Here are folks interviewed for the DeKalb school board
Here is the list of 63 people interviewed by the governor’s panel and the districts for which they were under consideration. (The districts are the numbers next to their names. Remember, DeKalb has two super districts.) The governor is scheduled to announce six board members from this list tomorrow at 11 a.m.
“I am overwhelmed by the extraordinary group of people in DeKalb County who stepped forward to try to help their community,” said Gov. Nathan Deal. “I greatly appreciate the nominating panel’s hard work and the difficult choices the members faced when narrowing down a field with so many excellent candidates. These individuals have worked with the best interests of DeKalb’s children in mind, and I’m proud of the progress we have made. Protecting the opportunities of our youngest generation is a sacred trust; I want DeKalb’s parents, students, teachers and homeowners to know, it’s a trust I will keep.”
The list:
Ophelia Mims 5,9
Melvin Mitchell 5,9
Cheryl Phillips 5,9
Cassandra Barber 5,9
LaSalle Smith 5,9
Stacy Boyd 5,9
Doris Daniels 5,9
Jonathan Weintraub 1,8
Janea Johnson 7,8
Bob Dallas 1,8
Will Thomas 7,8
Long Tran 1,8
Joyce Morley 7,8
Werner Rogers 1,8
Edmond Richardson 3,9
John Coleman 1,8
Deanna Cauthen 3,9
Sherida Clayton 3,9
Douglas Ealey 7,8
Michael Erwin 3,9
Dennis Neblett 7,8
Martha Brooks 9
Thaddeus Mayfield 5,9
Melanie Stockwell 9
Jennifer Hatfield 8
Darryl Davis 3,9
Jamilah Stephens 5,9
Michael Coveny 1,8
John Plotkin 3,9
Doreen Carter 5,9
Mike Hassinger 8
Bryce Farbstein 7,8
Doug Teper 9
David Campbell 5,9
Joy Hawkins 1,8
Kathleen Mathers 9
Daniel Montgomery 8
Anthony McClarn 3,9
David Williamson 8
Nicholas Marinelli 1,8
LaToya Marc 5,9
Ronald Mangum 8
Catherine Metaxopoulos 9
Jonathan Vaughters 8
Karen Carter 8
Marney Mayo 8
Belinda Hammond 8
Dan Weber 1,8
Florena Oliver 8
Rosa McPherson-Greene 8
Elizabeth Flournoy 5,9
Jacquelyn Morris 3,9
Gina Mangham 8
Cynthia Chennault 5,9
Faye Andresen 9
LaTosha Jones 3,9
Todd Pearson 8
Stephen Bradshaw 7,8
Beverly West 3,9
Lynn Grant 9
Rosalind McIntyre 8
Trent Frank 3,9
Denorris Heard 7,8
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
86 comments Add your comment
Dunwoody Mom
March 12th, 2013
3:30 pm
How did Lynn Grant make the list? She was a previous BOE member during this 10-year decline and is also the daughter of the late-Superintendent Jim Cherry?
Angela
March 12th, 2013
3:34 pm
Maureen,
Could you please explain what the numbers mean? Is it 3 in favor and 9 not in favor?
concernedmom30329
March 12th, 2013
3:34 pm
The fact that they interviewed Lynn Grant is disheartening at best and discouraging at worse. Presuming this is the former board member, she was a master meddler and the reason Crawford Lewis got the job. UGH
concernedmom30329
March 12th, 2013
3:35 pm
Angela
those are district numbers (ie district 3 and super district 9)
Chamblee Dad
March 12th, 2013
3:37 pm
And since the NAACP position has been revealed in startling clarity, they will shortly release their own list of “qualified” candidates by the only criteria that really matters . . . .
sam waters
March 12th, 2013
3:38 pm
Is there a provision in this process for residency challenges. I know there everyone on this list doesn’t necessarily live in the areas they are trying to represent anymore
Angela
March 12th, 2013
3:38 pm
@concernedmom30329, Thanks!!!!!!!!!
