tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post1480291673707347460..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: Don't let the board sweep the leaks under the rugCerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-66201988027590871422011-05-03T07:32:36.719-04:002011-05-03T07:32:36.719-04:00That's interesting, themommy. She certainly w...That's interesting, themommy. She certainly was interviewing for several jobs at once. Good for her. I would imagine her robust requests for compensation from DeKalb was what it would have taken to make her choose us over one of the others. It's nice to be in demand! Our loss... <br /><br />Also, interesting article about the new principal at IHM. Seems our kinds of troubles even exist in little Catholic schools -<br /><br /><a href="http://northdruidhills.patch.com/articles/immaculate-heart-of-mary-names-new-principal?ncid=M255" rel="nofollow">Immaculate Heart of Mary Names New Principal</a><br /><br />Education certainly has become a hotbed for community outcry.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-38728550886481350152011-05-03T07:10:48.350-04:002011-05-03T07:10:48.350-04:00As suggested in various posts and conversations, L...As suggested in various posts and conversations, Lily Cox has accepted a job as superintendent of a 23,000 student school system in NC. She was previously employed as an administrator here. <br /><br />http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2011/may/02/8/hickory-schools-superintendent-leave-july-ar-998811/themommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01829171693817032539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-67983423382164573492011-05-02T20:26:35.826-04:002011-05-02T20:26:35.826-04:00The Board needs to address the leak before any new...The Board needs to address the leak before any new candidates will consider DCSS. First, while the BOE must select the new superintendent, it is ridiculous for the full Board to be involved in day-to-day contract negotiations. The Board should leave the negotiations up to a compensation consultant or the Sutherland law firm. Bowen is an attorney and works for a large firm and he knows this. Corporate boards do not negotiate with the future CEO-this is done by attorneys or the compensation committee. Once they reach the best deal possible, it is presented to the full board for a thumbs up or thumbs down.<br /><br />Second, while I like Downey, I am not giving her a pass on this one. She knew this was confidential, non-public information. Would she have reported confidential medical information about a candidate? I think not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-8560107086507448032011-05-02T20:18:36.835-04:002011-05-02T20:18:36.835-04:00This is a test message.This is a test message.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-8198069704364976032011-05-02T17:04:18.833-04:002011-05-02T17:04:18.833-04:00I'm with No Duh! PLEASE PLEASE, insiders and f...I'm with No Duh! PLEASE PLEASE, insiders and folks in the trenches, come back! Asset1, Asset2, is perfect! You can call yourselves Heroe, The Real Deal, I Teach, golly, anything. <br /><br />Just come back - we need you.Dekalbparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16376422781260452873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-16347212388715635522011-05-02T16:54:19.664-04:002011-05-02T16:54:19.664-04:00No, I'll make a new post... stand by...No, I'll make a new post... stand by...Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-92114684995537852352011-05-02T16:51:30.690-04:002011-05-02T16:51:30.690-04:00Cere, can we make this post the open thread for to...Cere, can we make this post the open thread for tonight's meeting? I hope more assets come forward. We need to hear from you! What's amazing with all this is that Tom Bowen actually thinks everything is great! Far from it, Tom, DCSS is a disaster thanks to YOU!Atlanta Media Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16934015425859698186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-4296579502575641232011-05-02T15:56:23.312-04:002011-05-02T15:56:23.312-04:00Tune in to tonight's board meeting -- PDS Comc...Tune in to tonight's board meeting -- PDS Comcast 24<br /><br />DEKALB BOARD OF EDUCATION <br />WORK SESSION & MEETING <br /><br />Monday, May 2, 2011<br />6:00PMCerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-43447827789377850802011-05-02T15:48:29.172-04:002011-05-02T15:48:29.172-04:00If Womack knows who it is, why doesn't he say?...If Womack knows who it is, why doesn't he say? He was personally pushing Culver during the night the three candidates answered questions. He's not known for liking smart women.<br /><br />All of these BOE members have such huge egos (a couple are the exception) that I wouldn't be surprised if they were just chatting up Belcher and running their mouths to show how powerful they are. I mean maybe one of the six who wanted her was just stupidly talking. Maybe it wasn't Machiavellian. Maybe it was Womack and he's just trying to cover up his "oops." The old "me thinks he doth protest too much."<br /><br />I don't know. The whole thing makes my head hurt and my heart sad for the children and taxpayers of DeKalb County.