that my district’s representatives are great and everyone else’s are bad. Democracy should be ignored if it doesn’t give me the result I want.
Bernie
February 25th, 2013
6:07 pm
Here comes the slippery slope! The White Man from Town over rules and via FIAT, removes duly elected officials by the People Of The People.
A Republican Dictatorship over a democratic consitentuancy. What happens if these same people are re-elected? Looks like an introduction of more Political cronies, like the VW with the Circus, Send in the CLOWNS.
Private Citizen
February 25th, 2013
6:07 pm
Howdy 1942,
‘Stunned by your comment: If any were to stay, it should be Jester and Speaks. They blew the whistle to SACS and to anyone that would listen and they have consistently voted against wasteful spending.
Who stands for the children?
February 25th, 2013
6:12 pm
Thanks, Maureen, for good and insightful reporting. Thank you Gov. Deal for doing the right thing. (By the way, those of you who blogged about Deal’s problems in the past, what in the hell does that have to do with what’s going on now??) Let’s get over ourselves and move on; let the Nominating Committee do its job (provided that it isn’t blocked) and get us on the road to RECOVERY. To the gang of six: please go on out with some credibility to yourselves and your reputations. Plain and simple. You failed. To the gang of three left: we are watching. You can redeem yourselves by careful review of expenditures; i.e., enough of the legal fees, especially the ridiculous and so-called “governance” fees. Show us you KNOW how to do your job without having to rely on the legal eagles telling you how. Enough already. Should the gang of six insist on retaining their power, it’s time for a march. This tired and weary [70 year old] taxpayer will be among the first ones out there.
Ironic Vision
February 25th, 2013
6:15 pm
Does it seem odd that the nominating committee includes a member who was part of the Dekalb chamber’s Edukalb group that ENDORSED some of the same BOE members the Governor suspended….Walker, Speaks and Edler. Very short memories in Dekalb.
Google "NEA" and "union"
February 25th, 2013
6:18 pm
Bring in the CHARTER SCHOOLS and tuition vouchers!
bu2
February 25th, 2013
6:19 pm
@Who
I didn’t blog about Deal’s problems, but the relevance is this:
Do you trust the people who are going to put unelected people over your schools and taxes? Or do you trust the voters more?
Pat & Mike
February 25th, 2013
6:23 pm
@ Private Citizen
Why are you stunned by Howdy 1942’s comment? It’s the truth. Nancy Jester, and to a limited extent, Pam Speaks, were whistleblowers. They consistently voted against wasteful spending and Nancy brought the whole “cash basis vs accrual basis”, as well as the uninformed budgeting process, to light. Nancy began by trying to work with the other BOE members. To no avail. She was blocked by DCSS’s deliberately opaque finances and by a complete lack of cooperation from the CFOs (Marcus Turk and Michael Perrone). Turk and Perrone were never prepared and able to answer Nancy Jester’s questions in BOE meetings. (Look at the videos of the BOE meetings.) Turk and Perrone always said they would get back to her, but they never did. Nancy was polite, but persistent. SACS admonished Nancy for “intimidating the staff.”
To get the real facts, read DeKalb School Watch [dekalbschoolwatch.wordpress.com] and Nancy’s blog, What’s Up With That? [whatsupwiththat.nancyjester.com].
WEBDuBois
February 25th, 2013
6:31 pm
Georgia is a racist and slave state. I am not surprised by this Governor’s decision. Who in the hell put SACS in charge. Mark Elgart and his Klan gang her extreme racist too! We see through you. SACS didn’t do a damn thang about Atlanta City School Board where Beverly Hall defrauded the children by cheating on tests. The Board wasn’t held accountable and SACS simply didn’t care about Atlanta’s children neither did the governor. As long as Beverly and the Board was giving the northside schools all they wanted everything was AOK. Kaseem Reid and Shirley Franklin sellouts. They defended Beverly and her cronies at the expense of children’s education. WHy hasn’t Paul Howard brought charges against Beverly Hall. The State Board of Education could give a rats behind of what Beverly and her gang did. I hope and pray that Dekalb BOE prevail in the Federal Courts because Ga is still a racist and slave state.
ron
February 25th, 2013
6:31 pm
Yes it’s the correct decision,the only decision. Now if someone would start cleaning out the schools administrations principals & assistant principals.Assiatant principals draw large salaries with little responsibilities.It’s more of a reward for longevity.
Sunnyday4me
February 25th, 2013
6:33 pm
Geez…thank goodness Gov. Deal made the right decision to remove the 6 board members. I’m hoping people don’t pull the “race” card. Let’s put our children first!
bu2
February 25th, 2013
6:34 pm
If you want biased paranoid extreme opinions and a lot of wild unsubstantiated rumors, read Dekalb School Watch.
Nancy’s blog is fine.
