tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post802656880374376122..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: The eduKALB forum at Dunwoody City HallCerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-84352864538971716192010-10-08T22:26:06.367-04:002010-10-08T22:26:06.367-04:00They were living with the grandmother up until a f...They were living with the grandmother up until a few weeks before the mother was murdered. I am certain no one reported that they had moved back to Rockdale.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-44882890664449528712010-10-08T22:18:30.021-04:002010-10-08T22:18:30.021-04:00Weren't those two twin girls who murdered thei...Weren't those two twin girls who murdered their mother last year transfer students from Conyers into Tucker HS?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-69533065078395640922010-10-08T22:11:15.373-04:002010-10-08T22:11:15.373-04:00Thanks for bringing up the Tucker cluster. Ask for...Thanks for bringing up the Tucker cluster. Ask for the list of kids who are out of area and you will be surprised. There are so many out of area, one problem is they let all elementary kids come automatically and don't even check if they were on special permission while they were in the elementary school. All you have to do is ask the registrars at the elementary schools for their out of area list or administrative transfer list and then don't let them in. Can't the registrars communicate with one another? Once they let them in, then they are stuck. The person (s) registering kids needs to tighten up. The affidavit situation is hilarious. Ask for that list too, let's see if the percentage of affidavits is higher at Tucker than in other areas which have a socio economic status. I bet it is higher. Then you are also stuck with them until the highest grade. Speaking of Tucker Middle right now. Back to affidavits, a person is struggling and has to live with someone, can't afford to join PTA,but their child has $100 tennis shoes and an $150 ipod in school. It makes no sense. Used to have a big problem with all of these out of area"kids hanging out after school until they were picked up-Good job to the principal for rounding them up and putting them in the after school program for a fee! This way, you will give back to the school that you lied to attend.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-18306044696528299002010-10-07T16:19:16.983-04:002010-10-07T16:19:16.983-04:00Is anyone addressing the major burglary/larceny sp...Is anyone addressing the major burglary/larceny spree that's happening at the schools? Over $300,000 in stolen tech gear so far. The culprit seems to know where the security cameras are and has a key to the metal cabinets that house the mobile labs. Why isn't the press as well as DeKalb County Police talking about this? WSB covered a theft a a school in Paulding but does not cover this. Will someone shine some light on this crime spree.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-31207885287487257852010-10-05T09:20:46.829-04:002010-10-05T09:20:46.829-04:008:54 It's a little perk that costs the distric...8:54 It's a little perk that costs the district. We need to pull the plug on this perk across the board. Follow the state law, but that is it. <br /><br />Little perks here and there cost tax payers money. Money is misspent all over DCSS, and as a tax payer, I have had enough. <br /><br />I want people in positions that they are qualified for with salaries that are reasonable. I want to stop the trips that don't benefit our children. Administrators going to conferences do not benefit our children. We need to ensure that construction projects are handled properly the first time, and go after those that do sub par work. We need to stop the perks of some kids getting into schools that are very desirable, because their parent works for the district in any capacity, whines or complains loudly, or knows someone who works for the district.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-19516705223280823522010-10-05T08:54:12.158-04:002010-10-05T08:54:12.158-04:00Folks, teachers are not whining. They should be a...Folks, teachers are not whining. They should be allowed to let their kids attend the schools that they are working in and then the feeder schools that are close by.<br /><br />This is a perk to keep the good teachers. If the DCSS leadership, at the Palace, is allowed to let their kids attend the schools they want, why not give the teachers a little perk like this?<br /><br />It can't be that many kids either! I'd love to know the number. This perk does not cost us as much as sending the Palace staff to Las Vegas for a week of "America's Choice" training or Reynold's Plantation and the Bahamas for Superintendent training . In this time of terrible pay and furlough days, why not give the teachers a reason to stay in the system?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-5595065122007922422010-10-03T12:57:16.606-04:002010-10-03T12:57:16.606-04:00It's not just Title 1 schools where the phony ...It's not just Title 1 schools where the phony affidavits and fraudulent proof of residence is overlooked. As a (very) low level employee of DCSS, I became aware of this stuff at a magnet school that everyone wants to get their kid into, but when I brought the information to administration, I was told to just let it go, and nothing was dome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-40332936999734938542010-10-03T11:38:43.553-04:002010-10-03T11:38:43.553-04:00"I wish our board and the county office would..."I wish our board and the county office would appoint staff at each school to research affidavits. We need to hold these parents accountable to see if they are telling the truth and press charges. If the system would start putting teeth into enforcing the law, people may STOP!"