As Yogi Berra said, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” As speculation mounts that we’ll soon be in need of a new superintendent, it’s a good time to tell you the saga of the last superintendent search. It’s a cautionary tale.
The superintendent search was the most arduous and difficult task I dealt with while on the Board. I almost resigned a couple of times due to the ensuing train wreck I was powerless to stop. I always thought reasoned argument amongst board members would win out in the end. I thought facts mattered. Alas, how naive I was.
Let’s start with our search firm Ray and Associates. Some of our board will tell you Ray and Associates did a poor job. I thought they were quite professional and delivered quality candidates that met our requirements. As the BOE reviewed candidates, some of my fellow Board members ruled out candidates that had top-notch credentials and solid records that clearly met the requirements we designed. With each ridiculous objection, the selection criteria morphed into something else. Ray and Associates grew very frustrated because the BOE had them chasing their tail. In our original criteria we wanted a superintendent with communication and media skills, success in a challenged school system, ability to raise student achievement, and capable of removing the bloat from the central office . I was looking for a clean break and preferred that we not choose anyone with ties to DeKalb County.
The day we started the process I was full of anticipation. I had the opportunity to help make a choice that could fix our faltering district. At this point I was unaware of the hidden criteria for picking a superintendent.
We met to study resumes. We spent hours reviewing stacks of applications and resumes. I learned a great deal about my colleagues’ study capabilities. We all isolated ourselves around the room and began to read. We did not have discussions with each other during the entire period. Representatives from Ray and Associates were in the room to answer any questions. I took notes on each candidate. Some Board members seemed to have difficulty staying on task. Attention spans were all over the place. Those who did not take notes had a very difficult time at the end of the process remembering who was who. That is when one of our members asked if we could have pictures of the candidates. I knew then we had a real problem. Ray and Associates provided an “easy” matrix system evaluation so we could see where all our candidates stood as we ranked them in several categories. Two of our members never could really do the matrix system. The consulting firm had to show them how to add their numbers. I think the highest number we had to deal with was seven. You would assume that after awhile everyone would figure it out. These two never did. We probably did these rankings about four times.
After the ranking we came up with six candidates for the top of the list. This would be the group we interviewed. I did not like the list but my top two made the cut. Pam Speaks, Nancy Jester, and I talked after the meeting. We had each ranked the same candidate #1. We found out later that one other member also had this person first on their list. I was feeling optimistic.
The Board’s short list for interviews included Lillie Cox as number one. She was not my first pick, but she was on my list. While she was definitely smart and understood instruction, she seemed too reserved in her first interview. I thought the media and parents would eat her alive. After the interview rounds, she was chosen as one of our final three that would participate in a public forum. I thought she would fail this test. I was totally wrong. She met the parents and media and hit a home run in my estimation. She began to grow on me. I thought another candidate not in the final three was better, but I could go with Dr. Cox. She showed poise and knowledge. She clearly understood education and showed more savvy than I anticipated.
Note that the person four Board members ranked number one was not in the final three.
In a fascinating set of events, the Board offered Dr. Cox a contract. One member sat in stunned silence with head in hands – speechless. The board had six or seven members in favor of offering the contract. I was surprised because, while Dr. Cox wasn’t my first pick, she was a solid professional. Ultimately I was happy the process had worked. In hindsight, I should have known better.
Within the majority that supported Dr. Cox at this point, was a member using their vote to express their anger at another board member. Yes, there are Board members who use their vote in punitive ways or in exchange for something else, rather than what is good for children. It happens all the time. If you watch some of our members during votes, you can see they are making a decision based on how others vote. As the Board was in negotiations with Dr. Cox, leaks hit the media. The two or three “no” votes had their victory. They obstructed the majority of the Board from carrying out its will.
The remaining candidates were not viable to me. Four of us pressured to bring back the candidate that we had ranked number one. It was a hard fight. Two of our board members were vehemently against my number one . At a previous interview, one of these board members sat near the candidate and fell asleep during the questions. This candidate had the best interview I have ever seen. Members that opposed this candidate either purposefully tried to twist the candidate’s record or they weren’t capable of understanding the facts. Either way, the interests of children were not served well. This candidate had a solid record of achievement in the specific areas that have plagued DeKalb for many years.
At this time, you probably recall, Pam, Nancy, and I wrote a letter to express our frustration with the process. Our voices were being diminished by all means available to those on the board that wanted to further their hidden agenda. Nancy and I were summoned to SACS headquarters. We were told it wasn’t good form to announce one’s vote in advance of a meeting. We maintained that it was corrosive and hostile to leak information to thwart the will of the board until some hidden agenda is realized. At that meeting, I felt we were being nudged to “go along to get along”. Nancy and I held our ground because we felt that it was the ethical thing to do. It didn’t occur to me at the time but, the person, three of us viewed as the most qualified, came from a state that accredits its own schools rather than hand over that responsibility to SACS.
