Did anyone know that a new Grand Jury had been convened to look at the school system?
According to WSB-TV, Ms. Tyson is doing a great job, going "above and beyond the call of duty." So far, I haven't been able to find any articles about this Grand Jury, so I am including the clip from WSB-TV.
http://www.wsbtv.com/video/25625632/
MEET OUR INTERNAL AUDITOR
From WSB-TV:
In the wake of a racketeering scandal which landed three school district employees in jail, the DeKalb School Board has now hired an internal auditor to watch over its business operations and prevent fraud."It's absolutely critical, especially in this kind of economy and environment," said Gary Babst, who spent 30 years working for General Motors. He's also a certified fraud investigator."It's the cop on the corner mentality. If I'm there and I'm visible, people are going to maybe rethink some of the things they'd otherwise do," Babst told Channel 2 Action News investigative reporter Jodie Fleischer.
He said the district has the policies in place, but they haven't always been enforced. "I can't get it fraud free, and unfortunately that's just the reality of life. I can minimize it and we can certainly make examples of people that we catch," he added. Babst reports directly to the school board, so he's just as free to investigate high ranking employees if need be
Link to full story:
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/25627027/detail.html
Be sure to watch the video.
And now the latest news on the trial of Lewis/Reid/Pope/Moody
Embedded in an AJC article about DeKalb's new DA was the this little tidbit:
James comes as prosecutors are preparing for the corruption trial of former schools Superintendent Crawford Lewis and three others charged with running a criminal enterprise at the school system. The trial was scheduled for January, but it has been pushed back several months while Lewis appeals the dismissal of his lawyer.
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/dekalb-solicitor-to-take-720631.html
Friday, November 5, 2010
Board Retreat and Policy Input
Tomorrow,Saturday November 6, 2010, the Committee on Instruction and Board Policy of the DeKalb County Board of Education will hold a retreat on Saturday, November 6, 2010 in the Cabinet Room at the DeKalb County School System's Administrative & Instructional Complex,1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, Stone Mountain
8:45am – 9:00am
Continental Breakfast
Welcome
Presented by: Dr. Pamela A. Speaks,
Committee Chair
Instruction & Board Policy Committee
2020 Facilities Vision Plan
Presented by: Ms. Ramona H. Tyson & Staff
10:15am – 10:30am - Break
QSCB Funding
Presented by: Mr. Marcus Turk, Chief Financial Officer
(Qualified School Construction Bonds)
QZAB Funding
Presented by: Mr. Marcus Turk, Chief Financial Officer
(Qualified Zone Academy Bonds)
12:00pm – 1:00pm - Lunch
Boardmanship
Presented by: Mr. Jim Puckett
School Boards Association
Adjourn
These retreats are open to the public. If you do attend, please let us know what happens.
I would think that during the Bonds discussion they will talk about potential uses for the money. I just don’t even know what to say about the Boardmanship section of the retreat. Perhaps Puckett could use some real world examples from some DeKalb board members for what not to do during a board meeting.
Policies Posted
A new round of policy revisions is available on the DCSS website and ready for comment. These policies are scheduled to be adopted onDecember 6th, 2010 .
8:45am – 9:00am
Continental Breakfast
Welcome
Presented by: Dr. Pamela A. Speaks,
Committee Chair
Instruction & Board Policy Committee
2020 Facilities Vision Plan
Presented by: Ms. Ramona H. Tyson & Staff
10:15am – 10:30am - Break
QSCB Funding
Presented by: Mr. Marcus Turk, Chief Financial Officer
(Qualified School Construction Bonds)
QZAB Funding
Presented by: Mr. Marcus Turk, Chief Financial Officer
(Qualified Zone Academy Bonds)
12:00pm – 1:00pm - Lunch
Boardmanship
Presented by: Mr. Jim Puckett
School Boards Association
Adjourn
These retreats are open to the public. If you do attend, please let us know what happens.
I would think that during the Bonds discussion they will talk about potential uses for the money. I just don’t even know what to say about the Boardmanship section of the retreat. Perhaps Puckett could use some real world examples from some DeKalb board members for what not to do during a board meeting.
Policies Posted
A new round of policy revisions is available on the DCSS website and ready for comment. These policies are scheduled to be adopted on
 GAG-R - Staff Conflict of Interest |
| GAGC-R(1) - Employee Ethics |
| GBKA - Professional Personnel Lay-Off |
| GBU-R(1) - Professional Personnel Ethics |
| JCDA - Student Behavior Code |
Three of the policies (GAG-R, GAGC-R, and GBU-R(1) have to do with whistle blowing. Please read these policies and share your concerns and comments with us.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Cheating investigation results are in
The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement released official results from their investigation into cheating on the state 2009 Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT). The AJC is hosting an online tool for you to check the results for your school. Click here to do a search.
In my quick assessment, I found many DeKalb schools were flagged for suspicious levels of "wrong to right" answer changes. A partial list includes: Browns Mill, Canby Lane, Cedar Grove, Dunaire, Eldridge, Glen Haven, Hooper Alexander, Laurel Ridge, McLendon, Rainbow, Redan, Rock Chapel, Rockbridge, Shadow Rock, Stoneview, Toney and Panola Way.
