tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post6716012316671330407..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: How Much Have Non-Teaching Salary Overpayments Cost DeKalb Schools Taxpayers in the last 5 years? $9,000,000 or $70,000,000Cerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-41071732867746896992010-04-15T18:15:34.114-04:002010-04-15T18:15:34.114-04:00I am so sick and tired of having to listen to peop...I am so sick and tired of having to listen to people just because they're in charge when they haven't proven that they SHOULD be in charge!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-26146684956965747922010-04-13T09:40:20.372-04:002010-04-13T09:40:20.372-04:00Not one board member mentioned adding more central...Not one board member mentioned adding more central office cuts last night. (Of course, they had a very limited discussion, but it is clear that none are leaning that way.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-17741216693098548472010-04-13T01:31:34.016-04:002010-04-13T01:31:34.016-04:00Everyone is talking about the board and how it mus...Everyone is talking about the board and how it must go....is anyone willing to help participate in a recall. I live in Dr. Walker's district. I am going to the recall office TOMORROW!! I am so sick of this....I did speak at the meeting tonight and they are a bunch of crack pots. I am African American and I live on the "southside" It's not about North VS South.... the board has to do what's right for children all across the district. There are distinctions in educational facililties/programs/buildings etc. Anyone who can't see that is just in pure denial. You don't see parents rushing to the south for their children to attend schools (at least not where my child goes) I will say there is also a distint difference in parental participation on the North side vs. the South side (hello) Anyone who can't see that is also in denial. But setting aside all of that...we have got to do something about this board. It seems they are further separating the two sides. Parents on the South side are just as angry at their school closings as anyone else. I don't trust this board...they create a task force and then totally ignore their recommendation??? why ask for the public's input then??? Many of the schools are performing well and the criteria was not applied the same to all the schools. Which leads me to believe that this IMMEDIATE push to close these schools has absolutely nothing to do with money. WHY NOT SELL SOME OF THE VACANT SCHOOLS AND STOP BUILDING NEW SCHOOLS THAT AREN'T NEEDED (YES SOME OF THEM BEING ON THE SOUTH SIDE)AND GIVING THOSE CONTRACTS TO FAMILY/FRIENDS The amount of money being saved is minute yet the outcome of closing these schools is insurmountable and the impact and scrutiny of this decision will bring this county to an all time low (if that is possible). Anyone wanting to help participate in this recall please email me at corruptionindekalb@yahoo.com. Forget North vs South....this madness has to stop! Justice in Dekalb...get at me homegirl!<br /><br />http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/dekalb-adopts-budget-with-456408.htmlcorruptionindekalbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-31397728175802072072010-04-12T23:11:37.639-04:002010-04-12T23:11:37.639-04:00It's a foregone conclusion this board has got ...It's a foregone conclusion this board has got to go. No pulse!<br /><br /><br />_______ DCSS BOE flat lined _______<br /><br /><br />DNR (Do Not Resusitate)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-29633133109274786422010-04-12T23:10:07.665-04:002010-04-12T23:10:07.665-04:00Regarding the discussion above about expecting CTS...Regarding the discussion above about expecting CTSSs to handle network, hardware AND software issues, as well as educating teachers on how to use the software:<br /> <br />1) that's what InTech and WebTech were supposed to be for - taching the teachers how to use technology in the classroom - the course presented how to use all the software available to the teachers through the county as well as how to use Microsoft and web-based freeware to create lessons. If a teacher passed InTech, they should NOT have to be taught how to use educational software, Word, PowerPoint, Excel or how to obtain freeware from the web. They should not have to be taught how technology fits into the curriculum. (Of course, my suspicion is that EVERYBODY passed InTech...)<br /><br />2) <i>Fulton County Schools have a CTSS in every school. They maintain the equipment as well as train teachers on software and new programs.</i><br /><br />Fulton wisely allows people with an aptitude for technology to take InTech, WebTech or another educational technology course of study and then become a CTSS/Instructional Technology Specialist, even if they are not certified (e.g. a para who was technically savvy could have this position). The teachers can come to them to hash out a tech-connected lesson plan, and the specialist can co-teach the lesson. DeKalb requires the person be a certified teacher, which limits the talent pool as well as possibly costing more money - if a certified teacher serves in this capacity, they cannot be teaching a full schedule.Dekalbparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16376422781260452873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-10367431114066890862010-04-12T22:54:02.942-04:002010-04-12T22:54:02.942-04:00I know Ms. Robert's daughter works for DCSS in...I know Ms. Robert's daughter works for DCSS in a non-teaching position. Dr. Lewis requested she get a raise due to the Compensation and Classification study (the very one this post is about and he refused to move on to adjust the salaries of the overpaid DCSS non-teaching personnel - LOL). Ms. Roberts abstained from voting for her daughter's raise according to BOE minutes.<br /><br />Does she have other relatives working for DCSS? <br /><br />What other relatives of BOE members work for DCSS and in what capacity?