Chamblee Dad
March 12th, 2013
3:39 pm
Guess Elder better hope they win their appeal
Dunwoody Mom
March 12th, 2013
3:43 pm
I would like to thank all the individuals who were dedicated and committed enough to apply for the open DCSS BOE positions. They have to know the challenges that the district faces and were still willing to take this own. Bravo to you all!
The Deal
March 12th, 2013
3:44 pm
Did I see somewhere that 100 of the 400 applicants did not return the questionnaire?
curious
March 12th, 2013
3:49 pm
I wonder how many constant, everyday contributors on this blog threw their astute qualifications in the hat? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
Chamblee Dad
March 12th, 2013
3:54 pm
@Dunwoody Mom Agreed on those willing to step up! Any of those who often post here make it into the interview? I know there were at least 3.
Chamblee Dad
March 12th, 2013
3:57 pm
@NAACP Do you need pictures of those on the list, just like some on the board did when selecting Atkinson? You know, just to keep them straight . . . no other reason.
Bernie Matt
March 12th, 2013
4:05 pm
@ Chamblee Dad – save your Bull about the NAACP. You obviously, believe the spin of your white media. No one in that meeting requested for Blacks to replace Blacks on the board. it was your racist Governor, you know the one who characterized certain citizens of Georgia, as ghetto grandmothers, that insulted the NAACP by suggesting, they find “good black folks” to run for the board next time.
I know I’m waisting time even pointing out the facts to you, because you people still like to invent your own facts. Beginning with the one about the Natives welcoming you to this land.
Lakeside Mom
March 12th, 2013
4:06 pm
A little background on these people might be nice, like a list of qualifications.
Madge From Accounting
March 12th, 2013
4:07 pm
And since the NAACP position has been revealed in startling clarity, they will shortly release their own list of “qualified” candidates by the only criteria that really matters . . . .
The only criteria is that they get VOTED in. In our country the constitution, which all lot of cons purport to love and uphold, has a codicil about representation and how our republic is supposed to be run.
We VOTE for our representatives in America. In other countries, they are FORCED to take whats APPOINTED over them.
Bernie Matt = Uneducated
March 12th, 2013
4:14 pm
YOU are a MORON! If they were smart, they would have an all white board so that there were no problems. Very obvious what poor “leaders” black people are. See APD, Atlanta Schools, former Atlanta mayors, etc.
Baddabing
March 12th, 2013
4:18 pm
Get all new folks with no known political affiliations, no previous experience on local government boards, who have kids, preferably more than one in the Dekalb School System and who have at least a bachelors degree, teaching experience or have had a successful public sector job. Race or gender is not important here.
Middle Aged Middle of the Roader
March 12th, 2013
4:23 pm
I don’t understand why race should be a consideration here at all. I saw one comment saying that the demographics of the new board had better match that from the 2010 census. Please, pick the best people, regardless of race.
To be honest, I never understood why the school board should be elected anyway. When you vote on the board members, how much research do you do? Not much, I would guess. Perhaps if they have been in the news you might know there name, but otherwise, they are just names on the ballot. I wouldn’t be opposed to having the county commissioners appoint them. (I don’t think the Governor would want to have to do it for all the counties!) The county commissioners would at least care about the impact of the rating of the school system on property values (due to the related property tax values), even if they weren’t actually concerned for the kids.
Pardon My Blog
March 12th, 2013
4:26 pm
@Bernie and @Madge – The NAACP showed no concern about the needs of the students in DeKalb. Instead of working with the Governor and the system to ensure that the majority black students have a future, they are instead working on behalf of individuals who have no interest in education. I looked at the list and there are some very qualified African Americans along with others from a diverse background who truly have the interest of the students at heart.
@ concernedmom – Lynn Grant worked very hard on behalf of DeKalb County however she along with a few other Board members at the time were consistently lied to by Lewis starting with his hirings, etc. I think she has the experience and background to get the county back on sure footing but frankly I am surprised she wants to even go there again after all the crap she had to put up with.
