What are Nathan Deal’s options with DeKalb school board? Are parents now more fixed on exit strategies than reform ones?
Gov. Nathan Deal has pushed back his news conference on the DeKalb school board mess to 2:30 today, suggesting that he’s seeking legal guidance on his options in this quagmire.
To recap: On Thursday, a unanimous state Board of Education, under an untested 2010 law, voted to recommend the suspension of six veteran DeKalb school board members. On Friday, a federal judge, while not stopping Deal from suspending the six, prohibited him from replacing them, pending a hearing later this week on the validity of the law.
That put Deal in a bind as ousting the members without replacing them creates a worse-case scenario for DeKalb, no closure, no quorum and no chance that new school chief Michael Thurmond can move quickly on whatever plans he has for the district. (And we have yet to see any real plans.)
Protracting this melodrama will only fuel the increasing push by Lakeside to form its own city and Dunwoody to form its own school system. In the end, DeKalb County could be so fragmented as to be unrecognizable. There has been a surge in notices of community meetings and town halls around issues of winning independence from either the county or the school district.
Such discord makes a unified school vision impossible and hampers any real change if parents are more focused on creating an exit strategy rather than a reform one.
And, in some breaking news, the AJC’s Greg Bluestein just reported:
Gov. Nathan Deal has not yet made a decision on whether to suspend members of the DeKalb County school board, lawmakers who were briefed by the governor said after emerging from an hourlong meeting Monday.
Members of the DeKalb delegation said the governor was weighing several options, including a compromise that would that would avoid a court battle. Under that plan, the governor’s office would closely monitor the school board’s progress if the legal challenges were abandoned. “We don’t know what he’s going to do,” said state Rep. Scott Holcomb, D-Atlanta.
Here are some possible scenarios for Deal, none of which help DeKalb but do give the governor political points for at least trying.
•If Deal suspends the six members and can’t replace them, he essentially cripples the DeKalb Board of Education which, with only three legitimate board members, would lack the power to do anything.
•To create a quorum, Deal could choose to suspend only four of the six, with the likely two remaining Nancy Jester and Pam Speaks. Then, DeKalb would have a five-member board, which would provide a quorum.
However, Deal would certainly provide even stronger legal ammunition for overturning the law since picking and choosing members to oust supports allegations that the law is arbitrary and capricious. In addition, Deal would then be suspending only African-American board members, which would lay open the racial tensions that this whole process is revealing.
Nobody is clear what the law means when it says the governor has to suspend all “eligible” members. We saw that last week when the state reversed its January position that the governor had to oust all of the DeKalb board members or none of them.
That “all or nothing” explanation was given at the January hearing in response to protests by the three newly elected DeKalb board members that they weren’t even on the board when the district was put on accreditation probation. A month later, the state reversed itself and agreed with the trio, saying Thursday at the state board hearing that the newly elected DeKalb board members were exempted and would retain their seats.
•If Deal doesn’t suspend — which seems highly unlikely to me — he will come under criticism and undermine the state board’s credibility.
Any other feasible scenarios out there today?
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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123 comments Add your comment
Chamblee Dad
February 25th, 2013
1:19 pm
No exit plan for me. Here in Chamblee, our cluster is doing pretty good, more than good in many areas. Would like more $$ for teachers & smaller classrooms with all this wasted $$, but leaving (moving or private) to me wouldn’t help my kids. In fact we added on to our house to stay in these schools, instead of paying for private schools. I LOVE where we live, not the fanciest, could have bought elsewhere, but our neighborhood, & Chamblee in general, it’s worth staying here to me, beyond a measure I can’t fully quantify.
I’ll agree our system-wide problems are beyond comprehension at times, especially now. But enough to leave &/or abandon reform? that would hurt all the kids, especially in the Southside. Why punish them for the mistakes of the adults in charge?
So reform is the goal for this Dad, the call to arms, is not fix MY school, let’s fix OUR schools. You tell me it can’t be done, so you are planning to leave? Then try this:
Go to any of the many failing/underachieving schools, esp. in South DeKalb, walk into a 3rd grade class, pick out the sweetest looking, hardest working girl struggling with the assignment in front of her, who would benefit from any help we can give her, the same help that her single but hard-working mom would give her if she could, look her in the eyes & tell her “sorry sweetie, we won’t do anything to help you – as us adults say – you’re screwed.”