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-7830726110974133042010-04-12T22:48:18.662-04:002010-04-12T22:48:18.662-04:00Well, Maureen Downey has DCSS's number. How m...Well, Maureen Downey has DCSS's number. How many posts has she run on DeKalb? She's taken to attending all the BOE meetings. And the AJC is doing its part as it runs article after article on DCSS. But when I talk to a lot of people in my community - Northlake - they seem oblivious to what's going on. To replace the BOE members will require a really organized and energized effort.<br /><br />Quite frankly, every BOE member we have is an embarrassment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-91620030312581085502010-04-12T22:43:08.369-04:002010-04-12T22:43:08.369-04:00I know we need to remain focused and energetic if ...I know we need to remain focused and energetic if we are to change the course of DCSS, but sometimes I just despair...<br /><br />WHY does Dr. Walker think he has to be allowed to be treated to $100 dinners?<br />WHY does Ms. Roberts think she should be able to contribute to discussions on doing business with her friends and/or relatives?<br />WHY does Ms. Roberts think she should be paid above her $450 monthly expense allowance (which seems pretty darned generous to me)?<br />And I was struck by the fact that although Ms. Roberts believes the north DeKalb schools have all the good stuff (not true), she also believes all the magnet schools are in south DeKalb (her complaint that taking away magnet points affects south DK because that's where those schools are).<br /><br />Then reading the exact figures on SchoolNet (I remember all those glowing promises) along with eSIS (I remember the promise of a seamless interface, allowing administrators, teachers and parents "instant" access to completely up-to-date figures on the status of students and schools).<br /><br />And tonight <b>NOBODY</b> on the BOE said <b>ANYTHING</b> about cutting expenses in Central Office...<br /><br />Sometimes I despair.Dekalbparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16376422781260452873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-44372373629069987852010-04-12T22:43:00.952-04:002010-04-12T22:43:00.952-04:00It's nice to know that MIS is trimming 18 of t...It's nice to know that MIS is trimming 18 of their lowest paid employees - and of course where do these employees work? Where all the lowest paid employees work - in the schoolhouse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-89723059952488708782010-04-12T22:40:05.457-04:002010-04-12T22:40:05.457-04:00Oh, don't worry. MIS is gonna trim 1/19th of t...Oh, don't worry. MIS is gonna trim 1/19th of their load by having to let go 18 CTSSes. Can't wait for that meeting. It ought to be SPECTACULAR!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-1373127238019929592010-04-12T22:35:15.728-04:002010-04-12T22:35:15.728-04:00Have you no personal ethics, Gene Walker? You are...Have you no personal ethics, Gene Walker? You are not in the state legislature any more. You have absolutely no business allowing any potential school system vendor to purchase any meal, gift, etc. for you. How dare you complain about a limit.<br />Get over yourself.<br /><br />The only positive from your latest rant is you cemented your reputation. $21,000 in campaign contrib's from Sembler/Fuster/Fuqua. You want want $100 meals from vendors. You have no chance of being re-elected this fall, and we'll have a better Board of Ed when that happens.Dan M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-37252703259883387072010-04-12T22:25:45.092-04:002010-04-12T22:25:45.092-04:00@ Anonymous 9:47 pm
Well, you better get some bet...@ Anonymous 9:47 pm<br /><br />Well, you better get some better leadership for MIS. That's one of the the biggest porkers of all ($19,000,000 in salary and benefits - way out of line when compared with other metro systems) while providing little in the way of equipment and terrible customer service for teachers and kids.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-56975402874516499582010-04-12T22:21:16.035-04:002010-04-12T22:21:16.035-04:00DCSS was paying as an annual maintenance fee for S...DCSS was paying as an annual maintenance fee for SmartWeb - $116,333 a year (upfront investment already paid off years before) when Ms. Tyson and Mr. Hunter proposed purchasing the eSis system for over $4,000,000. What was the cost justification to spending $4,000,000 on a system that didn't work as well as the old one that only cost $100,000+ a year? SmartWeb was an online system (DCSS did not administrate it or maintain it) so all of the upgrades and newer versions already came to DCSS as part of the maintenance fee.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-46375874574328806082010-04-12T22:18:57.121-04:002010-04-12T22:18:57.121-04:00Zepora Roberts wants to continue to charge people ...Zepora Roberts wants to continue to charge people a fee to go to their functions, and Eugene Walker wants vendors to take him to a big fancy restaurant and spend $100 on him. They are here for our kids. Right. Can they not be recalled by a vote before Dekalb loses its accreditation?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-78232817511753211722010-04-12T22:11:40.404-04:002010-04-12T22:11:40.404-04:00UGH!UGH!themommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01829171693817032539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-66642310405131040702010-04-12T22:04:15.791-04:002010-04-12T22:04:15.791-04:00I had to turn off the Board meeting after Walkers&...I had to turn off the Board meeting after Walkers' and Robert's gripes about the proposed ethics policy! I was afraid I would break something when I started throwing stuff.<br /><br />Please, please vote these people off the Board.