Share Your Vision Tonight or Tomorrow Night
Parents, students, faculty, staff, and taxpayers of DeKalb County Schools are invited to participate in the 2020 Vision for DeKalb Schools tonight, November 29th held at Henderson Middle School from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
To learn more about "charrettes" and this opportunity, click here. This is your opportunity to participate in break-out sessions and talk about the needs of the school system.
Everyone with an interest in the future of the DeKalb School System should plan to attend this important event!
If you are unable to attend the charrette at Henderson Middle and have not attended a previous one, the last one will be offered at Peachtree Middle School tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 30th from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Take the Online Survey
If you have not yet taken the 2020 Vision Survey for DCSS, click here to do so. Scroll down and click on "take the survey". You can see the results and comments by clicking here.
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Most Importantly - Get out and VOTE in the runoff on Tuesday!
Polls open at 7 a.m. for the runoff election - Tuesday, November 30th! In District 1, incumbent Jim Redovian faces challenger Nancy Jester and in District 7, incumbent Zepora Roberts faces challenger Donna Edler. For info on the candidates, click here. Please remind your friends and neighbors in Districts 1 and 7 to vote one more time on Tuesday.
Your Regular Polling Place is Open
7am-7pm
Tuesday Nov 30th
88 comments:
Vote Jester for District 1!
Vote Redovian for District 1!
GO NANCY!!! Vote Jester for District 1!
Vote Roberts District 7!
A vote for Roberts is a vote for more of the same. Vote for Donna Edler!
http://www.donnaedler.com/
Vote Jester for District 1. Contact at least 3 of your neighbors and ask them to come out and vote. Ask them is they're satisfied with the way the DeKalb County School System has been run.
Voter Message from your House Representative Mike Jacobs
DeKalb County Board of Education, District 1
I am supporting Nancy Jester.
Jim Redovian, the incumbent school board member for District 1, is a very nice person. He also has some accomplishments to show for his work on the Board of Education. Most recently, he played a key role in the BOE’s vote to use an allocation of federal stimulus bonds to tear down and completely rebuild Chamblee High School.
But our school system is in dire straits. Self-dealing, nepotism, and outright corruption (click for AJC articles) have dominated this year’s headlines about the DeKalb County School System. Now, the system’s accreditation is in jeopardy (click for AJC article).
Redovian has been a part of the go-along-to-get-along crowd on the school board, having voted to give former Superintendent Crawford Lewis a pay raise less than five months before Lewis was indicted. He has been campaigning on his ability to work with other school board members. Under present circumstances, that is not a badge of honor.
Now more than ever, we need someone representing our community on the Board of Education who will be an aggressive fiscal watchdog. Nancy Jester, an actuarial consultant by profession, has both the moxie and the analytical skills necessary to push our school system in the right direction. She is my choice for District 1 on the DeKalb County Board of Education.
Please note that the Board of Education District 1 race is only on the ballot in neighborhoods north of Windsor Parkway (Murphey Candler, Silver Lake, Chamblee, and Dunwoody, to name a few).
And a message from Senator Dan Weber:
Dear Friends and Neighbors:
I hope you will consider voting for Jim Redovian (DeKalb School Board) and David Nahmias (Georgia Supreme Court) in tomorrow’s runoff election.
Like many of you, I have watched and been involved with the DeKalb School System for many years. Here are the reasons Jim deserves our support:
1. Most, if not all, if the current nine member school board will remain intact. Now, more than ever, we need Board members who can build consensus and Jim deserves our support because he has demonstrated the ability to work with all other board members. His recent success in obtaining a 9-0 vote to build an new Chamblee High School once again demonstrates this.
2. Jim strongly supports reform of the system, including the idea of charter clusters and charter schools.
3. Jim supports hiring a superintendent who will be reform minded.
4. Jim has been endorsed by EduKalb, an independent group of knowledgeable business, political and community leaders who screened all candidates, and endorsed Jim for District 1.
