Decision to Replace Traditional Books with E-Books Called a "Disaster"

One school in Ireland is seriously regretting its decision to buy tablets from HP. Ireland’s Independent reports that Mountrath Community College has admitted that its decision to replace traditional books with HP ElitePad tablets has been an “unmitigated disaster” after the majority of tablets the school bought experienced a variety of problems including “failing to switch on, tablets spontaneously going into sleep mode, devices looping while performing automatic repairs, system board failures and issues with Wi-Fi.” The school has had to reorder paper books to give its students, who were simply unable to learn as long as they had to depend on malfunctioning HPtablets. HP has said that it’s made providing working tablets for the school a major priority.

http://bgr.com/2013/11/22/hp-tablet-school-disaster/

GUILTY: Racketeering Charges Proven Against DeKalb School Employee and Ex-Husband

By Rhonda Cook

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A DeKalb County jury convicted former school district chief operating officer Pat Reid and her ex-husband, architect Tony Pope, of stealing from the school system by manipulating millions of dollars in construction contracts.

The jury found the former couple guilty of racketeering. Jurors also found Reid guilty on one of two theft charges and found Pope not guilty on a theft charge.

Reid, who oversaw the district’s vehicle fleet as well as its construction, had been charged with theft for buying her county-owned Ford Explorer at one-third its value. She was found not guilty on that charge. But jurors found Reid guilty of theft for having county employees fix the vehicle before she purchase it. Jurors declined to convict Reid and Pope of another theft charge for billing the district for an attorney for Pope.

The jury reached its decision after deliberating over most of three days.

It has been more than three and a half years since Reid, Pope and former Superintendent Crawford Lewis were indicted on charges concerning things that happened as far back as 2005. All three were facing the possibility of decades in prison.

But 10 days before jury selection began on Oct. 28, Lewis pleaded guilty to misdemeanor obstruction for interfering with the District Attorney’s Office investigation of him and Reid and is now looking at only 12 months probation because he kept his agreement to testify for the prosecution. He is to be sentenced later.

Prosecutors say the former husband and wife manipulated contracts for school renovations so that Pope received more than $1.4 million that he should not have received.

Proposed City of Lakeside Takes the Next Step

If the county is not a part of the new plan

to create various cities, then doesn't that mean

that a lot of money is being wasted for

a new direction and new zoning plan for

Dekalb that will not take the city idea

into consideration??  Or, are they potentially

working together to bring about the same

changes and simply distract the voters

across the county, to stop them from working together?

Here's the breaking news about the proposed city of Lakeside, roughly based on the Lakeside High School attendance zone and backed by many of the same players in the cell tower game, those who pushed to get the tower in their own community and then somehow forgot to get their own contract signed when the deal came through.

The good news is that there appears to be very little support for the city from the perspective of the general public. The downside to that is it never stopped this particular group from pushing forward their agendas in the past, so why would it stop them now. Truly, this city of Lakeside is like your worst PTA nightmare come true.  (No disrespect for anyone in the PTA, but even you likely understand what we mean by that statement.)

 There is a board of people who are so far removed from the actual community they believe they represent that they utter offensive remarks at every meeting and keep straight faces because they do not understand how the "citizens" would not be begging them to rule over them, control their money and then recycle the same ideas over and over again with little change other than the venue of their next big retreat. They really believe that they will be applauded for their commitment to their community, even as they plot to make their area viable financially by literally taking commercial areas from neighboring communities WITHOUT TAKING THE RESIDENTS who actually shop there and live nearby!

http://northdruidhills.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/uga-study-proposed-city-of-lakeside-financially-sound

The scary part is that there are people who will vote without understanding how their own home might be affected as a result because they trust their politicians blindly. There are others who will not vote because they will not even find out until it is too late that they are affected at all. And there are those, like us at Get the Cell Out, who will be attacked if we try to speak up and warn anyone about what is actually taking place.

We know this effort is about money, power and control.  We know that the cell tower companies play a role after we learned that several of them in the effort at a city of Tucker are connected to the telecommunications industry and, specifically, T-mobile.  We have found it an odd coincidence that the schools proposed for the towers literally dot the borders of the proposed Lakeside city.  We also find it baffling that after all our time and effort on bringing this cause in front of the public, there are still questions about the contracts and permits that have not been answered.

