tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post3996738570068845659..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: Did you Know? DCSS has a pretty darn large police department all it's ownCerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-79737107754168093572010-02-05T20:40:42.612-05:002010-02-05T20:40:42.612-05:00Just to chime in, they are also at all the public ...Just to chime in, they are also at all the public meetings, athletic events and many other venues for school-related activities.<br /><br />I think that there is a very unique role for the SROs in our schools vs. DeKalb PD. There is a clear distinction in my mind for the training and role they play.<br /><br />Again, I think the "public" is right to question the value of all the administrative apparatus above the officers but there is no doubt in my mind that there must be such a security organization and contracting this sensitive area out doesn't make sense to me.<br /><br />Long before we slash or outsource security let's look at facilities and grounds maintenance, the many vaguely defined management roles, even procurement.Kim Gokcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01855554437157990110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-57783180866292537512010-02-05T20:37:43.637-05:002010-02-05T20:37:43.637-05:00Gwinett, Cobb and Fulton County Schools have their...Gwinett, Cobb and Fulton County Schools have their own school police departments also. All dept are similar to Dekal's.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-40367562747869822332010-02-05T20:30:35.849-05:002010-02-05T20:30:35.849-05:00The school officer are 12 month employees. Let'...The school officer are 12 month employees. Let's be fair. Have we forgotten about summer school and other activities that take place during the summer.Even though school is a 180 days there are 2 sessions of summer school not included in the 180 day count. The officers man these various summer locations also. Crime does not stop at the end of the 180 day cycle. If you take the time to question some of the teachers and students they will express the great need and their appreciation of the officers.When a fight breaks out involving 15-20 students you want some one there ASAP who can quickly gain control of the situation but also because of their daily contact with the students can quickly identify all parties involved. Hiring officers outside of the school system is not wise because you will get officers hired only to make money with no intrest in the well being of the students. Talk to the people whom the officers really matter to. Our children.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-90557564864596197232010-02-05T20:12:22.438-05:002010-02-05T20:12:22.438-05:00School Resource Officers are experienced officers ...School Resource Officers are experienced officers with six or more years spent policing in other jurisdictions such as Alanta and Dekalb.These officers are on site daily and the are responsible for not only preventing and responding to criminal incidents but the also mento, coach counsel and teach classes also. Many of the crimes committed in the communities are solved because of the relationship the Officers are able to develop with the students, faculty and staff. They also deal with child abuse and other sensitive issues.Have any of you taken the time to review a breakdown of the crimes commited in and around the schools that the officers respond to. Remember that schools are part of the community and whatever is going on with ou children ends up at the school.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-31333382137903143242010-01-24T20:06:52.861-05:002010-01-24T20:06:52.861-05:00Another valid point. It seems to me that the easi...Another valid point. It seems to me that the easiest and fastest way to knock down the budget is to take it from the teachers. This must stop. Other departments have plenty of fat that can be trimmed before we go asking for teacher pay cuts or tax increases.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-79109036243751845822010-01-24T18:20:46.892-05:002010-01-24T18:20:46.892-05:00I did not see Information Systems listed in the at...I did not see Information Systems listed in the attached budget. This department is one of the largest support departments in the county, consuming millions of dollars in personnel costs. Why is it not listed here? Why are we not thinking of outsourcing that department or at least parts of it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-44784892146919736752010-01-23T23:37:54.795-05:002010-01-23T23:37:54.795-05:00I feel that the SRO at my children's middle an...I feel that the SRO at my children's middle and high schools are (unfortunately) necessary. They do a good job and are very visible.<br /><br />Now the graduation coach is another story. He is worthless and has been in the DCSS system for many, many years which tells me he is making a lot of money to do nothing.