For many years, we have had board members (Terry Morris, Brad Bryant, Bebe Joyner, Lynn Grant, Chip Franzoni among the ones I have known personally) who scoured the budget and invested untold hours working as watchdogs over the system. These efforts, while important and necessary, did not change the direction of the school system. Jim Redovian knows and understands his role as a policymaker is limited. The most important thing now is hiring a superintendent who will bring meaningful change to the system, and I believe Jim will do a good job along these lines.
As for the Supreme Court justice race, the choice is not even close. David Nahmias is by far more qualified than his opponent.
The AJC is blogging about redistricting in DeKalb today. Some interesting comments, read and participate here:
http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2010/11/29/dekalb-faces-challenges-in-upcoming-redistricting/
@anon 106pm,
I'm with you! I'm voting for Nancy Jester and I'm telling everyone to vote for her. Vote for Nancy Jester!
It's funny that Dan Weber's "endorsement" of Jim Redovian basically admits that he is not going to read or bother much with the budget since, according to Dan, that doesn't do any good anyway. I would not exactly call this a ringing endorsement of Redovian!
There is no reason we can't have a BOE rep who does both -- reads and understands the budget AND wants to hire a new super who will reform the system!
What Weber is saying is true. It hasn't mattered what the BoE members have done. Womack understands the budget, Redovian understands the budget, etc.
What matters is getting the right kind of superintendent, something that not everyone on the board agrees with.
This is the only way things will change in DeKalb. Changing a few board seats is irrelevant.
Getting the right leader is critical. Really critical.
Anything else is meaningless.
I want Nancy Jester on that board picking a new Superintendent. She'll keep an eye on everyone too.
"What Weber is saying is true. It hasn't mattered what the BoE members have done. Womack understands the budget, Redovian understands the budget, etc.
What matters is getting the right kind of superintendent, something that not everyone on the board agrees with. "
That must be why Womack and Redovian hired and then extended the contract of Dr. Lewis and then voted to give him a raise while they cut teachers salaries and increased class sizes. Very enlightening.
I want to add to the comment above.
Bureacrats at almost every level of government have almost no accountability.
We may get made and vote out an elected official, but the bureacrat who is doing a crummy or mediocre job will remain.
The contract issue is far more complicated than you present it.
What Womack did was to save the tax payers 10s of thousands of dollars by renegotiating Lewis' contract and adding the clause that allowed Lewis to be fired at the will of the board, regardless of cause. In addition, under the previous contract Lewis was due a bonus, that also went away.
A board member can only "look over" the superintendent. She will be a policy maker and is not to be involved in the day to day operation of the system.
@anon 512,
Those policies matter. That's one reason SACS in looking at us. If the BOE had been doing their job, we wouldn't have SACS to deal with.
I can't believe anyone would be arguing that we don't need a watchdog on the Board. How is that even a legitimate position? Of course we need someone to do this and be honest with the public. Redovian doesn't even review his meeting packet. Let's be honest about how he operates. He doesn't put in the work. Womack may have known about finance but how long has he been retired? How old is he? We need new people on the board.
I'm voting for Nancy Jester.
This was the comment I submitted on the survey. I strongly believe that if they try to implement many changes for the 11-12 school year, the whole plan will fail.
"I believe that the timing of these decisions is inappropriate. Any decisions made at the beginning of 2011, need to go into effect in August of 2012. While it may be unpleasant to discuss, there are going to be families who will be unhappy with your recommendations and they will need time to make other choices.
You need to fix what ails schools first, bring in the strongest principals you can find to the weakest schools, increase discipline, fix facilities and improve teaching before you ask a parent to move their child from a higher performing school to a lower one."
"
What Womack did was to save the tax payers 10s of thousands of dollars by renegotiating Lewis' contract and adding the clause that allowed Lewis to be fired at the will of the board, regardless of cause. In addition, under the previous contract Lewis was due a bonus, that also went away."