If you are interested in the 2010 CRCT results for your school, you can find that data by clicking this AJC link.
In my quick assessment, I found many DeKalb schools were flagged for suspicious levels of "wrong to right" answer changes. A partial list includes: Browns Mill, Canby Lane, Cedar Grove, Dunaire, Eldridge, Glen Haven, Hooper Alexander, Laurel Ridge, McLendon, Rainbow, Redan, Rock Chapel, Rockbridge, Shadow Rock, Stoneview, Toney and Panola Way.
If you are interested in the 2010 CRCT results for your school, you can find that data by clicking this AJC link.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
No message sent to the school board
Today's AJC recaps the election results for DeKalb schools. Tom Bowen is quoted as saying:
I disagree. I think there is a message in here. A very sad message. The message that the racially divisive politics of old are still very strongly at play in DeKalb and voters still harbor mistrust and antipathy toward "others" in the system. Sending Sarah, Jay and possibly Zepora back to the board is definitely a "statement". And sending Dr. Walker back is an endorsement of his racial perspective. He openly admitted his own racially-motivated thinking when he stated at a board meeting, “I am a very, very race-conscious person,” Walker said in October 2009. “I will never ever try to lead you to believe that I am race-neutral. I see color. I appreciate color. I celebrate color and I love color.”
Sarah Copelin-Wood inserted herself into the redistricting task force discussions, injecting a race-baited argument and pitting schools in her own district against each other. As the head of the task force reported , “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.”
In fact, one email campaign in support of Sarah Copelin-Wood summed up the anti-"north" racially divisive sentiment quite honestly -
At least the people in District 7 will open their minds to the idea that a younger, well-educated African-American woman, a woman with a degree in mathematics, a certified public accountant, could quite possibly actually represent them well in today's world. Maybe, just maybe, this one district will be the one to take a chance and step into the light of the new millennium by voting for an African-American success story - Donna Edler - a rational woman who exemplifies the very level of educational success that we want our school board to ensure for all of our students.
Although voters turned their backs on the wonderfully qualified Kirk Nooks in District 5, I hold out this hope that the voters of District 7 will rise to the challenge, stand tall and proudly vote in faith that we can move forward together - offering professional representation for their district - with confidence in a future where race is no longer a "card"–it's simply the color of one's skin. I hope District 7 voters realize that ensuring that all of the children in DeKalb are well-educated and that the tax money spent on this endeavor finds it way to the students in the classroom is the real task of a school board.
“The election results were all over the place with no clear message being sent from the public,” Bowen told the AJC. “There was no visible anti-incumbent message in the votes cast and the publicized endorsements did not seem to carry any weight. The voters made up their own minds. “
I disagree. I think there is a message in here. A very sad message. The message that the racially divisive politics of old are still very strongly at play in DeKalb and voters still harbor mistrust and antipathy toward "others" in the system. Sending Sarah, Jay and possibly Zepora back to the board is definitely a "statement". And sending Dr. Walker back is an endorsement of his racial perspective. He openly admitted his own racially-motivated thinking when he stated at a board meeting, “I am a very, very race-conscious person,” Walker said in October 2009. “I will never ever try to lead you to believe that I am race-neutral. I see color. I appreciate color. I celebrate color and I love color.”
Sarah Copelin-Wood inserted herself into the redistricting task force discussions, injecting a race-baited argument and pitting schools in her own district against each other. As the head of the task force reported , “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.”
In fact, one email campaign in support of Sarah Copelin-Wood summed up the anti-"north" racially divisive sentiment quite honestly -
Do not be so "gullible" to allow these groups, mostly comprised by Dunwoody, "to tell you how to think," "what to think" and "what to do." You just try to attempt to go to Dunwoody and tell them "how to think" or who to "vote for" - Dunwoody would object your presence and reject your opinion. If the people in Dunwoody wanted to be a part of you, they would not have created their own city.I think Bowen is wrong - I think the voters of South DeKalb have sent a very strong message. The message so blatantly stated in the writers email above. The message states that South DeKalb continues to feel as if they are fighting some kind of power in North DeKalb and the only people who can save them are Copelin-Wood, Cunningham and Walker. To me, this is a very sad statement that the racial divide has not healed much at all in Georgia.
At least the people in District 7 will open their minds to the idea that a younger, well-educated African-American woman, a woman with a degree in mathematics, a certified public accountant, could quite possibly actually represent them well in today's world. Maybe, just maybe, this one district will be the one to take a chance and step into the light of the new millennium by voting for an African-American success story - Donna Edler - a rational woman who exemplifies the very level of educational success that we want our school board to ensure for all of our students.
Although voters turned their backs on the wonderfully qualified Kirk Nooks in District 5, I hold out this hope that the voters of District 7 will rise to the challenge, stand tall and proudly vote in faith that we can move forward together - offering professional representation for their district - with confidence in a future where race is no longer a "card"–it's simply the color of one's skin. I hope District 7 voters realize that ensuring that all of the children in DeKalb are well-educated and that the tax money spent on this endeavor finds it way to the students in the classroom is the real task of a school board.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The votes are in
One of our bloggers shared the link to the final tally for the DeKalb elections. Click here to download the pdf.
