tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post5982158571249797527..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: School Closings?Cerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-91404340436873521052009-11-03T17:41:00.635-05:002009-11-03T17:41:00.635-05:00Pat Pope was one of those consultants not too terr...Pat Pope was one of those consultants not too terribly long ago. In fact, she consulted with DCSS while at the same time, was employed full-time by her now husband, Vincent Pope. Did Dr. Lewis know this when he hired her full time?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-57553134672956860072009-11-03T17:16:46.746-05:002009-11-03T17:16:46.746-05:00Please vary your vocabulary andtry some new words ...Please vary your vocabulary andtry some new words other than freaking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-24520591131708747342009-11-03T17:15:27.527-05:002009-11-03T17:15:27.527-05:00Big difference between 4-5 construction managers t...Big difference between 4-5 construction managers than freaking 26 staff members from Parsons/Jacobs!!!!!<br /><br />The level of construction consultants, engineers, etc has not changed significantly over the past yers. Same number of construction managers, same other consultants except for the 3 part time people to manage in lieu of Pope.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-65651044317534738652009-11-03T15:19:42.621-05:002009-11-03T15:19:42.621-05:00"DCSS has always hired 4 to 5 construction ma..."DCSS has always hired 4 to 5 construction managers throughout the SPLOST projects. They have been consultants rather than on the payroll to save full year salaries with benefits. So these were in the budget. The change is hiring the consultant to stand in for Ms. Pope until the investigation is ended."<br /><br />Big difference between 4-5 construction managers than freaking 26 staff members from Parsons/Jacobs!!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-54221247577091398352009-11-03T15:11:19.677-05:002009-11-03T15:11:19.677-05:00Janet Haury was a stellar addition to the CAC. She...Janet Haury was a stellar addition to the CAC. She's president of the Coralwood Foundation LEF. They've raised over $48,000 to fund an outdoor classroom platform. This "allows students in walkers and wheelchairs an opportunity to experience not only an exposure to nature but an experience of being in a tree house environment." The Foundation is also driving the addition of more classroom space.InTheOGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-84252180422676480292009-11-03T13:52:29.100-05:002009-11-03T13:52:29.100-05:00DCSS has always hired 4 to 5 construction managers...DCSS has always hired 4 to 5 construction managers throughout the SPLOST projects. They have been consultants rather than on the payroll to save full year salaries with benefits. So these were in the budget. The change is hiring the consultant to stand in for Ms. Pope until the investigation is ended.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-34250750280439114082009-11-03T13:07:39.287-05:002009-11-03T13:07:39.287-05:00My bad. I should have known that Dr. Lewis didn...My bad. I should have known that Dr. Lewis didn't put Marshall back on there out of the goodness of his heart.<br /><br />There are people like Terry but also members of the school board (Womack, Woods) who will go only when you pry their fingers from the door frame. It is very, very hard to get new blood into the school board or committees. They are like zombies--you just can't kill them off easily (I mean that figuratively, of course).fedupindcsshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11895950244074463477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-21376563508467983772009-11-03T12:59:45.171-05:002009-11-03T12:59:45.171-05:00"The plan to get rid of Pat Pope began in Jun..."The plan to get rid of Pat Pope began in June when the administration started negotiations with Parsons."<br /><br />That is exactly true and I've heard it verified from multiple sources. Just like Crawford was telling friends three months before the Johnny Brown firing that he was going to be the next superintendent.<br /><br /><br />Terry Morris on the CAC? We don't need any more re-treads. Move on, Terry. There are 750,000 people in this county. We don't need the same old, same old folks hogging up space on the public advisory boards.