Lately, the subject of cell towers has seemingly disappeared, but don't think for a moment that it will not pop back up when we least expect it.  The city movement in central DeKalb is focused around zoning, yet we are a fully built-out, urban county by most people's standards.  If you have been at any of the city meetings, you have likely heard the question, "Why do you want to control zoning?" or some variation of it.  But, you didn't hear an answer, did you?  Zoning is probably the one issue that has prevented cell towers from going next to homes.  And, so far, the county has sided with the residents.  Why tempt fate and give a new group a shot at zoning now that we finally have most of the county's residents on our side as well as many elected officials in writing stating they agreed as well?

The best we can hope for is that the communities and neighborhoods in DeKalb are waking up, as evidenced by many of the changes we have collectively brought about recently. They are voting carefully and showing up in greater numbers to meetings and to the polls. We are holding out hope that the legislators will hear the facts from their constituents and will make the right decision about whether or not to bring this city map, or any city map, to the voters in the near future.

A city that is not based on the will of the people will surely fail. If it is a top-down decision, the citizens will know and will not support it. If the community is not on board, the city will have trouble collecting taxes for services that only they had in mind all along.

Our county government is oddly silent. Either they are responding to the complaints and hoping that will suffice, or they are somehow going to benefit from the continued separation of our various areas into smaller pockets of taxpayers who might be easier to control.  Whatever the reason, we hope our communities will remain calm and carry on.  And, when the time comes that we are asked to vote, we will remember the strength that has come from sticking together.

Now just doesn't seem to be the right time for more upheaval, just when the voice of the people was finally starting to be heard.

The Tip of the Iceburg: DeKalb Schools Corruption Trial

Cancer Takes Another Victim: Donna Edler, 52, Former DeKalb School Board Member

A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at Carswell’s The Covenant Church, 1700 Corey Blvd., Decatur.

Donna Edler, Rest in Peace.
Photo Credit:  Crossroads News.

One of the two dissenting votes on the issue of cell towers on school grounds in July 2011 in DeKalb County, has now passed away from breast cancer complications after being in remission.  She publicly criticized the board at the time saying, "the school board has no business trying to provide cell service to DeKalb County."  And, if it isn't good for one school, then it isn't good for any school."   

Ms. Edler contacted us even when our own board member would not.  She cared.  She listened.  She wanted the children in DeKalb to have something better and she knew that the school board was not focused in the direction it should be.  If she had more time on this Earth, we are certain she would have found a way to continue helping the children, her community and even the school system.  She cared about others.  She rarely spoke of herself and her own struggles or that she was battling cancer. She remained strong in the public's eye at all times.  We are saddened to hear the news of her passing as she had many of us convinced that cancer was just an inconvenience for her and she would beat it.  Our prayers are with her and her family. 

We at Get the Cell Out - ATL send our condolences to Ms. Edler's husband and children during this difficult time.  Ms. Edler was one who was willing to swim upstream against a heavy tide and take whatever criticism was necessary if she knew she was doing the right thing.  We appreciate the fact that she was able to see through the poor planning and decision-making that was taking place at the time of the cell tower vote and that she voiced her concerns both to us personally as well as to the public during the meeting.  We appreciate the fact that she was willing to see beyond dollars and cents and understand that no child should have to face a potential health hazard at his/her school simply to satisfy a business deal that will help a business get ahead or a few investors make more money. 

 A human life, be it that of a child or an adult, is precious and deserves protection.  One man's risk should not lead to another man's peril, or worse, to the demise of an innocent child.  Thank you Donna Edler for understanding, listening and trying your best to make a difference.   Your strength of spirit will surely be remembered.

Below is an article from the AJC about Ms. Edler's recent passing:

Former DeKalb school board member Donna Edler dies
By Ty Tagami
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Former DeKalb County school board member Donna Edler died Tuesday of complications of the cancer that she had battled since her run for office three years ago, her husband Darryl Edler told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

When this photo was taken during
Donna Edler's reinstatement
 hearing on July 16, 2013, she
 was undergoing chemotherapy.
Photo Credit: Johnny Crawford, AJC

Edler was a strong-willed and outspoken member of the board that governs Georgia’s third-largest school district. She was known for standing her ground, and she wasn't shy about discussing the cancer that she thought she’d beat with a mastectomy several years ago.