There are kids of her of all ages, all races, in both ends of the county (yes, even up here) in the same boat she’s in. Abandon them? How about we act like grownups instead? When I go home to my 3rd grader tonight, I can look him in the eyes and tell him “we’re trying to do what we can, but we know we need to try even harder – and we will.” It’s a lesson he deserves to witness, not just see in a movie.
Mountain Man
February 25th, 2013
1:20 pm
” Is there evidence that the School Board stole money or mismanaged funds,”
Mr. Georgia – they ran a DEFICIT. That is illegal under Georgia Law. THere is evidence that htey knowingly voted for a budget that deliberately underestimated certain costs. It was pointed out to them and they passed it anyway. Now they want to pay off that deficit in four years (plus deal with any illegal deficit that arises this year). That is pretty clearly MISMANAGEMENT>
Private Citizen
February 25th, 2013
1:20 pm
bootney, the fed is chasing the terrists.
marm
February 25th, 2013
1:21 pm
@Mr. Georgia, I would appear that the board is pushing for all the districts in the county with high performing schools to push for independence. None of these people are smart enough to see what damage they have done to the county with this contined drip, drip, drip of bad news. When was the last time that a viable business relocate to Dekalb County? Our tax base has shrunk but none of our elected officials, school board on up to CEO, seem to have the ability to work for the good of the county. Many are trying to put race into it, but seem to forget that they elected and re-elected these jokers and still want to blame someone else for the mess all of us are now having to deal with.
bootney farnsworth
February 25th, 2013
1:24 pm
here’s one other thought for any parents out there who are debating to stay or go.
Gene the machine has been working directly for God for how long now – and DCSS is this messed up? when Gene loses either power or influence, God isn’t gonna care as much.
in short, this system is a good ten years minimum from a turnaround. and that’s optimistic
Private Citizen
February 25th, 2013
1:25 pm
Turth, Lullwater Park, that tangly mud hole? phew – enjoy your poison ivy.
WilieJo
February 25th, 2013
1:26 pm
Dekalb County is already ” a hiss and a byword”. The question should not be if we are going to sweep it all under the rug to hide the dysfunction in DeKalb. If there are so called leaders whispering about a solution they need to be out in front, telling the board to go quietly for the good of the county. If instead, the leaders are threatening and conspiring in the shadows they deserve the disaster that awaits. It’s the kids that don’t deserve it.
DeKalb is about to fall apart. Hiding the issues is a bad idea.
MS GEORGIA
February 25th, 2013
1:28 pm
You are “point on” Mr. Georgia! Where were these people 10-12 years ago when we had a drunken Superintendent and BOE? This BOE is trying to clean-up what they left behind!!
William
February 25th, 2013
1:29 pm
Mr. Georgia,
I would love to run.. however the good Lord choose to not give me enough melanin in my skin to win any election in Dekalb (since that seems to be the only criteria … you can be a felon, have only meaningless high school degree … but as long as you have “the look” ..all’s good)
Concerned for children
February 25th, 2013
1:33 pm
The demographics of Sumter County, Georgia are a mirror image of those in Dekalb County, including the Boards of Education.
living in an outdated ed system
February 25th, 2013
1:35 pm
Here’s one article that lets you know what the will of the people is. Looks like a strong vote to remove them!
http://www.peachpundit.com/2013/02/25/majority-of-dekalb-voters-want-school-board-g-o-n-e/
Truth in Moderation
February 25th, 2013
1:42 pm
“Go to any of the many failing/underachieving schools, esp. in South DeKalb, walk into a 3rd grade class, pick out the sweetest looking, hardest working girl struggling with the assignment in front of her, who would benefit from any help we can give her, the same help that her single but hard-working mom would give her if she could, look her in the eyes & tell her:
“Our family is going to home school! We are going to pay our way so YOU will have more money and smaller classrooms at your school and can have a good education as well. However, I also know of many single parent home schoolers. We are a caring community and our many organizations make that possible. There are video and online classes as well as home school tutoring centers. Most home school groups have planned outings and moms ARE MORE THAN HAPPY to bring along a working home school mom’s child. Tell your parent to consider this”old school” way of learning.”