<br /><br />I do miss hearing from y'all who are in the trenches. Really only takes a second to make up a name for yourself and register. You are DCSS' true assets. How about registering under the names Asset, Asset I, Assest II, etc. Come back y'all!!No Duhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00544438085465296470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-90898730154057408042011-05-02T00:06:46.873-04:002011-05-02T00:06:46.873-04:00The fraud continues! Folks nothing is going to ch...The fraud continues! Folks nothing is going to change. Friends and Families will keep their jobs for now. New Birth will continue to deduct tithes directly from DCSS payroll and Tom Bowen is still Chairman of the most ridiculous, fool filled BOE this nation has ever seen!<br /><br />Tom do the citizens of DeKalb a huge favor and resign! The fact that CLew's leadership circle is still employed by DCSS is very telling! It also tells me there is no plan to move on and truly follow the mission statement of DCSS. Instead, the system will continue to fail because DCSS would rather pay lawyers and unskilled employees, who just happen to be friends or family of people in high places. Enough Tom, your five minutes of fraud are up big guy! Time for your trip to the dustbin of local political hacks!Atlanta Media Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16934015425859698186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-57657225646724071242011-05-01T20:39:10.678-04:002011-05-01T20:39:10.678-04:00Open & Trans Tom did disclose (it was in the ...Open & Trans Tom did disclose (it was in the AJC) that his mother-in law worked as a teacher for DCSS. It was not disclosed whether she got the job before or after Tom joined the BOE.<br /><br />All of the comments on this thread are well taken. But the powers that be have won this round to keep the status quo. Ramona or some other insider will be appointed. Nothing will change unless the balance of power shifts to get rid of the personal agenda people when the BOE goes to 7 members or SACS takes over. The latter is very unlikelyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-23101317290208050872011-05-01T14:51:37.614-04:002011-05-01T14:51:37.614-04:00Add to this, the previous board, which includes so...Add to this, the previous board, which includes some current members, as well as some things that happened as the current board was charged with oversight - This is beyond unforgivable, yet our board just dodged the blame and moved on. Too few in the public are aware and even fewer seem to care thus these things will continue.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wsbtv.com/news/23828923/detail.html" rel="nofollow">DeKalb Schools Forfeit Millions in State Money</a><br /><br />How is it that with so much oversight, so much legal representation, and people at the state raising red flags, that our board still was not able to figure out that they were being duped by Lewis and Pope? Is it ineptness? Is it that they were cleverly deceived? Or was it because they were too busy with petty arguments and stomping out small fires, many of their own making, that they failed in their fiduciary responsibility? <br /><br /><i>In the midst of a major budget crunch, Channel 2 Action News has uncovered more than $10.5 million that DeKalb County Schools failed to collect in state construction reimbursements.<br />Lynn Jackson, Associate Superintendent for Business Operations for Georgia’s Department of Education told Investigative Reporter Jodie Fleischer the district repeatedly missed deadlines to submit paperwork and failed to follow state guidelines to qualify for the reimbursements.<br />“I was perplexed by this. Truly, I could not understand why DeKalb County could not comply," said Jackson.<br />When the DeKalb County School District built McNair High School, the state was planning to contribute $297,010. However, the district missed the deadline to turn in paperwork, thereby forfeiting the money for that project. The same 18-month deadline was also missed for projects at Stone Mountain Middle and Peachtree Middle.<br />Recent indictments for racketeering against former Superintendent Crawford Lewis and former Chief Operating Officer Patricia Pope mentioned four additional schools where the state noticed problems years ago.<br />Lewis and Pope are also accused of authorizing payments for Pope's then husband, an architect who made millions on school projects.<br />Jackson said, "It's not our role to criminally investigate anything. We knew there were problems and we withheld state funds because there were problems."<br />Jackson said she couldn't think of another school district with a worse track record. “It was Pat Pope and Crawford Lewis that I met with repeatedly and I handed these documents to," said Jackson...