<br /><br />We have a 200 person police department with two chiefs and nine detectives, plus an Internal Affairs Office (even though its head is out of the office for over two months of the year as a state senator who actually called for an economic boycott of Dunwoody).<br /><br />We have the resources to investigate affadavits and residency issues. The Fulton Co. school system and City of Decatur Schools are very tough on this.<br /><br />But at DCSS, heck, it's money Title 1 money. Who cares if it leads to overcrowding. Who cares if county taxpayers are paying $10,000 per student for children who do not live in the couty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-76218930326109591602010-10-02T19:08:45.630-04:002010-10-02T19:08:45.630-04:00Steen Miles is just an arrogant as Zepora. They bo...Steen Miles is just an arrogant as Zepora. They both have the same personality types. "Rude" That is probally why she is not on television reporting anymore. Thank goodness! Ms. Miles is a hot mess. And she will try to embarrass you if she has a full house.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-32762669394228831712010-10-02T18:54:21.032-04:002010-10-02T18:54:21.032-04:00The state legislature made the law that teachers c...The state legislature made the law that teachers could take their children to the school they teach at many years ago because it is a problem with teachers when school systems are on different schedules, football games, and extra-curriular activites. Many teachers are active in these after school activities and it allows this when the teacher and children go to the same school. It causes all kinds of issues when the teachers and students are in different schools and in different systems sometimes.<br /><br />The problem came in when principals looked the other way and allowed the teachers to take their children to feeder schools as this is not the law.<br /><br />However, allowing teachers and administrators children to attend feeder schools is common practice in Fulton County. Fulton County also does not send students around the county very much to other schools due to AYP so the overcrowding is not an issue.<br /><br />I am concerned with many of the administrative transfers I have seen in the Dekalb County Schools. Students get in trouble and get a bad name in one school and have major behavior issues and are allow to transfer to another school.<br /><br />Personally, I had my rotator cup torn and it took about a year of treatment and therapy for recovery due to a student who was dangerous being tranfer from one school in DeKalb to another school in DeKalb to give him a fresh break. He was under house arest. My should hurts me every morning of my life so I remember all too well about what happens when the very top brass are friend of the family and are making an administrator transfer to try to protect the student's image. <br /><br />The last time I ran for election I ran into someone who told me this same student as an adult had shot up a town in Ohio and was in jail. However, instead of placing the child in the right placement to allow the student the emotional support needed this student was administratively transferred by the top brass of Dekalb to give this child another opportunity. This is when this child attacked me as a teacher as I was walking down the hall to take this child to the office due to misbehavior.<br /><br />I had no idea of the issues of this student. I had no idea this child had a violent history and was under house arrest. The law required I know about this as this child's teacher. Administrators should not be allowed to make administrative transfers without a due process procedure in place that protects all individuals. If a school is already too crowded then an administrative transfer should not be allowed. Transferring violent students from school to school also is not a good idea. These students instead should be placed appropriately in a facility to get the support they need. At a minimum the faculty working with the students need to be aware of what the students has done in the past which is required by law. The teachers need to know this to protect other students and themselves.Ella Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16485840445272819682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-18127056459510615632010-10-02T18:46:14.418-04:002010-10-02T18:46:14.418-04:00It also helps attract the best teachers and keep t...It also helps attract the best teachers and keep them. Many corporations have realized this and offer all kinds of childcare perks - it actually makes for happier employees who remain loyal to the company.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-62724538679395933112010-10-02T18:37:05.680-04:002010-10-02T18:37:05.680-04:00"Teachers, stop your whining. Every parent an..."Teachers, stop your whining. Every parent and worker has to deal with these things-you are not alone, so stop playing the martyr."<br /><br />Who said teachers are whining. This is a reality. Some people can work with it others choose not to. Enrolling your child at the school where you work is something that helps the teacher stay on the job. Why are you so angry?