Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The three DeKalb school board members who remain state their point of view.
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Wednesday, February 27
As elected representatives on the DeKalb County Board of Education, we find ourselves in a unique and confusing situation. We are the three members of the Board of Education not subject to the State Board of Education's review process because we joined the DeKalb Board in January 2013, and the State Board's action concerned the nine Board members who held office prior to January 2013. We, along with Superintendent Michael Thurmond, are committed to restoring full accreditation and focusing our efforts on the academic achievement of DeKalb's 99,000 students and the professional well-being of the people who teach and serve those students, and we pledge to restore making outcomes for children the priority of the DeKalb County School …
Thursday, February 7, 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 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.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
McMahan lives in the Sagamore Hills area.
DeKalb Board of Education District 4 member Jim McMahan and District 6 member Melvin Johnson were sworn in Monday, Jan. 7 at the school district's headquarters, along with newly-elected member Marshall D. Orson. McMahan beat Paul Womack in a run-off last last year. Pamela Speaks, who was re-elected to her seat, was also sworn in Monday. Orson represents District 2.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Jim McMahan and Marshall Orson will take over the DeKalb County Board of Education's districts two and four seats in January.
Incoming DeKalb County Board of Education member – and District 2 representative – Jim McMahan said the board, moving forward, must have a unified vision to solve the school system's challenges. From a Thursday story in Neighbors Newspapers: One of the reasons he ran for the board position was that he was tired of the infighting. “I want the board to have a single unified vision,” McMahan said. “I want the board to come together and be one supportive team.” McMahan will take over for outgoing school board veteran H. Paul Womack. McMahan said he believes one of the biggest issues the school system faces is balancing its budget. He said he hopes his experience in the financial industry, as a residential mortgage loan officer, will serve to …
Monday, August 20, 2012
A local voter and Patch blogger endorses Jim McMahan in the DeKalb County Board of Education's District 4 runoff race Tuesday.
If you live in the DeKalb County Board of Education's District 4 – or even if you know someone who does – please make a note that this coming Tuesday, Aug. 21, is a very big day. It is the date of the runoff election between two candidates for the board of education, the incumbent, H. Paul Womack, and his challenger, Jim McMahan, a parent with children at Sagamore Hills Elementary School. Here are the area voting precincts: Briarlake Elem, Brockett, Brockett Elem, Dresden Elem, Embry Hills, Evansdale Elem, Hawthorne Elem, Henderson Mill Elem, Hugh Howell, Lakeside High, Livsey Elem, Midvale Elem, Midvale Road, Montreal, Northlake, Oak Grove Elem, Oakcliff, Pleasandale Elem, Rehoboth, Sagamore Hills Elem, Skyland, Smoke Rise, Tucker, Tucker…
Friday, August 17, 2012
"A majority of voters voted for non-incumbents," DeKalb school board District 4 candidate Jim McMahan said. "People wanted some new leadership … going forward, I hope for a similar outcome."
School board District 4 voters will go to the polls next week to cast a vote for Paul Womack or Jim McMahan. Those voters will either get someone – McMahan – or a DeKalb County Board of Education veteran they've long voted into his seat at the polls. McMahan said he thinks its going to be him, according to a story this week in Neighbor Newspapers. From the story: "A majority of voters voted for non-incumbents," McMahan said. "People wanted some new leadership … going forward, I hope for a similar outcome." Here's some of our coverage of the election: The Neighbor Newspapers story also includes analysis regarding the District 6 runoff featuring Melvin Johnson and Denise McGill.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Womack received less than 50% in Tuesday's primary.
Three contenders were vying to unseat District 4 incumbent Paul Womack in Tuesday's election for the DeKalb County Board of Education, but it looks like a runoff in three weeks will decide the issue. Womack, who was first elected in 1981, received 6,705 votes and 46.60% percent, compared to his closest challenger Jim McMahan, who received 4,019 votes. All 189 precincts have reported, and early, in-person votes have also been counted. The Board of Elections has started the process of counting more than 5,000 absentee-by-mail ballots. Speaking to Patch after the results came in, Womack said, "Well, there's going to be a runoff. On the whole, people sort of voted for 'out with the old, in with the new'." He also faced challenges from Tom …
David Warlick
3:38 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
"We will not be satisfied until every decision made by the DeKalb County School District is made on the basis of how it advances our responsibility for student achievement." That sounds like the new Board's first action will be to develop a strategic plan. Good start! :-) more ›