Tuesday, February 19, 2013

That's Why They Call Him the "Court Marshall"

Marshall Orson was reprimanded by the state BOE for telling them one

too many times that he is new to the board and was speaking on his

experience as a private citizen. The state BOE member told him they can

only recommend removal of the entire board so it does not matter how

long he has been there.

Don't Forget: Marshall Orson a.k.a. "Court Marshall" will be holding a meeting:

TONIGHT, 7 - 8:30 p.m. Emory Presbyterian Church, 1866 North Decatur Rd.

Here are a few ideas for tonight's topics in case the meeting is short on substance...

1. Who on the board recommended Michael Thurmond? Who is his BFF? You or Dr. Walker?

2. How did you find so much money to pay him when our teachers are broke?

3. How many lawyers are there in Dekalb that the board has not yet hired?

4. Did the copy-cat brought here by Dr. Atkinson get a severance package, too?

5. Is this considered a "fireside chat?"

6. Are you going to sue us next?

7. Is there already a hidden city of Lakeside and will it challenge the hidden school system of Underground Fernbank to a game of Quittage?

8. May we call you the Court Marshall?

9. Did you find the books?

10. Do you know who is running the school system right now?

11. Where is Sumter County and why can't we ever be first at anything?

12. Now what are we going to do with all those signatures on Betsy's petition?

13. Did you take your "Intro. to School Board Training" class, yet?

14. Are you putting sleeping pills into other board members' drinks when they are not looking?

15. Have you learned anything new about the cell tower contracts?*

16. Does our school system bank account have overdraft protection?

17. Can Gene's son cut us a deal on those bonds now that we might have to use them as collateral against the other loan we need in order to pay the lawyers for .... uh... what are we paying them for, again?

18. Do you know when the Crawford Lewis trial will begin?

19. Can we have the scrap lumber from the million dollar wing at Fernbank Elementary you want to tear down?

20. Have you found the "leak" from the last Superintendent search?

21. What have you done with the real Michael Thurmond?

22. Did you play Thurston Howell III on Giligan's Island? Is he related to Cheryl Lynn Howell Atkinson or Ramona Howell Tyson or Kathy Howe? If so, Howell? (get it?)

23. Is this the "historic opportunity" you were telling us about when you said we had to vote yes on SPLOST if we wanted to remove the entire board? Or, are we still waiting for that one before we move on to the next one?

24. If you were us, would you trust you?

25. Would the BOE members be willing to take lie detector tests? about any subject whatsoever?

26. Can we make up our own board rules for you to ignore or are you guys the only ones who get to do that?

27. Is Fernbank Elementary considered North or South DeKalb County?

28. Will you support a voucher program?

29. WIll you support a change to countywide elections for the board rather than elections by individual districts only?

30. Are you the puppet master?

* Joking aside, Marshall Orson has offered to check into the cell tower contracts for us after our appearance at the last board meeting. We are cautiously optimistic that he will bring us good news that the contracts are expired, null and void. Stay tuned! And keep your fingers crossed! Not double-crossed, just regular crossed. Got it?

Yes, we've stopped using regular channels of communication and are relying solely upon superstitions.

Here are some more questions from the AJC's "Get Schooled" blog:

DeKalb joins Sumter in challenging school board removal law.

4:19 pm February 19, 2013, by Maureen Downey

Can the state’s law allowing the governor to oust school boards in districts at risk for losing their accreditation survive a court challenge?

We may find out this year as the law is facing two court challenges now, one filed today by the nine-member DeKalb County Board of Education.

Since the law’s passage in 2010 and amendments in 2011, I have heard many times that it will not stand a legal challenge.

Will their lawsuits prevail? Should they?

DeKalb County filed suit in Fulton County Superior Court this morning arguing the law is unconstitutional. The lawsuit has three goals: Forbid the state Board of Education from holding a hearing on DeKalb board Thursday. Forbid the board from recommending to the governor that he remove the board. Forbid the governor from acting on that recommendation and removing the nine member board.

DeKalb joins the Sumter County board members, who challenged the law in November and were able to stall the state hearing on their removal.http://www.walb.com/story/20059425/sumter-county-school-board-members-file-suit-to-protect-their-jobs

Get the Cell Out - ATL