Tom L.
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On the article Lakeside Cityhood Discussed at DeKalb Cityhood Meeting
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On the article Lakeside City Alliance Raises $2K at Oak Grove Event
Tom L.
7:16 am on Wednesday, April 17, 2013
ReplyHas the Carl Vinson Institute ever recommended NOT pursuing cityhood. I would feel far more comfortable supporting this push if the current leadership would vow to not seek office in the new city. From the outside this whole effort has smacked a bit of self-aggrandizement...
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On the article POLL: Would a City of Lakeside Be Too White?
Tom L.
7:04 am on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
ReplyReally? Isn't that, at its core, a racist question... no matter who asks it? Is the city of Atlanta too black. Come on people. The problems leading to a desire to create the city of Lakeside (a desire I do not share, though I live in its proposed boundaries) is NOT a question of race. It is a question of character. Duplicitous behavior on the part of leadership is an abomination regardless of the color, age, sex, or any other divisive way of looking at people. When are you people going to get this distraction and recognize that both our county leadership and our school board leadership has been, and still is unworthy of our support. The moment you mark this as an issue of race you bind subsequent leaders with a stereotype that limits their ability to freely lead with class and character. Please...
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On the article 'No Magic Wand,' Says Thurmond
Tom L.
6:54 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
ReplyIt might be a bit unfair to say that those who question the salary and expense account are "Thurmond's detractors." I am a career teacher, once in DeKalb, who questions those numbers regardless of the recipient. Starting salary for a teacher is $40K. $31K expense account puts DeKalb's priorities in perspective, doesn't it? I do not begrudge the supt. fair pay, but these numbers are steep for one with no experience whom we HOPE will turn the county around. I am not a detractor of Thurmond, I am simply one who is observant and has learned that we get backed into a corner with starting salaries this high for unproven commodities. Fool me once...
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On the article Beer Growler Nation Pledges to Give Back Each Month
Tom L.
9:24 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013
ReplyGive Constantine and Kelly credit. As members of the community, they have opened a business to serve the community thoroughly. They are doing a great job. Best wishes for a prosperous 2013 to them!
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On the announcement Hess Academy Open House Dates Announced
Tom L.
9:22 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013
Replyplease tell me that this typo is The Patch's. Otherwise, any school that cannot differentiate between prospective and perspective should be blocked from opening. Unless it is an Art School, I guess.
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On the article Petition To Oust DeKalb School Board Gains Momentum
Tom L.
9:00 am on Sunday, December 30, 2012
Exactly. I left DCS as a teacher because my principal recommended for nonrenewal all nontenured teachers at his school. He apologized to me, saying that we wished that he could keep me but that it would not make the same statement to keep one and fire the others. He justified the decision by stating that it was a way to prove that he was making a difference in the school. The next year he returned to his old position in the administrative offices of DCS to continue his fine work. I have since been teaching in the private school sector, where parents are involved, all employees are held accountable, and excellence is an expectation, not a surprise.
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On the article Petition To Oust DeKalb School Board Gains Momentum
Tom L.
3:17 pm on Thursday, December 27, 2012
Betsy, thanks. Unfortunately, it condemns by association. SACS lacks the gumption to call names. I cannot believe that the references to the inappropriate actions of board members is shared equally by all members of the board. The simple truth is that they are unwilling to be direct and honest with us. Not all of the board is corrupt. I have witnessed, as a lifelong resident of DeKalb County, a product this system, and a former teacher within this system shift to a race based decision making process. We have chosen to be led by inexperienced people and people whose ineptitude has been covered by moving them into the administrative level (thinking that getting them out of the schools would protect the integrity of the system). Inept employees should be summarily dismissed and adept people should be moved into leadership positions and publicly praised regardless of race. Instead, we pad our administration with people who should fired. When was the last time the teachers have gotten a raise? Yet our superintendent garners raises and perks. This system, led by self-serving/inexperienced/incompetent administration at the highest level both in the Board and the County level administration have succeeded in delivering a near fatal blow to a once thriving education system. Go into the schools. Talk with the teachers and administrators there. For the most part you will find good, honest, experienced, and hard working employees. You will not find the same in the county offices.
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On the article Petition To Oust DeKalb School Board Gains Momentum
Tom L.
2:00 pm on Wednesday, December 26, 2012
ReplySeveral problems with this petition. The school board needs replacing, not banishment. If I am not mistaken, we voted in replacements who have not had a chance to make a difference. They should, at least, be allowed to represent their constituency. Another issue is the power hungry manipulative characters who have peopled the Superintendent position for at least a decade, including the present kingpin. She should also be replaced, as she represents no real change from her dishonest, selfish, and moderately racist predecessors. Finally, an issue not being addressed is the appropriate involvement of a school board as an accountability agent for the superintendent and administration. As I understand it, our board is offending SACS for overstepping its bounds (which seem to be limited legally to the hiring and firing of the superintendent). There is no accountability in the system to reign in the power of the superintendent. This needs to be addressed, as well. If power corrupts...
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On the article Cliff Valley School Hosts Cross Country Meet
Tom L.
6:55 am on Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Please add context to MMO's statement that she is not unhappy with anything else. Taken on face value, that level of oblivion is a bit scary. If the big government of DeKalb is not working, why not try microgovernment? Seems like local involvement is working in Decatur. Look at their "sense of place". Look at their school system...