Earlier this year, she publicly disclosed that the cancer was spreading again. It didn't temper her resolve to fight, though.

Edler was among the half dozen school board members removed by Gov. Nathan Deal. She died before hearing the outcome of a Georgia Supreme Court case over the constitutionality of the governor’s action. A decision, that might restore the removed members to office, is expected next month.

After unsuccessfully petitioning the governor for reinstatement, Edler filed another lawsuit in Fulton County Superior Court, challenging her removal, in a case separate from the one before the high court. Edler, 52, was awaiting her day in the Fulton courthouse on Nov. 19, Darryl Edler said.

“She still believes there was an injustice done her,” he said.

Edler had three children, two grown and one in high school. She attended the University of Kansas on a track and field scholarship, and displayed the same kind of endurance in seeking public office.

She was drawn to politics by Barack Obama’s run for the presidency, joining his campaign and eventually becoming a paid member of his ground team. Darryl Edler said she was so successful at door-to-door campaigning that she was given a “golden clipboard” award.

She deployed that same enthusiasm when she ran for school board in 2010, unseating an incumbent with handmade yard signs. Even then, she was battling cancer. “She would take four days recovering from the chemo and then she would be in the street campaigning,” her husband said.

Her pastor, Bishop Quincy Carswell, was impressed with her energy, and rallied the support of his congregation and of other pastors. “She was a renegade,” he said. “We hadn't seen anything like her in DeKalb County. She had a great concern for people.”

A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at Carswell’s The Covenant Church, 1700 Corey Blvd., Decatur.

Get the Cell Out - ATL featured on FOX 5's Good Day Atlanta!

Get the Cell Out - Atlanta Chapter and neighbors for Briarcliff Heights / Margaret Harris Comprehensive School Cell Tower Opposition are featured on FOX's Good Day Atlanta.

Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

Doctors' Rx: Make a plan to manage kids' media use

Michelle Healy, USA TODAY 9:30 a.m. EDT October 28, 2013

In an age when exposure to TV, smartphones, computers, tablets, and all forms of social media play a dominant role in the lives of American kids and teens, many families have very few rules in place to manage their children's media use. But for their well-being, that should change, the nation's largest group of children's physicians advises.

In a newly revised policy statement released today, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents make a media use plan for their families that takes into account not only the quantity, but the quality and location of media used, and includes mealtime and bedtime curfews for media devices. It also encourages keeping all screen media (TVs, computers, tablets, etc.) out of kids' bedrooms.

The group reiterates its recommendation to limit the amount of total entertainment screen time to less than two hours a day and to discourage all screen media exposure for children under age 2.

A new, nationally representative survey from the nonprofit advocacy group Common Sense Media, also out today, shows 72% of kids ages 8 and under have used a mobile device for some type of media activity such as playing games, watching videos or using apps, up from 38% just two years ago. And 17% of these young children use a mobile device on a daily basis.

"We are worried that a lot of parents are clueless about their kids' media use and how to manage it appropriately," says Victor Strasburger, a professor of pediatrics at the University of New Mexico and co-author of the AAP policy statement, released at the group's national conference in Orlando, Fla.

They are "spending more time with media than they are in school. They are spending more time with media than in any activity other than sleeping. You could make the argument that media have taken over the primary role of teaching kids from schools and parents in many cases," says Strasburger.

Parents, together with pediatricians, schools, research organizations, the entertainment and advertising industries and government, need to work together to do more to address this issue, he says. He adds that the federal government has not written a comprehensive report on children and the media since 1982, before the widespread use of the Internet and cellphones.

According to findings cited in the policy statement:

• The average 8- to 10-year-old spends nearly eight hours a day with a variety of media; older children and teens spend more than 11 hours a day.

• The presence of a television set in a child's bedroom increases TV viewing even more, and 71% of children and teens report having a TV in their bedroom; 50% have a console video game player in their room.

• Nearly all children and teens (84%) are on-line; about 75% of 12- to 17-year-olds have a cellphone, up from 45% in 2004; 88% use text messaging.

Last updated five years ago, the policy statement considered a wealth of new research. It says the pediatrics group "continues to be concerned by evidence about the potential harmful effects of media messages and images."

