Yesterday afternoon, the State Board of Education (“BoE”) conducted a hearing to determine whether they should recommend to the Governor that he suspend the members of the DeKalb Board of Education. I attended the full hearing and listened to all of the testimony and the questions. I found the State BoE to be very well informed. They asked tough and important questions and required accountability from each of the members of the DeKalb BoE.
After hearing testimony from all of the members of the DeKalb BoE, the State BoE deferred making an immediate recommendation. Instead, they entered into a Consent Order and Agreement (“Consent Order”) that requires that this hearing will continue on February 21, 2013 at 1 PM.
What does this mean?
The State BoE gave the DeKalb BoE a little over a month to demonstrate they are making progress in addressing the issues raised in the SACS report.
It is impossible to say what action the State BoE will take after the next hearing. My impression is that, if the DeKalb BoE shows little to no progress, then the State BoE will vote to recommend suspension. If the DeKalb BoE shows progress, then the State BoE may give them more time and continue to monitor through a Consent Order that describes specific actions within prescribed timeframes.
I will continue to monitor these proceedings and provide updates. In my opinion, this is the most important issue now facing DeKalb County. I am committed to keeping you informed and doing my part to be sure that public officials do the right thing for our children and the welfare of our community.
Few with vested time are interested in continuing to support such a dysfunctional BOE. Indeed, the BOE on a wholesale basis needs to be replaced and everyone existing needs to reapply if they want to be reconsidered. Additionally, those appointed or selected to continue in their BOE positions should be in place and monitored (and replaced if necessary) until such time DCSS is functioning properly. No elections by the citizens until the DCSS is turned around and functioning in an acceptable manner. Let the citizenry observe what competent (and monitored BOE) can accomplish before they are allowed to vote for their new BOE! Special hamburger and a Cheerwine?
Resignation of snoozing BOE members, TODAY! Out!
He COULD be sleeping.
http://dekalbschoolwatch.wordpress.com/ Note the videos--quite revealing..and indeed there are screen shots of snoozing. These guys are under a lot of stress. That induces drowziness. But really, on school stuff, this website needs a monitor of the DeKalb School Watch blog. Could be helpful for mass mobilization.
View them here - along with the video of the entire hearing (shot and posted by The Unhappy Voter and Taxpayer) http://dekalbschoolwatch.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/so-long-farewell-auf-wiedersehen-goodbye/
------------------- Image troubles mount for DeKalb Corruption investigations, school woes tarnish reputation. Damage could take years to undo. By Bill Torpy The Wisconsin man relocating to Georgia hasn’t yet stepped foot in the state, but he already knows one thing: Stay away from DeKalb County. Ryan Ward, a Realtor who specializes in the north metro area, said his client wants to buy a $1 million home and the north DeKalb city of Dunwoody was the perfect location. But after hearing that DeKalb’s school system is under probation from an accrediting agency, the potential buyer got cold feet, Ward said. Now he’s looking in north Fulton County. “We eliminated DeKalb County from the search,” said Ward, who added that another client stopped looking in Dunwoody for the same reason and is closing soon on a home in Johns Creek. “The uncertainty itself will keep people from buying homes in that area. It’s tainted. It’s hard to unring that bell.” and so on.... http://www.ajc.com/news/news/image-troubles-mount-for-dekalb/nT25D/
I still wonder how much of a difference our county government and schools could have been changed if four years ago we had competent state elected officials concentrating on making changes to our existing government and schools instead of divisively insisting on creating a new city. But, console yourself, the circus is in town. In Georgia we call it the Georgia General Assembly! Hey! Anyone want a pre-game special hamburger and a Cheerwine?
"State Rep. Scott Holcomb blogged after last week's controversial state board of education meeting with our own DeKalb school board." LOL. Really? The State Board of Education meeting was controversial? Really? Interesting perspective.
That and a couple of bucks will get you a cup of coffee.
At the beginning of the proceedings, both attorneys announced that they had reached an agreement that they both were okay with. It was a consent order that would allow the DeKalb Board three more months to comply with the 11 items listed in the SACS report as needing to improve to save the accreditation by Dec. 31. The statements made by the board members were only intended to show their agreement to go along with the consent order they were submitting collectively through the Sutherland, Asbill attorney. The questions by the state BOE were likely limited to just the issue being presented - the board members and their request for the order to be accepted. The state BOE has a LOT more information than what they indicated. Their recommendation does not have to reveal how they came to that conclusion. And, the delay to Feb. 21 will ensure due process to head off the possibility of an appeal.
Regardless, this mess will detract from our area for years to come unless effective corrective measures are taken immediately. And by immediately, I mean the three month mark at the latest. Please pass the yellow mustard!
SACS may not be perfect. It's human run, so of course it's not. But it is what we have. And it works for every other school system across this country. To attack them as the problem makes me wonder if you aren't Eugene Walker posting under an assumed name.