Happy New Year DeKalb County

*See disclaimer at bottom of post

My reflections on 2013 have led me to a couple of conclusions.

2013 in the rear view mirror is a welcome sight for this school district observer.

The political power in DeKalb County is still wielded by the NAACP. That club was used to kill the Druid Hills Charter Cluster.

Superintendent Thurmond is running the school district like a politician running for election.

I am not an absolutist, so I will say Superintendent Thurmond is doing a lot of things to improve the state of the district despite the mistakes I believe he has made. Overall, I applaud his leadership to this point. I am a supporter.

Anyone who says the multiple cityhood movements in DeKalb County are not (at least, in part) influenced by the sorry state of the school district is misleading you.

The Board of Education is not the board I would like to see, but at the same time it functions as a board without as much drama of the previous board.  They need to step up their oversight and demand accountability from the superintendent and district employees.

Speaking of the BOE, I don't know if Jim McMahan is going to run for a seat in this year's election, but let me be the first to endorse him. Jim has been a leader on the BOE in asking questions to glean the details obscured in the monthly financial reports. He has been one of the bright spots on a generally lackluster board. Also, the conversations I have had with him led me to believe he is honest and has the best interests of the school system in his heart. (Jim, my front yard is waiting for your sign.)

Overall, the school district is in a much better place than 12 months ago. There is still a long, long way to go before I will be happy with the state of the district, but 2014 begins with the district moving in the right direction.

*This and all posts on this blog are statements of my personal opinion. I do not write to represent any other person or group.