Excessive media use has been associated with obesity, lack of sleep, school problems, aggression and other behavior issues, the statement says.

But it adds that "important positive and pro-social effects of media should also be recognized." It specifies that media can help children of all ages learn important academic material, and can also help "teach empathy, racial and ethnic tolerance, and a whole range of interpersonal skills."

"Media can be good or bad," says Strasburger. "There's some extraordinarily good media out there. It's a matter of finding the right stuff for the right aged child or teen and limiting access to inappropriate media."

But parents need to recognize that their children are "facing a tsunami of media," he says.

The onslaught of new digital devices to deliver that media makes the challenge of monitoring your children's "media diet" harder than ever, says Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media. Not only is there more of it, but "because these devices are mobile, screen time moves with them from room to room. It's not as easy to monitor use."

Among other recommendations in the revised policy statement:

For Parents:

• Model effective media use to help children learn to be selective and healthy in what they consume. Take an active role in children's media education by co-viewing TV, movies and videos with them and discuss important family values.

• Monitor what media your children are using and accessing, including any websites they are visiting and social media sites they may be using

For pediatricians:

• At every well-child visit, ask how much time the child is spending with media and if there is a TV or Internet-connected device in the child's bedroom.

• Take a more detailed media history with children or teens at risk for obesity, aggression, tobacco or substance use, or school problems.

Moody's Issues Warning About Effect of Charter Schools on DeKalb County's Financial Stability

Former Superintendent Crawford Lewis Pleads Guilty in School Construction Scandal

Michael Thurmond Gives Up the Interim, Signs Sweet Deal in DeKalb

osted by Kiri Walton (Editor) , October 09, 2013 at 05:20 AM

The DeKalb Schools district will continue on with Michael Thurmond as its head chief after the DeKalb Board of Education members voted unanimously Monday to extend Thurmond's contract.

This means Thurmond drops the 'interim' from his title and will remain as the district's superintendent.

His initial contract was set to expire on Feb. 8, 2014, but has been extended to June 30, 2015. He will continue to receive his $275,000 salary.

Thurmond, a former Labor Commissioner,  was selected by a 7-2 vote in February 2013 to serve as interim superintendent as the temporary replacement of Cheryl Atkinson, who has resigned after 16 months on the job.

Thurmond said the extension will be his last, however.

What Does Hall County's Cell Towers Have to Do With DeKalb?

FOX 5 News Wants to Know What WE Think About Cell Towers at Schools in Hall County? Well, We Responded.  Now, Let's See What They Do with What Was Said!

A quick search of the Internet turned up a few stories on a cell tower planned for Hall County, possibly on the grounds of their high school.   The stories below are what we found, but one mentions Verizon, the other says ATT.  But, what we cannot figure out is why FOX 5 Atlanta reporter (for Good Day Atlanta) Tacoma Perry contacted Get the Cell Out - ATL for a comment on this story.  GTCO-ATL asked if she was interested in learning if we knew people in the Gainesville, GA, area who were opposed to this particular tower and she said that was not necessary.  She had most of the story completed, but needed someone to speak about the "other" point of view.  That sounded a bit odd to us because every story we have been involved with has been about the opposition to the cell towers and therefore the tower companies or wireless providers would be considered the "other" point of view.  

FOX 5 Reporter Tacoma Perry

But, we did not want to turn down an opportunity to further educate the public on the serious concerns many people have about placing cell towers near schools.  In fact, we told her, the American Academy of Pediatrics just recently published a letter they wrote to the FCC which asked for tougher regulations regarding the federal guidelines for cell phone emissions, also known as RF (radio frequency) radiation, because of their medical concern for the youngest and most vulnerable in our population - the children.  

The 1996 FCC Telecommunications Act is based around outdated standards that use a large adult male's frame and body size as the standard and does not take into account what can happen to a child who is using an electronic RF emitting device like a phone or tablet computer.  And none of the FCC's standards address the effects of continual long term exposure to low level of RF, like what a child would be subjected to if he or she had to attend school near a cell tower.   

So, we cautiously accepted the request for an on-camera interview and told the reporter that we knew several people in DeKalb County who are very involved in the fight to prevent cell towers from going up at our schools and have been successful with holding off or possibly even preventing any construction at the sites approved by the former school board two years ago.

