Thursday, May 9, 2013
This week's news that millions have been found in DeKalb's school budget begs the question: where should the money go? Patch wants your opinion.
Talk about a nice problem to have. DeKalb school officials this past weekend came across $21 million in previously overlooked revenue - news that interim school superintendent Michael Thurmond shared with "stunned" school board members Monday. Thurmond also said another $7 million in unaccounted revenue in the current fiscal year was discovered. So, if you were running DeKalb's school board, where would you spend the money? Teacher pay raises, or hiring more teachers? Better classroom technology? Paying down those legal fees the board's suspended members racked up at taxpayer expense? Or paying down the system's $15 million deficit? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below. See Also: Questions Arise After School Board Millions …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The plan for DeKalb's schools came out late Tuesday.
DeKalb County Schools Interim Superintendent Michael Thurmond unveiled a 90-day plan of action on Tuesday. Shortly after the plan went out, Patch met with Thurmond, who said: "Did you see the plan? Every day things get a little better, but every day you find something else that's wrong. It took years to get that way, and will take a while to fix." Dear DeKalb County School District Stakeholders, My first two months on the job have provided a unique opportunity for me to engage a cross section of DeKalb County School District (herein DCSD) stakeholders in open, honest and frank discussions. I have listened and learned. Now is the time for leadership. Working in partnership with Chairman Melvin Johnson and the members of the DeKalb County …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
A former DeKalb school board member will be live blogging during Wednesday night's board of education meeting.
Nancy Jester, a former member of the DeKalb School Board, will be live blogging during Wednesday night's board of education meeting. Her live blog will begin at 5:50, as the board prepares to convene its first meeting with six new board members that replace the ones suspended by Gov. Nathan Deal. Marshall Orson and Jim McMahan, both of whom represent portions of the North Druid Hills and Briarcliff communities, were not among the six suspended board members. However, Karen Carter, who also represents some portions of the community, is one of the six new appointees. The Lakeside community resident replaced Pam Speaks. You can follow Jester's live blog here on Patch. Follow Patch's Extensive Coverage of the DeKalb School Board: Gov. Deal …
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The new members will be sworn in at 1 pm on Wednesday.
Gov. Nathan Deal announced six new DeKalb school board members on Wednesday morning: Deal announced that the new school board members will be sworn into office at 1 pm on Wednesday afternoon at the DeKalb Board of Education offices. “I have reminded these individuals that we were brought to these circumstances because of issues of governance,” Deal said. “I have implored they work together cooperatively. I’ve also reminded them that we have a new school superintendent and I have every confidence that he will lead the school system forward.” Deal said he examined whether to reinstate any of the six suspended board members, but decided “it would be best to enter into this new process with a clean slate.” Deal also said Interim School …
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
The announcement is set for 11 am on Wednesday.
Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to announce replacements for six suspended DeKalb school board members on Wednesday. A panel appointed by the governor has spent the last several days vetting the candidates. The panel also met with Deal Tuesday morning to discuss their findings and recommendations. “I am overwhelmed by the extraordinary group of people in DeKalb County who stepped forward to try to help their community,” Deal said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon. “I greatly appreciate the nominating panel’s hard work and the difficult choices the members faced when narrowing down a field with so many excellent candidates. These individuals have worked with the best interests of DeKalb’s children in mind, and I’m proud of the …
Monday, March 4, 2013
Gov. Deal can now proceed in finding replacements.
U.S. District Judge Richard Story ruled against members of the DeKalb County Board of Education on Monday afternoon, according to Channel 2 Action News. The six suspended members, Sarah Wood, Jay Cunningham, Nancy Jester, Eugene Walker, Pamela Speaks and Donna Edler, had filed a motion, heard Friday, arguing that Governor Nathan Deal's suspension was unconstitutional. The judge's ruling allows Deal to proceed with finding new board members. Deal announced last week that he signed an executive order that accepts the State Board of Education's recommendation that six DeKalb school board members be removed. Deal has also appointed a nominating committee to recommend new members of the school board. After a 14-plus-hour meeting, the State …
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Gov. Deal had called a Monday press conference, announcing whether or not he would suspend six members of the DeKalb Board of Education.
A federal judge has issued a restraining order that prevents the suspension of six DeKalb school board officials by Gov. Nathan Deal. Over the weekend, Judge Richard Story issued the order, according to Channel 2 Action News. The order does not prevent Deal from suspending the school board members, but does prohibit their actual suspension until a hearing is convened on Friday. Deal had scheduled a Monday news conference to announce whether he was suspending six members of the DeKalb school board. After a 14-plus-hour meeting on Thursday, the State Board of Education voted to recommend that Deal remove six members of the DeKalb school board. The board voted unanimously to recommend that Sarah Copelin-Wood, Donna Edler, Eugene Walker, Jay …
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Replay Patch's live coverage of Thursday's marathon hearing.
The State Board of Education voted late Thursday night to recommend the removal of six members of the DeKalb School Board to Gov. Nathan Deal. The board voted unanimously to recommend that Sarah Copelin-Wood, Donna Edler, Eugene Walker, Jay Cunningham, Nancy Jester and Pamela Speaks be removed from the DeKalb school board. If Gov. Deal follows the board's recommendation, Jim McMahan, Marshall Orson and Melvin Johnson would remain on the board as newly elected members. The recommendation came after a meeting that began at 8 am and ended at 10:15 pm. The meeting was the latest in the DeKalb school system's ongoing battle to avoid losing its accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools, which has already placed the …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
School Board member Marshall Orson spoke in front of a tough crowd Tuesday night.
DeKalb School Board Member Marshall Orson (District 2) held a nearly three-hour Town Hall Meeting in the Emory community off North Decatur Road Tuesday night, updating a packed room of parents and neighbors on the events that have taken place almost daily since the state BOE gave DeKalb a 30-day window to prove their commitment to an improvement plan. The state BOE is scheduled to reconvene Thursday at 8 a.m. to finish the hearing started in January that was required by a law intended to help school systems protect their valuable accreditation. But, the law has had its own share of controversy when, in 2010, then-Governor Sonny Perdue removed Warren County's school board, but the state Supreme Court overturned that decision. The law was…
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in Fulton County Superior Court.
The DeKalb County Board of Education has filed for a temporary restraining order in advance of Thursday's hearing with the State Board of Education. The suit was filed Tuesday in Fulton County Superior Court, according to the AJC. As reported here on Patch, DeKalb's school board was scheduled to appear once again before the State Board of Education on Thursday at 8 am. 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 under probation. The State Board has the power to recommend removal of the entire school board to Gov. Nathan Deal. DeKalb Board of Education Chairman Eugene Walker resigned from …
bulldogger
8:43 am on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Tom, the best way to pay down the County's Debt is, #1 Stop creating it, and #2 Get rid of all the Fraud, Waste and Abuse of our Tax Monies that flow to this corrupt organization. Get rid of all the Family and Friends that have been given high paying jobs they aren't even remotely qualified to perform. As for that illusionary "money", show it to me. I would suggest the BOE get an independent, … more ›