Remember those pledges DeKalb board members made to resign? Why haven’t any of them done so yet?
The Concerned Citizens for a Unified DeKalb, a coalition of parent leaders from schools across the county, is calling for the six suspended DeKalb board members to throw in the towel and resign.
(For a good place to find an aggregation of all the news about the DeKalb school drama, go to the Parents for DeKalb Schools Facebook page.
The statement calls for the six to resign and drop the legal challenges. They lost a key legal battle yesterday in front of U.S. District Court Judge Richard Story, which ought to give them more impetus to get this drama over with and step down.
But they may be waiting for the state Supreme Court to take up their plight.
As the AJC reported: The judge’s decision does not end the litigation. Story indicated he was dubious about the likelihood that DeKalb would win under their U.S. Constitution argument, but he signaled that the Georgia Supreme Court could soon consider questions in the case. He asked the two sides to agree on which questions, and gave them 10 days to submit them. “The case as a whole is not going to dry up and blow away at this point, but it will be able to be studied under a less urgent situation, ” said Ronald Carlson, an emeritus law professor at the University of Georgia.
While board member Eugene Walker has made his desire known to continue the legal battle, most of his colleagues promised to step down at the 14-hour state Board of Education hearing if rulings went against them.
Why haven’t they done so? What is stopping them from turning in their resignations?
If they continue to procrastinate, they will lose whatever good will toward them remains in their communities. Many posters on this blog are fans of Nancy Jester and Pam Speaks, believing that the two are the most selfless DeKalb board members.
So, why haven’t they resigned?
Here is the statement from the Concerned Citizens for a Unified DeKalb:
We’re grateful that U.S. District Court Judge Richard Story gave swift and careful consideration to the case and chose not to leave conditions in a long state of uncertainty. Our group takes no position on the legal merits of the law of removal in question, nor of the federal court decision itself. However, we welcomed a fast decision.
The moral question remains. How can the suspended members of the DeKalb County Board of Education think they are serving the needs of the children of DeKalb while destroying the finances and reputation of the school system with continued legal warfare over their jobs?
The suspended board members should not continue to fight for board positions in the light of their failures with the school system, not with the continued threat of loss of accreditation should they prevail in their legal quest. As long as they’re waiting in the wings, they stain the credibility of the board moving forward. Our interest is in a functional board serving the interests of the children of DeKalb.
If the suspended board members have the true interests of the children of DeKalb County at heart, they’ll simply resign. It’s the right thing to do.
Similarly, we’re asking Gov. Nathan Deal and the Georgia legislature to call for special elections to replace interim appointed board members in a reasonable time frame, regardless of how the governor uses his appointment power to replace suspended board members. We believe this would show respect for the voting rights of DeKalb County citizens and acknowledge the extraordinary nature of the moment. It’s the right thing to do.
Concerned Citizens for a Unified DeKalb is a diverse group of concerned community members, representative of all school regions within DeKalb County, working to encourage people to communicate their opinions to the DeKalb Board of Education.
We believe these three things to be true:
The majority of DeKalb County parents perceive that the Board of Education has been dysfunctional and ineffective. It is in the best interests of all stakeholders that the six board members recommended for removal be replaced by the electorate.
The citizens of DeKalb are the ones who should decide who is on the board of education.
Money is being spent on litigation initiated by board members to save their jobs that could be spent on educating our children
Our mission is to unite DeKalb and move forward to ensure that every child in DeKalb is afforded the opportunity and access to a quality education. We are attempting to resolve the issue with the DeKalb BOE with as little collateral damage as possible.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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129 comments Add your comment
Dekalbite@Maureen
March 5th, 2013
11:17 am
I think you are missing part of their statement in paragraph 1.
Georgia
March 5th, 2013
11:22 am
Do human being have the “resign” gene? I don’t think so. The saints do, like the pope. Royalty does, like Edward VIII. and Beatles. the beatles resigned. But us average schmoe-hawks would never resign. (it’s all because of tom petty’s “i wont back down” song.)
Another gene we’ve lost is the “Shame” gene. Nobody feels constrained by shame anymore. ( nobody plays the song, “Harper Valley PTA” anymore. It’s become a good thing to be a Harper Valley hypocrite. Jeanie C Riley can go soak her head.)
concernedmom30329
March 5th, 2013
11:25 am
It is actually more complicated than just resigning. If some leave and some and the court rules in Walker’s favor, the remaining Board would replace those who are gone. The odds are far better that the Governor’s committee will pick better replacements than the Board.
Marney
March 5th, 2013
11:27 am
At this point, resignations would add to the confusion. They would amount to giving up the right to petition for reinstatement…which is one of the provisions that seeks to give INDIVIDUAL due process.
The board policy on resignations allows the rest of the board members to appoint a replacement(so much for the sanctity of the vote)…so for as long as the legal cloud exists, it would probably be better to see whether you like or could influence what the choice of the governor for your seat. Otherwise, you are throwing your vote to the “other side” of the riff…which would replace you with someone that would vote their way. I think that this has been the sticking point to this point for some.
There is also the matter of pay. I expect some of the board members need that $18K per year, so you will never see them resign. Also, if you resign, in effect you are giving up your legal claim on the office…so I would anticipate that the “principled” logical position of some of the board would be to keep the salary and put it toward legal expenses to continue the case.
Dekalbite
March 5th, 2013
11:33 am
If the Board had not voted in secret, we would see who voted for attorneys (and tax dollars) to fight this. It has been speculated that Jester and Speaks voted against funding the lawsuit while Orson and McMahan abstained. That would leave five voting in favor of funding the lawsuit including one recently elected member. Why can’t taxpayers see the vote that committed so many of our educational dollars to attorneys instead of students? The vote was taken in secret? What is the legal rationale for that? Can this information be uncovered with an Open Records request? DeKalb taxpayers deserve to see the results of this “secret” vote.
Chamblee Dad
March 5th, 2013
11:35 am
@concerned At least for now I think that’s what’s going on: a classic “prisoner’s dilemma.”
“You hang up first” “No, you hang up first.” “OK . . . on count of 3 let’s hang up together – 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . ” . . . silence. “Hey you’re still there . . . so are you!”
Maureen Downey
March 5th, 2013
11:37 am
@DeKalb, Thanks. The blog tool has a weird quirk where it jumps down and deletes text when I am writing the headline.
Maureen
bu2
March 5th, 2013
11:40 am
What I’ve read is that if they resign, the remaining board appoints the replacements. In that case, a special election would not be in accordance with the law. Its understandable that some would not resign in that case, without others also resigning.
Are they negotiating for input into their replacements? Other than Walker, the other 5 have been awfully silent. What’s up with that, Nancy?
The other 5 should put pressure on Walker by announcing they are not a party to the lawsuit and will not contest their removal or ask for reinstatement. That will serve the same purpose without the complications of officially resigning.
Anonymous in DeKalb
March 5th, 2013
11:40 am
Because in too many urban zip codes governance resembles that in third world tribal societies?
Maureen Downey
March 5th, 2013
11:42 am
@Marney, I understand that the possibility of certain scenarios, however slim, might motivate a board member to stay but believe that the price would be public confidence and good will. I think that DeKalb citizens are ready for a new slate.