<br /><br />===<br /><br />Below is a list of each school construction project the state questioned, the reason for the problem, and how much money the school system lost. <br /><br />Arabia Mountain High --$1,231,990.00<br />5-year deadline passed for expending state reimbursement bonds *MONEY CANNOT BE REGAINED <br />Miller Grove High --- $1,173,659.00<br />5-year deadline passed for expending state reimbursement bonds *MONEY CANNOT BE REGAINED<br />McNair Cluster Elementary--$524,999.50<br />5-year deadline passed for expending state reimbursement bonds *MONEY CANNOT BE REGAINED <br />McNair High -- $ 297,010.00<br />18-month deadline passed before DeKalb Schools submitted the request for reimbursement <br />Peachtree Middle-- $733,468.00<br />18-month deadline passed before DeKalb Schools submitted the request for reimbursement<br />Stone Mountain Middle --$ 890,131.20<br />18-month deadline passed before DeKalb Schools submitted the request for reimbursement<br />Columbia High-- $ 907,904.00<br />DeKalb Schools violated state law by failing to bid out 2nd phase of construction, Pope’s ex-husband remained on project<br />Flat Rock Elementary-- $4,747,248.00<br />After money was approved, DeKalb Schools opted to fund with local bonds instead Mountain Industrial Center. No money forfeited. Failed to submit architectural plans for approval until AFTER students were already in the completed building<br /></i>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-80053060117069962712011-05-01T14:27:30.574-04:002011-05-01T14:27:30.574-04:00Even though Sarah Copelin-Wood apparently supporte...Even though Sarah Copelin-Wood apparently supported Dr. Cox, she also has played racial politics in order to get her way - she manipulated the members of the Citizens Planning Task Force throughout the process - <br /><br /><a href="http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2010/10/things-to-remember-at-polls.html" rel="nofollow">Things to remember at the polls</a><br /><br />According to the AJC, Wood made phone calls and pitted one school against the other in her own district. I think that’s very wrong,” Coward said Saturday. “She’s supposed to represent all of the schools in her district.”<br /><br />Reached at her home on Saturday, Copelin-Wood denied the allegations and refused to answer some questions.<br /><br />“This is a lie,” said Copelin-Wood, who represents District 3. “The person who would do that was mad they didn’t get their way. I don’t have to answer to them.”<br /><br />“As a board member, she [Copelin-Wood] has the responsibility to stay neutral and not make this a racial issue because it was not a racial issue,” Coward said. “But she kept making comments about black and white task force members.”Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-56850932246664231052011-05-01T14:19:41.293-04:002011-05-01T14:19:41.293-04:00To add to your comment, fedup, there is no way tha...To add to your comment, fedup, there is no way that we will ever complete a contract without at least a year's severance package. This board has proven themselves unpredictable and anyone we would hire would certainly insist on protection. Besides, how is it that different from the contract the board has entered with Tyson? She gets a serious salary ($250,000?) plus a year at that salary AFTER the new super is hired (to mentor???) and $2000 a month for expenses that do not have to be itemized. I believe there is more...Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-34232417958687432642011-05-01T14:01:26.604-04:002011-05-01T14:01:26.604-04:00I really had hoped that the new members to the boa...I really had hoped that the new members to the board would not allow status quo to continue. I am not hearing their voices of concern or outrage by this and other offenses committed by Tom and board members. The entire board needs to go and we need new leadership in the district. I do believe that the state or someone needs to take over and make heads roll. We have too many administrators with little teaching experience and a board that cares more about jobs for friends and family than the education of our children.<br /><br />America is in an education crisis and it's because we have the Department of Education mandating all kinds of really unnecessary things that cost districts more money than they receive, and because of unqualified local school board members who don't have the mental capacity to understand what the children need.teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05376631088818447603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-78093767054160723532011-05-01T13:40:33.255-04:002011-05-01T13:40:33.255-04:00Fedup is right on! Why isn't the board workin...Fedup is right on! Why isn't the board working harder to find out who leaked this.<br /><br />First, this board is still a very much "You scratch my back, I will scratch yours." They each have their pet projects or constituencies that they need to protect and they refuse to jeopardize those valued assets. If you don't believe me, just reflect back to the redistricting vote a few months ago.<br /><br />Second, rumor is that Cox wasn't coming anyway. This was not her first offer, but a counter from her to a board's counter offer from her original offer. She is fielding offers and interest from other school systems, most of which, even at a lower pay off, are more attractive.<br /><br />Finally, this is a board that continues to be reluctant to hold themselves or each other accountable for anything. Senator Emanuel Jones introduced ethics legislation specific to the DCSS board and it never left the delegation. Surprise! <br /><br />This is the legislation that Womack got into a spitting match with Jones about and called himself God. Citizens would have recourse to file an ethics complaint. Right now, we have no path to address grievances with the board.Anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13434798345498298882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-67130370337600109202011-05-01T13:13:03.977-04:002011-05-01T13:13:03.977-04:00Beyond Tom, I also find it odd that more Board mem...Beyond Tom, I also find it odd that more Board members aren't aggressively trying to hunt down the leak. That is truly puzzling.fedupindcsshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11895950244074463477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-5892492252575309112011-05-01T11:29:09.314-04:002011-05-01T11:29:09.314-04:00The thing is, for as long as I can remember, the o...The thing is, for as long as I can remember, the only real work the DeKalb school board has done has been to "react" to crises. There has been very little dedication to improving education. They are far too busy putting out fires - many of which are set by themselves.