Appointed DeKalb County School Board Still in Tact

Here are a few updates regarding the DeKalb County School System

and where things are today:

First, the AJC is reporting that Gov. Nathan Deal's overhaul of the Atlanta suburbs is nearly complete.  His appointed school board has proven to him that they are the more likely group to be able to save the DeKalb School System from losing its SACS accreditation.  As each of the 6 board members, minus Nancy Jester of District 1, made their cases individually for reinstatement, former chairman Dr. Eugene Walker presented his case in front of a state judge.  Walker has challenged the constitutionality of the law that allowed the governor to remove the board members based on the criteria set by a private accrediting agency. 



Outcry from the parents and taxpayers in  DeKalb County over corrupt politics and
the resulting decline in student achievement played a role in the removal of
the school board.  But, will their removal stand up in the Supreme Court?  Time will tell.
In the meantime, there are actual lines being drawn on maps as groups aligning with
various self-appointed groups of would-be leaders are trying to start their
own cities based on school attendance zones.  (But they say it has nothing to do
with the schools.)  The battles are still being waged here, don't fool yourself into
thinking the worst is behind us.  Pay attention, DeKalb.  And, make sure you and
your neighbors show up to vote and learn the issues, or you may find yourself
waking up in a newly zoned community with cell towers on every street corner
and city taxes that might force you out before you are ready to give up.  Get the Cell Out
will still be here, trying our best to keep the county informed and helping others
who are just learning about similar problems in their own communities.



The judge in the cases of Donna Edler, Pam Speaks, Jay Cunningham and Sarah Copelin-Woods upheld the suspensions made by the Governor.  Walker is having his case heard before the state supreme court, the final battle which may end up being a mute point regardless of whether or not it goes in his favor since elections will be held in July or November 2014.  Have we finally reached that "historic moment" when "all board members will have to stand for re-election" that current board member Marshall Orson was telling us about back when he helped to run the "Friends of DeKalb" group that printed signs, held meetings and practically forced the school administration to come up with a description and criteria for an oversight committee that they later came close to forgetting about completely.  (We contacted Board Member Nancy Jester who promptly took care of things once we realized that the board was about to start spending SPLOST money and had not started the committee selection process.)

Here are links to some of the stories regarding the board's removal:
Deal's Overhaul of the DeKalb Board Complete
DeKalb School Board Members Formally Removed

And, here is a reminder about the SPLOST IV vote and what both sides had to say on this issue:  http://www.11alive.com/news/article/211104/40/Voters-weigh-education-sales-tax-with-SPLOST-

Some irate parents attended a meeting

at Livsey Elementary School in Tucker

the same night the SACS report was

released to the pubic last year. 

Caroline Lord, far right, and Michelle Penkava,

second from left (face blocked) are two

who have stepped up to support their

own communities, using different approaches.

One is helping the Tucker community learn

more about becoming a city; the other has

decided to advocate for a city of Lakeside.

City schools will be a future issue to debate

and it could bring more turmoil to the

already struggling district.

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