Maureen
Chamblee Dad
March 5th, 2013
11:45 am
Walker in particular is channeling Monty Python’s Holy Grail “I’m not dead yet . . . I’m getting better.” Followed by being put out of his misery. We can only hope.
Also: Black Knight after he’s had 3 of his 4 limbs severed & hopping on 1 leg: “It’s merely a flesh wound.” Followed by his remaining leg being cut off. Come-back “I’ll bite your legs off.” Of course finally left there to die – no need for further argument. Again, we can only hope.
RexDogma
March 5th, 2013
11:54 am
I agree. They should just step down & have new elections. I hope Gov deal just does not appoint his cronies. Tell folks in Dunwoody that living in S. DeKalb is no joy where property values are really down. Also there is a jail near McNair High School. Let’s see how a jail would be in Dunwoody!
spaceman109
March 5th, 2013
11:58 am
maureen….correct me if i am wrong, but my reading of judge story’s decision is that the dekalb school system does not have standing in this suit, but eugene walker does.
would not logic thus dictate that should dr. walker want to pursue further legal action, the school system would not have to pay for it since the court has said they do not have standing?
Centrist
March 5th, 2013
12:03 pm
Sometimes I agree with Ms. Downey – like this blog.
We know the reasons why they won’t resign, and most of them are greedy chutzpah.
Rick
March 5th, 2013
12:03 pm
If Walker wins in court, then Walker and the Board fill any positions vacated by a resignation. That is why Jester and Speaks have not resigned.
http://dunwoodytalk.blogspot.com/2013/03/why-jester-and-speaks-have-not-resigned.html
George
March 5th, 2013
12:05 pm
We need a new start please a new dam start teacher moral is at a all time low no raises in 6 years change ,change,change please go Walker and take the rest with you.
DecaturMom
March 5th, 2013
12:08 pm
It’s about time Dekalb County got off the front page of the AJC for having idiots at the helm, whether the school board or county officials. I can’t remember the last time there wasn’t some headline on the front page pointing out how idiotic, self-serving and dishonest our elected officials were.
Wondering
March 5th, 2013
12:13 pm
I have to believe that Judge Story’s ruling was anticipated by all. The legal point being tried is based on the Georgia constitution and Story has not ruled on that point. There is value to knowing if the Georgia law is constitutional. Story is pushing that process about as quickly as we can hope for.
Most people appear to believe the law will fall. If it does, what happens next? It would appear those suing would still be on the Board, and we are back to square one with SACS threatening the board. Would DeKalb sue SACS?
As for the question of who pays. Walker is claiming that the school system should pay for his legal fees as he is suing as a board member wrongly removed from office. If he is correct on the legal issue, then who should pay?
Sally
March 5th, 2013
12:20 pm
If the law says the governor can fire them and a federal court judge says he will allow it, why have they not been escorted out of the building?
Sally
March 5th, 2013
12:22 pm
BTW, I have no good will for any of them any more. When they filed this lawsuit, that was gone. Since that decision was held in privacy we don’t know who all voted to spend our tax dollars on that. So, I can only assume they all did. Even the new ones who aren’t being fired. Kind of makes me want them gone too.
JD in Tucker
March 5th, 2013
12:22 pm
Anybody with half a brain can determine that the six board members need to step down for the sake of the students, SACS, and the County. Those who don’t step down are essentially revealing their own priority, ie., me, myself and I. It’s really that simple.
Sher
March 5th, 2013
12:23 pm
What is lost in all this is the improvements the board need to make to keep accreditation of Dekalb County. How does this fighting look to SACS? Have the board forgotten the reason they are here? My concerns lie with the accreditation of the school district. I believe with all the fighting Dekalb County will lose their accreditation. What will the suspended board member do then?
Concerned DeKalb Mom
March 5th, 2013
12:25 pm
I would like for someone to answer Sally’s question…there is no injunction barring their dismissal, so WHY aren’t they dismissed???
Concerned DeKalb Mom
March 5th, 2013
12:29 pm
Dear Board Members–
Would one of you–ANY of you–please explain how your continued presence on the board will help the county retain accreditation? Or how the litigation is, in any way, helpful for the students of DeKalb? I’d like to hear the reasoning.
Maureen Downey
March 5th, 2013
12:34 pm
@concerned, They are now suspended with little to no chance of reinstatement by the governor, which is why the governor’s commission will start interviews early next week to find replacements.
But, at the same time that Judge Story allowed the process to commence, he also noted that the Supreme Court could rule in favor of the six and reinstate them. He expressed his own doubts that the court would do so, but is going to submit the issue of the state law to the court.
However, if they all resign in the meantime, I think that would end the legal process
Here is what school board member Marshall Orson posted yesterday:
Maureen
dekalbite
March 5th, 2013
12:35 pm
It makes sense that Pam Speaks and Nancy Jester may have voted against funding the lawsuit (with Orson and McMahan abstaining) hoping to cut the funding off so that Walker and Co. would not have the money to pursue it. However, if newly elected Board Chair Melvin Johnson voted to keep fighting for Walker and the rest of the board, then he would be the deciding vote.
If there was no taxpayer dollars for the lawsuit, then it would be difficult for the lawsuit to move forward.
This vote should not have been done in secret. Taxpayers deserve to know what members of the BOE (old or new) voted FOR tax dollars to go for this lawsuit. If they weren’t worried what taxpayers would think they would not be hiding their votes.
O'Hara
March 5th, 2013
12:38 pm
Maureen, you don’t need to put your name at the end of your comments. We can see that they’re from you. Thanks.
O’Hara
fedup
March 5th, 2013
12:38 pm
Reminds me of a bunch of hogs at the (empty) feeding trough, refusing to leave in hopes that some more slop will be coming their way soon. Soooooooeeeeeeee
catlady
March 5th, 2013
12:40 pm
The new law did not provide for a special election, which costs significant money.
Yea RIGHT!
March 5th, 2013
12:40 pm
They also promised to do a good job, work hard for the children of DeKalb County, provide insightful thinking, and a host of other things I could go on and on about! How did that work out?
Maureen Downey
March 5th, 2013
12:41 pm
@O’Hara, Has to do with remote users. Also why we put our names at ends of actual entries even though there is a big banner headline above the blog.
Maureen
Maureen Downey
March 5th, 2013
12:44 pm
@To all, This are questions I put to Marshall Orson just now:
Me: Why is DeKalb still paying {attorney} Wilson? What are the terms of that agreement for the citizens to pay for the legal challenge? Since the six now are no longer members of the board after Story’s ruling, are taxpayers still on the hook?
His reply: We cannot do anything until we have a quorum.
Maureen
Disgusted in Dekalb
March 5th, 2013
12:50 pm
Maureen, are they “dismissed” or suspended? And are they allowed to petition the governor for reinstatement in 30 days in either case or just in the case of suspension? I am confused.
Disgusted in Dekalb
March 5th, 2013
12:53 pm
Why does Orson need a quorum in order to answer Maureen’s questions?
Maureen Downey
March 5th, 2013
12:56 pm
@Disgusted, The law describes their condition as suspended with pay. It becomes “permanent removal” after the governor hears their appeal, if they make one, and reinstates them. I think there is zero chance that the governor will reinstate any of these board members.I am not sure why any of them would seek reinstatement as Deal would never put them back on the board.
But technically they are now suspended.