@Madge – regarding the constitution, could you be referring to Obama?
concernedmom30329
March 12th, 2013
4:28 pm
pardon my blog, Grant worked hard to get rid of Brown, whom she couldn’t control, and put in Lewis, after parents begged her not to, because she could control him. I disagree with your assessment. She had two sisters making far more $ then the positions justified.
Ed Advocate
March 12th, 2013
4:29 pm
I see some familiar names on the list. Dan Weber is the former chair of the Senate Ed Committee and a pretty thoughtful guy, but he’s a registered lobbyist representing a consortium of charter school systems. Not sure if it would be kosher for him to rep both interests. Perhaps he would drop the charter system gig. Kathleen Mathers was at the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement during the Perdue years. She was instrumental in uncovering the APS cheating scandal. Relatedly, Joy Hawkins (I think it’s the same Joy Hawkins anyway), was at the Metro Chamber during that same time. I think she’s at the GA Student Finance Commission now. Like Weber, she might also be vulnerable to conflict of interest allegations. Melanie Stockwell was at GA DOE during the Shrenko years, then she worked for Senator Eric Johnson on expanding voucher programs in GA. She might be too divisive for this role.
Georgia
March 12th, 2013
4:36 pm
A most impressive list! I wouldn’t want to be the one who has to choose. But I will admit, that with so many accomplished women on the list, I am looking forward to the swim suit portion of the competition. (sorry, my inner moron made me write this, it’s not a snark grenade. It’s a sickness I was born with, I can’t seem to take anything seriously. Not. One. Thing. I guess it’s not funny, considering what’s at stake, just our children’s future. I sure wish I hadn’t submitted this idiotic comment. Is there a way to retract comments? Oh, Maureen, come on, at least let us feel the remorse for our troll impulse and then retract and take it back. Then, when innocent and unsuspecting lurkers, who maybe have some skin in the game, like a teacher or a student, when they log on and start focusing their eyes on the comment I just made, well, maybe I could snatch it away just in time, and they would be spared the total moronium that you had to endure just now along with rest. Imagine if Atlanta had gone through this entire day without my pathetic attempts at humor. Wouldn’t this be a better metropolis?
Sigh…..(insert emoticon of a guy sticking his head in the toilet). bubbles……gurling sounds…..call 911!
Middle Aged Middle of the Roader
March 12th, 2013
4:37 pm
@Madge and @ Ed Advocate- if all of us were as knowledge as Ed Advocate about the qualifications of running for the school board, perhaps we could vote intelligently. But until, then, I stick with my assertion that it would be best for the school board to be appointed. I would trust Ed’s ability to choose wisely more than my own or yours at the moment. Agree?
Scott Reynolds
March 12th, 2013
4:41 pm
Many years ago Hosea Williams was crucifying Dillard Munford for not hiring more blacks for Majik Market jobs. Nr. Munford asked Hosea to send him fol;ks that would work hard and not steal from him and he would hire them on the spot. What’s changed?
Maureen Downey
March 12th, 2013
4:47 pm
@Ed advocate, I ran an entry on all the former state folks on the list, including former state Rep. Doug Teper. And it is the same Joy Hawkins. Not sure what I think about former state elected officials or state employees on the board.
Maureen
Chamblee Dad
March 12th, 2013
4:47 pm
@bernie mac “you people” Uh. . .What kind of “people” are you referring to? Do you know the color of my skin? I don’t know yours, unless you were in the picture as one of the NAACP leaders.
Concernedmom30329
March 12th, 2013
4:52 pm
Not a fan of Stockwell. Weber withdrew before he was interviewed.
I think some of the others might make great interim board members.
Citizen Dave
March 12th, 2013
4:53 pm
I’m hoping that the cardinals at the vatican make Eugene Walker pope. Perhaps then he will step down and end the litigation.
