tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post7959774992008357439..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: Millions more down the tubeCerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-74197316551358233602010-05-10T21:59:43.237-04:002010-05-10T21:59:43.237-04:00@Anon 9:38 -
I have run into school board members...@Anon 9:38 -<br /><br />I <i>have</i> run into school board members in the community, and they look really SCARY (esp SCW - REALLY <b>REALLY</b> SCARY)...<br /><br />Seriously, I agree with you. Smaller districts might allow the district to be run in a business-like manner while staying responsive to priorities: the children and their teachers.Dekalbparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16376422781260452873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-7355970802641517832010-05-10T19:10:53.472-04:002010-05-10T19:10:53.472-04:00Yes. Ms. Tyson was Deputy Superintendent of Busin...Yes. Ms. Tyson was Deputy Superintendent of Business Operations with Marcus Turk and Jamie Wilson reporting to her.<br />Go to :<br />http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/<br /><br />Click on the left hand menu bar - Superintendent and when the drop dwon menu appears, click on Organization Charts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-18552545260540183712010-05-10T18:52:57.505-04:002010-05-10T18:52:57.505-04:00After her last promotion.... human resources, fina...After her last promotion.... human resources, finance and staff services began to report to TysonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-69777718129190392732010-05-10T18:32:55.685-04:002010-05-10T18:32:55.685-04:00I was totally unaware that Marcus Turk reported to...I was totally unaware that Marcus Turk reported to Ms. Tyson. Our school system is severely sick! The CFO reports to Ms. Tyson before she was interim. I am stunned. I need to look at the crazy org chart again.<br /><br />If Ms. Tyson had her fingers on the paper work that was wrong and misfiled for the 20+ MILLION, I think Ms. Tyson needs to go too.<br /><br />I hope the discussion takes place amongst Board members how paper work mis-filed cost the system millions. You think the BOE will ask that question? Bueller?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-3188862968459476312010-05-10T13:06:35.747-04:002010-05-10T13:06:35.747-04:00Ms. Pope reported directly to Dr. Lewis, so I gues...Ms. Pope reported directly to Dr. Lewis, so I guess he was supposed to be her "checks and balances".Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-56787579986398230242010-05-10T13:01:57.848-04:002010-05-10T13:01:57.848-04:00@ Dunwoody Mom
So there were no checks and balanc...@ Dunwoody Mom<br /><br />So there were no checks and balances on Ms. Pope?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-72248249865463967452010-05-10T13:00:57.720-04:002010-05-10T13:00:57.720-04:00Ms. Tyson was Marcus Turks supervisor before Lewis...Ms. Tyson was Marcus Turks supervisor before Lewis recommended her Interim Superintendent. Does the buck skip over her?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-55963942405358494692010-05-10T13:00:03.504-04:002010-05-10T13:00:03.504-04:00Actually, I believe that the paperwork involved wa...Actually, I believe that the paperwork involved was Pat Pope's responsibility.Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-35284263325169660762010-05-10T12:52:48.010-04:002010-05-10T12:52:48.010-04:00Marcus Turk is the Chief Financial Officer for DCS...Marcus Turk is the Chief Financial Officer for DCSS. If the paper work for this additional money was not completed properly the buck should stop at the top! Since Crawford Lewis is gone, I think we need to take a serious look at the CFO. <br /><br />The CFO controls the purse strings for DCSS. He is in charge of all credits and debits for the system. Please let's clean the DCSS house and start over. Especially the positions that involve finances, instruction and any other position where malfeasance has taken place over the past 5 years.<br /><br />Like the comment on a different thread here mentioned, Crawford Lewis' tenure at DCSS was a reign of terror. Time to hit the reset button. Time to hold people accountable for their errors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-34642440298787625932010-05-09T21:43:20.506-04:002010-05-09T21:43:20.506-04:00DCSS cannot be carved up into smaller districts wi...DCSS cannot be carved up into smaller districts without a Constitutional amendment. The number of school districts is limited at the current number by the Georgia Constitution.M Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03055591929413425231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-69776656550533497632010-05-09T21:38:11.292-04:002010-05-09T21:38:11.292-04:00DCSS has as many students as are enrolled in schoo...DCSS has as many students as are enrolled in schools in the entire State of Vermont. School systems up there are small usually one high school, one middle school and one elementary school. Sometimes several communities get together and form a regional school. When you meet your school board members at the grocery store, in church, or while you are out walking your dog, you have schools that are a lot more responsive to the needs of the community. <br /><br />DeKalb could be divided into several smaller school districts and it might help get things back on track. It is time to get the legislature to help us cut this school system down to a workable size. I'm not interested in racial politics. I am interested in solving some of the problems and obstacles we all face when we put our kids in school. This is not and should not be a racial issue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-28528333450665076882010-05-09T21:09:14.407-04:002010-05-09T21:09:14.407-04:00ALERT. ALERT. ALERT. ALERT.