<br /><br />Jim Hansen, one of the directors, is in charge of fire and safety. He oversees installation, maintenance and operation of all the fire alarm systems, security cameras and intrusion alarm systems. This is an important position. When you talk about "security" it includes the physical security of the many buildings owned and operated by DCSS and their contents.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-3513904533423906732010-01-23T20:01:09.234-05:002010-01-23T20:01:09.234-05:00Too many chiefs (of police) and too few indians (t...Too many chiefs (of police) and too few indians (teachers). Nuff said.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-30441837142690052592010-01-23T19:25:26.787-05:002010-01-23T19:25:26.787-05:00Yes, many of these officers are at the central off...Yes, many of these officers are at the central office. The central office is considered a campus. In fact you have SRO who duties are just the school board in general and the central office. I have never seen the need for this. I think it would be cheaper to hire off-duty police officers.<br /><br />Again Dekalb County is a big employer and you continue to hear School Board members concerned about cutting jobs. Jobs need to be cut. We hired or elected our School Board members to make those hard decisions and make those cuts for the citizens of Dekalb. They are not suppose to be social services. <br /><br />If we got rid of employees we do not need and paid our teachers what they deserve we would be much better off. <br /><br />I watch SRO or Office Supervisors sleep in their carts on DeKalb Campuses for years. In fact at Lakeside the Campus Supervisors destroyed a cart that students had put up on a landing as a senior prank. The students pushed it up there on pieces of wood. The Campus Supervisors drive the cart down the steps and broke the cart. Now I am not in support of the prank. However, I do think it was horrible to make the parents pay for damages when in fact the Campus Supervisor did not have sense enough to know that the students did not get the golf cart up on the landing by driving it. We are talking about kids who do not have good judgement at this age and adult men who equally had poor judgement at their age.Ella Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16485840445272819682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-37990651719575760062010-01-23T15:01:24.934-05:002010-01-23T15:01:24.934-05:00We are not saying that we don't need security ...We are not saying that we don't need security in our schools - we do. We are saying that there are too many of them and too many people in their administration. I personally, cannot pinpoint where all of these officers are located. <br /><br />If you add up the SROs and the campus supervisors, you get 183 officers. (Is there a difference between SROs and campus supervisors?) We only have 21 high schools and 20 middle schools and about 10 "centers". People are saying that only a 2 elementary schools have campus security. <br /><br />So - if we put one officer in each HS and MS that means we need 41 officers. Say we put 2 officers in each - that means we need 82 officers of some kind. <br /><br />BUT - we have 63 Resource Officers and 120 campus supervisors (are they officers or are these those guys that yell at you from their golf cart in the morning to move your car along?)<br /><br />Could it be possible that MANY of these officers are assigned to the central office somehow? I'm not counting this many in our school buildings.<br /><br />Just sayin'Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-91478230188454671292010-01-23T13:35:14.330-05:002010-01-23T13:35:14.330-05:00Only 2 elememtary schools have SRO's. There u...Only 2 elememtary schools have SRO's. There use to just be one department that handled Security and the Police. About two or three years ago, the department was split into two. Then a person was promoted to be over the security department. If someone is willing to do the research you will see that what I am saying is true. The schools do need police. There are things that happen that do need to be investigated by detectives. I do not know that we need two different departments.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-9351520933864616152010-01-23T12:27:07.767-05:002010-01-23T12:27:07.767-05:00I agree Anon 12:25. I have no probem with SRO'...I agree Anon 12:25. I have no probem with SRO's, but it seems like the whole department is very top heavy and bloated. DCSS can't do anything in an efficient manner. Things grow and grow and grow, with no checks and balances. How do millions in spending like this always slip past the BOE??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-23905753824198597022010-01-23T12:25:22.250-05:002010-01-23T12:25:22.250-05:00I don't think anyone has a problem with a SRO ...I don't think anyone has a problem with a SRO at every elementary school, with two SRO's at larger middle schools and at all high schools.