Here is the actual law:
Notwithstanding Code Section 20-2-54.1 or any other provisions of law to the contrary, if a local school system or school is placed on the level of accreditation immediately preceding loss of accreditation for school board governance related reasons by one or more accrediting agencies included in subparagraph (6.1)(A) of Code Section 20-3-519, the State Board of Education shall conduct a hearing in not less than ten days nor more than 30 days and recommend to the Governor whether to suspend all eligible members of the local board of education with pay. If the State Board of Education makes such recommendation, the Governor may, in his or her discretion, suspend all eligible members of the local board of education with pay and, in consultation with the State Board of Education, appoint temporary replacement members who shall be otherwise qualified to serve as members of such board.
(b) Any local board of education member suspended under this Code section may petition the Governor for reinstatement no earlier than 30 days following suspension and no later than 60 days following suspension. In the event that a suspended member does not petition for reinstatement within the allotted time period, his or her suspension shall be converted into permanent removal, and the temporary replacement member shall become a permanent member and serve out the remainder of the term of the removed member.
(c) Upon petition for reinstatement by a suspended local board of education member, the Governor or his or her designated agent shall conduct a hearing for the purpose of receiving evidence relative to whether the local board of education member’s continued service on the local board of education is more likely than not to improve the ability of the local school system or school to retain its accreditation. The appealing member shall be given at least 30 days’ notice prior to such hearing. Such hearing shall be held not later than 90 days after the petition is filed and in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the “Georgia Administrative Procedure Act,” except that the individual conducting the hearing shall have the power to call witnesses and request documents on his or her own initiative. For purposes of said chapter and any hearing conducted pursuant to this Code section, the Governor shall be considered the “agency” and the Attorney General or his or her designee shall represent the interests of the Governor in the hearing. If it is determined that it is more likely than not that the local board of education member’s continued service on the local board of education improves the ability of the local school system or school to retain its accreditation, the member shall be immediately reinstated; otherwise, the member shall be permanently removed, and the temporary replacement member shall become a permanent member and serve out the remainder of the term of the removed member or until the next general election which is at least six months after the member was permanently removed, whichever is sooner. Judicial review of any such decision shall be in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50.
TM
March 5th, 2013
1:09 pm
As twisted as this may sound to some here, given the dollars already spent, the rulings thus far, and the inaction on the Sumter County case, in might be more cost effective on a state level for the Georgia School Boards Association and/or other interest group to fund this last leg of litigation to put this to rest. Otherwise, this and the associated expense could restart with another board in the future.
While there is pending legislation to prevent school boards spending funds for future cases (assuming it passes), where is the line between board litigation to protect groups of board members vs litigation to protect the integrity of the board as an integral part of a system?
dekalbite@Maureen
March 5th, 2013
1:09 pm
“What are the terms of that agreement for the citizens to pay for the legal challenge? ”
The vote was done in secret (closed session) so it must not be the taxpayers right to know the terms of the agreement or who voted for it.
Dunwoody Mom
March 5th, 2013
1:12 pm
Why does Orson need a quorum to answer if DCSS is still paying Wilson?
Cautiously Optimistic
March 5th, 2013
1:15 pm
@Disgusted,
The new board will have to vote to cease the agreement/payments to the attorney. They cannot vote on anything without a quorum.
Maureen Downey
March 5th, 2013
1:30 pm
@Dunwoody, I think he meant they were still paying, but could not do anything about that until they have a quorum.
Maureen
dekalbite@Cautiously Optimistic
March 5th, 2013
1:34 pm
But one of Maureen’s questions was regarding the terms of the agreement?
Why shouldn’t we know how much tax dollars they committed and for how long? Why are the terms of the agreement a confidential?
Why are the names of the members (5 of them at least voted for it) confidential when they are voting on the expenditure of tax dollars?
bigbill
March 5th, 2013
1:38 pm
I am trying to determine who founded and who is behind Parents for DeKalb Schools. Does anyone have this information? I did not see names of founders and/or members and/or sources of funding anywhere in the info posted on their Facebook materials when I clicked on their name above in Maureen’s article.
curious
March 5th, 2013
1:47 pm
The letter contract between Wilson, Morton and Downs and the DeKalb County School System is not confidential. It was posted on DeKalb School Watch Two shortly after it was entered. If I recall correctly, no specific monetary amount was negotiated. Instead, the school system agreed to pay the firm at an hourly rate for its work. I believe it was $250 per hour for attorney work and something over $100 per hour for paralegal work.
Aquagirl
March 5th, 2013
1:50 pm
I am trying to determine who founded and who is behind Parents for DeKalb Schools. Does anyone have this information?
There’s no list of founders or funding, but there is a list of supporters willing to have their names listed on the website.
http://www.parentsfordekalbschools.com/about.html
Jimmie
March 5th, 2013
1:52 pm
bigbill, Gil Hearn of Dunwoody is the person Tweeting under the name ParentsForDeKalbSchools. It is a group of one person, but he has Twitter followers and people go to his facebook page. There is no money and no legal entity, just a guy Tweeting using that name. Hope that helps.
curious
March 5th, 2013
1:52 pm
Just looked at DSW2. They write, “Although the official vote at the Board ‘meeting’ where the contract with Wilson, Morton & Downs was approved, had a $50,000 per month budget, the actual contract only states hourly rates – there is NO CAP.” The entry then includes a link to the contract. You can find this in the February 23 entry entitled, “The drama continues… DeKalb Board files a request for an emergency injunction”
Drudge
March 5th, 2013
1:57 pm
Well this is the same thing you see time and time again in my native Chicago – they were elected, it’s THEIRS. A license to demonstrate total disregard for their duty or their constituents. It’s really sad.
If they would have cared HALF as much about your children as they do about their pension/benefits, we wouldn’t be 26th in the world in education.
Dunwoody Mom
March 5th, 2013
1:58 pm
Here is the “contract” with Wilson to represent the BOE at the SBOE hearing. Wasn’t there another contract with Wilson’s law firm?
https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/Attachment.aspx?S=4054&AID=426805&MID=29682
CPA
March 5th, 2013
1:58 pm
There are so many people making $9 per hour for a full time job ($18 thousand per year). Seriously, these Board members should just shut up and go home. They did not take care of business. It is obvious that they don’t care about the kids
catlady
March 5th, 2013
1:59 pm
If they are no longer board members, there is no need for a quorum to vote on stopping payment to the attorney, as they are no longer board members. You would not need a quorum, for instance, to decide not to pay my legal fees, AS I AM NOT A BOARD MEMBER!
curious
March 5th, 2013
2:00 pm
Dunwoody Mom, I think that’s the only contract. It covers “The State Board of Education Hearing(s) and/or Related Proceedings.” I think the quagmire in which we find ourselves is a “related proceeding,” at least in the mind of Dr. Walker and Mr. Wilson.
catlady
March 5th, 2013
2:00 pm
They cannot continue to pay the legal fees of persons who are not board members! No “quorum” needed!
Dave
March 5th, 2013
2:04 pm
I doubt Coplin-Woods could compose the resignation letter….I mean how hard is it to get a degree from MBC…and people wonder why Dekalb Schools are on the brink…..YIKES!!!!!!!!
Dunwoody Mom
March 5th, 2013
2:04 pm
@curious…yes, “related proceeding” most likely means until Eugene Walker decides he is through fighting his suspension or the money is cutoff.
