tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post2610633599426468952..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: A True Kleptocracy: The Children Be Damned!Cerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-56905427065685617002011-06-06T14:25:53.426-04:002011-06-06T14:25:53.426-04:00@dekalbga
I'd like to second your comments. I...@dekalbga<br />I'd like to second your comments. It is a frustrating time to teach in DCSS, and ironically, despite their difficult behavior, it's not the kids' faults. Most teachers cite the lack of administrative support and lack of respect shown by administration (read: "deciding" to restore furlough paycuts after summer break has begun, when there won't be a backlash) as the biggest obstacles to doing our jobs as well as we'd like. <br /><br />I'm not from Atlanta, and the "niceness" of the AJC struck me right away afer moving here. The Detroit News does a better job of investigative journalism! If the purpose of a newspaper is to communicate information about community events, weird and gruesome crimes, and lost puppies, the AJC does a great job. If, however, the paper strives to uncover truth as only good journalism can do, then they "rhymes-with-luck". Great idea about directly contacting the Times, WSJ etc. Anyone can do this! Just email one of the reporters who covers education, and you'll most likely get some kind of response. All of the reporters' email addresses are on the papers' websites.DCSS Teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03269611161090106017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-37119551730467354332011-06-06T14:01:02.857-04:002011-06-06T14:01:02.857-04:00@ Anon 7:08 AM - the last time they approved the c...@ Anon 7:08 AM - the last time they approved the contract renewals for employees, HR handed them one enormous document with all of the positions as a package deal. The board had to either approve them all or not approve any, making their endorsement a formality. I would guess it will be handled in the same way this evening.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-75841194703715674932011-06-06T09:56:06.157-04:002011-06-06T09:56:06.157-04:00First, I have to commend you for the time and effo...First, I have to commend you for the time and effort--and accuracy in putting all of this together.As a teacher--who is frustrated and feeling pretty helpless right now--it's some small consolation to know that someone is trying to set things right.<br /><br />Here is just a wild idea, but you never know. Has anyone tried sending something off to the Wall Street Journal or New York Times? You just never know--this situation is nothing short of bizarre. Both have been known to report on regional educaton, and with DCSS being such a large system affecting a huge portion of Atlanta, the scope is pretty wide. <br /><br />If embezzlement from corporations is national news, embezzlement (because that is how I characterize it--diverting funds for one's own interests) from a school system is. <br /><br />If the local media continue to let us down, maybe, just maybe, someone with no stake in the game will find this newsworthy. Just a thought. You have everything laid out so nicely--easy enough to find the right name and send it along. It might just pique someone's interest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-83860287701274266442011-06-06T07:08:20.891-04:002011-06-06T07:08:20.891-04:00From tonight's agenda, this item:
As stipula...From tonight's agenda, this item:<br /><br /><br />As stipulated in Board policy, Employment Approval Policy, Descriptor Code: GA, “An annual written report of the Superintendent’s recommendation for written contract renewals for current employees shall be provided to the Board of Education no less than three (3) business days prior to the meeting of the Board of Education at which contracts are considered and presented for action.” The report include the category of assignment, which will reflect any changes in status. This report will be provided in addition to the personnel information routinely provided by the Superintendent.<br /><br />So the report is being presented tonight, to be voted on next week.<br /><br />Does this just include school based employees or is it central office employees as well?<br /><br />Anyone know?Anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13434798345498298882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-10919948701502082912011-06-06T07:05:58.565-04:002011-06-06T07:05:58.565-04:00Great job Cerebration. I agree with Atlanta Media...Great job Cerebration. I agree with Atlanta Media Guy. The press should be reporting what is happening in DCSS. Please let us know when Ms. Tyson reads email.Passionate...https://www.blogger.com/profile/07428539988625033252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-64604736672368402982011-06-06T00:29:10.790-04:002011-06-06T00:29:10.790-04:00Sandy, the Atlanta Media are letting our kids down...Sandy, the Atlanta Media are letting our kids down. I don't understand since several print and TV reporters have their kids attending DeKalb Schools. You'd think a true journalist would love to uncover what is really happening at DCSS. <br /><br />It's amazing to me this Crawford Lewis bunch, who still have their jobs, have the local media so wrapped around their fingers. The only thing I have noticed that our media has done lately is derail contract negotiations with a possible new Super. <br /><br />I look forward to hear when the other BOE members actually read a letter from a concerned taxpayer. Sandy, please let us know when Ramona opens her email.Atlanta Media Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16934015425859698186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-39923445925432266962011-06-06T00:21:37.304-04:002011-06-06T00:21:37.304-04:00@ dundevil 8:44 PM
