tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post3491961250081887234..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: Schools suffer maintenance neglect countywideCerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-40909899406472079532009-10-07T10:41:13.481-04:002009-10-07T10:41:13.481-04:00Since the children are partly responsible for the ...Since the children are partly responsible for the trash on the campus grounds, instead of suspension, make them do grounds keeping instead of releasing them to the streets or sitting in a classroom doing nothing(ISS). Just a thought...this is how you show students that there are consequences for their actions...but who am I kidding the BOE and Dr. Lewis aren't accountable for their personal/professional actions and they are adults who are paid to perform their jobs and failure to comply should come with stiffer consequences...just my thoughtsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-27113888279766302092009-10-05T13:13:22.288-04:002009-10-05T13:13:22.288-04:00I re-read Cere's Oct 2 post concerning the dut...I re-read Cere's Oct 2 post concerning the duties of the maintenance staff, and it got my smart-@ss mind going. Regarding DHHS:<br /><br /><br />4- Inspect building for any signs of graffiti: follow appropriate procedures to remove graffiti <br /><br />- I think this is occupying a good deal of the maintenance staff's time...<br /><br />6- Inspect grounds for any signs of insect infestation, ant mounds, etc <br /><br />- well, they may well be inspecting, but it doesn't actually say they have to DO anything about it... The BIG question I have is whether they are supposed to do anything about other infestation - the rodent kind. There are rats at DHHS that have been there so long they have names (I'm not kidding), and show up in classrooms while class is going on. <br /><br />It is quite possible that the staff is stretched too far, considering the extra mess the neverending construction is causing.Dekalbparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16376422781260452873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-57436305992720051892009-10-04T23:07:32.324-04:002009-10-04T23:07:32.324-04:00Good News in Dunwoody! According to Heneghan'...Good News in Dunwoody! According to <a href="http://dunwoodynorth.blogspot.com/2009/10/dunwoody-high-school-to-be-updated-with.html" rel="nofollow"> Heneghan's Dunwoody blog,</a> there will be a meeting Tuesday eve in the Dunwoody High School cafeteria for the purpose of briefing the neighbors on the plans for the addition to Dunwoody High School!Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-25699456176697148832009-10-04T22:40:09.780-04:002009-10-04T22:40:09.780-04:00DeKalb really needs the Bathroom cleaning expert t...DeKalb really needs the Bathroom cleaning expert to come in. I won't use even the teacher bathroom at my school. The urine smell trickles out into hall when you walk past the boys' bathroom.<br /><br />Many of our schools have buckets in the hall to catch water from the holes in the ceiling. The principal can only write up work orders. When someone finally comes out, they usually aren't competent. We have buildings that have leaky roofs since they were first built. I don't understand why the county didn't call the contractor up and have them come and fix their mistakes. Makes no sense to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-34854186071911541252009-10-02T21:35:55.686-04:002009-10-02T21:35:55.686-04:00Oh - I think I get your meaning. You're sayin...Oh - I think I get your meaning. You're saying that other school systems pay more on top of their published salaries... gotcha. Didn't know that.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-23128433876865257532009-10-02T19:24:36.529-04:002009-10-02T19:24:36.529-04:00Anonymous, it is interesting that some school syst...Anonymous, it is interesting that some school systems pay may not actually be the principals overal yearly salary. I find this extremely interesting.<br /><br />In doing the research Kim and I were very shocked at all the jobes that Dekalb County had in administration that the other surrounding counties did not have.<br /><br />Now I do have a difference of opinion on principals salaries. I see principals as underpayed for the hours they work and the responsibilities that they have. Principals are responsible for the grounds, and all the other things mentioned. They are responsible for everything which happens in those schools. Compared to other positions outside of education with this amount of responsibility principals are underpaid.Ella Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08004885232852482737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-11176720234267564612009-10-02T19:15:07.170-04:002009-10-02T19:15:07.170-04:00Anon 6:27 PM - I'm not following your point. ...Anon 6:27 PM - I'm not following your point. The salaries we post here, although they come from the state of GA website are actual salaries of DCSS employees - name by name, with job titles and expense accounts.