This is when Cheryl Atkinson entered the discussion. The entire board had previously reviewed her resume and took a pass. Come to find out Dr. Atkinson served on SACS committees before. I also sensed that SACS turned a fourth board member who had always agreed with me on the ranking of candidates. Soon, this board member began to speak out in favor of hiring Dr. Atkinson.
It is here that I had to acknowledge the hidden agenda in this whole process. The superintendent had to be African-American. Anything that interfered with this agenda was irrelevant. The majority had completely lost focus on the students.
Dr. Atkinson was now rammed through the process and totally faulty arguments were used to dismiss the candidate that four of us had originally chosen as number one. Aspirin became my best friend.
The BOE did not pick the most qualified candidate. I did not say that Dr. Atkinson was unqualified. She simply was not the best candidate we had before us. I talked with some people from Loraine including a board member. The things I was alerted to became a reality: micromanaging, lack of information, and traveling with an entourage and driver.
Even though two of my colleagues supported my thoughts on this opinion we were steamrolled in the vote. We never had a chance. We were pressured by everyone to make the vote unanimous. I could not in good conscience do that. When I was reading my factual comparison on Dr. Atkinson and comparing her record to the one we had rejected three of my colleagues got up and walked out. My commentary was made before the official board vote on confirmation.
We are not in a diverse system. We are in an African-American system in DeKalb. If you are not African-American the welcome sign is not out. The best person must be hired no matter the race. My number one choice was not white.
The stories you have all heard about the five member block vote is true. You cannot turn around a block vote with a single vote.
So I say go ask the six who hired this lady to defend their position. I bet you will be met with silence.
I TOLD YOU SO.
Don
Thank you so much for revealing what many of us already knew – this decision was race-based. I am a black woman and I want each of those ignorant bigots (Cunningham, Copelin-Wood, Walker) removed from this board.
Also, I’m willing to be that Sarah was the one who couldn’t count to 7.
Thanks to you for publicly posting what really happened. This type of behavior demonstrates why education in DeKalb will continue a downward spiral.
Thank you for telling what happened and letting us know the truth. This is something that I speculated, but knowing the truth is simply mind blowing and down right sad. If the board is not thrown out at the end of this month the fix is on. Thank you!!!
Sadly, this dysfunctional agenda in the hiring process is not new in DCSS. This is the same agenda the DCSS used to hire Mrs. Angela Moton at Lakeside years ago. She pointed to this dysfunctional process herself and in turn hired an unqualified football coach even thought there were much more qualified candidates. We were from Virginia and shocked. We reported “it” to anyone who would listen. We filed a complaint with Ronald Ramsey. Dismissed. I begged you to look into the hiring policies. Nope. The coach she supported quickly failed. She was “promoted” and is now principle at Lithonia. I think her “meets AYP ” results are shocking.
However, as long as you are going to I TOLD YOU SO, I will say, “ I told you so” when my oldest son was an incoming freshman at Lakeside. You, as my representative, ignored our requests. In my opinion, that was the time to address this agenda and this desire to have a “black” DCSS. I respectfully question your timing, strategy and technique. This has been ignored and become the norm. The wheels have fallen off the bus. Yes, in my opinion hiring the best qualified candidate has been neglected over a long period of time not just during this Superintendent search. The letter you and Nancy Jester wrote was again, in my opinion probably ill timed and not an effective cure for what has become a cancer. The letter has probably added to SACS concerns even though you were one of the better guys. Its truly is time to get a new bus and remove the ENTIRE DCSS BOE and stop this dysfunction.
Again, for these reasons I continue to support the removal of the entire DKBOE and petition the GABOE and Governor Deal to remove the Board. If any BOE member feels they are part of the solution not the problem please suggest to them they petition Governor Deal as he has that authority.
http://www.change.org/petitions/governor-nathan-deal-and-georgia-state-board-of-education-review-sacs-findings-if-accurate-replace-the-dekalb-county-school-board
Betsy Parks
Confirmation! This agenda is what we always knew to be true.
Don, a sincere “Thank You” for your bravery and your commitment to telling the truth in order to protect the taxpayers and the children of DeKalb! You have integrity and so many people appreciate your openness and honesty! We are very proud of you!
I think courage would be more applicable if the 3 of you had forced the race discussion at the time. The more we learn the less I support elected school boards for the Atlanta metro area. Obviously this problem permeates the administration, leadership and legal team of DCSD.
So when do we break up this bloated school system so that Dunwoody has its own cluster with control over our own education?
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Suggesting that replacing the specific individuals that currently comprise the board will fix any problems is to say that the basic structure is sound and we are only lacking competence in key positions. It isn’t clear that position can be effectively argued.