<br /><br />We need smart, non-political types from a wide variety of professions to start attending BOE and CAC meetings. Even if they don't have children in the system, it's there tax money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-55063688717821626872009-11-03T12:48:58.231-05:002009-11-03T12:48:58.231-05:00Marshall Orson was removed by Lewis as a favor to ...Marshall Orson was removed by Lewis as a favor to McChesney but reinstated once Pat Pope pointed out that it was a direct violation of the by-laws to remove him. Make no mistake, there is a concerted effort to sweep the Board and Admin. of anyone who might ask uncomfortable questions. I think the attempt to change the by-laws is another effort to get Marshall and a couple other smart members off the CAC. The plan to get rid of Pat Pope began in June when the administration started negotiations with Parsons.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-49914117072457569802009-11-03T12:44:24.946-05:002009-11-03T12:44:24.946-05:00Marshall was always a Lewis appointment. McChesney...Marshall was <i>always</i> a Lewis appointment. McChesney didn't remove him.InTheOGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-13500613749711968792009-11-03T12:27:27.360-05:002009-11-03T12:27:27.360-05:00Good for Lewis--at least he recognized that Marsha...Good for Lewis--at least he recognized that Marshall's removal by McChesney was petty.<br /><br />Bob Chambers and Terracer Earnest are good, vanilla appointments. They know their stuff but Lewis et. al. will like them because they also won't make waves, ever. That said, please note that there is not a shovel in the ground at Lakeside, and the word is that the bid process may stretch out until summer. Wouldn't get my hopes up, at this point.<br /><br />Terry Morris is there because she was Womack's de facto campaign manager. She wanted back in and he owed her.fedupindcsshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11895950244074463477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-4020451859437055782009-11-03T12:12:54.571-05:002009-11-03T12:12:54.571-05:00Marshall Orson, Bob Chambers and Terracer Earnest ...Marshall Orson, Bob Chambers and Terracer Earnest are all still on the CAC. Marshall Orson is an appointment of Dr. Lewis'.InTheOGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-58042907040789838302009-11-03T09:28:33.974-05:002009-11-03T09:28:33.974-05:00All of McChesney's neighbor buddies did everyt...All of McChesney's neighbor buddies did everything possible to get McChesney elected. But it was all for one reason: To change the attendance lines in their neighborhood to make sure they all were attending Lakeside, because there wa a silver that was zones for Druid Hills High.<br /><br />That was the only issue he and his neighborhood cared about. it's pretty darn sad that everyone else in his district could have had Ella or Marahall Orson actually representing everyon'es interests.<br /><br /><br />I really believe it is time for a new generation of BOE members, and that Walker and McChesney, and hopefully Zepora and Copelin-Wood will not win their next elections.<br /><br />Please, please, please ask Ernest Brown to run again for BOE, and when he does, support him with a campaign contricution and your vote. E Brown is exactly the type of younger, intelligent, fair-minded BOE member we need these days. Instead of bullies who go to CAC meetings and try to hog all the SPLOST tax money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-36149011222483529042009-11-03T09:18:27.184-05:002009-11-03T09:18:27.184-05:00Anon 12:30 -
"Don McChesney has displayed on...Anon 12:30 -<br /><br /><i>"Don McChesney has displayed only two things since he's been on the BOE: He's petty, and he's thin-skinned."</i><br /><br />Could not agree more. Would add "vindictive".<br /><br />Campaigned on a platform of changing things and not being part of an elite power structure (aimed at Marshall Orson). Appears to be riding in Clew's hip pocket at all times. <br /><br />A great big disappointment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-67063733843183693782009-11-03T08:54:10.780-05:002009-11-03T08:54:10.780-05:00Son of awcomeonow wondering what school site the t...Son of awcomeonow wondering what school site the timber was <br />"accidently" cleared from.<br /> My bet is on a middle school site where neighboring residents were woke up by bulldozers knocking down trees up to their fencelines. This little debacle happened on a Saturday, when all of the county offices were closed.<br /> Was Stone Mountain Middle School one of the Heery Mitchell<br />sites?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-36833592393006244812009-11-03T08:43:31.560-05:002009-11-03T08:43:31.560-05:00Regarding the CAC (Citizens Advisory Committee). ...Regarding the CAC (Citizens Advisory Committee). It's meant to be a conduit to the public regarding SPLOST. It is not intended for BOE members, who already get tons of SPLOST info.<br /><br />But look at some of the non-CAC members who attend meetings:<br />Don McChesney<br />H. Paul Womack, Jr.