Results -
District 1
Nancy Jester - 47.75%
Jim Redovian - 42.88%
Bobbe Gillis - 9.03%
District 3
Sarah Copelin-Wood - 50.84%
Corey Wilson - 30.75%
Robert Holt - 18.28%
District 5
Jay Cunningham - 64.68%
Jacques Hall - 23.05%
Kirk Nooks - 12.15%
District 7
Zepora Roberts - 37.95%
Donna Edler - 30.19%
Willie Mosley - 22.08%
Richard Gathany - 9.59%
District 9
Gene Walker - 56.73%
Ella Smith - 43.11%
===
So it looks like we will have runoffs in District 1 and District 7 and I would imagine a recount in District 3. All in all, we are disheartened to see that the incumbents did so well. We were really looking forward to a big change on the DeKalb Board of Education.
On another educational note, John Barge was elected our new state superintendent of schools with 55% of the vote over Joe Martin's 40%. (I misreported that Martin had won - but he only won in DeKalb precincts.)
Results -
District 1
Nancy Jester - 47.75%
Jim Redovian - 42.88%
Bobbe Gillis - 9.03%
District 3
Sarah Copelin-Wood - 50.84%
Corey Wilson - 30.75%
Robert Holt - 18.28%
District 5
Jay Cunningham - 64.68%
Jacques Hall - 23.05%
Kirk Nooks - 12.15%
District 7
Zepora Roberts - 37.95%
Donna Edler - 30.19%
Willie Mosley - 22.08%
Richard Gathany - 9.59%
District 9
Gene Walker - 56.73%
Ella Smith - 43.11%
===
So it looks like we will have runoffs in District 1 and District 7 and I would imagine a recount in District 3. All in all, we are disheartened to see that the incumbents did so well. We were really looking forward to a big change on the DeKalb Board of Education.
On another educational note, John Barge was elected our new state superintendent of schools with 55% of the vote over Joe Martin's 40%. (I misreported that Martin had won - but he only won in DeKalb precincts.)
Vote NO to School Board Incumbents!
Shocking information about current DCSS BOE members continues to surface. Alleged wifebeating. Allegedly pointing a gun at another person – twice! Alleged theft in an amount large enough to be a felony.
And then there is deep denial about the serious deficiencies and integrated dishonest behavior of DCSS cabinet members and top administrators … and the alleged criminal and felonious activities of BOE members.
At the DHA forum on Tuesday night, October 26, Jim Redovian (Dist. 1) said “Things aren’t that bad in DeKalb. We’re doing pretty well.”
Jim's opponent, Nancy Jester’s well-researched, accurate spreadsheets document that things are, indeed, that bad in DCSS. For example: Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) started out at a 14% AYP school failure rate in 2004 as did DCSS. Today, GCPS has only an 8.5% school failure rate while DCSS has risen to a 44% school failure rate. GCPS has gotten better even as their population has become more “economically disadvantaged” (54% are now on free/reduced lunch), more diverse (now only one-third of students are white; they have more ESL) and quite large (now 160,000+ students). Of course, our board members say that we shouldn’t compare the systems.
Jim's opponent, Nancy Jester’s well-researched, accurate spreadsheets document that things are, indeed, that bad in DCSS. For example: Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) started out at a 14% AYP school failure rate in 2004 as did DCSS. Today, GCPS has only an 8.5% school failure rate while DCSS has risen to a 44% school failure rate. GCPS has gotten better even as their population has become more “economically disadvantaged” (54% are now on free/reduced lunch), more diverse (now only one-third of students are white; they have more ESL) and quite large (now 160,000+ students). Of course, our board members say that we shouldn’t compare the systems.
Perhaps the most damning thing is to look at the ITBS scores for reading comprehension. In first grade DeKalb County
It would be informative – and probably even more damning – to look at individual BOE member's voting records. The BOE has made certain that its members’ votes and statements in official meetings are inaccessible. All votes and statements are recorded in the minutes – for every meeting – including work sessions, business meetings, called meetings, and committee meetings. These are public record and should be easily, publicly accessible. Why are the minutes of these meetings not on the DCSS website? Why are members’ votes not on the DCSS website?
The only way to access this critical information, detailing the performance of BOE members, is through an open records request. That sure makes it tough to be an informed voter and Throw The Incumbents Out! on Election Day. Hmmm … exactly!
In the place of actual – vs. anecdotal – performance information for the incumbents, why take a chance? DCSS is one big hot mess – wasting unrecoverable time and education from our students … cutting unrecoverable salary and retirement funding from our teachers and other employees … threatening the livelihood of any employee who dares to speak up … protecting unqualified friends, family and sorority/fraternity members – their jobs and inflated salaries … and much, much more.
More of the same? It is your choice today, Tuesday, November 2, 2010.
7 AM - 7PM
As a taxpayer ... take charge, flex your muscles and
Vote NO on ALL DCSS Board of Education Incumbents!
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