We asked if she could interview several people and we were told that it would depend on the time constraints, but she only needed one good sound byte for the story.  Since we do not represent any communities specifically and have only been involved in this process in order to share our information and what we have learned, we contacted several people we know and helped set up a good day and time for one community to be featured in this news story.  

The community that was able to assemble and meet the reporter was prompt, gracious and very well informed on the issue.  We also let them know about our concerns over the actual angle of the story so that they would not be blindsided by any questions that might be about Hall County or requests for an opposing view to whatever might be considered a "positive" in the actual story being reported.  

We contacted Ms. Perry to let her know that there would be several people on hand for her interview.  Specifically, GTCO-ATL organizers declined to speak directly on camera because we do not seek attention from the media, solicit for donations for a particular cause, give legal advice or seek to speak for others who are perfectly capable of speaking for themselves.  The story is not about "us" - it is about all of us.  

The focus of any story on this subject should be those who are actually facing the consequences for the bad decisions being made and how they are standing up for themselves, working together against the very influential lobbyists for the telecom industry and making sure their elected officials are aware that they know and understand their own rights.  We are proud to be neighbors and friends with so many brave residents here and across the country who are willing to do what it takes to make sure our system of government does not fail us.  

Thank you to the residents who showed up last Thursday and to Tacoma Perry and Fox 5 News for giving us an opportunity to work with you and present the real concerns of residents in DeKalb to your viewers.  We may or may not have much in common with the folks in Hall County, but we will gladly share what we know and how it relates to our situation here and our original 12 schools that were originally intended for towers, 9 that were approved and, so far, zero permits approved by our outstanding county commissioners. 

We emailed Ms. Perry the letter from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the letter from our DeKalb County Commissioners stating their opposition to the cell towers at schools and the results of last year's referendum where voters overwhelmingly told their local delegation that they do not approve of the use of school grounds for these telecommunications towers.

Information is key to understanding.  We look forward to hopefully seeing our great DeKalb residents and the final version of this Hall County story sometime in the coming week on Good Day Atlanta. 

If they post it online, we will include a link or a copy on our website for the followers on this page as well.  Stay tuned!!

****************************
Hall Commissioner wants better cell tower notice
By Jerry Gunn Staff
 
GAINESVILLE - Hall County Commissioner Billy Powell said Thursday night he wants a lot more people to know about a proposed cell tower test coming up in his district.

Powell said Verizon Wireless plans to send up a balloon on Saturday, October 19th to indicate the tower’s proposed height and visibility.Verizon is required to contact property holders only within a 500 foot radius of the location off McEver Road near West Hall High School and Middle School on Allen Drive.

Powell said that’s not enough notice to enough people. He pointed to a green area showing on Verizon’s application map and said 500 feet is not very far at all.

“When you look at the residents in that green area that area is a mile and a half distance," Powell said. “You can see that West Hall High School and West Hall Middle School sits right in front of the location for this. There happen to be 2,344 parcels that we would have to contact if we contacted everybody within that one and a half mile radius.”

Powell said the test notice is on the county’s web site, (hallcounty.org ), and anyone with comments is advised to email Powell or Public Information Officer Katie Crumley.

The story is titled ‘Verizon Wireless Balloon Test set for October 19th’. The item also includes a map of the affected land parcels.

**********************

Hall school board approves cell tower at Flowery Branch High Board OKs tax-anticipation loan of up to $9.5 million

	By Carly Shareccsharec@gainesvilletimes.com

An approximately 90-foot cell tower will soon be placed at Flowery Branch High School. The Hall County Board of Education approved the proposal from AT&T at the Monday meeting. “It’s not (in) an area that we can use in the future,” said Damon Gibbs, executive director of facilities. The land for the cell tower is near the school’s side entrance of Elizabeth Lane, by the detention pond. It’s the farthest point from the school building

FOX: Arrests in string of cell phone robberies at high school

Posted: Oct 02, 2013 12:55 PM EDT
Updated: Oct 02, 2013 2:30 PM EDT
By MYFOXATLANTA STAFF
For more, click here:  http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/23590980/arrests-in-string-of-cell-phone-robberies-at-high-school

Shiloh High School in Snellville

SNELLVILLE, Ga. -
Two juveniles are in custody after a string of cell phone robberies at Shiloh High School in Snellville on Tuesday afternoon.