Private Citizen
February 25th, 2013
1:43 pm
Hey Turth, I think you’re referring to the manicured Lullwater Estate on the Emory property where the university president’s house is located with the back access path from the VA hospital (barely a block from the SACS office), not Lullwater Park parallel to Lullwater “Driving Miss Daisy” Drive. That Emory thing is actually the old Candler kid’s house/estate (Coca Cola founding family) secondary to the main Candler house on Briarcliff, which is a block or so from the other Coca Cola family house on Briarcliff that belonged to the Woodruffs. Looks like mama and daddy Candler had the main estate on Briarcliff where they had the first exotic zoo animals, and the kid had his own Lullwater estate with a lake and cows and stuff. Later they deeded it all over to Emory.
Coca, Cola, Pause, Refreshes, Refreshing and Delicious
Chamblee Dad
February 25th, 2013
1:44 pm
To add a little more: our elem. school is Title 1 (but AYP for years) and I spent almost $200K to add on & stay here. I’m no liberal do-gooder or martyr, more libertarian than anything else. But to me, if there is one thing the gov’t should provide to our citizens is a quality education. Obviously we could do better.
What do my kids get in this bargain? A quality education provided by an achieving school – thanks to teachers, parents & staff, and despite the worst efforts of many others. Provided as well by my wife & me, demonstrating how our family values & views education. But they also get a school with more blacks & hispanics than whites, of all socio-economic backgrounds = looks more like the “real world” we live in. Those “minority” parents value education more than they are normally given credit for. So my kids get diversity far beyond what I got during my school years in Georgia in the 70’s. And I truly see them benefiting from it.
So it can be done. My family is living it.
Private Citizen
February 25th, 2013
1:45 pm
Turth, I forgot. I made you a map. http://postimage.org/image/571r1qp1n/
marm
February 25th, 2013
1:48 pm
@Ms Georgia, please don’t use the “the people before them made the mess” Really, if that’s really the case, then these people are useless if in over 10 years, they have not been able to clean it up. I’ve always heard that you won’t get hired by the school system unless you know someone or are related to someone. It’s all there in black-and-white that this is not a myth. If cities continue to siphon off their taxes by becoming independent, you’ll be left with a failed system and nobody to keep it afloat. Everyone needs to push for these people to leave, and we need to push people out there that at least have a decent education and understand what they are elected to dol.
alm
February 25th, 2013
1:52 pm
He could keep Speaks and Walker and cut the rest. They represent the super districts so all voters would be covered. They would also cancel each other’s votes on the BOE.
Chamblee Dad
February 25th, 2013
1:57 pm
Truth. How about she take her child to a school a few minutes away with all her neighborhood friends? Instead of having to load up her nanny in her Lexus & drive across town to your Lullwater field trip. Especially when she’s got to get back to her yoga class after her 9th grader’s private music lessons.
Mountain Man
February 25th, 2013
1:57 pm
“If cities continue to siphon off their taxes by becoming independent, you’ll be left with a failed system and nobody to keep it afloat.”
Good. It deserves to fail after the way this Board chose self-serving rather than the good of the community. With Walker being #1 in sel-service.
Truth in Moderation
February 25th, 2013
1:57 pm
@P.C
The land surrounding Lullwater Mansion is “Park”. That way the Georgia taxpayers get to pay for the upkeep of that beautiful property, NOT Emory. LOL! That’s fine with me. We get to enjoy the property previously owned by my great great uncle’s former business partner. My Daddy grew up in one of the original subdivisions. My grandfather taught a few courses at Emory.
Private Citizen
February 25th, 2013
1:58 pm
DeKalb is full of tough stylish producing businesses owned by immigrants. These are not your run of the mill peasants from these faraway lands, these are courageous and competent movers and shakers who come to the United States and navigate a bunch of laws and run producing value-based businesses and I see no evidence of their participation in the DeKalb school board anywhere.
Eugene Walker’s God, this God? (tsunami video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3AdFjklR50
Mountain Man
February 25th, 2013
2:05 pm
“He could keep Speaks and Walker and cut the rest. They represent the super districts so all voters would be covered. ”
Hey, alm, that might be a very good idea. Until the case is settled that is. As much as I want Walker gone, that just might get Dekalb by until the court dust settles.
RMK
February 25th, 2013
2:07 pm
First and foremost, a decision must be made to end the probabtion status placed by SACS. This is going to hurt Dekalb children tremendously if probation status is not reversed. If suspending or dismissing the board is the answer then that should be done. If there is another option that includes the board but meets the same end, then that should be on the table.