<br /><br />Here's the link to the salaries - all jobs paid even partially by the state are listed here... <br /><br />http://open.georgia.gov/Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-54299769570510231102009-10-02T19:09:53.066-04:002009-10-02T19:09:53.066-04:00Well, Anon, I guess we have conflicting info, as t...Well, Anon, I guess we have conflicting info, as these photos were sent by someone who lives in the area also. Anyone else want to weigh in with a third opinion about these trees? (Not the trash, that is obviously school property and we have more photos of that.)<br /><br />As far as the photo of the Sam Moss Center goes - maybe I did paste the wrong link (it happens) -- <br /><br />Anyway - here's a link to the real Sam Moss Center - renovated before renovations have been done to several actual school buildings with actual students waiting their turn for promised renovations and auditoriums and additions that voters thought they were voting for...Still inexcusable and selfish IMHO.<br /><br />http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/administration/operations/<br /><br />Lots of good info here.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-30330358867121817422009-10-02T18:27:27.934-04:002009-10-02T18:27:27.934-04:00Interesting post by anonymous. I follow the DeKal...Interesting post by anonymous. I follow the DeKalb, Clayton and two Gwinnett blogs related to schools and education. Each has its own identity. This blog has some informed participants and others that submit items as fact when they are personal opinion and all posters thereafter feed the chain of prior posts. This blog posts salaries researched on the state web page and uses them as comparison in funding. May I suggest that those willing to do the research apply an apples to apples comparison and not view the state pay scale and research actual pay. From my research the only two large systems that publish valid figures are DeKalb and Cobb. APS pays schools and administrators bonuses on test score performance. Gwinnett principals earn $ for each student in the school. I believe Gwinnett has a Foundation that rewarded principals with a monetary bonus as well. These figures are not on the state scale nor published. DeKalb attempted to offer a bonus but cut the plan balance the budget. I enjoy the commentary and the concern the majority of participants express on this web-site much better than the Clayton and Gwinnett sites.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-76741085673756726852009-10-02T18:08:49.178-04:002009-10-02T18:08:49.178-04:00Did anyone that responded to this post visit the p...Did anyone that responded to this post visit the property that the tree is on? I happen to live in the area and the tree belongs to and is on church property not SWDHS. In reading the posts I also find it interesting that responses are critical of the Sam Moss Center. Have you viewed the property prior to the comments about how the money should be spent in the schools? I was and am on committees that meet at that location and it is not even remotely close the Operations photo. The photo referenced to the Operations web page changes. The current picture is Miller Grove HS when it was being built. Visit the web page and put your curser on the picture, it will tell you the school name. You are correct that certain properties are not maintained well but that responsibility does reside at the local school. Principals are responsible for hiring the custodial staff and monitoring the appearance of the facility and grounds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-81919597821762035142009-10-02T14:45:12.981-04:002009-10-02T14:45:12.981-04:00"Has anyone seen DeKalb Campus East?"
W..."Has anyone seen DeKalb Campus East?"<br /><br />What's the address of it? I'd like to see it and maybe take some photo's for the blog. If you have photo's of poorly kept DCSS facilities, and they are all over, I'm sure Cere would post some of them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-29669607737424590952009-10-02T14:43:40.998-04:002009-10-02T14:43:40.998-04:00I know a lot of people are talking about this topi...I know a lot of people are talking about this topic. More importantly, I hope BOE members are reading it. The Sam Moss Center and staff needs complete overhaul and staff changes. DOn't blame the principals, Superintendent Lewis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-25348378195670956272009-10-02T14:43:23.218-04:002009-10-02T14:43:23.218-04:00It’s not only the school campuses that are a wreck...It’s not only the school campuses that are a wreck. Has anyone seen DeKalb Campus East? This is mainly an administrative center. It looks like an abandoned/neglected shopping center.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-75435989266094758522009-10-02T14:11:07.239-04:002009-10-02T14:11:07.239-04:00This post is really hitting a nreve with parents. ...This post is really hitting a nreve with parents. SW DeKalb has assistant principals who sure do dress well, but they're "posers". Gotta love it when kids in the cafeteria leave their trays with food and trash left on them, right in front of the assistant principals, then walk away, and the assistant principal doesn't even notice and have the gumption to say, "Son, please pick up your tray and dispose of your trash, RIGHT NOW YOUNG MAN!".