<br /><br />It is definitely worth looking into on the expenses of a full-time SRO with benefits and pensions who are only needed 180 days a year vs. the cost of hiring off duty DeKalb police officers, who already receive training and we're not stuck with paying their pension and benefits.<br /><br />I've heard the the DCSS police department budget and staff has risen dramtaically under Crawford Lewis, who suddenly likes to use them a lot, and even gets protection when not at a school event. Sounds like Vernon Jones redux.<br /><br />There are a lot of DCSS departments that need to be reduced or outsourced, like Sam Moss and Info. Systems. But when it comes to hard budget cuts, clearly, the DCSS police department is the place to start. it needs to be lean and mean, and not a luxury for Crawford to have personal bodyguards.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-22491442463543379002010-01-23T12:11:59.344-05:002010-01-23T12:11:59.344-05:00Whoa, Seems to be a pretty high level of emotion a...Whoa, Seems to be a pretty high level of emotion around this issue. New to the this topic, but will examine the number of schools to the number of positions, etc. I feel certain that the security area for DCSS generates a monthly or quarterly report on the number of incidents, etc....<br />I have to believe that this is an area that is not blatantly poised for reduction? My child is at an elementary school on the north end of the county and I don't think that we have a security presence. However, I have observed the vehicle at the school on a fairly regular basis. Really, do you watch the news,,,,, Although I could see "sharing" this resource for elementary schools in close proximity, I think middle and high schools probably receive good benefit for an ongoing security presence.<br />A lot of crazy people out there ! Although a security person might not be within reach distance, I would hard pressed not to believe that the presence would help to deter plenty of undesirable events, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-75205283792612344042010-01-23T11:08:47.587-05:002010-01-23T11:08:47.587-05:00I feel sorry for Dunwoody Mom that the elementary ...I feel sorry for Dunwoody Mom that the elementary chools are so out of control with fights, drugs, etc. She must have first-hand knowledge of some terrible incidents to be so convinced of the need for security in an elementary school.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-89971757938512482902010-01-23T10:56:30.533-05:002010-01-23T10:56:30.533-05:00I'm telling you - someone correct me if I'...I'm telling you - someone correct me if I'm wrong - none of the elementary schools in our area have an SRO. Not unless this has changed in very recent years. <br /><br />Not Oak Grove, not Briarlake, not Sagamore, not Laurel Ridge, not Hawthorne, not Henderson Mill, not Medlock... <br /><br />Dunwoody mom - are you saying that Austin, Chesnut, Kingsley and Vanderlyn have SROs? Does the new Dunwoody ES? <br /><br />What elementary school has an SRO? I'm flummoxed.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-55341429261024899792010-01-23T10:42:57.130-05:002010-01-23T10:42:57.130-05:00There are some elementary schools with small enrol...<i>There are some elementary schools with small enrollments, under 300 students. A full-time School Resource Officer in those school is a ridiculous and wasteful luxury</i><br /><br />Really? What does having a SRO have to do with the size of the school? It only takes one child bringing a weapon to school or to start a fight.Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-70346573347884972492010-01-23T10:41:07.944-05:002010-01-23T10:41:07.944-05:00There are some elementary schools with small enrol...There are some elementary schools with small enrollments, under 300 students. A full-time School Resource Officer in those school is a ridiculous and wasteful luxury.<br /><br />But that is what we've come to expect from Crawford Lewis, Bob Moseley, Gloria Talley, Ron Ramsey and Marcus Turk. it is spend, spend, spend, until the bill comes due, then it's threaten programs that actually affect student learning.<br /><br />SRO's ir off duty police in high schools and middle schools? Sure. A SRO or two at a middle school. Sure. A SRO at a larger elem school. Sure.<br /><br />But a top heavy DCSS Police Dept., and SRO's at tiny elem schools? NO WAY. I am a DCSS parent and a taxpayer. I want my property taxes and SPLOST to go to an afficient. lean and mean school system. That will never happen as long as Crawford Lewis is superintendent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-27660158169188071112010-01-22T22:57:56.581-05:002010-01-22T22:57:56.581-05:00This is what you should watch. 2009 (127) people ...This is what you should watch. 2009 (127) people in the lay-offs.