Ed Advocate
March 12th, 2013
4:55 pm
@ Middle Aged, I won’t weigh in on the appointed vs. elected debate except to say that the mechanism we currently have in place means the Governor will appoint replacements. Like many who care about Dekalb students, I want these folks to be well-vetted, ethical, thoughtful, and successful.
Ed Advocate
March 12th, 2013
4:58 pm
Thanks Maureen. I have similar feelings.
concerned citizen
March 12th, 2013
5:05 pm
I’m sure plenty of people know who the six are. Would you please tell me? Do all of the six know who else is in their company? Yes, I am noisy, but it is my business. Please give it up if you know who these board members are.
Concernedmom30329
March 12th, 2013
5:06 pm
I believe that 1 former state person might not be a bad choice, more than that, would be problematic. I also wonder if a former legislator might be better suited than a former bureaucrat.
Bob Miles
March 12th, 2013
5:14 pm
As a Black 34 year South DeKalb resident who has observed the continuous decline of the management/leadership competence of the BOE, I commend the Gov. Deal for these members. In my opinion, audits/ investigations prove that the ousted members are either incompetent or perhaps more dedicated to their personal agendas/self servants rather than being productive public servants. In addition, as Co-founder of the first NAACP in Central America, I was disgusted listening to it’s members rant and rave about Deal’s replacement process. It is sad that the DeKalb NAACP and others can only get media attention by deliberately inserting RACISM in an attempt to achieve relevancy. Yes, we Black people did elect these people. However, we did a sorry job. Now the Gov. has to clean our mess. Please, NAACP and other Black social activist, stop manufacturing every time you open your mouths. There is enough real issues with which to concern yourselves.
Decatur Dad
March 12th, 2013
5:14 pm
@ Chamblee Dad – Please go burn a cross and stop playing with yourself. You make about as much sense as Nathan Deal. If we’re dissatisfied with the board members that YOUR governor hand picks for us, you and anybody else that share your racist views will know it.
paulo977
March 12th, 2013
5:17 pm
Bernie Matt “I know I’m waisting time even pointing out the facts to you, because you people still like to invent your own facts. Beginning with the one about the Natives welcoming you to this land”
___________________________________________________________
Don’t ever give up fighting for truth and justice…… It takes time but truth will emerge .
Bernie Matt
March 12th, 2013
5:17 pm
@ Pardon my blog – very interesting that you know some of the people who made the cut out of 400 applicants. Even more interesting is you characterization of them as “having the interest of the students at heart”. Well I’ll tell you like i told Chamblee dad, save the bull for someone who doesn’t know any better. If they were such servants of the people, why didn’t they put their name on the ballot and run in the last election.
It amazes me how the very people who give themselves credit for creating “democracy”, only think it’s necessary when it is to their benefit.
paulo977
March 12th, 2013
5:22 pm
Do have a look at this!!!!!!……………………….
http://cepa.stanford.edu/content/brown-fades-end-court-ordered-school-desegregation-and-resegregation-american-public Schools
Who stands for the children?
March 12th, 2013
5:24 pm
Bernie, you sure do rant, rave and attack……who peed in your Wheaties? Perhaps therapy will help. And, by the way you are “waisting” your time….whatever that is supposed to mean.
Bottom line, let the six appointees, whomever they may be, do their jobs and let us demand transparency and let them know we are watching.
Bernie Matt
March 12th, 2013
5:25 pm
@ Moron – Richard Nixon, Mitch Skandalakis, Former State Superintident who used tax dollars for a face lift, Gwinnett county official just copped a plea with her son in the bribery case, Ga, judge who fell in love with the stripper and was doing cocaine, South Carolina Governor went to Brazil to find his love-while his State and his wife were left to wonder….
I could go on, but all think all intelligent people get the point!
Decatur Dad
March 12th, 2013
5:26 pm
Amen Bernie Matt, AMEN!!!!
Maureen Downey
March 12th, 2013
5:26 pm
Bernie, Not sure if you saw news story but our former school chief just left prison. Not sure if that facelift held up.