Others are suggesting structural changes (e.g., Portfolios) that are based on the assumption that giving parents/teachers increased control will somehow “put pupils first”. Though there is insufficient empirical evidence to make this a no-brainer, it has the support of the “we must do something” crowd. Perhaps if it leads to action hope isn’t evil after all.
The race based decision making should come as a surprise to no one, no more than the fact that similar observations will be leveled against Dunwoody should they pry themselves free even if only to the relatively small degree offered by charters, parent triggers and portfolios.
I am beginning to believe that the only way I can do right by my children is to limit them to the number I can afford to put in private school or move to a better place–probably outside Georgia.
Wow. The truth leaks out at last. It is the Negro Network.
You must be a Member of the Negro Network to do business in DeKalb County.
We had anger and outcry at the Bubba Network, the Good Old Boy Network, but we are stifled from proclaiming anger and dismay that Blacks are cheating Blacks and Blacks only hire Blacks.
I can recount tales of black people getting horrible rates on loans because they would not go to a “traditional mortgage source” but went instead to one who supposedly gave preference to blacks. And they were charged 3% more that a “white company” would have charged.
Wake up, you good black people! There are those who play the race card in an area, and in a day, when you don’t need this, and the ONLY beneficiary of this is the one with the money.
Follow the money.
Amen, Bernadette!! Don, you’re not up for the job are you?! You, Pam, and Nancy could turn this system around. Seriously, though, SACS needs to change the ‘A’ in their acronym to another vowel. Our. Children. Deserve. Better. Remember the Cultural Revolution in China when generations of children were denied an authentic education? And they have no voice. It’s up to people like Don and those of us who care about more than race, power, and politics.
A new board, appointed by the Gov., would suffer no political pressure within the county system and be more capable to address the underlying issues within DCSS. If we are going to recycle policitcians who have already been unable to address the real issues then there is no hope for DCSS in it’s current state.
Sadly, this does not shock me at all. And what’s worse, our children are watching it happen with horror and disgust. This is not the district or the school my now senior entered in his freshman year. Both the Middle and High schools in Tucker are suffering from overcrowding, favoritism, and nepotism. It has been a HUGE problem in the county for some time now. Even at the elementary level, we are hiring replacements from the county who are not happy and positive people and are not interested in much more than a paycheck with benefits – how does that benefit K-5 children? After the removal of Crawford, county employees have been redistributed rather than let go. Many of them coming with high salaries and large severance packages. Meanwhile, good teachers are being advised to put up or move on. Many of them see the writing on the wall and are fleeing the county. My biggest personal peeve is that we have hired known pedophiles, and currently have a felon on the books, one whose legal fees the county no doubt paid, and one that comes with his big fat salary. His position is made worse by the fact that he is in charge of discipline, and as an ex-prison guard, he has a demeanor that is intimidating while he seeks out problems in order to exert his authority. The students feel the prison mentality and the blatant crowd control tactics and no longer feel comfortable in their own school. We are not able to raise leaders at the high school level while forcing students to conform and merely follow along – these students are not taught to be independent leaders, but to be followers, much like cattle. None of what is happening is in the best interest of our children, educationally or emotionally. And, the saddest part is that they not only have to suffer through the power happy admins, but somehow they are being punished for the county’s deficit – one that somehow never was identified or dealt with until it was out of control (who are these accountants?). What we have as a board, except perhaps those few true voices, are selfish, power mongering, overpaid people who are hired and held onto for all the wrong reasons, which often include favors their county/district friends did for them. It is criminal and they ALL need to be dismissed, and charged, at their own legal expense – and when/if they are charged, especially with a felony, they need to be put on a NO HIRE list. I have a short list I could recommend. What kind of integrity and ethics are we teaching our children? All so that these people can keep their fat paychecks an their important titles?
No political pressure? It all depends on who Governor Deal appoints.
This is why we need school choice. The black power structure only cares about government jobs for adults and their friends. Their own children are the wreckage. And will wind up in prison, part of our welfare state or dead. And they keep cashing the checks. Eugene Walker, and every super that’s rolled thru the door included. And don’t forget the contractors from Pat Pope to Jeff Dickerson.
Looks like Michael Thurmond is a front runner in the current Superintendent search.
http://books.google.com/books?id=tieiul7uuEAC&lpg=PA147&ots=UmWd6WHTQR&dq=%22Michael%20Thurmond%22%20%22Gene%20Walker%22&pg=PA147#v=onepage&q=%22Michael%20Thurmond%22%20%22Gene%20Walker%22&f=false
Gene Walker, Michael Thurmond, Cynthia McKinney and civil rights activist Tyrone Brooks all have a history together. Bringing in Michael Thurmond is the very definition of nepotism.