<br />I can assure that between the friends and family members and raises lewis has spent that money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-81287319918292280092010-01-22T22:11:50.518-05:002010-01-22T22:11:50.518-05:00Two quick observations ... (out of character, I kn...Two quick observations ... (out of character, I know!):<br /><br />1) Every area should be reasonably examined for possible cuts. Decision-makers are paid to determine where cuts will not harm "service" and we sure don't want security reduced unnecessarily.<br /><br />2) The DCSS securit/policing function is VERY different from County policing - standards for searches and rights of students are very different inside the DCSS building versus on the streets of DeKalb. It IS different than "professional policing" and should be.Kim Gokcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01855554437157990110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-50401995138920895782010-01-22T21:43:26.021-05:002010-01-22T21:43:26.021-05:00Hey Anon 9:13pm -- Many of us are saying the same ...Hey Anon 9:13pm -- Many of us are saying the same thing: Make the school house safe for staff and students. Just do it without spending $100K plus for TWO Chiefs, and $60K+ for many of their officers who only have to work 6 months out of the year. I don't know any street cops with a potential earning of $120K/yr... unless they are on the BOE and CLew Friends&Family Plan. Even the $30K people on a 6-month stint ($60K annual + retirement, healthcare & benes) seem overpaid for what they do: "Please sign in here". <br /><br />While the security overspending boondoggle is just a fraction of the DCSS overall budget, it's just one more example of your BOE reps and CLouis not giving a shi& about the real issue -- REWORK THE BUDGET TO PUT AN EMPHASIS ON EDUCATING THE CHILDREN WHO ARE VOICELESS AND NEED YOU TO BE LEADERS IN THEIR EDUCATION. <br /><br />Step up, or step out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-9485122967712503402010-01-22T21:36:06.918-05:002010-01-22T21:36:06.918-05:00You need to reread the article, Anon. We are not a...You need to reread the article, Anon. We are not attacking campus police. We are saying that there are too many of them and too many people in their administration. (Do we really NEED TWO directors of school safety, 5 SUPERVISORS, 9 DETECTIVES and FOUR secretaries?) If you add up the SROs and the campus supervisors, you get 183 officers. We only have 21 high schools and 20 middle schools and about 10 "centers". (I simply can't believe that we need police officers in our elementary schools.) You don't think this could be a bit excessive?<br /><br />Why do they not have to take cuts in this budget? Times are supposedly tough - but our school system is only asking the teachers and bus drivers to take the tough hits. Fair is Fair, IMO.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-11702030573456656352010-01-22T21:13:33.083-05:002010-01-22T21:13:33.083-05:00Schools are public buildings. An intruder walks in...Schools are public buildings. An intruder walks in off of the street. He refuses to leave. Who would you like to remove him from the building? There is a serious fight or incident. Who would you like to handle it? The DCSS Police took a cut in the last lay offs. Both the security department and the police officers.My family and I live in North Fulton. When I go to my son's school, I see an armed police officer and I am very grateful. We need to be honest. We live in a society where there is violence. An officer being present can prevent someone from doing something. Why don't you ask teachers, administrators and students about their feelings about police officers and the need for them in the schools? Dunwoody Mom, I am with you on this. If the DCSS has been spared from serious issues realted to school violence, maybe it is because of the officers that protect all of our students and staff. Please do not attack these people. No one in my family is a police officer. I am an educator and a parent. Before you start saying there is no need for this service,seek the input of the people in the schools. <br />Just42DayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-16660049196609434872010-01-22T20:59:01.154-05:002010-01-22T20:59:01.154-05:00Dr. Lewis had two officers accompany him to a rece...Dr. Lewis had two officers accompany him to a recent Teacher Advisory Committee meeting. This was after his raise was approved. The fact that he thinks his physical safety is in danger and that the teachers would harm him is a sad reflection of his mentality. It's like we're his enemies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-45370000143307195322010-01-22T17:45:36.908-05:002010-01-22T17:45:36.908-05:00Not to mention, the time he came to Lakeside with ...Not to mention, the time he came to Lakeside with his security entourage (which was incredibly insulting - can you imagine if the reverse had occurred?) - was 3 years ago -- loooooong before this blog had a life.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.com