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-57183991985273137752010-10-02T16:57:36.467-04:002010-10-02T16:57:36.467-04:00Commuting is part of working. Having night meetin...Commuting is part of working. Having night meetings (which teachers don't have very many of and usually know about them well in advance) is part of working. <br /><br />Teachers want to be called professionals, well start acting like it. Other parents who work have the same issues of child care, meetings at night, sick kids, long commutes, etc. Parents don't want to hear teachers complaining about what a normal person deals with, especially with the many vacation days that a teacher has during the year. I know that some teachers work more than 40 hours, do professional develop, yadda yadda yadda, during the vacations, but come on now this is a nice luxury that teachers who are parents have this extra time with their children, that other professions do not. <br /><br />Teachers, stop your whining. Every parent and worker has to deal with these things-you are not alone, so stop playing the martyr.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-9381355681759970512010-10-02T16:52:02.306-04:002010-10-02T16:52:02.306-04:00My children have been in the Tucker cluster for ye...My children have been in the Tucker cluster for years and besides the administrative transfers and AYP students coming into our schools is the number of people with affidavits<br /><br />Affidavits are from parents stating that I am living with some relative or friend that lives in this school district. It's a joke to the registrars when these people come in. Of course, you must be polite and cannot call them out for it. <br /><br />I wish our board and the county office would appoint staff at each school to research affidavits. We need to hold these parents accountable to see if they are telling the truth and press charges. If the system would start putting teeth into enforcing the law, people may STOP! <br /><br />This would put students back in their home schools and then we could find out where kids actually go to school. I would like to know if it could be published how many students are at each school under an affidavit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-43426702985715724812010-10-02T16:38:51.680-04:002010-10-02T16:38:51.680-04:00"I get tired of hearing the pity story of tea..."I get tired of hearing the pity story of teachers having to find day care and such for their children-what do teachers think regular parents have to do? "<br /><br />This is a very real problem for teachers. If your commute to school is 45 minutes to an hour and you must be at school at 7:00 AM, you will have a hard time finding a daycare provider that is open early enough for you to make it to work on time. Parents of preschool children can choose a daycare near where they work, but once a child becomes school age you have to find a facility that will transport your child to your neighborhood school. That is where travel time and daycare hours become an issue. This doesn't even take into account the evening meetings and leaving school late because of conference days or long after-school meetings. I've seen good teachers quit because they can't deal with the stress.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-44303233555611994312010-10-02T09:43:38.624-04:002010-10-02T09:43:38.624-04:00I am a teacher whose child goes to school with her...I am a teacher whose child goes to school with her. I also have a child who managed to continue in the feeder pattern before they decided to end that "perk." <br /><br />I took my job in the school I'm in and in Dekalb County because of that professional courtesy. I teach a very difficult area of Special Education that is hard to find teachers in. I do live in the county.<br /><br />Other counties offer this courtesy to teachers. I have heard that in Gwinnett you can send your child to any school if you are a teacher. <br /><br />This is a perk given partly because teachers are expected to stay long hours, many that you aren't even paid for. If your kids are there you are available to work. The door swings both ways and the school also benefits. Teachers are definitely more invested in a school where their family is attending.<br /><br />I was furious when they told me that my younger daughter would have to return to her home school and could not continue in the feeder pattern next year, even more mad than when they gave me furlough days and stopped my step increases and contributions. I know times are hard for educators but this may create more challenges for the county to retain and attract good teachers.<br /><br />I mean, really, people are sitting in $2000 chairs at county, sending their kids wherever they want and people are pointing to a handful of teachers kids as the cause of overcrowding and out of control costs...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-7787570237326549912010-10-01T22:19:53.547-04:002010-10-01T22:19:53.547-04:00Teachers bringing their children to their school i...Teachers bringing their children to their school is, I believe, a state rule. <br /><br />I get tired of hearing the pity story of teachers having to find day care and such for their children-what do teachers think regular parents have to do? Regular parents make a choice about where they work and live. They can't bring their children to work because it's more convenient for them.