Private Citizen
March 5th, 2013
2:06 pm
How is it that salaries for DeKalb schools management, for example their on-salary legal counsel, exceed the salaries of the same folk at the state level? And for example, “In 2010, the governor received a salary of 139,339″ yet the recent DeKalb interim superintendent is paid $275,000 + expense money + car money? That’s double the rate of pay of the governor, the highest public official in the state.
U. S. Vice President Joe Biden’s salary is $230,700. Maybe it is time for the “Salary Reform Act” for Georgia government school districts.
Private Citizen
March 5th, 2013
2:19 pm
If you look at the salaries, it is not a surprise that there are those in the county school management who view themselves as superior to the governor or any other public office or officials because they’re paid more than the state and federal officials.
The current pay level for a Federal GS 15 Grade 10 in Atlanta (this would be pay rate for the Director of the FBI) is $154,501. http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2012/general-schedule/atl.pdf
Private Citizen
March 5th, 2013
2:28 pm
“The current salary (2013) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year.”
How did this thing occur where school superintendents in Georgia are being paid more than U.S. senators and agency heads? It’s not just in DeKalb county, this is going on across the state.
2011 “APS board agrees to pay Davis $240,000 salary” + $27k in benefits.
Erroll Davis is being paid more than the governor, the U. S. Vice President, a U. S. senator, or the Director of the FBI receive.
Milton1960
March 5th, 2013
2:30 pm
Re Walker and cohorts, bad press is much better than no press at all.
Chamblee Dad
March 5th, 2013
2:46 pm
@catlady That’s the problem: we’ve only got 3 sitting board members, we need the other 6 placed on the board to vote on anything, like stopping the legal fees. or at least 2 of those 6. That’s an unavoidable consequence of not removing all 9, now you have 3 that can’t do anything until they are joined by the old board or their appointed replacements. Of course if all 9 were removed, you couldn’t do anything until the new replacement board is seated. This transition, regardless of how it happens, will take some time – creating a dead zone where 100% nothing gets done by the board. Other than making headlines, and stupid public statements. Now, I think, but could be wrong, that if at least 2 of the old 6 resigned replacements could be named & a quorum seated. All this is uncharted territory, so anyone out there please correct me on any part of this. I’m sure I’m wrong on at least some.
catlady
March 5th, 2013
2:50 pm
Chamblee Dad: It seems to me there would be NO vote needed. The six that have been suspended no longer act in capacity of the board, so they are not ELIGIBLE to have their fees paid, any more than I am eligible. I am not acting in any capacity of the board, and now, neither are they!
Chamblee Dad
March 5th, 2013
2:50 pm
actually catlady I just re-read you post & I like your idea. If I read it right, you are saying the vote was to pay legal fes of the board, but as the headline reads they are now “former” board members. If I’m in accounts payable, I holding that invoice until someone makes me pay it. And by someone, unless it’s Thurmond I’m not doing it. If he did that I think we’d have our answer on his allegiance.
I like your idea – alot.
Chamblee Dad
March 5th, 2013
2:51 pm
Crossed in cyberspace!
catlady
March 5th, 2013
2:52 pm
Great minds, etc, etc.
Chamblee Dad
March 5th, 2013
2:52 pm
And seriously, I think it might work, at least for now.
Sickening
March 5th, 2013
2:55 pm
Can the citizens vote on a referendum removing the ability of elected officials and their administration cronies to use public funding to protect their jobs?
How did they gain this ability in the first place?
Chamblee Dad
March 5th, 2013
2:55 pm
Now as far as these 3 doing anything else, I think it’s clear they can’t. But exactly how they could be made a part of a body that can vote on something, I welcome input/correction on my 2:46 post, please fire away.
catlady
March 5th, 2013
2:58 pm
(I also don’t think there is any way the legal bills of C Lewis should be paid, as you are covered in your capacity to perform LEGAL duties, not illegal ones. I was told in the law class that if you were acting within your legal, assigned duties, you would be supported legally, BUT NOT IF YOU WERE ACTING ILLEGALLY!)
DeKalb Inside Out
March 5th, 2013
3:07 pm
Why don’t Nancy and Pam resign … what an asinine question.
Nancy and Pam said they would resign if the others resigned, otherwise it serves no purpose.
This poll by the Hicks Evaluation Group
http://www.hegllc.org/HEG/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DeKalb-School-Board_021913-Results2.pdf
shows that Jester and Johnson are tied for the person the citizens least want to go.
Jester received a standing ovation at a public forum for Dunwoody residents over the weekend. 450+ parents and taxpayers thanked her.
http://dunwoodytalk.blogspot.com/2013/03/parent-meeting-in-dekalb.html
Resign by themselves … what an ignorant question!
Real life
March 5th, 2013
3:09 pm
Many local politicians jealously guard their fiefdom and lose sight of the fact they are working for the common good and not to further their personal agenda. The declining test scores, the brain drain of good teachers leaving for other schools sytems, the accreditation probation and other major problems show that school officials–both elected and hired—are not student focused. And they should be gone. Race is not the issue here as much as some people think it is. Competance is the issue and there is a great lack of it on this school board. But the suspended members do not seem to have the guts to do the right thing and resign.
Mary Elizabeth
March 5th, 2013
3:10 pm
In my opinion, the educational problems in DeKalb County are beyond simply the particular membership composition of the DeKalb County Board of Education. The source of the educational problems within DeKalb County is beyond the schools, themselves, and resides within the greater community of DeKalb County. That analysis is not meant to suggest that the DeKalb County populace should solve their own problems, exclusively, by themselves. They must help to solve their own problems, of course, but, in addition, those outside of DeKalb County’s direct jurisdiction, i.e. SACS, the State Board of Education, Governor Deal and his adminstration, Georgia’s legislators, the state and federal judges, and even Georgia’s population as a whole, can help to solve educational problems in DeKalb County – and in other school districts throughout the state that have similar educational problems as those in DeKalb County – by raising their consciousness to recognize that the essential source of the educational problems in DeKalb County are historical and societal in nature, even more than educational. Georgia’s political representatives, including Georgia’s legislators, need to address these societal needs in DeKalb County as much as they attempt to address DeKalb County’s educational needs, if they wish to insure long-ranged educational success there, and also if they wish to insure the long-ranged education success in other parts of the state which have educational problems similar to those in DeKalb County.
I had originally posted the following remarks under the thread on this blog entitled, “DeKalb school board mess: Are we focusing on symptoms rather than the real problem?”; however, I did not provide a sufficient enough introduction, as I have now provided, for some readers to understand the correlation I was trying to make between educational excellence and societal intervention. Below is a part of my original post, regarding the societal needs in DeKalb County which I believe will help to improve the educational level in DeKalb County, over and beyond the particular membership composition of the DeKalb County Board of Education – present and future. As citizens, we must not fail to see “the forest because we are focused too much on the trees.”
——————————————————————————————
“There is a direct causal relationship between poverty and lack of educational excellence. (See link, below.) Our nation and state must become, again – as was true a half century ago – more fervently dedicated to helping those in poverty pull themselves out of its web of destruction. Slavery’s and Jim Crow’s existence still have their impact today in having created pockets of poverty throughout our nation. Instead of blaming the victims of poverty and not facing the truth of historical realities, we must, instead, work to help the impoverished see a way out of their generational plight.