Your money is being w...ALERT. ALERT. ALERT. ALERT.<br /><br />Your money is being wasted!<br />Your money is being wasted!<br />Your money is being wasted!<br /><br />NEWSFLASH. NEWSFLASH. NEWSFLASH.<br /><br />AUDRIA BERRY and her army of zombie INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES have left the buildings! Yes, that's right! AUDRIA BERRY has summoned all her zombie INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES from the schools where they do little less than "have" meetings and try to have a negative "impact" on high-quality teachers while supporting low-quality ones. Now AUDRIA BERRY has summoned her legion of zombie INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES to Castle Frankenstein for recharging these last two weeks of the school year.<br /><br />What a better slap in the face for any who thought AUDRIA BERRY and her zombie INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES were worth anything to remove them from the schools the last two weeks when they could have been assisting the teachers with finals and remediation. This just proves the lie that AUDRIA BERRY and her zombie crew of INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES have any worth to the students. <br /><br />PLEASE CONTACT THE BOE TO TELL THEM YOU NO LONGER WANT ANY $$$$ FUNDING audria berry AND HER ZOMBIE GANG OF instructional coaches.<br /><br />Please help the teachers out of this madness that AUDRIA BERRY has perpetrated via the zombified INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES.<br /><br />Out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-78142931781000039332010-05-09T19:50:12.980-04:002010-05-09T19:50:12.980-04:00Anon 1:56 -
Do you have anything to back up your...Anon 1:56 - <br /><br />Do you have anything to back up your statements that Marcus Turk has lost DCSS money? I am not defending him - if what you say is the case, then we as taxpayers need to be aware and take appropriate action. <br /><br />Please elaborate - anonymously, if need be - so we can know the facts.<br /><br />Anon 1:37 - <br /><br />I know of several very talented and effective teachers leaving DCSS at least partly out of frustration. Two have chosen to do voluntary teaching overseas - as on stated, "I will make less next year than I did as a beginning teacher four years ago, so I decided I would use what I know to do good for the world." Another came to DCSS after several years teaching in private school, and after four years in DCSS, teaching high-level classes, is returning to the private school in order to have job stability. It hurts all of us (and most of all the students) for top-notch teachers to leave the system.<br /><br />Teachercreature - <br /><br />Agree completely.Dekalbparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16376422781260452873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-64701757254058786652010-05-09T19:16:05.219-04:002010-05-09T19:16:05.219-04:00If and when you speak to your state rep and/or sta...If and when you speak to your state rep and/or state senator, please ask her/him what they think about Ron Ramsey, and his dual roles of state senator and highly paid DCSS Internal Affairs Director.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-41734329945315927582010-05-09T17:29:06.904-04:002010-05-09T17:29:06.904-04:00Another example of wasted money happened right und...Another example of wasted money happened right under our noses this past week. Anyone follow the charter school court case that was ruled on Friday? I believe Gwinnett filed suit against the GA Charter Schools Commission first, claiming that commission charter schools were illegally using tax funds. The judge said, "NOT" and ruled completely in favor of the commission. DeKalb had jumped on the bandwagon - hiring attorneys for approximately $35,000 - to join the suit against the commission. There was no need for such action. Whatever decision was rendered by the courts would apply for all school systems in the state. DeKalb did not stand to gain one thing for its $35,000 that it wouldn't have gotten for free. To top it all off, the school systems lost. DeKalb is known as extremely charter UN-friendly, and evidently saw this as an opportunity to give the charter commission a black eye. As usual, DCSS winds up looking foolish and wastes even more taxpayer money.teachercreaturenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-20453445495874593442010-05-09T13:56:18.096-04:002010-05-09T13:56:18.096-04:00You know the one name not mentioned anywhere in th...You know the one name not mentioned anywhere in this thread and whose fault it was to almost lose the money, if it hadn't been for North Dekalb's, Fran Millar?