Maureen
Bernie Matt
March 12th, 2013
5:29 pm
@ who stands…- It’s always the trick of the devil to characterize defense of oneself or group as an “attack”.
FromSD
March 12th, 2013
5:29 pm
Whoever narrowed the list to sixty didn’t do much due diligence. I googled every candidate for district 3 and of the ones I could find easily, one has three different arrests, one home-schooled for twenty years, so she says, and the other is a wannabe career politician. only one seemed to be a viable person for the job.I hope they let us see the criteria they used to narrow the field and to select the final six.
Bernie Matt
March 12th, 2013
5:31 pm
@ Maureen – yes i did, Linda Shrenko was the name i think! Why didn’t the any call for removal of the state board!
Pardon My Blog
March 12th, 2013
5:33 pm
Perhaps the real message behind the response “These were just children” is that they haven’t been indoctrinated into the hate message that seems to come increasingly from the NAACP. Their very existence depends on the continued message that the black community is oppressed. Instead of encouraging people to become informed, they inform them on whom to vote.
Attentive Parent/Invisible Serfs Collar
March 12th, 2013
5:35 pm
Paulo-if you are interested in that, read Gary Orfield’s work.
I have tracked this which is why it is not realistic to think the powers that be want Dekalb or APS to get better. No, the logic is to destroy what works in Cobb and North Fulton. Just like they did in Charlotte when they sought to return to neighborhood schools.
Linda Darling-Hammond has also written quite a bit on resegregation.
Chamblee Dad
March 12th, 2013
5:35 pm
So I’m being slammed here & on the previous thread for being either 1 – racist, or 2 – not racist enough. Must be doing something right.
@Dunwoody Dad Assume too much. I didn’t vote for Deal or any Republican candidate in the 30 years I’ve voted. I normally vote Libertarian whenever I can, not that it matters. If being critical of the NAACP for putting race above the educational well-being of our children is racist in your world. How about let’s see how the NAACP reacts if the selections don’t meet their criteria? I could be wrong, and they embrace what I hope is a qualified group, regardless of race. If so, I’ll get on here as fast as I can to “stand corrected.” But I suspect the make-up will be to their liking, at leat at first glance.
Pardon My Blog
March 12th, 2013
5:35 pm
Wow, Maureen. The claws are coming out! This DeKalb mess seems to have gotten to you. Take a vacation.
Chamblee Dad
March 12th, 2013
5:40 pm
@Bob Miles “In my opinion, audits/ investigations prove that the ousted members are either incompetent or perhaps more dedicated to their personal agendas/self servants rather than being productive public servants.” Oh so painfully true just how bad we will find we’ve been taken. It wil be far worse that you describe – if it’s done right.
DeKalb Graduate
March 12th, 2013
5:53 pm
It is great that Faye Andersen, an intelligent woman, mother of DeKalb County students and just a wonderful community activist on behalf of DeKalb Schools is among those on the list. I know Joy Hawkins and like her as well though I have never worked with her. I wish the race baiting in this blog would stop. Grow up. Focus on the students and their achievement. They have 12 years of schooling to get it right so they can build a future. We had our chance. Let us take our tax dollars and create school system that excels. We had one once in DeKalb. With high expectations, strong leadership, dedicated teachers, involved parents and motivated students, we can rebuild DeKalb. The students need to respect the teachers. You dear bloggers need to set an example and expect each other.
bu2
March 12th, 2013
5:57 pm
My biggest fears:
1) a bunch of chamber of commerce types who are interested in driving business to their friends and only interested in the schools for appearance sake (see Atlanta Chamber of Commerce supporting hiding APS scandal).
2) a bunch of people who think like Ms. Copelin-Woods that if other schools are good that is a bad thing and want to drag everything down to the lowest common denominator. They tend to use words like “equality” instead of words like “quality.”
3) a bunch of people like Dr. Walker who think schools are for righting past racial injustices by hiring friends and family and focusing on adults, not children.
4) a bunch of ideologues with regard to vouchers and charters who will set up the regular public schools to fail by setting unrealistic standards.
