Archive for the ‘dekalb’ Category

A parent raised an issue at the DeKalb school board meeting that merits more discussion here:  Rather than increase class sizes, the parent said the county should cut athletics. “There’s no point in training student athletes when they can’t read or write or get a job,” she said.

As a parent, I have to agree. But I also have two kids who chose sports — tennis and volleyball — that are largely played outside of school in tournaments and club leagues. So, I am already paying for their sports. My older two played only school-based sports, and it was a lot cheaper.

As we have discussed on this blog, Finland, the model du jour for U.S. schools, does not offer school-based sports teams, relying on community programs to provide them. (A reader from Finland wanted me to note, however, that the Finns are very health oriented and their schools offer vigorous PE classes that utilize public parks for running, public ice skating rings for skating and public ball fields for Finnish …

Continue reading Desperate in DeKalb: Should schools drop sports programs? How about band and drama? »

DeKalb is even considering eliminating pre-k to address its $70 million deficit. (AJC file)

More depressing school news today in the AJC about DeKalb’s efforts to address its $70 million deficit:

The DeKalb County School District is facing its worst budget in recent memory, so officials are weighing wholesale elimination of programs, including pre-kindergarten, magnet school transportation and Montessori schools.

“We’re putting everything on the table,” said Jesse “Jay” Cunningham, a school board member who serves on the board’s budget committee. The committee got a long list of possible cuts at a meeting Monday, along with a picture of the potential for new revenue — $29 million — if the board raises the property tax rate by two mills.

Last week, Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson revealed that the school district faces a $73 million deficit. Chief Financial Officer Michael Perrone said about $24 million of it was due to collapsing real estate values, which reduce the …

Continue reading Even magnet school transport and pre-k on chopping block as DeKalb addresses $70 million shortfall »

From state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver today:

I have filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the DeKalb Board of Education asking for documents showing the Board held a public meeting and took a public vote on a proposed redistricting map for DeKalb School Board seats. The Board has written the Department of Justice complaining about redistricting and General Assembly’s actions. But did they ever take a public vote on a map they allegedly proposed? Aren’t they required to vote in the open? More conflict –probably more cost and waste! Unfortunate.

–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog

Continue reading State rep: Did DeKalb school board ever vote on redistricting? »

A DeKalb grand jury reindicted former school Superintendent Crawford Lewis last week.

There are new developments in the criminal case against former DeKalb school chief Crawford Lewis and construction manager Pat Reid, developments that only underscore the imperative to take an unflinching and unapologetic look at who holds which positions in the district and how they got them. The same should be done for all contracts.

The task facing new superintendent Cheryl Atkinson is not an easy one. She has years of grime to clean and a long, long history of cronyism to undo.

An updated indictment was issued last week, elevating the role of Lewis in the mess: The indictment states:

Lewis “abused his position for his own personal gain and the benefit of his friends [and] his family…”

“Rather than operating in the best interest of DeKalb County’s children, Crawford Lewis, Pat [Reid] and Tony Pope stole or facilitated the theft of millions of dollars, performed or approved payment …

Continue reading DeKalb must take an unflinching look at cronyism »

The ongoing tab for DeKalb's lawsuit against its construction management firm is now at $37 million. (AP Images)

If I were a DeKalb schools taxpayer, this story would send me to bed with a sick headache: The 5-year-old legal battle between the DeKalb County School District and the Heery/Mitchell construction management company has cost the county’s taxpayers $37 million.

After reading the concerns of the grand jury over the school board’s actions in this suit, I have to wonder, as many of you already do, about the seeming reluctance of SACS to act on what seem like glaring “governance issues,” to use the accreditation agency’s lingo.

This is truly a “read it and weep story” from AJC.com and AJC ed reporter Ty Tagami:

A grand jury highlighted those numbers and other issues in criticizing the school board — and reiterating a call by a preceding grand jury for a broad investigation. The grand jury, like another in December, asked District Attorney Robert James to convene a …

Continue reading DeKalb lawsuit cost now at $37 million. Pass me the aspirin. »

I thought this memo from David Schutten of the Organization of DeKalb Educators to his members about the contract mess in DeKalb was worth sharing as it clears up several points.