Furthermore, we must not delude ourselves into thinking that if some students can leave poor neighborhood school situations for public charter schools, or for private schools, that their less fortunate peers will not remain in their impoverished communities and community schools. These left-behind students will continue to attend the traditional public schools in their poorer communities. We must lift those poor communities and those poorly functioning traditional public schools from the failing situations in which they presently find themselves, for the benefit of ALL of the students. We must stop undercutting the funding of traditional public schools throughout Georgia, and we must develop more state-originated programs that will directly address the societal needs, including poverty, itself, within all of Georgia’s failing school districts, including the societal needs within DeKalb County.
Thomas Jefferson was a strong advocate for the public education of all Americans because he believed that public education (paid for by public taxes) would help to create a more equitable society in which the masses, as a whole, would all be elevated educationally and, as a result, democracy, itself, would more likely be sustained because an overall educated populace would reject any tyranny attempted over itself.”
Link to a study which provides the causal effects of poverty on the lack of educational excellence: http://www.nber.org/papers/w14599.pdf
TM
March 5th, 2013
3:14 pm
According to the language, the “letter of understanding and agreement” is between “Wilson, Morton and Downs and the DeKalb County School District” (not individual members of the board), with Walker excecuting on behalf of the Board as its Chairman. Additionally, the Letter is in regards (Re:) to “State Board of Education Hearing(s) and/or related proceedings or action. Unless the actual contract language is significantly different or has a fairly liberal termination claus, there could be a penalty for termination. On the basis of pure $s and cents, the projected cost to continue to the Supreme Court should weighrd against the cost to terminate.
bigbill
March 5th, 2013
3:23 pm
I urge Board Member Eugene Walker to continue his legal battle against his removal under this extremely questionable process for removal which, despite the Judge Story’s initial ruling, still raises very serious constitutional issues for me as to whether Board Member Walker was provided sufficient due process rights under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the US Constitution. The Judge’s ruling was not dispositive of this case. He only ruled on the likelihood of Plaintiff Walker’s success on his claims in the litigation in connection with ruling on the narrow issue of whether an injunction petition should be granted. For one thing, on that issue the Judge ruled that the AdvancED Report of the Special Review Team for the DeKalb County School District issued in October, 2012 provided Eugene Walker with sufficient notice of the charges against him which would allow him to mount an effective defense at any subsequent hearing on the matter. I have read that report and believe it fails utterly as a due process notice. Just read it. It completely fails to provide Mr. Walker with sufficient notice of what the standards are (the standards are the very definition of “vague”), how he, Mr. Walker, violated each standard, information about whom specifically made the charges against him or had the information and details about the charges,the specific facts and circumstances in each instance which support a conclusion that Mr. Walker violated a particular standard, etc. etc. It’s just not there in that report.The report sets out one conclusion after another without buttressing each conclusion with supporting facts and details to justify the conclusion. It give examples only and these examples are also conclusory and may not even apply to anything Mr. Walker himself did as an individual since a great part of the report speaks about the board as a whole. When it come to providing sources for Mr. Walker’s alleged wrongdoing the report merely refers to “individuals” who provided “information,” without naming them.This is hearsay evidence. Read it yourself. I think the report too vague and over-broad. It is constitutionally insufficient to be deemed as providing any sort of fair due process. The State of Georgia seeks to remove Mr. Walker from a public office to which he was duly elected by the voters of DeKalb County. To satisfy due process requirements the charges must be absolutely clear, should include what Mr. Walker did or did not do in great and specific detail, should state the time, place, and date of the alleged wrongdoing, should provide the names of persons who made allegations about Mr. Walker so that he would have the opportunity to investigate and properly respond to the specific individual’s charges, and so on. That hasn’t happened here.
Sorry folks, I do not believe Mr. Walker individually was provided with proper notice of the grounds for his removal and, if an appellate court reviews this matter, I certainly believe that there are grounds for a reversal on this issue if it is finally decided by the Judge in this case against Mr. Walker.
And there are many other issues here which raise serious questions regarding the constitutionality and legality of Mr. Walker’s removal from office. Think about the precedent being established here which goes way beyond the question of whether Mr. Walker has done anything provable which would justify his removal from office: a private, non-prfit corporation makes broad accusations relying on hearsay from unidentified sources against a duly elected public official – school board member – which triggers a state law authorizing the governor to remove him from office? This is wrong. This is bad public policy. Not only that, this recent flurry of school board members removals , in my opinion, is being undertaken to further the interests of the extreme right-wing conservative “school choice” and “school activist” proponents who are working to privatize the traditional public school systems in America for profit and free market ideological reasons. It is also an anti-democratic process. If citizens are dissatisfied with a school board member’s performance in office, the correct way to remove him/her is to vote them out of office in the next election or under a voter recall statute or for being criminally convicted of a serious felony. This method being use here is questionable indeed. If you disagree, then I would suggest taking a hard look at which individuals the governor appoints to replace any DCSS board members who are replaced. I predict that they will be “school choice” advocates who seek to privatize public school education. They will push for more and more charter schools which deprive the public schools of desperately needed taxpayer funds and divert those funds into private for-profit hands.
Mrluthor
March 5th, 2013
3:31 pm
Wait, wait, wait, hold on! There obviously isn’t ANY problems with the Dekalb School System!! President Obama pretty much told me so when he recently visited the College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center…. in DEKALB COUNTY!! Now, he wouldn’t visit a school in a school system that is run by a school board that is threatened by a possiblity of losing its accrediation, would he??!!
BT
March 5th, 2013
3:33 pm
It has been said before, if nobody wants them to stay, why do they think they have the right to stay? If I am not wanted, I am moving on!!! Obviously their “reputations” are more important than the students of the DCSS!!!
Maureen Downey
March 5th, 2013
3:33 pm
@Mrluthor, President Obama did not visit a DeKalb school. He visited a school that is part of the much smaller city of Decatur system, unconnected in any way to DeKalb or the school board there.
Maureen
bootney farnsworth
March 5th, 2013
3:33 pm
nobody ever keeps that threat/promise. I’m still waiting for Barbra Streisand to move to europe like she promised if Bush 43 got elected.
Dianna
March 5th, 2013
3:34 pm
The board members are so self-centered…they have no idea how to put the needs of the children of DeKalb County first.
bootney farnsworth
March 5th, 2013
3:36 pm
Thomas Jefferson also kept slaves and altered the declaration to exclude slaves and freed blacks.
enough with the Maoist TJ lovefest already,
bootney farnsworth
March 5th, 2013
3:37 pm
@ dianna
they don’t WANT to put the kids first. big difference
bootney farnsworth
March 5th, 2013
3:45 pm
if the gang of six won’t go away, and find a way to keep getting the taxpayers to pay for this – can the citizens of Dekalb sue them for reperations and damages?
TM
March 5th, 2013
3:50 pm
@ bootney farnsworth
(my opinion)
Not as individuals, because they executed the agreement as the governing body of DCSD, you’d have to sue the district. Of course, requiring the new board to hire a legal team to defend itself.
Concerned DeKalb Mom
March 5th, 2013
4:18 pm
@Dekalb Inside Out…not everyone gave NJ a standing ovation.
Tom
March 5th, 2013
4:41 pm
They’re waiting for everybody who promised to “Go Galt” to do so.