5) a bunch of friends and family of Governor Deal.
6) a bunch of people viewing this as an easy way to get into politics.
We know the devils in the current board and could generate efforts to unseat them. We won’t know as much about these people. We’ll see.
Chamblee Dad
March 12th, 2013
5:59 pm
@Bernie Matt Anyone can put together a list of crooked politicians going back forever, regardless of race, party, etc. Not sure what your point is.
But I will AGREE with you on this Linda Schrenko deserves all she got & then some. She personally stole far more than any on this board, and she was smug & arrogant until the end, when she was faced with the fed’s tight case against her. She is a sorry person, to say the least. She should still be in jail. And to think, she ran for Governor!
But before I am corrected, the ousted board essentially stole from the schoolchildren of DeKalb by mismanaging hundreds of millions of dollars, if you go back 10 years. As Bob Miles said, if a complete audit is properly done – FINALLY, then we’ll have more answers than we can stomach. And the blame will lie at the feet of many, black & white.
Pardon My Blog
March 12th, 2013
6:00 pm
It is obvious from the comments of some that they were happy with the group they had voted in. Perhaps the only real answer is to split the district in two and let the taxes on the North side pay for that district and the taxes on the South side pay for theirs. Deal with the leaders the way you see fit but not at the expense of the whole county.
Chamblee Dad
March 12th, 2013
6:05 pm
@bu2 Well said. See I told you. We agree more often than not. I agree to all. But you better watch out because if you direct your criticism to so many different types, you’ll be accused of being – racist, not racist enough, too democrat, too republican, too cynical, too naive, too focused on $$, too focused on the children’s education (not sure how that’s possible – but apparently it is).
Concernedmom30329
March 12th, 2013
6:06 pm
bu2
I don’t think there are many like SCW that were interviewed. A simply Google search on random candidates shows Phds, attorneys, retired educators and business owners. Didn’t see many chamber types on my randomized search either.
PMB, I have seen no more than a handful of actual S. DeKalb parents rallying to keep their board members, I will say that I have seen more N. DeKalb parents objecting to the process and the Governor removing the board. Most I speak to in S. DeKalb are ready to see the board replaced.
Ella
March 12th, 2013
6:08 pm
I noticed that no one who has ever had their name on the ballot and was not elected was on the list. If I miss someone please let me know. The only elected school board member was Lynn Grant and this shocks me as she was involved for years and there was a great deal of drama between some school board members from the southern side of the county.
I am not shocked regarding myself but I do know two candidates who would be great. One is definitely Ms. Piece (involved with PTA for years) and the other is a a PHD whose last name was Nook or something similar to that. He was so professional, smart, and knowledgeable. I also thought Ms. McGill would be great.
I did notice that all the republican ex-politicians and current politicians made the list. I will be shocked in Weber is not appointed to represent district 1.
Ella
March 12th, 2013
6:15 pm
Karen Carter looks super sharp. She has a JD and also is a teacher and in leadership at DeKalb Tech.
Georgia
March 12th, 2013
6:26 pm
Fortunately, thanks to Maureen Downey’s magnanimity, I was able to retract the last seventeen comments I made, not just because those same comments were stupid, but because I forgot that I wasn’t on the JayKyle blogs, where the geniuses there post ten or fifteen comments per hour….every single one of them!!!! Imagine. So much to say. wow. Their minds must be so active that they just have to text their urges….they gots lots to say….you better listen to them….you all better listen to them now……..you better……..listen……….you better…..you b-b-better……….JayKyle’s trolls are important people…..important p-p-people…..and y-y-you better listen to them…….you b-b-better listen…….
Dekalbite@Bernie
March 12th, 2013
6:31 pm
“@ Maureen – yes i did, Linda Shrenko was the name i think! Why didn’t the any call for removal of the state board!”
I guess you don’t understand that Linda Shrenko was elected. The State Board of Education did not hire her and could not fire her. They could not responsible for any of her actions so why would anyone call for their removal?