You are welcome to send any ar...@ dundevil 8:44 PM<br /><br />You are welcome to send any article that is published on the DeKalb School Watch blog to any news reporter. <br /><br />I no longer have any news media on my mailing list. There have been too many disappointing experiences with the Atlanta metro area news media over the years. For the most part, Jeff Dickerson is telling the major news outlets what they will and won't investigate with regard to DeKalb County. <br /><br />The last straw was when the formerly professional, reliable and trustworthy Maureen Downey sided with shopworn Richard Belcher after he derailed the DCSS superintendent search. Belcher, who often seems to be in the pocket of DCSS, completely missed the real story: that a DCSS BOE member illegally broke the confidentiality of personnel negotiations with the finalist for superintendent.<br /><br />The metro Atlanta news media is a sick joke.SHShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07809309296308250111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-46188774068505364342011-06-05T23:09:11.105-04:002011-06-05T23:09:11.105-04:00Thanks, JoAnn! I would love to take credit for th...Thanks, JoAnn! I would love to take credit for this ... but it truly was a joint effort. There are several people who worked together on this. <br /><br />I just wrote the intro for the DeKalb School Watch article. The article came from me because I originally sent out the e-mail using ReadNotify so we could track and report on the response -- or lack thereof.Sandy Spruillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11088463834361312852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-14303512518831290162011-06-05T22:24:33.273-04:002011-06-05T22:24:33.273-04:00Yes, I did mean "Tim." Thanks. My questi...Yes, I did mean "Tim." Thanks. My question about trying the US Attorney's Office remains. The fact that the 2 consistently highest performing schools (Lakeside and Chamblee Charter) had the lowest scores on the facilities assessments (22 and 33 points, respectively) proves that DCSS' policy of throwing money at schools that do not produce good, let alone excellent, outcomes is a failed policy. Why is DCSS so vested in not demanding any return on investment? If we can't measure return on investment by the number of kids that can read and write at grade level, how else should we measure it? How much longer will taxpayers allow this travesty to continue?Jo Newman Russlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09873856122647644306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-6070608645986062992011-06-05T22:18:15.644-04:002011-06-05T22:18:15.644-04:00I think you mean Tim Eberly and I think he went ba...I think you mean Tim Eberly and I think he went back to his Gwinnett beat (he was borrowed for a while...) I have a feeling he'll be back if and when these trials begin.<br /><br />I do find it interesting that Tyson and the board seem so hyper-focused on buildings and rearranging "seats" yet they will not hold the people responsible for the poor performing schools feet to the fire. Tyson hasn't cleaned house of one soul.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-79077011822815452532011-06-05T21:10:36.551-04:002011-06-05T21:10:36.551-04:00Sandy - as usual, your research is thorough and on...Sandy - as usual, your research is thorough and on-point. As a lot of this money that is being misspent, if not downright stolen, is federal money, is it time to try once again to get the US Attorney's Office involved. One can hardly call this "chumpchange." It far surpasses the per pupil funding embezzlement issues we have raised before. Also, does anyone know what has become of the AJC reporter, Jeff Eberly, that seemed so interested in our DCSS tales of woe?Jo Newman Russlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09873856122647644306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-70324483570465574302011-06-05T20:44:27.664-04:002011-06-05T20:44:27.664-04:00Cereb Another great effort that is factually supp...Cereb Another great effort that is factually supported. That only Nancy has opened the e-mail does not surprise me. Do you really think that Ramona cares?<br /><br />I suggest that when you send e-mails like that to Ramona and/or the BOE that you also send copies to the AJC reporters that cover DCSS. Show it on the email to the BOE. This might better get the attention of Ramona and the BOE members to think that a reporter might be asking them questions on the subject.<br /><br /><br />Megan Matteuci, who did really great work, no longer seems to be with AJC. I think that there are two reporters currently assigned to DCSS. These are April Hunt and Jaime SERRIO (sp?), Try ahunyt@ajc.com and j (correct spelling)@ajc.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com