<br /><br />DCSS CFO Marcus Turk! He must go!<br /><br /> As well as 40% of the Central Office. Most of the central Office personnel are Friends and Family of Current and Former BOE members as well as CLew..<br /><br />Marcus you have done a terrible job watching the taxpayers dollars at the DCSS. Marcus please resign!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-6177314134505395312010-05-09T13:37:56.684-04:002010-05-09T13:37:56.684-04:00Please let us get back to the topic. This is not a...Please let us get back to the topic. This is not a racial issue. The money that was lost was unable to benefit any child regardless of color. If we continue to focus on race and not demand excellence for all schools, nothing will ever be done. We all need to focus very carefully on the budget. If the DCSS, continues to cut the salaries of individuals in the schools we will lose good administrators, teachers, counselors and school based staff. The excellent ones will be able to find jobs in other districts. We have already loss some. No one who has an option will continue to remain in this turmoil. We must find a way to work across lines and support all schools. Having security in schools is vital. I work in a school. You have not only students that can create problems but also parents that can be very agressive. Not to mention individuals that can walk in off of the street. Be careful what you wish you in terms of taking away resources from the schools.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-27389941910939751062010-05-09T11:39:30.392-04:002010-05-09T11:39:30.392-04:00Fran Millar intervened and Ron Ramsey didn't? ...Fran Millar intervened and Ron Ramsey didn't? This scenario is worth a thousand words.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-29017187007115178072010-05-09T11:22:43.215-04:002010-05-09T11:22:43.215-04:00To Anon. 8:48 pm: Thank you. I really appreciat...To Anon. 8:48 pm: Thank you. I really appreciate your thoughts and comment. Happy Mother's Day to all. I do think the school system is too large -- it is unmanageable and too much gets swept under the carpet and isn't overseen -- I don't care, though whether the 20 or so high schools and their feeder schools are split north/south or east/west or picked out of a hat or divided in 2, 4 or 6 -- it just needs to be more manageable and transparent. This does require a state constitutuional amendment and we've just lost two Dekalb legislators who acatually care (one dem, one rep.) -- must have really been quite a legislative session. Yes, budget is up for vote tomorrow and each point that a school loses is a person even though a "point" isn't English for "person". The focus isn't on the children at this point.Shaynanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-19789198340579028372010-05-09T10:12:39.255-04:002010-05-09T10:12:39.255-04:00IMO, "Jackie" is just one of those inter...IMO, "Jackie" is just one of those internet trolls that go around stirring up trouble on blogs. It's best to just ignore these type of people - they get off on the intention they get and the angst they stir up.Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-82533245752982676762010-05-09T10:10:52.667-04:002010-05-09T10:10:52.667-04:00CCHS is one of the top high schools in the state i...<i>CCHS is one of the top high schools in the state in spite of rats, roaches, rot and mold. If the present principal doesn't kill CCHS by running off excellent teachers and staff, it will continue to be a top high school. Teachers, students AND parents are motivated to succeed. </i><br /><br />Just a little modification to your post - the Magnet Program in Chamblee is what gives the school its name. From what I have heard, as an alumnus of Chamblee, is that the charter and residential students continue to struggle. And it's funny that you mentioned the principal. I've also heard that all of her time and attention (as well as the Parent Council) goes to the Magnet program, not the "real" students of Chamblee. If we want to make things equal for all students in DCSS, then that must start in the schools themselves. There is a reason that the test scores for Chamblee are not separated out between Magnet and Resident students.Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-548269653976636142010-05-09T05:18:39.512-04:002010-05-09T05:18:39.512-04:00To anonymous @12:08 & 1:01