<br /><br />Also, once a child goes to school in our county, it's tough to get them out. There are teachers whose children go to DCSS schools that their parents do not work in, so don't be so sure that the teachers' children will be going back to their home county. <br /><br />This is one state rule that needs to be over turned. This wouldn't happen up North. Your child goes where you live or they go to private school or you pay tuition.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-33957475608758216752010-10-01T21:17:47.180-04:002010-10-01T21:17:47.180-04:00Remember that for every child that a non-county re...Remember that for every child that a non-county resident DCSS administrator, staffer or yes, even a teacher, brings to a DCSS school, that's a de facto $10,000 bonus, subsidized by our county taxpayers.<br /><br />When your school system was just facing a $100 million dollar budget deficit, that's untenable and unsustainable.<br /><br />If we are going to allow that, those non-county residents should have to pay the system some to be determined amount.<br /><br />If push comes to shove, and we should keep that incredible perk only for teachers, we should definitely not allow it for administrators and staff. Sorry, but we have to make hard choices, and administrators and non in-staff are secondary to our teachers. A distant second.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-57785389218177820022010-10-01T21:02:05.236-04:002010-10-01T21:02:05.236-04:00So, easing the stress of the teachers is ok for ou...So, easing the stress of the teachers is ok for out of district students (which i agree with). But that is the only employee in the school district that puts in 10 hour days that needs their stress relieved? Some folks work until 6:00 p.m. very hard for this district - is it not feasible to ask that they have a school close to their workplace as well?<br /><br />Just wondering???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-71544344946160361442010-10-01T20:17:33.333-04:002010-10-01T20:17:33.333-04:00Actually, I do agree with that one. I think it'...Actually, I do agree with that one. I think it's reasonable to allow teachers to bring their children to the school they teach at. Especially in elementary school -- It's the least we can do to alleviate their stress in the morning and help them get to work on time without worrying about all kinds of transportation. Plus - they can easily attend their own child's events and would be active members of the school.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-88170813450162269282010-10-01T19:29:55.131-04:002010-10-01T19:29:55.131-04:00I do not want to open a can of worms here. At our...I do not want to open a can of worms here. At our Elementary school we have 2 teachers who live outside the county, one in Cherokee, and their kids are able to attend our school. I fear we would lose these teachers if their kids had to attend their own county school since she would have to work out daycare and after school transportation, since she is 32 miles from her home.<br /><br />Next year, it will no longer be a choice for her since her child will be headed to 6th grade and he will have to attend his home county school since, his mom will continue to teach at our Elementary school.<br /><br />So we need to look at all the possibilities here to be able to keep the good teachers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-15940680469867776682010-10-01T18:18:20.910-04:002010-10-01T18:18:20.910-04:00Pre K costs the district money and we should get o...Pre K costs the district money and we should get out of the business of Pre-K, like the other school districts in our area.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-4506947238175566912010-10-01T16:27:41.293-04:002010-10-01T16:27:41.293-04:00I think that the school system could fix this prob...<i>I think that the school system could fix this problem as a part of the redistricting process. The school system will have to make sure that there are teachers at every school who can provide the pe, music, art, and foreign language instruction that families in the county want. Community members need to speak up.</i><br /><br />That was with the task force was trying to do last spring - consolidating schools so that the students could be eligible for music, art, etc. and still many in the communities of the smaller schools, and their BOE reps, did not want their schools closed - even if sending their children to larger schools offered them more academic options.Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-53597296779268369792010-10-01T16:23:17.177-04:002010-10-01T16:23:17.177-04:00This is probably not feasible, but perhaps the sol...This is probably not feasible, but perhaps the solution to our PreK program situation is to set up PreK centers. Group all of the classes from several nearby schools together either in a separate facility, such as a closed school, or in a wing of a school that has a lot of extra space.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-56275738824978148472010-10-01T16:14:35.725-04:002010-10-01T16:14:35.725-04:00Unfortunately, it is more than instruction that va...Unfortunately, it is more than instruction that varies so tremendously in DeKalb. You have PTAs that raise 60,000 dollars a year while a neighboring school may raise 20,000. That money buys all kinds of resources and experiences that make a difference in a child's schooling. There are schools in DeKalb where the PTAs have purchased promethean boards for every classroom. <br /><br />This makes things tricky as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com