Then why did he and Redovian and Roberts vote to hire him and then renew his contract. The buck stops with the BOE. They hire the superintendent and approve all substantial expenditures for programs and facilities. Can anyone say they have done a good job?
Jim Redovian is true to Dunwoodyas well as DeKalb as a whole system. Jester is great as a parent but no experience on a Board and EXPERIENCE DOES MATTER when DeKalb is at a crossroad. There is no time fo "ON THE JOB TRAINING". A single board member has no power nor authority> If she wins that will certainly help South DeKalb because she won't have any support and that's SAD!!!
http://northlakestation.blogspot.com/
Good source of info on Lakeside High and the surrounding area
That's really a radical statement Anonymous 7:01 PM. I can't believe the board would not try to work with a new board member. In fact, I think Womack, Speaks, Walker and McChesney would disagree with you; they are all pretty new to the board and have settled in just fine. You expect people to vote for someone because you think the other people won't work with someone new? We've got SACS issues if that is really true.
Anon 7:01pm
You are just wrong! She will have lots of support. She already does.
Nancy Jester listens, and understands the issues that this district faces. She is a hard worker and will continue to be out working hard for the children in District 1
If his record on this school board is the kind of experience your are talking about,well heaven help us . This board has been a failure in so many ways. He has been a part of that. There is no way around that. His and this boards record speaks for itself.
I will be voting for NANCY JESTER!
GO NANCY GO!!!
If new school board members do get elected the other board members will work with them. Each board member only has one vote. They all must work together.
Most of our school board members are retired and out of touch with what is really happening with young people today. New young blood would be nice to see.
@ anonymous 7_01
"Jester is great as a parent but no experience on a Board and EXPERIENCE DOES MATTER when DeKalb is at a crossroad. There is no time fo "ON THE JOB TRAINING". A single board member has no power nor authority..."
Thank you. So that's the reason Jim Redovian always voted for everything Crawford Lewis and Pat Pope proposed - because his vote didn't really count - why vote or shed any light on the malfeasance or questionable ethics of Lewis. Things turned out really awful for taxpayers and DCSS students anyway, so maybe he should have spoken up for doing right by students.
Enough with the back and forth on district one. If you are happy with the way things have been going then vote for the incumbent. If not, don't. It's really as simple as that.
Same for District 7. If you're happy with the way things have been going in the DeKalb School System, vote for Roberts. If not, vote for Edler.
Why oh why haven't the incumbents sent in their profiles?
It would help the readers compare and decide in a fair and intelligent way.
Why oh why would people running for school board not participate in a forum that reaches so many constituents?
That should tell us a lot right there!
Mr. Weber:
1. Most, if not all, if the current nine member school board will remain intact. WHY AGAIN IS THIS A GOOD THING? LOOK WHERE IT'S GOTTEN US SO FAR. I'M SURPRISED THAT SOMEONE OF YOUR LEVEL WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT'S GONE ON UNDER THIS "INTACT BOARD'S" WATCH.
Jim strongly supports reform of the system, including the idea of charter clusters and charter schools.
3. Jim supports hiring a superintendent who will be reform minded. REFORM? WHEN DID THIS START? BEFORE OR AFTER THE CORRUPTION AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OF HIS FRIEND, CRAWFORD LEWIS? SURELY, YOU JEST. ARE YOU PULLING OUR LEG TO SEE IF WE KNOW YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS? ARE YOU SAYING THE RIDICULOUS TO SEE IF WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION?
AND EDUKALB ENDORSED JIM, YOU SAY. SO, YOUR POINT IS??
i honestly don't know what else to say, Mr. Weber. Except your view of things really scare me.
HEY OUT THERE ... TO ALL DONNA EDLER SUPPORTERS
go to www.donnaedler.com and make a monetary contribution so she CAN BE VISIBLE ON THE STREETS tomorrow.
With the crazy weather, this could be a very close election. We need a lot of reminders out there, we need a lot of sign holders. 24 precincts to cover!