KIM
March 12th, 2013
6:37 pm
Ordinarily I might not be interested in former state officials being on the board, but due to the mess, it might not be bad. AND on top of that, these DeKalb citizens did not check their citizenship at the door. They are just as appropriate on the board as the uninformed and self annointed who have served. Give them a chance. There will be an election eventually and having some well educated people will serve DeKalb certainly better than the past 10-12 years’ group has.
Chamblee Dad
March 12th, 2013
6:49 pm
@Ella “I will be shocked in Weber is not appointed to represent district 1.” I thought the same thing when I saw his name on the list of 400. And as someone in District 1, I would not be super happy with that, but I could live with it. That’s mainly based on non-school related voting, but I’ll need to get over that, I think that’s the kind of stuff we’re going to just deal with – give them a chance.
Private Citizen
March 12th, 2013
6:49 pm
Bernie, I heard on the NPR radio that (according to NPR) the NAACP was requesting “please appoint black school board members for DeKalb County.” I don’t know if that means 1 or 9 or per black majority districts, but that is what NPR radio said in maybe a 5-10 second news mention. Anyway, it was like “huh?” Otherwise, outside of the metroplex, I have seen / heard very little news mention of the events in DeKalb. Part of the school board control thing is you only talk about the local school board in media markets. It is a formula of sorts (in other words, little distribution of news / information).
Chamblee Dad
March 12th, 2013
6:53 pm
@dekalbite Save the civics lessons on Bernie, not getting thru. But it is always good to dump on Schrenko. This state, as all the rest, can be great at electing idiots & crooks, republican, democrat, non-partisan (as in school board – well at least in theory). And THAT will never change.
Maureen Downey
March 12th, 2013
7:02 pm
@Pardon, Huh? No idea what you mean as today’s blogs have all been straightforward.
M
Educator for Life
March 12th, 2013
7:04 pm
I now see why I wasn’t even considered. I am not a politician and I am not known to the public in any way. I really didn’t know this would serve as criteria for speaking for stakeholders in my district. Maybe I should post my answers to the questions and let the bloggers see where I stand!!!
Ella
March 12th, 2013
7:08 pm
I would suspect Dallas or Weber for district 1. Both of them are sharp.
However, I do believe there are some great candidates and I am excited for the change for the students and the taxpayers of DeKalb.
Everyone I look up looks good so I do believe we should be extremely hopeful.
I am super excited about the great African American applicants that were interviewed. We will have a great school board.
Private Citizen
March 12th, 2013
7:13 pm
Bernie, Here is the print version of what the NPR is frontin’: http://www.gpb.org/news/2013/03/12/black-leaders-want-black-replacements
Private Citizen
March 12th, 2013
7:18 pm
hey this is news!: “He (Governor Deal) also said the state may need to broaden the purpose of school accreditation to include student achievement.” http://www.gpb.org/news/2013/03/12/deal-fires-back-at-naacp
Private Citizen
March 12th, 2013
7:20 pm
use of Mark Bauerlein-esque editing scalpel: “school accreditation to include student achievement”
Private Citizen
March 12th, 2013
7:24 pm
Here is a working version of Paulo’s link: http://cepa.stanford.edu/content/brown-fades-end-court-ordered-school-desegregation-and-resegregation-american-public-schools
Hey Paulo, how come you’re so smart, linking to Standford education school, and teaching me about Fanon and his entertaining female novelist from Martinique, the aspiring race-conscious young lady.? Keep up the “keeping it real,” Paulo. You’re doing well.
Private Citizen
March 12th, 2013
7:25 pm
I once visited Stand-ford. Pardon I hack the spelling like a cretin. Please forgive me, Leland.
Private Citizen
March 12th, 2013
7:30 pm
Georgia, On the new weblog interface software, when you post 15 comments in 60 minutes, you get automatically locked out for six hours and redirected to this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRamB30E9mU although the links change weekly. (continued)
Private Citizen
March 12th, 2013
7:31 pm
(cont) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOQ9-b_Usy8#t=35s
Private Citizen
March 12th, 2013
7:35 pm
I do not get the two-district per person system for many of the persons. Anyone care to explain this?