Call Me Missouri
February 25th, 2013
6:35 pm
Meanwhile, who is minding the store? Hey, MT, remember the children??? I am not talking about the spoiled brats you have been running behind (the BOE) since you were “hired.” I am talking about the 99,000 students you have ignored since being appointed “Interim Superintendent.” This appointment is another example of the selfishness of some BOE members who didn’t give a rat’s you-know-what about our children, but wanted a mouthpiece and a minion to do their bidding and save their sorry behinds. If you cannot do your true job, Mr. Thurmond, then perhaps the citizens of DeKalb should work for your removal, as well.
Ella Smith
February 25th, 2013
6:38 pm
HENRY A. TURNER, ATTORNEY AT LAW
You are incorrect. I actually felt that Dr. Walker needed some competition so my friends on the DeKalb County School Board Watch encouraged me and I ran against him.
I actually received 44% of the DeKalb County district 9 vote which was wonderful. I have actually been the only one who has at least gave him a run for his money in the past and there have been some very good candidates who ran against him.
I did not expect to win when I entered as I knew the chance was not good. Dr. Walker worked many deals in the Northside of his district regarding the elementary lines of certain area schools to try to assure victory. Dr. Walker really had to campaign and make many promises. In saying this I also think the Southside and Northside of the district felt that a change was needed in this position. I was warmly received in all areas of the county.
I am thankful I did not win this position. It is not because I did not want to serve. It is because of the disfunction of the board. I am sure it is a very difficult situation for the members on the board who really want to make decisions based on what is really best for all the students and citizens in Dekalb. Too many of the current board members are too concerned with their districts and what they can get for their district and not for what is best for the all of DeKalb County citizens and its children.
I want to also say I support what the Governor did. This situation is not just about DeKalb County. If articles hit the National News Channels and New York Times then recuiting new businesses to Ga. will be hard to do regionally and in the whole state. As an educator I also see educating students legally as a responsibility of the state and not the local communities. The state cannot set by and let things get our of control and hurt 99,000 students, just like they cannot set aside and allow this board to possible hurt the entire metro area and the state by preventing new businesses to the region and state.
melanie
February 25th, 2013
6:46 pm
Gov. Deal what he needed to do…these people have not done a positive thing for their schools & the Gov. came in & got rid of them….what ever happened to the children come first? Thank you Gov. Deal for doing your job!! Time to clean house in the schools here in GA!!
Digger
February 25th, 2013
6:48 pm
Despite the constant crap, I know that every day Maureen thanks her lucky stars for the good fortune of reporting the mind-boggling drama that unfolds virtually every day in Georgia education. A writer’s dream.
Jack ®
February 25th, 2013
6:50 pm
I didn’t think Deal had it in him. Very pleasant surprise indeed.
interestedbystanderss
February 25th, 2013
6:51 pm
I hate Dekalb County
single white dove
February 25th, 2013
6:54 pm
The children suffer from this. The commission do not care about education. I am glad the Deal is doing something. He didnt do anything about the state being run into the ground finacially. Still Deals “people” that wasted the sates money are still there!
Tired
February 25th, 2013
6:54 pm
I could fully support the board removal if it were a stand-alone incident.
But Governor Deal has a well-established pattern of disregarding the will of the voters and moving/tossing elected officials at will, to personally choose their replacement. It’s hard to be on board with this happening again, no matter how necessary it might be.
Private School Guy
February 25th, 2013
6:59 pm
This mess could trigger what I consider the nuclear option for the state, with Deal proposing and then passing a state constitutional amendment that would allow the creation of new school districts. The creation of a Dunwoody school district would knock the economic pants off of DeKalb Schools. Druid Hills and Lake side would follow. North Fulton would create a consolidated district putting the brakes on a lot of money flowing to south Fulton. The prevent this nuclear option be board under pressure from community leaders would drop the lawsuit and resign. I would rather see a limited amendment that would split the district in half from east to west. This would leave the newer eastern suburbs(Lithonia, Stone Mountain, Tucket) together and pair the older close in areas such as Chamblee, Lakeside, Avondale and the Glenwood Ave corridor. This would spur development in the non gentrified areas on SW DeKalb.
crankee-yankee
February 25th, 2013
7:08 pm
Cue the clowns…I repeat, I think this is a slippery slope but certainly understand why it has come to this. Deal’s comments certainly indicate he is not 100% convinced the law will hold up to constitutional scrutiny. Probably why he pulled the trigger, to get the ball rolling on a constitutionality decision.
I wonder, in a body of “lawmakers”, populated with a high percentage of lawyers, why is it there seems to be so many laws passed that are deemed constitutionally questionable?