Every little bit helps near the end of the campaign ... so if you can contribute even a little to help defray the costs, please go to DONNA EDLER'S website and find out how.
WWW.DONNAEDLER.COM
Jim Redovian is a very nice man. But it stops there. His intentions are good, but doesn't go the extra mile to get it done. Too much blind support of a corrupt system.
Jim didn't necessarily deserve the legacy that Crawford left him in return for his blind constant support, but it is what it is. Blind support and not speaking up for what's right no matter what the cost sometimes has dire consequences.
This is one reason why NANCY JESTER is the answer. She won't blindly follow. She won't go only two steps toward right ... she'll go all the way. She will be accountable to her constituents and will hold others accountable. She will protect us from the corruption that's bound to try to rear it's ugly head again (all the corrupt people aren't gone) at some point. That's what greed does.
When people, even nice people like Jim, are willing to look the other way rather than REALLY get involved in making things right, even if it's unpopular ... well, it doesn't take a genius brain to know things will snowball into where we find ourselves today.
Every board needs someone who looks after taxpayer money, but more importantly every board needs someone who looks after the children's interest.
Donna Edler and Nancy Jester are those people. Financially savvy, children in the school system, dedicated workers in their children's schools, in it for the long haul - they would both be excellent additions to the school board.
Please do send Donna a contribution - she needs to know that she is backed and can hire some help tomorrow!
WWW.DONNAEDLER.COM
Get real folk, do you really think the Board was not as deceived and shocked by all the lies and misinformation they were given? That's why we need some incumbants to now know what the symtons are and what to avoid. I have seen this most recently. By the way, this Board, it was Donna Wagne who nominated Lewis for Supt. and Lynn Cherry who supposted it so strongly because they didnot want a STRONG, Well Qualified African American to have the job because he was student oriented, knew instruction and administration and most of all demanded respect. He was no puppet. Our lost was Mercer University's gain. So don't place all of the blame on the present Board.
I applaud every person who spends time reading this blog and makes the effort to speak their mind. Pro / Con, Good or Bad. It shows that you care and it is needed for all the children that are in DCSS.
The simple fact is that the uninformed population of this county vote who they are told to vote for.
We are arguing about a runoff and we had an incumbent convicted felon PIZZA shop owner get 85% of his districts vote versus a highly educated, well spoken PHD. college administrator who was willing to take a massive PAY CUT to be on the DCSS BOE and the voters gave him 12% of the vote.
Sad but true.
I predict redistricting will be soon and the real fight is in this 2011 Legistlative session to reduce the size of our current board from 9 to 5 and have 2 board seats that have super district status.
This happens once every 10 YEARS!!!!!!!
The time is NOW to contact your elected officials and voice our concern.
I predict a new thread on this blog sometime very soon with the names and phone numbers of our Dekalb delagtes to contact.
Stay tuned.
Sagamore 7
"Get real folk, do you really think the Board was not as deceived and shocked by all the lies and misinformation they were given?"
So you're saying they are gullible? That's not a good reason to re-elect them.
The argument about on the job training for Jester or Edler is ludicrous. When Franzoni left and Redovian ran for that seat, he had no experience at being a BOE member. So now we must keep the incumbent because things would be worse if we elected a new BOE member?
Jester has been to all the workshops and she has been through the newest DCSS budget and with her actuarial skills she is more than capable to handle the rigors of being a BOE member.
This logic of having to keep the status quo, for experience sake is bad. Nancy Jester is the right candidate, at the right time for District 1.
On Friday, November 12, 2010, I sent the following e-mail to Marcus Turk:
"I sent this to you on Tuesday, November 9, 2010, but have not heard back from you yet. I just want to make sure you received it. Please let me know when I may expect to hear back from you.
"I also copied the BOE, including my representative, Jim Redovian, who is running for re-election. I am assuming that this [utility] service information was provided by you to the BOE prior to the [Nov. 8] meeting. Otherwise, the BOE would have been uninformed and voting "blind" on this. So, just sending me what you provided to the BOE will be fine.