DSW2 summed it up nicely,
Gene Walker and Michael Thurmond and their strong efforts to create a MAX BLACK plan for 3 gerrymandered to be majority black congressional districts in Georgia. What do you know, Gene Walker really does see everything in color!
( Thanks @Michael ! )
@ Maggie’s Daughter. Explain, please. How would school choice resolve the current problems in DeKalb County Schools?
It appears that we have school choice. That’s one reason why north DeKalb schools are overcrowded and south DeKalb has a lot of closed schools. Donna Edler, for example, has never sent her children to their neighborhood schools. Nor, to our knowledge, did she ever volunteer in the schools she sent her children to. Donna Edler is one of the embarrassing Board members who rarely seems prepared; who rudely got up and walked out of the room while fellow Board members (Pam Speaks, Don McChesney and Nancy Jester) explained why they voted the way they did for superintendent, but closed with a pledge to support Atkinson; and who later tried to justify her rude and childish behavior as “defending her civil rights” — oh, please! She also is desperately campaigning to be the next BOE chair.
But, I digress. How will school choice will resolve the current problems of corruption, thuggery, central office bloat, bullying, friends-and-family hiring at inflated salaries, racism run amok, legal costs skyrocketing, overall budget out of control, and administrative incompetence in DCSS?
I graduated from a DCS 30 years ago and instead of things getting better they are worse. Instead of progress as a country with a black president we are now speaking of racism in one of the greatest counties in the state. I agree get rid of all the Board Members and lets try a Hispanic or Asian board since everything seems to always be black or white.
This does not shock me one bit. This is just the beginning a lot more will start coming out.
Don.
What is your take on Amy Power’s new FB page “Druid Hills Charter Cluster”?
Here’s her post about a new Druid Hills “charter cluster”.
“The Druid Hills High School cluster of schools currently is exploring the potential benefits of petitioning to become a “charter cluster” of schools. Charter schools are public schools and receive all the funding that non-charter schools receive, but two words distinguish them from public schools as they exist today: autonomy and flexibility. A charter cluster of schools would be governed, not by the local board of education (in this instance, DeKalb), but by an independent Board of Directors with ties to each one of the constituent schools. A charter cluster would have waivers, or flexibility, from certain state and local rules and regulations, in exchange for a higher level of accountability for increasing student achievement. Charter schools use this flexibility to implement innovative or unique programs or models in order to provide educational opportunities typically not available in public schools as they exist today.”
WOW – so very sad. There should be only ONE objective/agenda – a quality education in a safe environment for the children – PERIOD. This BOE and the school administration are FAILING to focus on this and FAILING to delivery on this very clear and critical objective. The finger pointing, name calling, race issue raising has got to stop and stop now. We need LEADERSHIP that knows how to run a complex organization and knows how to select staffs that have the ability to focus and execute on this objective. I don’t care if they are purple, green, black or white. Governor – PLEASE TAKE ACTION!
I hope and pray that the governor removes the board and then re-appoints Pam Speaks, Nancy Jester, and you, Don. However, I fear that after this legislative session there won’t be much DCSS to govern. Dunwoody is advocating to change state laws to allow them to set up a separate city system. I don’t blame them; the Dunwoody community works hard to make their schools successful and it must be beyond frustrating to be tainted by the DCSS brush of scandal. Nevertheless, if their efforts with the state prove fruitful the results will be disastrous for the county. Other cities may follow, or areas such as Oak Grove/Lakeside will incorporate and then set up their own school system. Either way, if we do not retain our accreditation and if the board and central office (who are an integral part of the problem) cannot somehow regain the trust of the citizens, I predict that ultimately the county system will be broken up. I’m not sure such an end would work for the greater good.
Brookhaven, too! If you live in the city of Brookhaven or the city of Chamblee, please join us in pressing our state legislators to change the “rules” so that we can set up a charter cluster school system in our area(s). A Brookhaven-Chamblee Unified Charter School District would solve many, many of OUR problems!
– The Maven
Wow, if what you are saying is how it went down I believe it is a clear violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Thank you for writing this whistle-blower post.
@ The Maven
One of the contrbutors to DeKalb School Watch blog lives in the Brookhaven area. You are absolutely correct about the Brookhaven-Chamblee area expressing interest in an independent school system. However, it needs to be a fully independent school system, NOT a charter cluster. A charter cluster is still under the thumb of the corrupt DeKalb County School System. Plus, a charter cluster has to give DCSS 5% off the top of its per-pupil funds to continue to support the corruption, thuggery, central office bloat, bullying, friends-and-family hiring at inflated salaries, racism run amok, legal costs skyrocketing, overall budget out of control, and administrative incompetence that defines DCSS.