<br />Sarah Copelin-Wood<br />Jim Redovian<br />Dr. Pamela Speaks<br />Dr. Eugene “Gene” Walker<br />Jesse “Jay” Cunningham<br /><br />This is extremely unhealthy. Here are two things to take into account:<br /><br />1) The BOE members appoint citizens to represent them at CAC meetings. It is extremely unhealthy for the BOE members to also attend the CAC meetings and stick their noses into it. They appoint smart county residents to attend and represent them, not to sit behind them at meetings. The BOE members do not have a life. They are too close to the day to day operations, and have no perspective. Many of them are retired. They do not have outside interests. They get way too involved in the day to day, instead of focusing their energy on the long-term goals of the system. It's really bad.<br /><br />2) Show me a BOE member who attends CAC meetings, and I'll show you a BOE member who is trying to bully SPLOST money into their district schools. These BOE members are trying to game the system, and they are a big reason why certain school gets tons of money, i.e. SW DeKalb, and others are ignored for decades, i.e. Cross Keys and Sequoyah.<br /><br />Here's something we should push for. If any BOE member attends a CAC meeting, he/she should not be reimbursed for the mileage to attend the meeting. if they attend CAC meetigs, they are doing so as private citizens, not to get 53 cents per mile of our tax money (which really adds up by the way).<br /><br />Some BOE members live for every single penny of mileage they get reimbursed for attending meetings, and will go out of their way to attend meetings where they are not needed. They're retired, and use the mileage as income.<br /><br />I can not begin to explain how FUBAR things are right now with Sam Moss and SPLOST. The BOE is a huge part of the problem, and they "can't se the forest for the trees".<br /><br />We need 50, 100 or more parents and regular county citizens/taxpayers to attend CAC meetings. Not BOE members.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-47977469958460949952009-11-03T00:30:55.987-05:002009-11-03T00:30:55.987-05:00"McChesney removed Marshall Orson and replace..."McChesney removed Marshall Orson and replaced him with Janet Haurey, I beleive from this committee. What a shame."<br /><br />Don McChesney has displayed only two things since he's been on the BOE: He's petty, and he's thin-skinned.<br /><br />"by coincidence the BOE agreed to hire Bob Moseley's brother in law as a roofer and Felicia Mitchell's son as a parapro. Today a roofer --tomorrow Executive Director of Roofing!"<br /><br />Shame on you Bob Moseley and Felicia Mitchell for your complete lack of ethics. DCSS is still all about nepotism. The BOE allowed the sham of frances Edwards and the Guillory's, and now allows complete unethical actions by Bob Moseley and Felicia Mitchell. F-ing shameful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-66443915384914464602009-11-03T00:01:14.590-05:002009-11-03T00:01:14.590-05:00"No Duh--you wish Bob Chambers or Terracer Ea..."No Duh--you wish Bob Chambers or Terracer Earnest were on the CAC"<br /><br />According to the minutes from the last CAC meeting, Bob and Terracer are part of the group. And perhaps their complete commitment to the CAC and positioning within DCSS as "acceptable" parents really did move Lakeside forward to its current "drawings on paper" status in the SPLOST queue. And we should thank them for their many, many hours of UNPAID time "watch dogging" our tax dollars while our BOE members are living in the past and calling each other names.<br /><br />I noticed Terry Morris as a member now, also -- geez -- talk about jumping the shark.<br /><br />So, we have a Parent Advisory Committee that is rarely attended by many parent assignees because they agree to participate thinking that the committee is going to be asking the parents' advice. They get to the meetings and find out the meetings are nothing more than PR shows of various "initiatives." Never once has that group actually been asked its opinion -- much less advice.<br /><br />The CAC is supposed to be an advisory committee. I ask again, what has that group truly done and or advised that was carried out by DCSS?