While his memo speaks to the plight of DeKalb educators this week, his comment about the failure of administrators to spend the required time to do the new, more comprehensive teacher observations underscores a statewide concern.

When the state unveiled its plan for new teacher evaluations that will consider student performance and require increased classroom observation, I asked DOE whether it was a realistic, whether principals would be able to find the time to go into classrooms and watch teachers at work.

Schutten’s comments suggest that they are not finding the time –  even under a limited pilot model involving a handful of teachers. How can we expand this model to every teacher in every school?

Here is Schutten’s memo, which was written for members of ODE:

I met with Dr. Tekshia Ward-Smith, …

Continue reading DeKalb teachers group: Sign that contract if you want your job »

In a family photo, Robert Champion demonstrates the flair that earned him the prestigious drum major role in the famous FAMU band.

The AJC is reporting that 13 people have been charged in the death of Robert Champion, a Florida A&M University drum major from DeKalb.

The beating death of the Southwest DeKalb High grad in November brought attention to the dangerous culture of hazing on campuses, but particularly in the famed Marching 100 of FAMU.

When Champion was killed, I spoke to Hank Nuwer, the author of four books on hazing. Among his books are “Wrongs of Passage: Fraternities, Sororities, Hazing, and Binge Drinking” and “Broken Pledges: the Deadly Rite of Hazing.”

A journalism professor at Franklin College in Indiana, Nuwer explained in a telephone interview why college students and band members endure hazing that turns vicious and sometimes deadly. “We cannot get enough of wanting to be wanted. Students think that joining this fraternity or this band constitutes …

Continue reading FAMU hazing death of DeKalb grad: 13 people charged »

I am baffled how a mistake of this nature could occur with something as critical as teacher contracts, but here it is:

MEMO TO: Certified Instructional, Supervisory, and Administrative Personnel

FROM: Dr. Tekshia Ward-Smith, Chief Human Resources Officer

THROUGH: Dr. Cheryl L. H. Atkinson, Superintendent

REFERENCE: Clarification Memo Regarding Employment Contracts for the 2012-2013 School Year

Thank you for your contributions to the DeKalb County School District. Please allow this memo to serve as clarification to the Employment Contract for the 2012-2013 school year you received on April 30, 2012.

Each year the District includes in the employment contract certain measures leading into the budget process. This amount generally reflects a lower amount due to the timing of the budget process and the State of Georgia required deadline for contract issuance. According to state law, the deadline for contract issuance is before the deadline for the final adoption of the operating …

Continue reading Oops. DeKalb sends wrong contract language to teachers. Corrections going out. »

I am hearing today from DeKalb teachers about contracts and letters, which appear to the source of confusion to some folks.

One teacher wrote:

We were informed today that we are receiving a 6.25 percent pay cut for the next academic year. Today, teachers were presented with contracts that are due on May 9th. The explanation for the pay cut was explained as an effect of a $70 million dollar budget shortfall. Teachers were given no other explanation or choice. This comes after we received a confusing email from the district explaining a “calendar change.”  In this message, it appeared that teachers would be receiving pay increases of $1,000-$1,200 per month. This was later explained as an error.

But DeKalb spokesman Walter Woods said: “All contracts of employment for the 2012-2013 school year have been delivered to schools. Employees will either receive a contract or a delay letter. Teachers also received a letter today explaining that all contracts are printed with a …

Continue reading Contracts delivered today to DeKalb teachers »

More dramatic school budget news, this time out of DeKalb where a hired consultant has recommended the financially battered system cut 129 assistant principal jobs and scores of other positions in order to save money.

Like every other metro system, DeKalb is staring down a gaping deficit. School board member Paul Womack, who is chair of the board’s budget committee, estimates it may be a $77 million deficit.

But it sounds unlikely that the school chief will fully adopt the consultant’s advice and slash that many APs.

According to AJC reporter Ty Tagami:

The report by Virginia-based Management Advisory Group says the school system has too many employees when compared with peers, and the system could save more than $15 million in payroll and benefits by cutting the assistant principals, plus 40 school secretaries and 11 media specialists. The consultants also recommended looking for savings in other positions, including art, music and physical education teachers, mail …

Continue reading Could DeKalb schools survive without 129 assistant principals? Could any metro system? »