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-53374400533379507782011-05-01T11:19:17.457-04:002011-05-01T11:19:17.457-04:00http://www.ajc.com/opinion/an-open-letter-to-54992...http://www.ajc.com/opinion/an-open-letter-to-549921.html<br /><br />By Tom Bowen <br /><br />There have also been questions about why the board was unaware of the activities alleged in the indictment.<br /><br />Ultimately, however, the final responsibility rests with the board. We accept that responsibility and will review our public bidding procedures and strengthen our ethics policies.<br /><br />When internal reviews reveal irregularities in bidding and other procedures, we will report those to the proper authorities, as the school system did in this instance.<br /><br />Whenever the focus of our board and administration, parents and supporters is shifted away from education, we face a challenge far greater than the controversy that distracted us.Open+Transparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02248529568051717909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-29084686898209871982011-05-01T11:17:22.377-04:002011-05-01T11:17:22.377-04:00Remember when Bowen allowed the incoherent and inc...Remember when Bowen allowed the incoherent and incompetent Sarah Copelin-Wood berate Tyson for 20 minutes non-stop at a BOE meeting? Remember how passively Bowen reacted to the "I'm Gonna Slug You" mess? It was front page news, and damaging to the county in so many ways.<br /><br /><br />http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb-school-boards-behavior-668737.html<br /><br />As a DeKalb County board member berated the superintendent during a 20-minute rant about school redistricting being racist, another turned his back to her. Two others whispered in the corner.<br /><br />A week earlier, the board reprimanded its vice chairwoman for threatening to slug a reporter.<br /><br />The two incidents in August have garnered thousands of hits on YouTube and may be talked about by DeKalb residents more than the school system’s lagging academic performance and its search for a superintendent to replace the one who was just indicted. <br /><br />The board’s behavior and alleged corruption that led to criminal charges against former schools superintendent Crawford Lewis and three other school officials have drawn the attention of accreditation officials. <br /><br />Lewis was fired in April, so in the midst of this, the squabbling board has to try to hire a superintendent qualified to run the district. The board plans to hire a firm today for a national search for a new schools’ chief. <br /><br />In May, Lewis, former chief operating officer Patricia Reid and two others were indicted on charges they ran a criminal enterprise at the school system. Prosecutors say Reid funneled multimillion-dollar school contracts to her then-husband, architect Tony Pope, and his friends. In exchange, Lewis and Reid pocketed high-priced sporting tickets and other items, prosecutors said. <br /><br />In the past several months, DeKalb school administrators were caught profiting by selling their own books to their schools, and board member Jay Cunningham’s pizza parlors sold $22,000 worth of food to schools.<br /><br />Communications strategist Bill Crane, who is a member of eduKalb and a graduate of DeKalb schools, said residents need to look at high-achieving systems and the qualifications of their board members. <br /><br />“If you look at smaller communities, you see bank presidents, hospital executives, Fortune 500 businessmen, accountants and Ph.D.s on their school boards,” he said. “Here, you see some of that, but you also see political activists with a parochial view.”Open+Transparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02248529568051717909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-52735370994287340902011-05-01T11:10:11.336-04:002011-05-01T11:10:11.336-04:00This all falls on Tom Bowen.
A board chair with a...This all falls on Tom Bowen.<br /><br />A board chair with any leadeship qualities would have reacted strongly to "The Leak". A strong chair would have met immediately face to face with Dr. Cox and remedied the situation, and convinced her this was the place for her to become supt.<br /><br />Tom Bowen was the chair of a board that directly supervised a supt. who is now under criminal indictment. Tom Bowen allowed and enabled his chief operating officer to act in such a manipulative manner that she is also under indictment.<br /><br />Tom Bowen has never disclosed to the public that he has relatives working for the system. Tom Bowen is a disgrace. Tom Bowen is a phony. Tom Bowen has little ethics. Tom Bowen is a wimp.<br />Tom Bowen has "no stones".<br /><br />We deserve so much better.Open+Transparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02248529568051717909noreply@blogger.com