You are also absolutely correct that people need to write to their state representatives and senators and ask for the state constitution to be changed to allow additional city-based school systems. The state constitution has been changed many, many times over the years — and that includes changes to the maximum number of school systems allowed in Georgia. It really is no big deal and it should not negatively affect the rest of Georgia. In fact, the limit on the number of school systems is an unintended consequence of Georgia’s attempt to encourage very small (1,000 or fewer students) rural school systems to combine with adjacent small rural school systems for economies of scale.
However, DeKalb County Schools is a huge metro school system with very different needs from that of small rural systems. It is too large to be effectively managed and therefore ripe for the corruption, thuggery, central office bloat, bullying, friends-and-family hiring at inflated salaries, racism run amok, legal costs skyrocketing, overall budget out of control, and administrative incompetence that has brought DCSS crashing to its knees.
Thanks, Don, for stepping up! What the h**l can we teachers do to get the word out, and show our support?
Just a little reality check. My parents were educators in a small, semi-rural, mostly white county in Tennessee. My dad worked for the state DOE, and my mother was a highly respected teacher. Corruption and nepotism were rampant in their school system, and across the state. They are endemic to school systems everywhere. Culling out the wealthier parts of DeKalb and leaving the rest to hang won’t solve these problems, they’ll just create new ones, maybe even for the Dunwoodys and Brookhavens, but certainly for the rest of the county. I support public schools, but I think the only way to work against corruption in our schools is day by day, issue by issue, and never dropping our guard. The tendency for corruption to sneak in will always be there.
@Lee-Ann Here is a problem… DeKalb is not small and its easier to hide things in a “big” mess. I just confirmed that DKBOE seven years ago chose to ignore individual school performance and chose to accredit the system instead. It is a lot cheeper to accredit the entire system and a single school is not “singled out” for needs improvement. We got rid of Crawford Lewis and have kicked this can far enough down the road. We should demand that we change from a school system to an individual school accreditation system as soon as possible. The schools that are succeeding should receive a pat on the back and the failing schools should get the help they need, improve or close their doors. From what I understand, SACS has a plan to help individual schools if our district had chosen than plan. We got what we asked for now lets get over it and choose to examine EACH school. It will be uncomfortable to look at and tiring, embarrassing, expensive to work on our most dysfunctional schools. Frankly its time we did. I am tired of hearing how bad SACS, Gov Deal, GABOE is doing its job. I am tired of wasting time and money on legal fees, BOE mistakes and would rather that time, energy money go to SACS to accredit on a school by school basis any day! This school system approach we chose with SACS in DeKalb is STUCK on STUPID! http://www.advanc-ed.org/what-accreditation
Betsy Parks
Please tell us how it is cheaper to accredit the entire DeKalb County School System rather than just its high schools.
SACS has a plan? Which plan is that? By the way, SACS accredits on process and not performance. The worse schools in GA are accredited while SACS threatens the accreditation of counties like Cherokee.
According to the President of the University of Colorado in a WSJ article, For decades, [SACS has] effectively guarded the status quo, focusing on process and resources rather than on educational excellence.
I said accredit schools, not high schools. There are alot of schools to evaluate- it’s ALOT more expensive but that is a good use of $ to me unlike those millions of dollars for lawyers. It takes SACS less time and is less expensive to evaluate a system. For example, 400 hours per school as opposed to 40 hours per school. Go to the site I posted. Look at the two options- they are very different approaches. From what I read the “school” accreditation measures performance and parent satisfaction too. Saint Pius where my two youngest attend use SACS and every parent was given a survey to fill out. They were looking for educational excellence. Imagine that happening in DCSS! I am saying SACS could have been if DKBOE had wanted them to look at our schools as the Catholic schools did and still do.
I beg to differ with you and the President of U of Colorado in the WSJ. Maybe he was talking about accreditation of entire school systems and well that failed us too. It might work for a smaller school system but too easy to hide poor schools in this big mess even if it is “cheeper”.
You asked if “SACS had a plan?” Yep, and its online.
This is the school option I am suggesting we should have and should demand we use: http://www.advanc-ed.org/schools
This is what Crawford Lewis signed us up for 7 years ago: http://www.advanc-ed.org/systems
In my opinion this is stuck on stupid. I bet there are no “worse schools” than a few of our schools in DeKalb but they have not had to be accountable and “own it!” in my opinion for to long.
DKIO,
I don’t know what is cheaper, but it makes NO sense to me to allow over 100 schools to loose their accreditation when they do not have too. So if the board was in anyway interested in improving schools they would allow a by school accreditation which would identify successful schools and failing schools. Then you could have a method towards prioritization of effort and resources vs. a corrupt , self serving, politicized process for determining the allocation of resources and support.