Could it be that the constitutionality of a proposed law is secondary to the political impact it might have for a legislator or party as a whole? Hmmmmm?
jax
February 25th, 2013
7:11 pm
This DeKalb School Board is no better or worse than other ones over the past 6/7 yrs-just terrble but they were elected by DeKalb County Residents like me-not one of the Six was convicted, indicted or even accused of a Crime yet a new untested Ga Law allows another Elected Official to negate these DeKalb County Residents votes, including mine. This charade is an affront to our Country’s tradition
of having One’s Vote Count and to those of us who served in the Military to defend this right – I believe The Governor’s (whom I voted for) action was Unconstitutional -SHAME
bu2
February 25th, 2013
7:16 pm
Looking for other local reports and found Dekalb is already in the San Francisco and Miami papers because of the governor’s suspension of the board.
mountain man
February 25th, 2013
7:17 pm
“This mess could trigger what I consider the nuclear option for the state, with Deal proposing and then passing a state constitutional amendment that would allow the creation of new school districts. The creation of a Dunwoody school district would knock the economic pants off of DeKalb Schools. Druid Hills and Lake side would follow.”
That would be GREAT!!! Pass the amendment THIS YEAR!!! Break Dekalb UP!!!!!
catlady
February 25th, 2013
7:20 pm
Good things that MIGHT come of this:
1. Crooked board members are put on notice–no more business as usual, anywhere.
2. Small cities within Dekalb might push the Dekalb delegation to sponsor legislation to allow smaller, more manageable and accountable school systems. (When is cross-over day?)
3. The judiciary might open a spotlight on SACS and their ways, and bring them into the sunshine.
4. Legislators might consider other accrediting agencies than SACS, opening the floodgate of other states to remove themselves from under its smothering tentacles.
5. Dekalb might undergo a Renaisance of parents willing to fight for their schools.
6. Mr. Thurmond has a chance to PROVE he can make a difference.
Bad things:
1. Ever more attorney fees.
2. More division instead of pulling together.
3. Racial charges.
4. Reinstatement of the status quo.
5. A system too big to work.
Who stands for the children?
February 25th, 2013
7:21 pm
Bernie, nothing to be bitter about. Not every office holder is elected by the people of the people; i.e., the judges appointed to the federal bench, Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals and, for the most part, they do fine. When they don’t do fine, then they are subject to being removed just like anyone else committing malfeasance in office. THIS IS WHAT THIS ENTIRE ORDEAL IS ABOUT—-And yes, it is discomforting, distasteful and an embarrassment to this county, but it had to be done. In summary, of the people and by the people will go on with their lives, and in time will not equate this squalid mess to “voters’ rights,” but rather to “it’s about time” to think of the children (not to mention the cash-strapped taxpayers who have suffered right along with those kids).
OriginalProf
February 25th, 2013
7:22 pm
I was just checking the messy process by which the Clayton County schools lost their SACS accreditation because of its school board actions, and then Governor Perdue removed the board. I came across this: “February 22, 2008: Governor Sonny Perdue appoints James Bostic and William Bryant, State Board of Education members, to serve as liaisons between Clayton County and the state.” Same men now.
Interested Parent
February 25th, 2013
7:23 pm
The lawsuits show how lucrative the position is. The board can’t go out and find another job that pays the same.
Rachelle
February 25th, 2013
7:28 pm
Why should a governor be able to effectively recall county elected officials? It feels wrong.
Elise McClintick
February 25th, 2013
7:38 pm
Finally….at long last! DeKalb had such a fine school system when I was there attending Briar Vista Elementary and Briarcliff High School in the 60’s. Four decades I’ve watched the decline and have been complegtely shocked by the shenanigans going on in DeKalb County. I’m going to my grave thinking that Deal may be the best and only man who can begin the clean up of this County in Crisis and a school system so bloated by it’s pension grubbing employees. You go Deal!
Pardon My Blog
February 25th, 2013
7:39 pm
Wonder how Walker feels about being removed from yet another Board due to incompetence? This isn’t the first time!
Jules
February 25th, 2013
7:41 pm
Thank you Governor Deal for doing the right thing!! The SELFISH board members need to do the right thing and step down.
Pardon My Blog
February 25th, 2013
7:42 pm
@Rachelle – nothing wrong about it when you are talking about individuals elected to an office that they were totally incapable of handling (Jester excluded). Wish this list had included old Melvin, he is such a weasel.
Sickofthezeclowns
February 25th, 2013
7:43 pm
I can finally say the Governor did something thats going to make a difference! Would be nice if you look out your ivory tower and do something about Fulton County, City of crooked Atlanta and all those crooks in City and State government!
Eugine "The Chosen"
February 25th, 2013
7:45 pm
God told me that Nathan would suspend me… he also told me to go out and buy a couple o’ 40’s of country Club… peace out..
Eric
February 25th, 2013
7:49 pm
LOL..
Thank you Dekalb and the horrific losers that run the school district and argue here to have these incompetents reinstated. This makes our “separation” so much easier to achieve. Good luck after we’re gone.
-The good citizens of Dunwoody, GA (soon to be residents of Milton county)