<br /><br />The bombshell by the little DESA girl was classic. I wonder why whoever wrote her speech didn't have the guts to just name the BOE member with the out-of-county grandchild in attendance at DESA. The two girls were certainly better presenters than the Jackson kids -- at least they could read the words as written. Who's the grandkid and are they paying the required tuition? Anyone? <br /><br />Also, did anyone else catch that of all the unemployed people in Atlanta, by coincidence the BOE agreed to hire Bob Moseley's brother in law as a roofer and Felicia Mitchell's son as a parapro. Today a roofer -- tomorrow Executive Director of Roofing!No Duhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14462063673391668451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-14636180063315203872009-11-02T23:17:25.694-05:002009-11-02T23:17:25.694-05:00Dekalbparent, McChesney removed Marshall Orson and...Dekalbparent, McChesney removed Marshall Orson and replaced him with Janet Haurey, I beleive from this committee. What a shame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-48156403220072207092009-11-02T22:52:52.960-05:002009-11-02T22:52:52.960-05:00Interesting son of -- you may like to know that so...Interesting son of -- you may like to know that somewhere in the reporting of the Heery Mitchell lawsuit or the depositions - that one of the subs "accidentally" clear cut acres of timber -- on the wrong land! Oooops! Just one of the things HM didn't notice in their job as construction managers. Now, how could that happen??? And what became of THAT timber???<br /><br />This case is going to be a real doosey when it goes to trial in March...Yeah, that's right - we've spent somewhere between $11-14 million on attorneys and we aren't scheduled to see a trial start until at least March of 2010!Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-52535919368069538242009-11-02T22:30:01.498-05:002009-11-02T22:30:01.498-05:00"A former disgruntled employee called in a pe..."A former disgruntled employee called in a personal favor from her 'daddy's friend' at the DA's office - Clay Nix. Ever since they have been on a witch hunt ie Pat Pope - with a lot of help from Crawford Lewis." <br /><br />Clay Nix - interesting - there's a company - Nix Fowler - which was awarded a $1,705,000 contract for HVAC at McClendon ES (also - McNair High School DeKalb County Schools-$17,418,535-Mar-06)Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-90673687983690859292009-11-02T22:05:14.034-05:002009-11-02T22:05:14.034-05:00Hey--Son of awesome--
Timber fraud news
http://at...Hey--Son of awesome--<br />Timber fraud news<br /><br />http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/11/02/daily18.html?ed=2009-11-02&ana=e_du_papAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-60378830415666891322009-11-02T21:28:35.701-05:002009-11-02T21:28:35.701-05:00I talked to one person who was previously on the C...I talked to one person who was previously on the CAC. It was a joke. This person told me that at the last meeting he participated in the administration made a presentation on the CIP plan and construction progress then asked them to vote on certain additions and changes based on the recommendation of the administration. It turned out that they gave them the same CIP report that had been posted on the Operations website for months. There was no debate, no questions, no suggestion that they deliberate or conduct any inquiry or fact finding. It was simply "trust us" and you all need to vote yes. They all voted yes and went home.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-54092915708888953292009-11-02T20:27:23.074-05:002009-11-02T20:27:23.074-05:00Yes that is true. A former disgruntled employee ca...Yes that is true. A former disgruntled employee called in a personal favor from her 'daddy's friend' at the DA's office - Clay Nix. Ever since they have been on a witch hunt ie Pat Pope - with a lot of help from Crawford Lewis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-66716408496610717242009-11-02T19:52:33.308-05:002009-11-02T19:52:33.308-05:00The CAC is required to present an annual report to...The CAC is required to present an annual report to the BOE--hence the scheduling of that presentation. As to the question of accountability, I think we are inverting the logic here. The CAC's role is to try and insure there is accountability by DCSS. With limited resources and no apparent interest by the BOE is this being done, they review the projects and overall costs, try to elicit information on time to completion, tax revenues and future plans and, serve as a reminder to the system that it cannot do whatever it wants to do. <br />I think we are in agreement on the underlying premise--DCSS has no interest in accountability (i.e. in being accountable). The CAC was created as a way to try and get the public to pass SPLOST III. At most meetings a quorum has been present and the CAC members have worked to get the needed information to make an assessment as to whether DCSS is adhering to the plan. Pat Pope always seemed forthcoming and provided information with back-up. But, the CAC is working against a long history of well-placed mistrust and, even if considered "effective" is an exception to the rule. We lack effective mechanisms to hold DCSS accountable and until we create them, we will be at the mercy of a BOE and Admin that cares about narrow parochial interests and protecting the status quo.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com