If probationary status turns into lost accredation for Dekalb County then it is a no brainer that those who can leave for other options probably will leave. Good teachers will soon follow. This leaves Dekalb in a worse mess. Dekalb children and parents who stay in the system will be negatively affected and those that leave will continue to see most of their property taxes devotes to a failing school system as they pay for private schooling.
So, IMO in short run the focus should not be on anything else but who can to the best job to get Dekalb County schools off of probation. Once this happens, longview discussions can be on the table to what Dekalb taxpayers want their system to be.
marm
February 25th, 2013
2:09 pm
@Mountain Man, that’s all well and good to say let it fail, but unless you’re willing to buy my house so I can move, because I can’t affort private, then it needs to be made to succeed. It’s unfortunate that the people who have the integrity and intellect to make changes won’t willingly get involved in politics.
alm
February 25th, 2013
2:09 pm
I don’t like Walker either but I couldn’t think of anything else.
Billy Ray
February 25th, 2013
2:14 pm
Exit? No, but join the push for Lakeside City? Yes.
Truth in Moderation
February 25th, 2013
2:14 pm
@chamblee dad
While this is more the norm for most home schoolers:
ht tp://w ww.youtube.com/watch?v=VM6uqj0_jQc
the cost savings for home schooling as opposed to tuition at a “tony” private school would certainly afford you and your children such mentioned luxuries. Lullwater Park is free.
bu2
February 25th, 2013
2:14 pm
@private
“Turth, Lullwater Park, that tangly mud hole? phew – enjoy your poison ivy.”
Definitely off topic, but its a good warning for Truth’s kids. The park on Lullwater Drive has poison ivy. Last time I was there I didn’t see any, but I felt the itch and fortunately washed as soon as I got home, so it wasn’t bad.
Private Citizen
February 25th, 2013
2:15 pm
Turth, oh good to see no “homeschooler’s cultural advantage” for you! PS that’s not a mansion, it’s a house. It’s not that big, but it’s heavily built. Those beasts on Briarcliff are “mansions.” One of them is preserved for cultural activities, the other one has fallen into disrepair, set to the side when they converted the property for psychiatric medical research (drilling holes in people’s heads and electro-shock and filming it in treatment theaters). That era, too, is gone. Who knows what they’re doing over there now. I think a couple of independent film makers have filmed scary bit parts in the old experimental treatment insane asylum.
________________________________
(secret post for truth pt. 1) Here’s a video on the place and there is a whole lot they are not telling you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB5QM2MxkGM
OriginalProf
February 25th, 2013
2:15 pm
@ Truth in Moderation, February 25th, 1:12 pm.
You say that there are drastic changes in “the home school law,” Section 23, and give legislative addresses to contact about this. What is the specific bill number? What are these major changes, summarized briefly?
Private Citizen
February 25th, 2013
2:15 pm
(secret post for truth pt. 2)
Somebody posted some photos of “the tunnels.” http://www.flickr.com/photos/judester/230742427/in/set-72157594262952659/
Bobby
February 25th, 2013
2:18 pm
Why don’t we simply put all of Dekalb County into individual cities. Then the residents of those cities can determine for themselves what direction they want to go in. I like the idea of Lakeside for my area both as a city and independent school district even if it means higher taxes. At least those taxes would be going for us and not the likes of Eugene Walker who is seeking to destroy public education for his own personal benefit.
Mountain Man
February 25th, 2013
2:20 pm
“@Mountain Man, that’s all well and good to say let it fail, but unless you’re willing to buy my house so I can move, because I can’t affort private, then it needs to be made to succeed. ”
Of course it needs to succeed, Marm, but the way to success is to get rid of the current Board. They are fighting that and so are a lot of posters here. YOU elected this Board – YOU need to be screaming at the top of your lungs to get rid of them. YOU could also form a state-chartered charter school (luckily, now).
Mountain Man
February 25th, 2013
2:21 pm
Something I don’t understand about Dekalb running that $14 million deficit. They do not have the power to borrow money, so when the money ran out of their reserves, what did they use to pay salaries and vendors? Someone got an answer?
MS GEORGIA
February 25th, 2013
2:22 pm
@marm, Why not!! The majority of this board of ED is less than 6 yrs old. Prove that nepotism and mismanagement of funds occurred under the direction of this board. SACS couldn’t. I suggest that critics get their facts straight before they form a lunch mob.
antonio
February 25th, 2013
2:25 pm
if deal replaces these people, he needs to replace them with african-americans, since most of the school system is african american. If not, he’ll get sued.