Chamblee Dad
March 5th, 2013
4:43 pm
@Dekalb Inside Out Near the beginning of this thread I commented that there is no real reason to expect them to resign unless they all did – classic prisoner’s dilemma. But I think it’s a valid question in this sense:
#1 Some people actually do the right thing for the greater good, Jester in particular, could hold a press conference & outline why she is doing it, under her own terms, a chance to perhaps not leave in disgrace – much like her comments to the GA BOE. And if 1 or 2 did, call for the others to join them, perhaps some would (not talking Walker). Probably 99.9% unlikely, I wouldn’t expect it (I’m not that asinine), but if not, it leads to #2
#2 It would be an opportunity to lead by example, show dignity & signify concern for the children. Such a gesture, esp. by Jester, who maintains so much goodwill, could serve her well in the future. Perhaps she ends up running the new Dunwoody school system, if it ever comes into being. I did see she supported it the other evening as well.
#3 And finally if you want to consider straight up strategy for selfish purposes, unlike some that apparently really need the paycheck (SCW & Cunningham), what purpose would be served if Jester stays on because all 6 do – they win & are reinstated. If she would want to serve on THAT board, then she’s not as smart as I think she is. On what planet would she ever get anything accomplished under that scenario? If she wants to serve the students of DeKalb, try another path, doing that would accomplish nothing.
So asinine & ignorant question – I don’t think so.
VIETNAMVIET
March 5th, 2013
4:45 pm
They should not resign. Let tehm. if they wish, appeal all the way to the Supreme Court. If the law is just, it will stand the test.
paulo977
March 5th, 2013
4:54 pm
big bill…”The State of Georgia seeks to remove Mr. Walker from a public office to which he was duly elected by the voters of DeKalb County”
_______________________________________________________
This of course isTHE CENTRAL poiit …..Or are we going to revert back to the days when only some people were empowered to vote?
Mary Elizabeth
March 5th, 2013
5:04 pm
@ bootney farnsworth, 3:36 p.m.
If all you gathered from my 3:10 p.m. post were my few closing remarks regarding the vision of Thomas Jefferson, then you have missed the essential point of my post.
Moreover, you are incorrect to imply that Jefferson, himself, chose to “alter(ed) the declaration to exclude slaves and freed blacks.” Please see, below, the paragraph that Jefferson had actually written to be included in the “Declaration of Independence” which he was “Declaration of Independence” if Jefferson did not delete his paragraph condemning slavery. Jefferson only deleted that paragraph, at their insistence, so that the “Declaration of Independence” would have unanimous support from all of the colonies. See facts below:
==============================================
From Mr. Jefferson’s Original Draft of the Declaration of Independence.
“He (King George III) has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating it most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him; captivating and carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere, or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither. This piratical warfare, the opprobrium of Infidel Powers, is the warfare of the Christian King of Great Britain. Determined to keep open a market where men should be bought and sold, he has prostituted his negative for suppressing every legislative attempt to prohibit or restrain this execrable commerce.”
From Mr. Jefferson’s “Minutes of Debates in 1776, on the Declaration of Independence,” published with the Madison Papers:
“The clause, too, (above) reprobating the enslaving of the inhabitants of Africa was struck out, in compliance to South Carolina and Georgia, who had never attempted to restrain the importation of slaves, and who, on the contrary, still wished to continue it. Our northern brethren, also, I believe, felt a little tender under those censures; for, though their people have very few slaves themselves, yet they had been pretty considerable carriers of them to others.“
===================================================
For those readers who wish to expand their understanding of Jefferson’s mind and vision for our nation, I urge you to see the Exhibit on Jefferson and His Slaves at the Atlanta History Center, now through early July. I have seen it and it is very well done. The Exhibit presents Jefferson with nuch depth of understanding, giving facts without prejudice.
.
★
This entry was posted in Historical Evolution, The U.S. Constitution, Thomas Jefferson. Bookmark the permalink. Edit
Chamblee Dad
March 5th, 2013
5:09 pm
@ Mary Elizabeth All I took from Bootney’s comment was that he was the only one here to read the whole thing, you should be flattered.
Chamblee Dad
March 5th, 2013
5:12 pm
@paulo977 same goes to you & Bigbill. You get a gold star for reading thru that.
Private Citizen
March 5th, 2013
5:13 pm
I don’t the get the part about “school boards” being the icon of democracy. I wish they would do away with all of them. I’m serious. They cause more trouble than they do good. If you have a mind for the cogs of society, of government services, “school board” is no different than the trash collection or hospital authority (which is missing from the U. S. system) of the dog catcher. I think it an abberation to lionise this local “school board” as icon of democracy. What is the world does a “school board” possibly do that “affects democracy?” Really, one of you school board zealots, please explain to me the political levers that a school board pulls and how these affect greater society.
Private Citizen
March 5th, 2013
5:19 pm
The one verifiable thing that I can see that a “school board” has done in Georgia is create an absurd pay-rate structure for it’s adherents, management workers, that is well outside of the norms of what top level state and federal public servants are paid. It’s obscene and preposterous.
I am genuinely puzzled how the local people accept this and do not see it as inappropriate and using their money excessively and creating a culture to attract people to these salaries like they’ve won the lottery, in place of doing public service. Is that it, is like you neighbor winning the lottery, so that makes you feel like somebody, and feel fulfilled? Is it fulfilment by association by a public who does not even know the state and federal government exists with state and federal rates of pay?
Mary Elizabeth
March 5th, 2013
5:19 pm
CORRECTION:
WRONG, as I posted at 5:04 pm: “Moreover, you are incorrect to imply that Jefferson, himself, chose to ‘alter(ed) the declaration to exclude slaves and freed blacks.’ Please see, below, the paragraph that Jefferson had actually written to be included in the “Declaration of Independence” which he was “Declaration of Independence” if Jefferson did not delete his paragraph condemning slavery.”
CORRECTED: “Moreover, you are incorrect to imply that Jefferson, himself, chose to ‘alter(ed) the declaration to exclude slaves and freed blacks.’ Please see, below, the paragraph, condemning slavery, that Jefferson actually had written, which was to be included in the Declaration of Independence, but which Representatives from Georgia and South Carolina insisted Jefferson delete before they would sign the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson only deleted that paragraph, at their insistence, so that the Declaration of Independence would have unanimous support from all of the American colonies and so that this nation could continue to be built. See facts below:” :
Private Citizen
March 5th, 2013
5:23 pm
According to Eugene, the political impact of “school board” is that is utilised to give a political office to one race. This makes for a good case study on “What in the world is a school board in Georgia and why do people thing they are valuable?” In this case, the school function is being prostituted or appropriated for an altogether different political agenda that has nothing to do with education.
School boards are nothing more than money nests that allow rooted locals to manipulate contracting.
Trisha Doherty
March 5th, 2013
5:25 pm
I am very grateful I matriculated to private school after 3rd grade.
You really DO get what you pay for in life.
PSDad
March 5th, 2013
5:28 pm
@ Mareen to your question “Why is DeKalb still paying {attorney} Wilson?” Orson responded: “We cannot do anything until we have a quorum.” Your understand that “he meant they were still paying, but could not do anything about that until they have a quorum.”