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-41438867403279543792010-04-12T21:51:42.341-04:002010-04-12T21:51:42.341-04:00It is essential that we get new board members in D...It is essential that we get new board members in DeKalb. And I am sorry Ms. Roberts, but what exactly has the "north" been given that the south hasn't. They aren't shutting the magnet schools anymore-- rather they are simply reducing points to ALL the magnet programs. Even you had to acknowledge that all the empty seats are in S. DeKalb.<br /><br />And exactly what relative is Ms.Roberts worried about protecting with all her objections to the ethics policy?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-16872192617228556012010-04-12T21:48:22.637-04:002010-04-12T21:48:22.637-04:00I am apalled and disgusted after just watching the...I am apalled and disgusted after just watching the entire board meeting on Channel 24. The BOE spent more time arguing about the perks they should receive than about any other item on the agenda. Dr. Walker stated he is "here for the children" yet argued for the longest time that if a vendor wants to take him to dinner the amount should be $100 instead of $50 for the meal. This board is a joke.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-41936496656716210032010-04-12T21:47:09.199-04:002010-04-12T21:47:09.199-04:00All of it sounds like the accumulation of wealth o...All of it sounds like the accumulation of wealth over learning in the schoolhouse. It simply means "divesting" in our childrens' education for personal gain. The law of reverse justice MUST arise in defense of our children -- OUR FUTURE. I still say let's turn our attention to technology driving education in DeKalb County.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-3887437400914639942010-04-12T20:59:43.822-04:002010-04-12T20:59:43.822-04:00Anybody else been by the MIC recently and seen the...Anybody else been by the MIC recently and seen the beautiful new parking lot out front that sits basically empty? It sure is pretty!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-44840104747919207392010-04-12T20:56:20.482-04:002010-04-12T20:56:20.482-04:00I think the benchmarks are awful. They are good in...I think the benchmarks are awful. They are good in theory, but the benchmarks we have for my subject are of poor quality. (Our pacing guide is also very non-sequiter for the course). Several of the questions on my course's benchmarks are out of context, labeled as "enduring understandings" and they ask questions that pertain to standards not yet taught. How is a student supposed to have an enduring understanding of something they have not learned?<br /><br />Now that I have said my peace about the DCSS benchmarks... onto SchoolNet. I cannot understand why DCSS ever went with this piece of software. I was trained as one of the "scanners." Not only do I have to print and scan my own classes during my planning period, but other teachers' as well. The SchoolNet install has been frought with problems. I still cannot get the scanner to read all my benchmarks correctly. If DCSS had decent technology we could take all these benchmarks online. DCSS already subscribes to excellent test prep websites USATestPrep. As for the excuse that SchoolNet allows for better desimination of information, the other teachers that do not have access to the system cannot see their students results. It does them no good. <br /><br />I wish the county would stop micromanaging my classroom. My tests are comprehensive and I teach to the standards set forth by the state. Teaching in a standards based classroom should not mean I am forced to write the standard, enduring understanding, essential question, etc. on the board each day. My students do not care about all that junk (I've asked them), only administrators. My students trust that I know what to teach them and I will prepare them for the course. <br /><br />SchoolNet is just another way of DCSS playing Big Brother to its teachers. A multi-million dollar taxpayer version of Big Brother.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-42883123299617769412010-04-12T19:54:30.069-04:002010-04-12T19:54:30.069-04:00Is anyone else watching the board meeting? The BO...Is anyone else watching the board meeting? The BOE can't even tentatively adopt a budget for discussion. What a joke.<br /><br />No one really wants to make cuts, but they aren't really wanting to make the classroom better -- rather focusing on pet programs, like magnet points, DECA points etc.<br /><br />Oh wait Ms. Roberts came though...<br /><br />Now it is on the table.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-20292281414135491982010-04-12T19:44:37.588-04:002010-04-12T19:44:37.588-04:00There are no posters because the GOALS posters wer...There are no posters because the GOALS posters were printed in the DCSS printshop which Ms Pope closed. they didn't get such a cheap deal getting them printed outside like she lied and told everyone.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-17403666563737519762010-04-12T19:29:45.089-04:002010-04-12T19:29:45.089-04:00Those copy and pasted goals are the Board of Educa...Those copy and pasted goals are the Board of Education Goals. They've been tweaked a couple of times but they haven't really changed. We used to have posters displaying them in my school and I believe there is still a copy posted in the Board Room of Building A.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-21662835848559774092010-04-12T19:15:39.321-04:002010-04-12T19:15:39.321-04:00Can we please drop the "Premier" from th...Can we please drop the "Premier" from the DCSS!? I'm watching the Board Meeting on channel 24 and they go to a break. I then saw the word "work" misspelled as Wor. Of course it stayed on the screen for 4 minutes before it was changed.<br /><br />The person in charge of Channel 24, is paid $114,000/year to run it. The average salary of a production Manager at a commercial station here in Atlanta is $75,000. <br /><br />Here is one place you can save right now. The person who runs the channel is also the daughter of former board member,Francis Edwards. Nepotism? Please delete positions at the central office not in the classrooms.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com