COMMON SENSE! DKSS is rotten to the core and I applaud all of you on this blog for FINALLY bringing attention to it, however instead of attacking each other lets unite towards away ahead and resolving at least some of these issues. For those who are new to this disaster of DKSS, please realize that many of us who are speaking out now have tried waiting and giving Board members a chance for YEARS. You must realize that we have witnessed continued, bullying, corruption, nepotism, racism and fraud. These issues are not new to us like they are to you, but you as a result of SACS have an opportunity to do something to help your kids education by supporting the removal of the board and CRIMINAL investigations of the members and the school system. One last note, the centralized management approach which DKSS and the board utilize has been proven throughout time to produce one thing, corruption- not education.
Johnny
@ Cathy Buell
“Thanks, Don, for stepping up! What the h**l can we teachers do to get the word out, and show our support?”
We are speaking for DeKalb School Watch blog. Here’s what you (teachers, staff and parents) can do: Tell DeKalb School Watch what you know. Provide names, dates, events, meetings, etc. We are reporters and we know how to take that specific information, without attributing it to anyone or using anything that is personally identifiable, and investigate further.
We understand the risk to faculty and staff. But, Walker, Atkinson and the others are bullies and the only way to bring them down and obtain the “justice” (fines, prison time) they so richly deserve is to tell what you know. (They are counting on keeping you too scared to do that. We are counting on courageous people telling what you know as well as how and why you know it.)
If you know something because you are a confidant of Walker, Atkinson, et al or you are a highly placed employee, you may think that they will offer you protection. We can tell you, without equivocation, they will not. Walker, Atkinson, et al care only about themselves. Recent and past history proves that. Lewis tried to turn the heat off himself by implicating Pope. Atkinson quickly caved about Ralph Taylor. There is no honor among thieves.
DeKalb School Watch has no personal agenda. We have worked hard to be a source of documented information (not gossip) about the wrongdoings in DCSS. But, it all comes down to you being courageous enough to tell us what you know and trusting that we will keep all identifying information confidential. We will.
BTW — only two people have access to the password-protected DSW e-mail (dekalbschoolwatch@gmail.com) and we do not share the e-mail content or the password with anyone else.
Have you read “All The President’s Men”? We know that, in addition to Don McChesney, somewhere in DeKalb County is a “Deep Throat” willing to do the right thing. Are you that courageous person?
Failing Schools – What’s your definition of failing school? I’ll bet it’s much different than SACS’ definition.
Why did SACS get involved – It has nothing to with school performance or complaints from the public. If either of those were true, SACS would have come in during the CLewis reign.
Please, I am trying to be nice but you really should do your own research. http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/timeline-crawford-lewis-in-dekalb/nQfGh/
If you still need help with the time line and analysis please try being nice to me.
Betsy
Who are you talking to? How does that timeline relate to the discussion? Thanks.
SACS accredited schools in China listed below: But in Dekalb County we are going to claim SACS is picking on us? GA is 48th in the nation in education and one of the reasons is we consistently rationalize the failings of our GOVT schools, while the best kids attend the amazing private schools which have risen as a result of the FAILED schools systems. SACS accredits schools all over the world, I think it is time to listen.
Name Country City State Postal Code Type District
Chengdu Meishi International School CN Chengdu,Sichuan School
Clifford School CN Guangzhou Kwangtung Province 511495 School
Fortune Kindergarten CN Shanghai 201103 School
HKCCCU Logos Academy CN Hong Kong 0 School
Saint Paul American School CN Beijing 100192 School Nacel International School Systems
Shanghai United International School CN Shanghai 201103 School
Sheng Kung Hui Choi Kou School CN Macau 0 School
Wuhan Yangtze International School CN Wuhan 430056 School
Check out that timeline Betsy Parks put up (very nice timeline). Why didn’t any of that trigger SACS? What happened all of a sudden that triggered SACS to come in?
Based on my research seven years ago the DKBOE under Crawford Lewis tenure ended individual school accreditation by SACS. I believe any ongoing investigations or concerns were dropped and DK contracted with SACS to begin to accredit the entire system. I think it was a resetting of the clock or a get out of jail free card. Under this new SACS accreditation, SACS was going “invest” maybe 40 hours at each school instead of 400. However DK was filled with folks willing to lie, cheat, socially promote and steal. We had (have) some pretty slick operators as you can see in the time line.
Here we are facing loosing accreditation and we have in many ways “raised” and clearly voted in our arrogant dysfunctional BOE. In my opinion wvoters need to take responsibility and stare it down if it threatens to bite our children or bite the hand that feeds it. I hope GABOE, GOV Deal can remove the current BOE, replace it with people who can make solid choices for our community so we can all go back to our lives.
@ Johnny
We are sure you must have a point only we are hard-pressed to see what it is.