To me Orson’s response is evasive. I wonder how he would answer a more direct inquiry, such as: “Will you vote to stop paying for this attorney when you have a Quorum. I’ll direct $50 to any charity you chose if Orson gives a direct (yes or no) response to that question.
indigo
March 5th, 2013
5:29 pm
Those who have any sort of political power apparently find it so intoxicating that it’s next to impossible to voluntarily give it up.
Private Citizen
March 5th, 2013
5:44 pm
Regarding school boards and “democracy,” please explain to me the political levers that a school board pulls and how these affect greater society.
Private Citizen
March 5th, 2013
5:45 pm
I’m calling you out, Paulo and Big Bill.
bootney farnsworth
March 5th, 2013
6:01 pm
@ PC
didn’t bother to read Paulo, but scanned big bill.
Jesus himself couldn’t break down those walls.
pb
March 5th, 2013
6:35 pm
Trisha Doherty,
This issue and this column have nothing to do with Hugo Chavez’ passing away, and your crude comments about it.Nice warm-hearted feelings you have,,,
Mary Elizabeth
March 5th, 2013
6:48 pm
@ bootney farnsworth, 5:54 pm
“@ Mary Elizabeth
you are entitled to crush on anybody you want to, just as you are entitled to ignore any pesky facts you want to but for Gods sake, why don’t you and Tom (and his slave mistress Sally Jennings) get a virtual room?”
======================================================
Bootney, I actually posted facts regarding Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence. It was you who had made an incorrect statement about Jefferson’s writing therein, without providing any documentation to back up your statement. I simply decided that I needed to correct your erroneous statement.
I will continue to mention Thomas Jefferson, here and there, because Jefferson’s vision that “all are created equal” has had impact throughout the world, even to this day, as was presented in the 15-minute video on Jefferson at the Atlanta History Center. If we experience that tenet deeply enough within our consciousness, we will react even to the DeKalb County School System’s educational problems with greater insight – as I tried to communicate to readers of this blog in my 3:10 p.m. post.
I am disappointed in the low calibre of your post at 5:54 p.m., which reflects poorly upon the quality of your mind this evening.
Maureen Downey
March 5th, 2013
6:58 pm
@Mary E, Already took down that comment, along with Trisha’s about Hugo Chavez.
Folks, Three simple rules
1. Stay on topic
2. Stay civil
3. Avoid personal attacks
Maureen
Fun Size
March 5th, 2013
7:27 pm
So the lawyers get rich, the school board duds stay put and Dekalb students & homeowners suffer the consequences. What a joke!
Mary Elizabeth
March 5th, 2013
7:44 pm
@ Maureen Downey, 6:58 p.m.
Thank you, Maureen. Your addressing Bootney Farnsworth’s condescending and erroneous remarks about my perceptions regarding Thomas Jefferson is one reason that I respect the calibre of your blog and why I continue to post my thoughts here.
Bootney Farnsworth’s further alluding to my “schoolgirl crush” on Jefferson – in the third paragraph of his 5:58 p.m. post – is not only insulting to me, personally, but chauvinistic and, again, condescending. In my opinion, the combination of his two posts, regarding my perceptions of Jefferson, borders on abuse in that he had deliberately, and with malice, attempted to produce a caricatured and childish verbal image of my thinking to readers. That you do not tolerate such harmful and erroneous images of my thought processes is appreciated and respected by me.
I believe that because you have addressed, publicly, this situation that has involved me, you will not hesitate, likewise, to address similar situations effecting other posters’ credibility because of erroneous, inflammatory personal attacks made to, or about, them. Thank you for your high standards which, no doubt, many appreciate.
Truth in Moderation
March 5th, 2013
7:45 pm
President Obama theme song:
ht tp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJsLBVb3lmw
His record:
ht tp://www.wnd.com/2009/03/91286/
Now, what was that about the Dekalb School Board member’s pledge?
They just follow the leader.
Georgia
March 5th, 2013
7:48 pm
I can stay on topic. The topic is America’s future. We are like the canary in the education mine shaft. Our children are at risk of becoming disenfranchised by a corrupt and incompetent school system. What do we do? We elect a school board that we think will work to improve the situation. Then, we rely on a fail safe system of checks and balances just in case we elect a bunch of………(fill in your own adjectives)…….
But we did elect them! Doesn’t anyone see the problem? We elected the Dekalb Board. Thus we didn’t really know who we elected. Did we? I mean, if we had only known who and what these horrid people were……..So now, if we elect a new board, we’re going to pick better pigs out of the poke? I don’t think so.
What are we doing? Is anyone in control here? Walk softly boys.
How about I throw my hat into the ring. I have no experience. No degrees in education. All I have is very common sense, and the motivation of selfless public service for all of those families in the Dekalb district. Do you believe me? Why should you? Why should you not? I think we are at a crossroads.
We need to redefine the protocol. the Paradigm. the entire system of electing or appointing a board. Obviously, what we have been doing so far is the best way to destroy our children’s future. We got that one 100%. Oh, are we good!
Can it get any worse? Honestly.
Concerned DeKalb Mom
March 5th, 2013
7:58 pm
@Maureen…something that’s been nagging at me…why were your questions directed to Marshall and not to the Board Chair? Just curious.
Maureen Downey
March 5th, 2013
8:02 pm
@Concerned, Marshall Orson had emailed me about a comment on the blog. When I responded I also added my questions on this. But I have emailed the same set to Mr. Johnson and will post his response as well.
Maureen
Jack ®
March 5th, 2013
8:11 pm
Their resigning would be an admission of failure and they ain’t gonna admit that. And they’ll fight as long as someone else is paying the legal fees.
Private Citizen
March 5th, 2013
8:40 pm
Great quote from a guy in Dallas who quit adjunct teaching after 10 years and being required to periodically re-apply and write out “What is important to me” etc. Great quote: “I care and I need to be around other people who care.” Wow. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GRsSMyhc3I#t=20m40s
Dekalbite
March 5th, 2013
8:43 pm
So apparently Nancy Jester and Pam Speaks did not vote to fund this legal fight.
That would leave only 4 ousted BOE members to vote to divert so many tax dollars to lawyers and in addition express their support of the “status quo” in DeKalb. Four members is not a majority on a nine member Board.
So what newly elected still in power Board member or members does not want a change in the “status quo”? That’s what I think taxpayers need to know. Why can’t we know how they voted? Yes or no on providing legal funding to keep BOE members ousted for mismanagement of taxpayer dollars?
Mandella1099
March 5th, 2013
10:36 pm
It is amazing to me that so many posters believe that because St. Nancy the Jester didn’t vote for the Board’s attorney that she is some kind of political martyr of righteousness amid the evil of the Walker 5.
Give me a break. She is so smart that she is now fooling the Dunwoody crowd into asking for seconds and thirds of her Kool-Aid. She knew what the vote for the attorneys would be, and she knew that she could vote “no,” fool the DeKalb School Watch II mafia, and STILL BENEFIT FROM THE DCSS ATTORNEYS!
So now her fan club is attempting to rationalize why she hasn’t resigned. How about this: She accept no salary for the time she is suspended so that her paycheck can be used to pay for the attorneys that she “voted no” against and will benefit from should the school system win.
Anyone wanna make a bet?
Jo
March 5th, 2013
10:38 pm
For those who have asked why Nancy Jester has not resigned, please go to her blog, whatsupwiththat.nancyjester.com and read her explanation.