Principal Eric Parker released a letter to parents Tuesday reporting the thefts. The letter stated that the three students were waiting for their parents to pick them up when the robberies happen. One reported to the school resource officer that a knife was used.

School officials say they arrested two boys for Tuesday's robberies. They are not identifying the pair due to their age, but did say one of the boys is a student at Shiloh High School. Charges for both are pending.

No one was injured during the robberies.  Police say the investigation into the incidents continues.

No More Tricks? Trial of Former School Superintendent Begins Oct. 28

750 jurors summoned for racketeering trial of former DeKalb School superintendent and others

Posted: 6:16 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, 2013

Email

BY RHONDA COOK - THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

Around 750 summonses have been sent in hopes of finding 12 jurors and four alternates to hear the upcoming racketeering trial of former DeKalb County School Superintendent Crawford Lewis, the district’s one-time chief operating officer Pat Reid and her ex-husband Tony Pope.

On Friday, DeKalb Superior Court Judge Cynthia Becker repeatedly pointed out to the prosecuting and defense attorneys that the case will be crowded, complicated and time-consuming so they need to work out any possible issues now.

Former Dekalb County Schools COO Pat Reid was in court Friday with ex-husband Tony Pope for pre-trial motions.

It will be a long trial, possibly a month or more after it starts with jury selection on Oct. 28.

“I don’t want to derail this. We've sent out a boatload of jury summons,” Becker said.

The three were indicted in 2010. They were re-indicted in 2012. Then a third version of the indictment was returned July 18.

For more, see this full story in the AJC:  http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local/750-jurors-summoned-for-racketeering-trial-of-form/nbGLR/

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) published almost 20 stories more until the three were indicted in May 2010.  The AJC has continued to track the case as the indictment went through three different versions, the key investigator and the two prosecutors resigned and it has moved toward trial 3 1/2 years later.  The judge still has some pretrial motions to decide and then the first of 750 prospective jurors will report on Oct. 28 for the start of the trial.

School Board Meeting on Live Today Oct. 7

DEKALB BOARD OF EDUCATION 

7:00 PM Business Meeting: (UPDATED Oct 6, 4:20 pm)

To watch the DeKalb County School Board meeting live, click the link below then
click on "Live Now" from the page:  http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/pds-tv24

C. CONSENT AGENDA

1. Approval of Minutes
Presented by: Mr. Michael L. Thurmond, Interim Superintendent

2. Approval of Monthly Financial Report
Presented by: Dr. Michael J. Bell, Chief Financial Officer, Division of Finance

3. Approval of the Human Resources Monthly Report
Presented by: Dr. Tekshia M. Ward-Smith, Chief Human Resources Officer, Division of
Human Resources

4. International Teacher Services Agreement
Presented By: Dr. Tekshia Ward-Smith, Chief Human Resources Officer, Division of
Human Resources

5. Career and Technical Education Catalog Discount Bid Extensions FY 2013-14
Presented by: Dr. Kathleen S. Howe, Deputy Superintendent, Division of Curriculum
& Instruction

6. Instructional Resources for Development and Delivery of CCGPS Curriculum and
Units of Study
Presented by: Dr. Kathleen S. Howe, Deputy Superintendent, Division of Curriculum
& Instruction

7. Purchase of Professional and Technical Services to support Teacher Content Development and Improve Student Learning in K-12 Mathematics
Presented by: Dr. Kathleen S. Howe, Deputy Superintendent, Division of Curriculum
& and Instruction

8. Purchase of Explore Learning: Online Supplemental Resource to Improve Student
Learning in Math and Science
Presented by: Dr. Kathleen S. Howe, Deputy Superintendent, Division of Curriculum
& Instruction

9. 2013 – 2014 STEM Implementation Initiative
Presented by: Dr. Kathleen S. Howe, Deputy Superintendent, Division of Curriculum
& Instruction

10. Approve Amendments for the Contracts of (3) Conversion Charter Schools: Chesnut Charter Elementary, Smoke Rise Charter Elementary, and Chamblee Charter High
Presented by: Dr. Alice A. Thompson, Interim Deputy Superintendent, Division of
School Leadership & Operational Support