Can we stop the s...To anonymous @12:08 & 1:01<br /><br />Can we stop the silliness, please? There seems to be too much reaction to incendiary comments by adding more such comments. <br /><br />...So are we talking secession ??? <br />Writing your own blog to foster such foolishness will only serve to accomplish what we have in place already ---- a school system struggling to provide a QUALITY EDUCATION for ALL of its CHILDREN.<br /><br />Unfortunately, this thread has veered severely from its original posting. Can we get back to discussing the money trail?<br /><br />Wake up people....There's a vote tomorrow on the FINAL BUDGET<br /><br />P.S. "Happy Mother's Day"Teaching in Dekalb for God Only Knows How Much Longernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-70740475291375784122010-05-09T01:01:58.178-04:002010-05-09T01:01:58.178-04:00So Jackie wants those bad 'ole white people in...So Jackie wants those bad 'ole white people in North DeKalb to "butt out".<br><br />OK. We can do that.<br><br />Let's split the school district. That way, the bad 'ole white people will have no say at all in what happens in South DeKalb. Is that good enough for you, Jackie?<br><br />Of course, you won't be able to siphon off tax money from North DeKalb either. You'll have to finance your schools on your own.<br><br />You want to be left alone by North DeKalb? By all means - be separate and handle it ALL on your own. Jolly good luck to you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-76589193040560761632010-05-09T00:08:32.743-04:002010-05-09T00:08:32.743-04:00To Jackie, May 7, 2010
and
Anonymous, 12:32 AM
I ...To Jackie, May 7, 2010<br />and<br />Anonymous, 12:32 AM<br /><br />I have thought about your posts, off and on, all day. <br /><br />DCSS is a school system that is majority African-American in a county that is majority African- American. More than 2 generations of students have come through DCSS since it was declared unitary and the courts agreed. More than a quarter century of federal court supervision inflicted severe damage in terms of the court's refusal to allow DCSS to re-district as needed and to build schools or expand schools as needed.<br /><br />Probably the best thing to come out of the who court supervision thing was that DCSS was not allowed to close Chamblee High School (now Chamblee Charter High School). <br /><br />CCHS is one of the top high schools in the state in spite of rats, roaches, rot and mold. If the present principal doesn't kill CCHS by running off excellent teachers and staff, it will continue to be a top high school. Teachers, students AND parents are motivated to succeed. <br /><br />CCHS has been promised SPLOST funds since SPLOST 1 to remediate severe health-threatening problems -- and has been passed over every time. It is in worse shape than just about any other DCSS school building. <br /><br />At the CCHS Governance Council meeting last Friday, Ms. Colman was completely unaware that CCHS does not have an auditorium and does have severe facility problems. But, she and her lackey certainly looked official with their big binder on CCHS, which they obviously had never looked at -- even when they were coming to speak at CCHS. How discourteous! How typical!<br /><br />So, Jackie, you and your ilk are still whining about perceived inequities and blaming everyone in north DeKalb because your children only know entitlement. Look in the mirror!<br /><br />Your blog postings -- combined with my nearly $7,000 property tax bill wasted in unnecessary expenses by DCSS -- have convinced me. North DeKalb needs to be its own school system. <br /><br />This will be my single goal. I don't care to share my name at this point, but I can assure you that every thing I have set out to do in DCSS as a parent volunteer I have accomplished. My first task will be to set up a separate blog to organize those of a similar mind.<br /><br />I am sick of your blaming, carping, complaining and whining. Enough already!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-15379171326168636612010-05-08T23:50:14.987-04:002010-05-08T23:50:14.987-04:00Cere,
I have a question. I reviewed the proposed ...Cere,<br /><br />I have a question. I reviewed the proposed budget foro 2011 and the approved budget from 2010. The majority of schools will lose 1/4 to 1/3 of their points. Where are all these teachers going to go who have already signed contracts.I even noticed some schools wil lose almost have of thier point. Just curious.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com