Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The former chair and suspended school board member has his say.
The Governor made the unilateral decision to replace six duly elected officers of the DeKalb County School Board. As our constitutional challenge makes its way through the courts, these appointees, along with the three elected officers allowed to stay, are in charge and everyone should be supportive of these stewards until the matter is resolved. I agree with the Governor that there is a lot at stake and I urge the public and the media to stay involved as we move forward. Going forward, we should all be aware that the SACS/AdvancED analysis and subsequent probation created the perception of many of the problems the system is facing today. SACS and its agents distorted the actions of the school board and intentionally diminished the level …
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The former chairman of DeKalb's school board reacts to Gov. Deal's decision.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Tuesday, February 26
The Governor is wrong in his decision to suspend members of the DeKalb County Board of Education. The DeKalb School District has been placed on probation by a private accrediting institution called SACS which holds considerable sway in the education community. SACS has made a multitude of allegations, some of which I agree with, but all of them were developed unilaterally in a shrouded process. The leadership of SACS is not elected by the public, do not have to conform to open meetings and open records laws, and are not subject to constitutional due process as they sit in judgment of public institutions and elected officials. The DeKalb Board of Education, like all school boards, is a public institution. We have open meetings, open …
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Take our Tucker Patch poll and tell us what you think about DeKalb BOE's chairman relinquishing his position.
DeKalb Board of Education Chairman Eugene Walker resigned from his leadership position on Monday, leaving the embattled school board free to elect a new leader before Thursday's pivotal meeting with the State Board of Education. CrossRoads News is reporting that Walker announced his resignation during Monday's specially called school board meeting. The school board is expected to meet again at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday to select a new chairman. On Thursday at 8 a.m., DeKalb's school board will appear once again before the State Board of Education. DeKalb's board must convince state authorities that they are making progress in meeting requirements set forth by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools, which has placed the school board …
Monday, February 18, 2013
Attendees at a weekend meeting want to focus on children first, accreditation second.
Residents of DeKalb County gathered Saturday at a realty company in Decatur to discuss findings in the report on DeKalb County's School Board issued by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in December. SACS has placed the district on Probation. A panel of community leaders also presented highlights from a Grand Jury investigation into school system finances. Three grand juries have called upon the District Attorney to convene a special panel that would delve further into their concerns. Viola Davis, the event's organizer and a Patch contributor, has established a new group called Restore DeKalb, intended to return the county's school system to one that is focused on the children first, and accreditation second. That …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
For the second time this week, the board was unable to pick a new chairman.
The embattled DeKalb Board of Education has a new vice-chair as of Wednesday, but the position of chairman remains up in the air. Jim McMahan, who joined the board a month ago as District 4 (Tucker) representative, was voted in this morning as vice-chair. Eugene Walker, however, will remain as chairman at least for the next 30 days - or until the next meeting - because no candidate received the five votes needed to win the post. Not only was there lack of concensus, but the board struggled with the voting process itself and seemed confused as to which rules were applicable. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools currently has the district under probation after finding the board guilty of mishandling funds and poor management.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Jennifer Hatfield attended last week's state hearing and weighs in on the crisis.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Friday, January 25
By Jennifer Hatfield, President of the Evansdale Elementary School PTA and Tucker parent of two. Having attending numerous DeKalb Board of Education meetings, I can tell you I have NEVER witnessed the DeKalb board act in such a manner. I hope that Governor Deal watched the webcast of the hearing since he was not present. I believe that the testimony of the nine current board members painted a pretty clear picture of what is wrong. Our system is broken, though only two members, Dr. Speaks and Mrs. Jester, had the courage to express any accountability. Sadly, they are two of the most honest and hard-working members of the board. In the next hearing in February, it may be helpful to call Dr. Atkinson and former BOE members Paul Womack, Don …
Jono
8:12 am on Sunday, March 24, 2013
Correction: Atkinson worked for Mecklenburg Co., NC which does qualify as a "mega" county before coming to DeKalb. Walker was clearly an integral part of the BOE including all of its problems. I won't support his legal fees but would be glad to contribute to his retirement fund. I'll start with a penny. Anyone else care to join me? more ›