"Here is what I need to know: Please tell me which DCSS schools and other facilities are served by each of these vendors (listed below) who were pre-approved by the DCSS BOE on Monday, November 8, 2010 to exceed $50,000 per fiscal year in charges to DCSS:
"Cobb Electric Membership Corp
"DeKalb County Revenue Collection
"Georgia Power Company
"MXEnergy Inc
"Snapping Shoals EMC
"Walton EMC
"What are the anticipated charges for for the current fiscal year for each of the vendors listed above?
"Which company provides natural gas services to DCSS schools and other facilities?"
I was particularly interested in knowing why Cobb EMC was pre-approved to bill DCSS more than $50,000 in this fiscal year.
Marcus Turk wrote back on November 12 and refused to answer these questions or to send me the information that was provided to the BOE without an Open Records Act request. Jim Redovian never answered, nor did anyone else on the BOE.
Here's the kicker: On November 24, my e-mail to Turk was opened by "user164¸sutherland¸com (64¸202¸222¸164:4861)"
What are these people (Marcus Turk and the BOE) hiding? Why was a simple request for information that surely was provided to the BOE would be forwarded to the Sutherland law firm?
That is why I will vote for Nancy Jester tomorrow -- and why District 7 voters should vote for Donna Edler.
Get real folk, do you really think the Board was not as deceived and shocked by all the lies and misinformation they were given? That's why we need some incumbants to now know what the symtons are and what to avoid. I have seen this most recently. By the way, this Board, it was Donna Wagne who nominated Lewis for Supt. and Lynn Cherry who supposted it so strongly because they didnot want a STRONG, Well Qualified African American to have the job because he was student oriented, knew instruction and administration and most of all demanded respect. He was no puppet. Our lost was Mercer University's gain. So don't place all of the blame on the present Board.
What say you? Hey, how about this? I'll listen to you when your words actually make sense. Also, use spellcheck.
We are arguing about a runoff and we had an incumbent convicted felon PIZZA shop owner get 85% of his districts vote versus a highly educated, well spoken PHD. college administrator who was willing to take a massive PAY CUT to be on the DCSS BOE and the voters gave him 12% of the vote.
Sad but true.
This is why DeKalb County (along with our property values) are going down. The people who ARE the constituents make these unbelievable decisions.
Jester has been to all the workshops and she has been through the newest DCSS budget and with her actuarial skills she is more than capable to handle the rigors of being a BOE member.
RIGHT ON, BROTHER! GO, NANCY, GO! WELL SAID ... COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER. ANY COMMENTS FROM MR. WEBER? No, I think not. He's done his bit, and it's off his list. He won't even be reading our responses. He's scratched a back... time to move on.
First and foremost, don't rely on AJC for facts. There WAS NO CONVICTED FELON REELECTED TO THE BOARD. Evidence of that was proven to voters in the 5th District. Evidently, his constitients were satisfied with the true facts.
Dr. Nooks taking a big pay decrease to be on school board...what a farce. The dude just mved here from D.C. a year ago and ddn't even attend one PTA meeting at Flat Rock Elem. last year where his child attended school. No body in South DeKalb herad of him until he was recruited and financed by Republicans as THEIR candiate for EduKalb. Remember he camein rd which is last...there are reasons.
Each voter should vote for the candidate who represents them best and not be influenced by anyone else. When one's support comes from out of the voting district it is really time to do your homework. We already have one "Tom" on this Board. JUST VOTE!!!
What do you mean "Tom?"
We need a board of 5 and I hope that everyone will send notes to their legislators encouraging them to support the initiative to shrink the DCSS board.
Seven would be an ok change as well, but 5 would be better. Remember, if it doesn't work, it can always be changed back.
If people would be forced to campaign in a larger area, the quality of candidate would have to improve, I believe.
Zepora, is that you? These are old, racially divisive statements and we are all choosing to move past it. We want a professional board who will roll up their sleeves and get to work. There are no "Tom's" on the board - that is just a desperate campaign comment.