AdvancED/SACS accreditation has NOTHING to do with instructional quality … NOTHING to do with student learning and achievement. It is about “process” and “process, only.” Nancy Jester has AdvancED/SACS on audio record saying that. We guess you missed that in Nancy’s blog.
The story of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” is analogous to AdvancED/SACS accreditation:
“The Plot — A vain Emperor who cares for nothing except wearing and displaying clothes hires two swindlers who promise him the finest, best suit of clothes from a fabric invisible to anyone who is unfit for his position or ‘hopelessly stupid’. The Emperor’s ministers cannot see the clothing themselves, but pretend that they can for fear of appearing unfit for their positions and the Emperor does the same. Finally the swindlers report that the suit is finished, they mime dressing him and the Emperor marches in procession before his subjects. The townsfolk play along with the pretense not wanting to appear unfit for their positions or stupid. Then a child in the crowd, too young to understand the desirability of keeping up the pretense, blurts out that the Emperor is wearing nothing at all and the cry is taken up by others. The Emperor cringes, suspecting the assertion is true, but continues the procession.” [Reprinted with appreciation to Wikipedia]
Further, comparing even the top schools in the US to Chinese schools is comparing apples to oranges. It is pretty much meaningless.
But, we digress. Your point is …?
Wow. This is going from bad to worse. And, FYI, Tucker applied and was turned down for charter status – it means less money to the county. Again, not driven by students best interests. The teachers pushed for it, with the community behind them, and couldn’t make it happen (at the county level). And the climate at school is so bad that the local community students can’t stand to be in there! They feel as though they are in a prison. (Go figure with an ex-prison guard watching their every move!) Gone are the days of “knowing” your students – they are just a mass of students that might as well be a number. My son (and apparently all others) was told today that he could not go to the bathroom without a pass – during advisement, while watching a movie. He was furious! It’s out of hand!!! And the scary part of the now-outgoing Superindent was her view on mega-schools – a lot of these people have no appreciation for the small schools we have here in Tucker. They would rather shut down neighborhood elementary schools and opt for larger buildings. The thing they completely miss is that small communities are awesome, and those with schools in their neighborhood are even better. I would bet that you get more leaders out of 5 small schools than you would out of one large one. Maybe she is missing some early education training? Small schools foster communities where teachers and staff know each child by name – in an elementary school it works to build confidence and security. Children learn where they fit in their home, their school, thier community and so on. You can’t replace that with large environments where everyone is lumped together, and subject to crowd control mentality.
These candidates need to pay more attention to the educational and development of sound health and minds of the people we are trying to raise. Without a good solid foundation, we are merely raising crowds of followers, and likely ones with poor self-esteem and lazy attitudes. We are not just responsible for pushing children through a system! We have to have more skin in the game. Our children depend on us, and we will, in turn, depend on them. DeKalb needs to wake up and pay attention. Not only will we lose students, and produce poorly educated adults, but with it will go our real estate.
I’ll tell you something else, the race game has to stop! Education is here for everyone, as long as we provide it and expect students to live up to the goals we set. If we had teachers who wanted to teach, who were not overburdened and underpaid and miserable, while knowing the county employees are getting paid absurd salaries, we might actually have some teachers that could engage the students in the learning process. Most of the students are just passing time, and they are often the same ones who disrupt the learning process, and are rarely stopped because the teachers hands are tied. Sadly, there are some great kids out there in Tucker (and probably elsewhere) that have dropped out of school and no one seems to have noticed!! Yet the badly behaved kids are still in the classroom, undisciplined and just pushed through the system. The teachers can barely teach in some cases because of the level of disruption, and the students who want to learn can’t concentrate long enough to get anything out of the material presented.
I would guess that if Tucker sent the kids who are routinely disruptive and badly behaved to a separate school to learn how to act like reasonable people, and get over their bullying and sense of entitlement, we wouldn’t have 200 too many students, and the remaining ones would stand a chance at an education. They might even feel a part of their own school, and maybe be known by some of the administrators instead of treated like a number.
As for the overcrowding, it’s a dangerous game putting 200 extra students in a building full of hormonal teenagers. Again, what kind of people are being interviewed to run this district? Do they have any early-learning, or basic knowledge of human behavior? I sense they only have a big paycheck and a prestigious job in their sights. I feel more and more like we are headed into the gutters over here, and it is a terrible waste. This is an awesome community, with beautiful schools, and some great faculty and staff (especially our Principal Jackson, and some of the AP/Coaches – if you watch and listen you’d find that they actually care, and KNOW their students, but the county has rendered them powerless – but that’s a whole ‘nother topic!!). We just need someone at the county level who really cares about students, families and education to come on board. And I’m NOT suggesting we spend money on studies or surveys or any other such crap to get the job done. If we are not spending it on education, we should not be spending it.