11. CrossPointe Software Annual Maintenance
Presented by: Mr. Gary L. Brantley, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information
Technology

12. Renewal of Discovery Education License for All Elementary
Presented by: Mr. Gary L. Brantley, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information
Technology

13. PATS/Human Resources Portal Annual Maintenance Renewal
Presented by: Mr. Gary L. Brantley, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information
Technology

14. Student Information System Solution RFP 14-11
Presented by: Mr. Gary L. Brantley, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information
Technology

15. Renewal of Workers Compensation Administration Program
Presented by: Mr. Ronald B. Ramsey, Chief Legal Officer, Division of Legal Affairs

16. Approval of Student Catastrophic Insurance Coverage
Presented by: Mr. Ronald B. Ramsey, Chief Legal Officer, Division of Legal Affairs

17. SPLOST PROJECTS

a. SPLOST III Project: Martin Luther King, Jr. High School Furniture, Fixtures and
Equipment (FF&E) Purchase
Presented by: Mr. Stephen M. Wilkins, Chief Operations Officer, Division of
Operations

b. SPLOST III Project: Southwest DeKalb High School Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment
(FF&E) Purchase
Presented by: Mr. Stephen M. Wilkins, Chief Operations Officer, Division of Operations

c. SPLOST III Project: Cedar Grove High School Renovations Contract Award
Presented by: Mr. Stephen M. Wilkins, Chief Operations Officer, Division of Operations

18. COMMUNITY PROJECT DONATIONS

a. Druid Hills Dugout Club Donation Approval
Presented by: Mr. Stephen M. Wilkins, Chief Operations Officer, Division of Operations

b. Laurel Ridge Elementary School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Donation Approval
Presented by: Mr. Stephen M. Wilkins, Chief Operations Officer, Division of Operations

19. Extension of Contract with McKenna, Long & Aldridge, LLP for Installation of
Governance Evaluation & Accountability Systems
Presented by: Mr. Michael L. Thurmond, Interim Superintendent

D. ACTION ITEMS

1. Recovery of One Work Calendar Reduction Day for Professional Learning in Support of the Bridge Initiative
Presented by: Mr. Michael L. Thurmond, Interim Superintendent and
Dr. Tekshia Ward-Smith, Chief Human Resources Officer, Division of
Human Resources

2. Approval of Second Amendment to the Employment Contract Between Michael L. Thurmond and the DeKalb County Board of Education
Presented by: Dr. Melvin Johnson, Board Chair

3. Request to Waive Board Policy on Policy Adoption, Descriptor Code BDC
Presented by: Dr. Kathleen S. Howe, Deputy Superintendent, Division of Curriculum
& Instruction

4. Amendment to the Bylaws & Policies: Descriptor Code IHA – Grading Systems
Presented by: Dr. Kathleen S. Howe, Deputy Superintendent, Division of Curriculum
& Instruction

5. Amendment to the Bylaws & Policies: Descriptor Code EEE – Wellness Program
Presented by: Mr. Stephen M. Wilkins, Chief Operations Officer, Division of Operations

E. OTHER\BOARD COMMENTS (2 minutes each)

F. ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Teachers Advisory Council Meeting, 2:00pm, Thursday, October 10, 2013,
Auditorium, Robert R. Freeman Administrative & Instructional Complex,
1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, Stone Mountain

2. DeKalb Council of PTAs Fall Meeting, 6:00pm, Thursday, October 10, 2013,
Auditorium, Robert R. Freeman Administrative & Instructional Complex,
1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, Stone Mountain

3. Mandatory Work Reduction (Furlough) Day for 10 & 11 month employees,
Monday, October 14, 2013 (Schools Closed\Administrative Offices Open)

4. District-wide Administrators Academy (Elluminate Session), 9:30am, Tuesday,
October 15, 2013, Auditorium, Robert R. Freeman Administrative & Instructional Complex,
1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, Stone Mountain

5. Emory-LaVista Parent Council Meeting, 8:45am, Wednesday, October 16, 2013,
Harthorne Elementary School, Hawthorne Elementary School, 2535 Caladium Drive, NE, Atlanta