I think that Nooks was perceived as an outsider, because in many ways he was. New to the community, he had not yet had time to build relationships and become visible in the area.
That isn't the way politics works anywhere and it isn't really a reflection of the voters in District 5.
Teh real question is where are the more involved public figures in the community and why didn't they run for school board?
Thank you, Jim, for all you've done and will continue to do. I appreciate the fact that you took the high road in this campaign and never once took part in any mud slinging. You are truly a great man!
Please vote today
Actually, I don't think there was much mud-slinging at all. In fact, that is surprising, as several board reps up for reelection have made headlines in the last year (all but Jim, actually). They certainly left themselves open for mud. I would give the best kudos for restraint in that department to Donna Edler.
I've taken the survey on-line. Is there any reason to attend the charrette tonight?
I like this comment:
Fruit served in public school cafeterias must be ripe or the child must be given the option to keep it until it becomes eatable.
But this one makes me quite sad:
We have a 2 yr old daughter and a son on the way. We would like both to be educated at Ashford Park Elem. If the district is redrawn to send our kids to Cross Keys, we will bail on the DeKalb Co Public School System and send our kids to private school.
This person does realize that Ashford Park is an elementary school and Cross Keys is a high school right?
I think this comment shows the need for school choice. School choice should not be limited to "failing" schools or other administrative type transfers. Let's just offer as much choice as possible - if a school has seats - open them! If every school was a charter, what would happen? Why not go all out and start up a full voucher program? Radical decisions need to be made, IMO.
DM - I think you would enjoy the charrette. You should go. It's very involved - group participation.
DM
I think you would like the charette. Some of the questions are actually different from the survey and while your small group experience will vary depending on who is in it and who the moderator is, it is an opportunity to at least hear what folks are saying.
I was at the charette last night and found it to be well done and an opportunity to hear what others are thinking. (Over 300 people were there, which I thought was a great turn-out given the weather!) Of course there were a few parents who "are going to move if they are redistricted" but for the most part, people seemed to be searching for solutions to make schools equitable. That is one of the big problems of any change in the attendance lines: going from a "have school" to a "have-not"
Anon. 8:48
Jim did not participate in any of the mudslinging since he did not have many chances to. Jim decided to not attend many of the forums, until the very end.
Jim's record has been a hodgepodge of political delights.
-Jim said in a BOE meeting, "I didn't get a chance to read the files that the staff prepared, but I'm ready to make an informed decision." I ask, informed by whom?
-Jim leads the charge for a new building for Chamblee High.
-Jim said, the votes are there to move the magnets to central DeKalb, when it comes to a vote. He is against this measure, we think, however he said after the vote, the attendance issues at CHS will be resolved. Confused? I sure am.
-I was for Clew before I was against him.
-The big one for me is that he has told his constituents that he is FOR a millage tax increase for schools on top of SPLOST.
I say No new money for DCSS until they can prove to the stakeholders that they are not using the additional funds for Central Office personnel or furniture.
VOTE OUT THE INCUMBENTS
Anon 10:40 AM
,b>That is one of the big problems of any change in the attendance lines: going from a "have school" to a "have-not"
HUGE PROBLEM. HUGE PROBLEM. HUGE BARRIER.
This is off the Fernbank Science Center website. So their AP proram serves what - 30 kids a year max in AP Chem and 30 kids max in AP Physics?
I'm puzzled as well how high school students can come from the northern and southern end of the county after their high school day ends and be there by 3:00 pm:
Advanced Placement Chemistry
AP Chemistry is a full-year college-level chemistry course designed for students who intend to major in a sciencerelated field. This course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first college year. Students will attain a deep understanding of fundamentals and a reasonable competence in dealing with chemical problems.
Instructor: Ms. Vashonda Dailey
Day/Time: Mon and Thurs 3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Prerequisites: Chemistry, Algebra II
Credit: 1.0 Carnegie Unit
Advanced Placement Physics
A two-semester course in calculus-based physics for prospective science and engineering majors. Our course emphasizes experimental work and problem solving, and can give successful students a year of college credit.