<br /><br />The principals have enough to do. The assistant principals at some of our schools look the part, but that's all they do. They should be checking school grounds and facilities. They should be getting on kids driving into the parking lot with their radio's blaring at full blast with every other lyric a "F#$% this" or N!@#$" that.<br /><br />Makes me want to put the kids in private school right now. DCSS is such a massive, bloated, slow buraucracy, they just can't do the little (or big) things right.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-18706457265774199842009-10-02T13:02:36.928-04:002009-10-02T13:02:36.928-04:00Dr. Tom Keating of http://www.project-clean.com/. ...Dr. Tom Keating of http://www.project-clean.com/. He lives right here in DeKalb County, and is considered the top expert in the USA on school restrooms. Contact info.: penguins@mindspring.com and (404) 373-4973.<br /><br />He is actually in Germany right now working with the German Dept. of Education on their school restroom cleaning policies. That's how good he is. Maybe when he returns, he could be the first DeKalb County School Watch interview.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-58398835732489474442009-10-02T12:57:09.488-04:002009-10-02T12:57:09.488-04:00We should keep Dr. Keating away from the restrooms...We should keep Dr. Keating away from the restrooms at Cross Keys and Sequoyah or he might have a stroke.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-80655067546634161512009-10-02T12:54:32.828-04:002009-10-02T12:54:32.828-04:00Tom was literally tossed out of Lakeside due to pr...Tom was literally tossed out of Lakeside due to pressure from above. However, he is revered all across the country as the guru of the restroom!Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-72920871114015859142009-10-02T12:49:11.365-04:002009-10-02T12:49:11.365-04:00There is only one safe, hygenic way to clean a sch...There is only one safe, hygenic way to clean a school restroom, and it's not mopping. This is what colleges and good school systems use, especially with the H1N1 and even worse MSRA staff infection:<br /><br />http://www.kaivac.com/p_36-KaiVac_1750_No_Touch_Cleaning_System<br /><br /><br />DCSS has been approached by county resident, Dr. Tom Keating, the top school restroom expert in the counttry, http://www.project-clean.com/, to improve the way DCSS cleans and sanitizes its restrooms. But of course the DCSS Central Office and Sam Moss staff blew him off. And he lives here in DeKalb??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-66150633812910037382009-10-02T12:40:00.519-04:002009-10-02T12:40:00.519-04:00There is a difference between facilities maintenan...There is a difference between facilities maintenance, grounds maintenance and athletic field maintenence.<br /><br />Facilities maintenance is everything inside the building, and some outside, such as gutters, scuppers, drains, etc.<br /><br />Grounds maintenance is just that, the grounds around the school. There are a copule of hundred companies in metro Atlanta who would fight hard for the DCSS grounds maintenance contract. We'd get a low price and great service and efficiency as that industry is ultra-competitive and dying for steady contracts.<br /><br />Athletic field maintenance is much more specialized, and DCSS absolutely sucks at it. The equipment is more specialized, and there is a lot of expertise and education involved with maintaining athletic fields. Even so, there are well over 50 companies in the greater metro area specializing in athletic field maintenance, and they too are ultra competitive and would provide a much higher level of athletic turf and efficiency.<br /><br />If you have a grounds maintenance or athletic field contractor who's not getting the job done, you have scores more wanting the work, so it behooves tghem to be on top of their game.<br /><br />There is no security worry for grounds and athletic field maintenance as they do not enter the school, have a crew supervisor, and they can work around the school schedule.<br /><br />Kim, you mentioned Post Properties grounds maintenance. They actually started as in house for all the Post apartment complexes, but they are so good at what they do, they also contract all over the place to non-Post porperties.<br /><br />Has anyone seen the grounds maintenance at a Post property? They are beautiful, and our schools could look like that, by a company like Post Properties, and we could actually spend less then we do now if you take into account the equipment cost, equipment maintenance cost, salaries and benefits.<br /><br />Many private schools contract out grounds and field maintenance not just for the higher quality of work, but because they can't afford to purchase and maintain the equipment needed. If you do it right, you need good equipment that has a lot of maintenance needs, and that adds up. DCSS has to buy and maintain their equipment. That's no a worry when you contract out.<br /><br />In DeKalb, the BOE and administrators like Crawford Lewis and Stan Prichett have built a mega jobs program, where the quality of work is a distant second to having a bunch of jobs to hand out at their disposal. The politics within the Sam Moss Center are absolutely brutal. People only move up if they "play the game", not because they excel at their work.<br /><br />It high time DCSS becomes more efficient, and focuses its budget and resources back into the classroom. Contracting out grounds and athletic field maintenance is an east start.