Linda
March 12th, 2013
8:08 pm
PC – the first number (1,3,5,7) is the smaller geographic district that the person would represent. The second number (8,9) is the super-district which would be more of at at large board member representing half of the county. The districts are geographic; however, all members are supposed to make decisions based on what is best for all students across the county.
OriginalProf
March 12th, 2013
8:11 pm
@Private Citizen. I think that the candidates are applying for both their individual resident district and the North or South at-large district, hoping to get one if not the other.
Private Citizen
March 12th, 2013
8:27 pm
That numbering thing struck me as odd the first time I saw it. If it is for two different things, they should use two different classification nomenclature. “Do it yourself inventions from on high” is the absolute bane (A cause of great distress or annoyance) of government schools in Georgia.
Let us not forget that incoherence is a form of control.
Private Citizen
March 12th, 2013
8:28 pm
Linda and Original Prof, Thank you for the explanation.
Pride and Joy
March 12th, 2013
11:21 pm
Isn’t it ironic that someone who calls himself “private” never has a thought that he doesn’t share with everyone on a public blog?
Gee, wish I had that kind of time.
Dekalbite
March 12th, 2013
11:39 pm
Here is a commenter from DeKalb School Watch that says – yes – subs are being hired instead of teachers and the process to get supplies for students is very difficult:
“Orders can still be placed, but the use of the P Card was suspended. There was no advanced notice. Orders that were placed were not filled by the vendors because the P Card no longer worked. We found out because a vendor called the school and asked for an explanation.
So we now have to use requisitions for even basic supplies.
For example, . Instead of ordering paper from Office Depot and having it the next day.. You now have to do a requisition to get the paper. That could take over a week to do it. The memo stated that this would help monitor purchases.. When you use the P Card, you get a bill and a credit card statement.. I am not sure why that cannot be used to check purchases. Requisitions have to be approved. Then the county has to ‘cut a check” and send a :check to the vendor.
As far as hiring, You can still hire. Depending on the job the person is hired as a sub for the rest of the school year. I think that this is to try and save money.
There will probably lots of jobs opened. This year we have lost a lot of good people to other school systems. Regardless of what people may think there were good people in the school system that left. All former DCSS people were not bad. .
One difficult thing is that the staff in the schools has no avenue to express their concerns about county procedures and departments.
Please continue to pray for good things for our schools, staff and system.”
Lynn43
March 13th, 2013
12:55 am
Electing Board members on the basis of race is what got Dekalb into the mess it is in. People who are on the Board should have a passion to preserve and promote public schools-not charters or vouchers. Their race should never enter into the decision. There is and will be a battle to retain public schools, and we need people who will be warriors in the fight. I am seventy years old, and it seems I have been fighting administrators and legislators almost my whole life to make public schools as grand as they can be. I am a Board member, and I will continue to spread this passion to highly educate all students. We need people who will join this effort on all our school Boards.
JW
March 13th, 2013
1:52 am
@Maureen…on the facelift….they didn’t do her neck right.
Jim
March 13th, 2013
8:31 am
I think this list shows that good candidates are out there for these posts, but not many of these good candidates are willing to go through the campaign process to get elected. They know that just because they are highly qualified for the position, doesn’t necessarily mean that they can beat someone else willing to do anything to get elected.
bu2
March 13th, 2013
9:17 am
@Jim
And that may be a good thing to have for the next 18 months.
bu2
March 13th, 2013
9:25 am
With 63 interviews in 2 days, they were working pretty hard.
I don’t think race will be an issue for the 3 southernmost districts. Given the demographics, it would be hard not to select an African-American. And Deal will almost certainly select a Republican for the northernmost district.
But its the other ethnic groups that are under-represented and tend to be ignored, the heavy immigrant populations in the Clarkston and Buford Highway area. Marney Mayo could be a voice for them.