Instructor: Mr. Michael Dowling
Day/Time: Mon and Thurs 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Prerequisites: Calculus (concurrently), Physics (recommended)
Credit: 1.0 Carnegie Unit
Do you think we could just call FSC up on the phone and they would give us a breakdown of where the students come from?
Regarding AP science classes at Fernbank. To take these classes, you must have a 3.0 average and have teacher recommendations. Is this what is required of all students who take AP classes - 3.0 and teacher recommendations?
FSC sounds great for high achievers, but from the discussion on this thread, it sounds like students who don't have the most stellar grades are needing access to AP classes for the rigor and college experience. I'm not sure how FSC AP classes are applicable to them.
To apply, students must submit an application obtained
from their school counselor or from the Fernbank Science
Center website. To be considered, students must have a
GPA of 3.0 or higher, submit a recommendation form from
a science teacher and provide a brief statement explaining
why they wish to enroll in the course. Please note that
the Center's policy requires students to have good
attendance. Participants may be dropped from a course
after three absences.
I was #106 at my polling place. The poll worker stated it had been pretty steady for a runoff election.
I'm off to vote. Unfortunately, there is no BOE incumbent running in my district to vote out, but there's other important business to be decided by the voters.
I saw Nancy Jester waving this morning! Go Nancy Go!
Should a student with less than a 3.0 GPA be counseled to take AP classes? I would argue "no" - same for IB. These curricula require commitment by the student which is not exemplified by less than a B GPA. The AP Physics C at FSC is a calculus based, 2nd year physics course. It is significantly more difficult than the AP Physics B level more typically taught at the average HS and is designed for a student who wants to study engineering or science in college. It is not suitable for a student who want to "experience" a college course. Very few high schools can fill an entire AP Physics C class (Chamblee, and maybe a few others) so it makes sense to teach it at central location.
FSC AP course typically have students from Dunwoody, Tucker, and even Lithonia. Since most school do not have enough students to fill AP Physics (C level) the only option is to combine kids from multiple schools.
@ anonymous 6:09 pm
"It is significantly more difficult than the AP Physics B level more typically taught at the average HS and is designed for a student who wants to study engineering or science in college. It is not suitable for a student who want to "experience" a college course. "
So Fernbank Science Center is NOT really an option for most students who are in schools that don't offer science APs. It's not comparable to the ordinary AP Physics class. I'm assuming the AP Chem class is the same way. now it makes sense why so little students are in these classes.
Just clarifying.
There are two year long AP Physics courses - B and C. While C is more advanced, and not suitable for all students, I am glad our county is able to offer it for the students who want to take it. This course is offered at most of the better private high schools in the area and at many public high schools in Gwinnett and N. Fulton and is a great course for students who want to pursue science.
The AP Chemistry at FSC is the same course taught at some, but not all, high schools.
The college board website describes the content and prerequisites for these courses.
Does anyone have a link to election results for DeKalb for the runoff?
I noticed this morning that ODE while backing Redovian and Edler in the election was only looking for help for their phone tree for the District 7 race. Perhaps they have backed down on their support of Redovian.
Does anyone know whether the AP Physics C class at Fernbank covers both the Mechanics and the Electricity & Magnetism subsections? (AP Physics C at Chamblee covers both, but my teen isn't at Chamblee.)
Is Fernbank Science Center a central location?
"Does anyone know whether the AP Physics C class at Fernbank covers both the Mechanics and the Electricity & Magnetism subsections? (AP Physics C at Chamblee covers both, but my teen isn't at Chamblee.)"
Yes, same course. And the kids take two AP exams at the end, one for each section.
As for whether Fernbank Science Center is central - is there a better location?
This appears to be the first news on the election:
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/rain-delays-ballots-in-760401.html
The DeKalb Neighbor is covering election results as they get them via Twitter. Here's the link to their Twitter page: http://dunwoody-neighbor.com/stories/DeKalb-Election-Night-Live-Feed,165111
Thanks for answering my AP Physics question.