Also, DeKalb School Watch blog has posted an article on the same topic regarding Nancy Jester and Pam Speaks. Go to dekalbschoolwatch.wordpress.com.
Neither Nancy nor Pam voted for or supported the suit — nor did they vote to hire Bob Wilson.
Mandella1099
March 5th, 2013
10:54 pm
@ Jo
Yet they somehow benefit from it.
Give me a break.
Dekalbite
March 5th, 2013
11:24 pm
Enter your comments here
Dekalbite
March 5th, 2013
11:27 pm
“Neither Nancy nor Pam voted for or supported the suit — nor did they vote to hire Bob Wilson.”
So that leaves the all important question of what newly elected Board member or members supported the ousted Board members and voted to spend our scarce educational dollars on this lawsuit instead of our students. Why can’t we know who voted yes on this expenditure? Surely that is not protected information.
Georgia
March 5th, 2013
11:34 pm
This blog. The past few weeks. The Dekalb School Board Issue: every single comment reads like poorly written epitaphs by sponsored hacks. Everyone has skin in the game. At some point it becomes a disgrace. Let the entrenched legal process churn out the destiny of those responsible for this catastrophe, and quit risking your own credibility by yelping like disgruntled coyotes. Obviously, the future of the Dekalb School Board is written in stone now. They are at the mercy of decisions made by powers that we’ll never fathom. (like our bank bailout, man, don’t go there). Smoke filled rooms. Back door deals. There’s millions and millions at stake, and if you make too much noise, maybe you end up not feeling so good after a visit from Luca Brasi. We will get a new ensemble. Eventually. But at this point, the less said the better. Words from us wont affect diddle dang piddle poo. Not any more.
I guess this is my way of saying STFU!
Have a nice day.
Dekalbite
March 5th, 2013
11:37 pm
Can a DeKalb County BOE member keep his vote for or against a large expenditure a secret from your constituents who after all are paying for the expenditure? How can taxpayers/voters draw conclusions on the fiscal responsibility of their representative when votes for or against a large expenditure are kept secret?
Here are the email addresses of the three new BOE members if you want to email them to see if they voted yes or no on this substantial and apparently endless expenditure. Please post their responses or non responses:
Melvin_Johnson@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
Jim_mcmahan@fc.dekalb.k12.ga us
Marshall_orson@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
Pardon My Blog
March 6th, 2013
6:10 am
I am not sure if this has been asked but how could these members even vote to give themselves legal fees in the first place? It seems to me that there would be all kinds of conflict with that knowing that they voted on it after the first State Board meeting where they knew in all likely hood that they would be removed.
Pardon My Blog
March 6th, 2013
6:12 am
@Dekalbite – my guess would be Melvin Johnson.
Mountain Man
March 6th, 2013
7:59 am
So now the AJC is reporting that the gun that the girl took into Grady High School was stolen and may have had the serial number filed off. This keeps getting better and better. I have been accused of being stereotypical in my view of urban schools (which I have admitted), but so far we have not had this sort of thing happen in our SUBURBAN schools. And this was supposedly an HONOR student? Not much honor or even much brains to not only bring a gun to school, but then to shoot yourself with it!
Private Citizen
March 6th, 2013
8:06 am
Nice bit of poetry, Georgia.
Private Citizen
March 6th, 2013
8:09 am
Mountain Man, Do you think a regular student is going to be smart enough to get a Dremel tool and remove a serial number?
Private Citizen
March 6th, 2013
8:17 am
Guns are dangeous. I’ve got a $10. spring loaded BB rifle and I almost put a kid’s eye out with it. I had the rifle levelled and aimed and the kid comes out of nowhere out of sightline on a bicycle right into the path of it. Hey Mountain Man, don’t forget your pal, Dick Cheney. You probably voted him and then you come back and want to “take the high ground” with the urban adolescent kid.
Boy, that President Cheney guy was scary during the military coup when he took over the country. He shot his friend the lawyer, and then the victim apologised to Mr. Cheney for being shot by him. “My family and I are deeply sorry for all that Vice President Cheney and his family have had to go through this past week,” Whittington said at the time.
Dekalbite@Pardon My Blog
March 6th, 2013
8:46 am
“@Dekalbite- my guess would be Melvin Johnson”
But there needs to be more than guesswork. There needs to be a public record from a credible source showing who voted for and who voted against this expensive lawsuit keeping Dr. Walker and the rest of the ousted Board members in office. Nancy Jester says on her blog that is a “matter of public record” that she voted against funding the lawsuit. If it is public record, then that means the public should be able to have this I formation made – well – public. This is extremely important information to the voting public next summer for BOE elections.
catlady
March 6th, 2013
11:10 am
Ms. Downey, how long will the suspended members be paid?
Maureen Downey
March 6th, 2013
11:18 am
@Catlady, Law is silent on that in any direct way, but I read the law below to mean that the person is paid through the reinstatement/appeals window. Once the governor declines to reinstate, the person is then permanently removed. I would assume pay would then stop.
a) Notwithstanding Code Section 20-2-54.1 or any other provisions of law to the contrary, if a local school system or school is placed on the level of accreditation immediately preceding loss of accreditation for school board governance related reasons by one or more accrediting agencies included in subparagraph (6.1)(A) of Code Section 20-3-519, the State Board of Education shall conduct a hearing in not less than ten days nor more than 30 days and recommend to the Governor whether to suspend all eligible members of the local board of education with pay. If the State Board of Education makes such recommendation, the Governor may, in his or her discretion, suspend all eligible members of the local board of education with pay and, in consultation with the State Board of Education, appoint temporary replacement members who shall be otherwise qualified to serve as members of such board.
(b) Any local board of education member suspended under this Code section may petition the Governor for reinstatement no earlier than 30 days following suspension and no later than 60 days following suspension. In the event that a suspended member does not petition for reinstatement within the allotted time period, his or her suspension shall be converted into permanent removal, and the temporary replacement member shall become a permanent member and serve out the remainder of the term of the removed member.
(c) Upon petition for reinstatement by a suspended local board of education member, the Governor or his or her designated agent shall conduct a hearing for the purpose of receiving evidence relative to whether the local board of education member’s continued service on the local board of education is more likely than not to improve the ability of the local school system or school to retain its accreditation. The appealing member shall be given at least 30 days’ notice prior to such hearing. Such hearing shall be held not later than 90 days after the petition is filed and in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the “Georgia Administrative Procedure Act,” except that the individual conducting the hearing shall have the power to call witnesses and request documents on his or her own initiative. For purposes of said chapter and any hearing conducted pursuant to this Code section, the Governor shall be considered the “agency” and the Attorney General or his or her designee shall represent the interests of the Governor in the hearing. If it is determined that it is more likely than not that the local board of education member’s continued service on the local board of education improves the ability of the local school system or school to retain its accreditation, the member shall be immediately reinstated; otherwise, the member shall be permanently removed, and the temporary replacement member shall become a permanent member and serve out the remainder of the term of the removed member or until the next general election which is at least six months after the member was permanently removed, whichever is sooner. Judicial review of any such decision shall be in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50.
catlady
March 6th, 2013
3:05 pm
So, at least another 60 days?
catlady
March 6th, 2013
3:06 pm
Oops, at least 90 days? So, at least 4 months in all?