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-915548443422232952009-10-02T12:17:01.050-04:002009-10-02T12:17:01.050-04:00I believe that the maintenance people at the schoo...I believe that the maintenance people at the schools are also responsible for keeping up the playing fields, at least in the case of middle and high schools. That in itself is a huge job. <br /><br />I have to say that Henderson Middle is one of the cleanest schools in the county. I actually saw a custodian there cleaning the door frame above the double fire doors in the hallways. They have a chart in each bathroom (available from the county) to keep track of cleaning, which happens several times a day. After each class change, when the kids have gone to their lockers and trash is all over the halls, they sweep the floors. <br /><br />It can be done folks. It just requires a good supervisor and good employees. And I know the principal there is on top of this all the time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-47160978827107829142009-10-02T12:12:33.776-04:002009-10-02T12:12:33.776-04:00Bottom line - and the reason I post the salaries -...Bottom line - and the reason I post the salaries - is that we are paying plenty of people plenty of money to oversee our schools - educationally and with respect to maintenance.<br /><br />We are not getting our money's worth in any way.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-32136268178846276942009-10-02T12:03:00.195-04:002009-10-02T12:03:00.195-04:00The only other major property owner I know of that...The only other major property owner I know of that has its own grounds maintenance department do all the work is Post Properties. In their case, one could argue it is a core competency and competitive differentiation they must manage and protect.<br /><br />It is baffling to me that a school system would have all of the grounds maintenance in-house. To me, this is one of the few easy cases for change in DCSS-land.<br /><br />We do have a complex set of problems and a long history muddying the decision-making overall. But what defense is there for keeping this grounds organization and process in place? I do not think there is one.<br /><br />If there were a service delivery contract for these type of services and each school had a designated account manager at the vendor, then I'd be happy to hold the principals' accountable for the grounds appearance knowing they could pick up the phone for service with an expectation of responsiveness.Kim Gokcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01855554437157990110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-3233218413196507032009-10-02T12:01:22.746-04:002009-10-02T12:01:22.746-04:00Wow. If you just counted the 114 schools and cent...Wow. If you just counted the 114 schools and centers in DCSS (realizing there are many more buildings owned by DCSS), each Plant Operations Director would have to oversee just 3 schools each! They could probably get around the three campuses even just once a week to check on problems. <br /><br />I know, some of those directors oversee things other than just maintenance of the plants (i.e. PO includes the mail service between buildings, etc.), but that is unbelievably bloated.No Duhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14462063673391668451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-65661379915692831602009-10-02T10:48:48.973-04:002009-10-02T10:48:48.973-04:00And back to the issue of maintenance -- here's...And back to the issue of maintenance -- here's what it says in the official (green) custodial manual -<br />http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/administration/operations/plantservices/files/custodial_manual.pdf<br /><br />page 11 of 46 - Safety & Grounds<br /><br />1 - Sweep outside walkways<br />2 - Clear all loose paper and debris from grounds<br />3 - Check drains and clear debris<br />4- Inspect building for any signs of graffiti: follow appropriate procedures to remove graffiti<br />5- Inspect grounds for fallen trees<br />6- Inspect grounds for any signs of insect infestation, ant mounds, etc<br />7- Establish a MSDA station to monitor all green products<br />8 - Comply and wear all required PP&E when necessary (gloves, safety glasses, slip resistant shoes or shoe covers)<br />9 - Report all incidents and accidents in accordance with DCSS policiesCerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-64089565714073805812009-10-02T10:38:32.892-04:002009-10-02T10:38:32.892-04:00Let's see -
There are about 784 custodians -...Let's see - <br /><br />There are about 784 custodians - avg salary - aound $30k - 278 Maintenance Personnel - avg salary - $45k - plus 37 plant operations "directors" - avg salary - $60k, and 27 plant operations Sec/Clerks - avg salary $40k.<br /><br />For comparison, we have 222 security officers - avg salary $45k. Isn't that a sad statement?<br /><br />Not to mention that there are most likely over 2250 people in special education - as interrelated teachers, teachers of hearing/visual/emotiona etc, parapros, speech and OT, SE nurses etc. <br />(That's over 17% of the total 13,000 DCSS workforce.)Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.com