For starters, cut anyone at the county level over 80K by at least 10%, and more if they’re over 100K – teachers don’t have a chance of making what the admins make – its a disgrace.
Thanks everyone for sharing! Lets hope something good comes of all this.
School Watch, Perhaps you should seek the meaning of my comments by putting them in the context of the blog.
DKIO consistently seems to focus on the SACS report and actions as if SACS were some back room organization which seeks to target DKSS, Nancy Jester has also seen fit, for lack of a better term to “shoot the messenger” rather than address the consistent failures of DKSS. The casual reader might not be aware that SACS accredits schools around the world and does not exist to somehow target the DKSS BOE. As far as the story of the emperor, to me it is analogous of the current BOE.
Too many Georgians want to blame the messenger, or question the process instead of dealing with the failure of our schools and our abysmal national ranking in education. It is not SACS fault that DKSS is a HOT MESS!
“DeKalb Inside Out on February 6, 2013 at 1:06 pm said:Why did SACS get involved – It has nothing to with school performance or complaints from the public. If either of those were true, SACS would have come in during the CLewis reign.”
“DeKalb Inside Out on February 6, 2013 at 9:17 am said:
SACS has a plan? Which plan is that? By the way, SACS accredits on process and not performance. The worse schools in GA are accredited while SACS threatens the accreditation of counties like Cherokee.”
So did you get my point?
Betsy,
Ahhhhh, I see where you are going. The reign of Crawford Lewis saw the migration to a district wide accreditation and that migration calmed SACS down. OK. I agree with that.
After the district wide accreditation move, Crawford Lewis and Pat Pope had RICO charges brought against them. SACS had no response. Seems like racketeering and corruption would be counter to SACS standards, but apparently not.
In conclusion, the only reason SACS came in is because Dr Atkinson asked them to. SACS is infamous for being strong arming boards for school executive administrations whether it’s grade school or college. –DIO
SACS “came in” because that is what they were contracted to do under the terms of DCSS contract. I personally wished it was faster and I would have never chosen to what I believe is socially promote (accredit) failing schools by accrediting the entire district but that It is the option our BOE chose. The statement “SACS is infamous for being strong arming boards for school executive administrations whether it’s grade school or college.” might even in some circles have risen to infamy but that is not a FACT. What is a fact is…If the BOE was dissatisfied with SACS execution of the contract they should have “spoken up” in a timely fashion, perhaps changed options or accrediting agencies. We as voters and taxpayers got what we contracted and paid for and now I think its time we changed things. I don’t think SACS is THE problem. Have you signed our petition yet? http://www.change.org/petitions/governor-nathan-deal-and-georgia-state-board-of-education-review-sacs-findings-if-accurate-replace-the-dekalb-county-school-board
Johnny,
Culpability – Who is to blame and for what?
SACS & State DOE
You and I pay A LOT of money for the State DOE and SACS to provide oversight. They haven’t done jack squat. SACS is focused on pronouns, training, and regurgitating Nancy Jester’s research. Barge and the State DOE are useless. Last month the State BOE was completely unprepared and squandered the only chance they’ll ever have at pressing the DeKalb board and administration. FYI, the rescheduled appearance before the state BOE isn’t happenin’.
DeKalb Board Of Education
The DeKalb BOE is a tyranny of the majority. The Walker 5 has given free reign to executive administrations for the last 6 years despite pleas from the other board members to hold them accountable.
Executive Administration
The majority of the blame goes here. They are the ones making decisions, putting reports together, lying to the board and public, destroying evidence, stealing money, etc …
I’m just trying to straighten out who has the power and who is the puppet. –DIO
Betsy, I wish you were right about SACS motives.
If the State BOE recommends the board be removed, please put me at the top of your petition.
Unfortunately, there will be no hearing, no witnesses called, no questions of the board or administration, no recommendation to remove the board and no removal of the board. If Orson aligns himself with the DeKalb Democratic Delegation, he’ll vote yes on Walker’s long time friend Thurmond coming in as Super. Jimmy Mac will do whatever Orson does.
If “that” becomes reality, I am glad I purchased my home in the Lakeside area as there is some hope that my family might be able to separate ourselves from the depths of hell. It’s so sad that I really can’t think about for more than a few minutes. Its like watching someone drown and even though you are a swimmer there is nothing you can do except save yourself. That hurts.
What does this mean?
“FYI, the rescheduled appearance before the state BOE isn’t happenin’.” There has not been anything in the media that would indicate the Feb. 21 hearing continuation is not going to occur. There was a consent order agreed to that allowed 30 days. The law requires a recommendation be made to the Governor. Are you suggesting that the state board will not make a recommendation?