There is now an Unofficial Results pdf on the http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/voter/ElectionResults.html page.
Even though it says 100% of precincts are reporting, it's hard to believe that only 101 votes were cast in the District 1 runoff, or only 608 in District 7. Something is still missing, but at this point, the challengers are way ahead of the incumbents.
Now the unofficial results report that in the District 7 race, with 100 percent of the precincts reporting and 1,727 votes cast, Donna Edler has 75.28 percent to Zepora Roberts's 24.72 percent. In the District 1 race, with 100 percent of the precincts reporting and 1,619 votes cast, Nancy Jester has 67.26 percent and Jim Redovian has 32.74 percent.
They are clearly having website issues.
http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/Voter/pdf/UnofficialGeneralRunoffNov302010.pdf
If you look at the column under polling you will see that 100 percent haven't posted yet. Only a third on district 1 is in and 2/3rdds of district 7.
As of 8 p.m., only 15 of 189 precincts had turned in their ballots in the Superior Court judge's race, showing DeKalb prosecutor Courtney Johnson in the lead over Dunwoody lawyer Michael Rothenberg.
Sounds like there are real problems in DeKalb.
The timestamp at the top right-hand corner will change as updates occur.
The latest update time 20:34. 16 of 24 precients for D1.
Sorry, 8 of 24 precients.
Happy Dance!! Happy Dance!!
In the past, they have updated very slowly. Given what the AJC is reporting, we probably can't expect it to be very different tonight.
I would like to congradulate Nancy Jester and Donna Edler. I think both of these ladies will do an excellent job. Both of these ladies are young and have children in the school system.
I also want to thank Zephora Roberts and Jim Redovian for their years of service. Both of these individuals have spent many hours representing their communities and trying to do what is best for the children of DeKalb.
In a run-off election you never know what will happen. It was a very rainy day and the turn out appeared to be very low today. If it had been a nice day the totals could have been much closer.
I think both of these individuals will do an excellent job and will work hard to represent all the citizens of DeKalb County.
Actually 40% of the school board members who were up for election will not be returning or 2/5 members. That is actually a fairly high percentage. Those two votes may make drastic changes on the school board the next two years.
100 percent reporting and jester wins in a landslide!!!!
Where are you seeing this. If you look at the polling places reporting, then you see that only 8 of 24 have reported.
Is there a more recent report than this one time stamped at 2034
http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/Voter/pdf/UnofficialGeneralRunoffNov302010.pdf
Refresh. All precincts are now in. Jester wins with 55%. Edler wins with 72%.
NOTICE OF DEKALB BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS:
The DeKalb Board of Education will hold the following meetings on Monday, December 6, 2010:
5:15pm Called Meeting to adjourn executive session to discuss a personnel matter
Administrative & Instructional Complex, Cabinet Room
6:00pm Work Session & Business Meeting
Administrative & Instructional Complex, Board Room
1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
===
Be sure to check the Calendar icon on the side panel of the home page for the latest schedule of meetings and events.
Also -
DEKALB BOARD OF EDUCATION
Instruction & Board Policy
Committee Meeting
Monday, December 6, 2010
4:30 PM
AIC Cabinet Room
1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
(checking the agenda, there's not much about instruction slated to be discussed)
A. CALL TO ORDER
By: Dr. Pamela Speaks, Committee Chair
B. DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Public Participation in Board Meetings, Descriptor Code BCBI
Presented by: Ms. Judy O’Brien, Attorney, Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan
2. Naming Facilities, Descriptor Code FDC
Presented by: Dr. Morcease Beasley, Interim Deputy Superintendent Teaching & Learning
3. Staff Political Activities, Descriptor Code GAHB
Presented by: Dr. Jamie Wilson, Chief Human Resources Officer
C. CITIZEN COMMENTS
D. ADJOURN
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