Private Citizen
February 25th, 2013
2:26 pm
truth, that Lullwater lake house thing is bigger than I recall. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im605MUvPI8 I like how they did the pavement there, flat, smooth, solid, and no curb.
Private Citizen
February 25th, 2013
2:29 pm
If the Emory president made a fire in one of the nine fire places, the lefties would probably come out yelling about the CO2 emissions.
BubblesB
February 25th, 2013
2:35 pm
Let them sue as long as they for it out of their own money. Unfortunately everything is politics and everyone is so afraid they won’t get re-elected that the kids come last.
Private Citizen
February 25th, 2013
2:39 pm
MS GEORGIA, But what do you have to say about them employing about 20 law firms? They’re paying $250./hr on up for people at law firm to make phone calls. IT is way way way off the charts for school system to do this and spend $50 million? doin’ it.
Pardon me, but this activity is about like the spaceship that parks itself over the city in the movie District 9. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHihFA8q8xI
Seriously, if you are going to defend this board, you need to include or provide some explanation of this activity. You seem pretty real, so how about if we keep it real? And you address the merit of the complaint?
big picture
February 25th, 2013
2:44 pm
is the press conference being televised?
Mountain Man
February 25th, 2013
2:44 pm
“Prove that nepotism and mismanagement of funds occurred under the direction of this board.”
How many budgets did they approve (last years?) They approved a deficit budget with known and pointed out underestimated costs – against Ga law. Walker is on this board and has several relatives working for DCSS – some who he asked to be considered.
Pardon My Blog
February 25th, 2013
2:48 pm
The State has the power to institue charter schools, what about Charter districts then and the tax money from that district stays in that district. We could have a Dunwoody district, Lakeside district, Druid Hills district, etc. The rest can keep their reps and run their own district!
Hamilton
February 25th, 2013
2:49 pm
It was televised and it’s done – the six will be suspended. Film at 4.
Pardon My Blog
February 25th, 2013
2:50 pm
WSB is reporting this:
“Gov. Nathan Deal says he will sign an executive order Monday to accept a state panel’s recommendation to suspend members of the DeKalb County School Board.”
Mountain Man
February 25th, 2013
2:51 pm
“It was televised and it’s done – the six will be suspended.”
Good Deal! Now the courts need to get off their duffs and rule that the law is NOT unconstitutional. Then we can get some REAL change started in Dekalb.
Chamblee Dad
February 25th, 2013
2:55 pm
@ Truth Please re-read my original post. I have no need for private school, I’m more than satisfied with the public schools in Chamblee – all could do better – I suspect your home school could too, nothing is perfect. My point is a wholesale abandoning of DCSS by many would hurt the kids that need the help of public education the most, and thus benefit our entire community. Private schools are not an option for many in the boat of my hypothetical 3rd grader, any more than homeschooling. No offense if it works for you. Many of these 99,000 we are talking about could not be homeschooled by their parents if they wanted to, and you know that. Do I need to lay out that hypothetical a few thousand times? We used to be good enough to provide that education in DeKalb, we should be able to again. I’m just saying I’m not jumping ship.
Mountain Man
February 25th, 2013
2:59 pm
“We used to be good enough to provide that education in DeKalb, we should be able to again. I’m just saying I’m not jumping ship.”
What if Dekalb schools lose accreditation, Chamblee Dad?
DeKalb Inside Out
February 25th, 2013
3:00 pm
Do the ends justify the means?
Deal blatantly broke the law that says he must remove all or none. OCGA § 20-2-73 says “[the suspension of the board] shall apply to all local board of education members, regardless of when they were elected or appointed.”
I like to think we are a nation of laws. If not, what are we?
MS GEORGIA
February 25th, 2013
3:02 pm
Mountain Man you should consider your sources before you make these kind of accusations about Mr. Walker. In terms of a deficit budget, is DCSS the only one? If that’s a criteria for investigation or mismanagement, consider the other school systems in GA.
As far as the law firms are considered, think about Crawford Lewis and what he has been charged with. He was very good at keeping you folk in north Dekalb pacified. Mr. Walker played a major role in making sure justice was served for all of Dekalb County and his God is our God.