6. South DeKalb Parent Council Event, 10:00am, Saturday, October 19, 2013,
Towers High School, 3919 Brookcrest Circle, Decatur

7. DeKalb Board of Education Work Session (2:00pm; Cabinet Room), Community Input Meeting (5:45pm), and Business Meeting (7:00pm), Monday, November 4, 2013,
J. David Williamson Board Room, Robert R. Freeman Administrative & Instructional Complex, 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, Stone Mountain

City of Roswell Wins in Court of Appeals: Denial of Cell Towers Upheld; Record Was Sufficient

City of Roswell does not allow telecommunications towers in residentially zoned areas.  Now, that decision has been upheld in court as being justifiable.  Citizen input was critical to city council decisions on denials.

In a case where Roswell's City Council denied T-mobile's request for a cell tower in a residential area, a potential problem arose when the denial letter was questioned by T-mobile in court.  A lower court sided with T-mobile stating that the letter did not outline the reasons behind the denial.  It had, instead, referred to the minutes of a hearing in which multiple reasons were discussed before a motion to deny was passed.  Recently, however, that decision was overturned and the City of Roswell was handed the victory against T-mobile.  There is nothing written in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that says the denial letter by itself must be all inclusive.  Therefore, the reference to the minutes was sufficient.  You can read more about it in the court document and summary here:  http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/201212250.pdf.

The citizens' outpouring of objections obviously carried a lot of weight with the council members, so if you are still involved in fighting a cell tower near you, remember that there is strength in your numbers!  And, don't forget to line up experts on your side, the way T-mobile did in this case.  A battle of experts is better than having experts only on one side of the debate.  Good luck and keep us posted at sayno2celltowers@yahoo.com!

Thank you Greater Atlanta Wireless Protesters. We Speak for the Children.

Just What You Want From 911 - A Dispute Over Who Will Take Your Call

A recent news report about crimes in the Northlake area featured a resident who spoke about her belief that a city would be better prepared to police the community and keep her neighborhood safe. However, just today FOX News is reporting a mix-up at the 911 center that actually resulted from confusion over city vs. county boundaries. The more cities that are formed, the more frequent these types of mix-ups will become.

Take a look at this report about an argument that occurred between jurisdictions on a carjacking call that took place while the victim stood there, helpless.

Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5


The nation's 911 emergency response system, built in 1967, was based on the expectation that calls for help would come from land-line telephones. Cell towers are not needed to support a communications system that is based upon land-line service.

Cell towers support cellular communications which is a for-profit industry, not a public utility or a public infrastructure requiring the aid of pubic funds. In fact, cell phones are actually problematic for 911 dispatchers and responders.

Cellphone users "almost assume that they are going to be located — and that's not a fair assumption," says Brian Fontes, CEO of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), which focuses on 911 emergency communications.

Calls that originate from a land line can immediately tell dispatchers the address where the call is coming from and pinpoint the location on an overhead map without the person on the other end having to say a single word. Here is a story about a woman in Greater Atlanta who might have lived if she had called 911 from a land line instead of using her cell phone.


We wrote about this same issue back in May 2012. To read our post entitled, "Debunking the claim that we need more cell towers for 911 coverage," click here.

SACS: Recognizable Progress in DeKalb

1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard Stone Mountain, GA  30083-1027 Phone: 678-676-1200 Communications: 404.486.3710	PRESS RELEASE    July 5, 2013
SACS: Recognizable Progress in DeKalb
Executive Summary: AdvancED Monitoring Visit Report (May 15-17, 2013) Press release: AdvancED Sees Recognizable Progress in DeKalb Schools Efforts To Meet SACS Accreditation Guidelines AdvancED Report
www.dekalb.k12.ga.us

Changes to the Zoning Code: Cause for Concern?

Andrew Baker, Director of Planning and Sustainability for DeKalb County,
discussed zoning code changes with a group of concerned residents on June 18.

DECATUR — DeKalb County planners are hoping they've cleared up confusion over where cell phone towers can be placed and eased community concerns about proposed changes to the DeKalb Zoning Code.

At a June 18 public information meeting hosted by commissioners at the Maloof Auditorium, Andrew Baker, the county’s director of Planning and Sustainability, said the debate can be frustrating.

He said the proposed changes to the code incorporate more public input.

“The whole idea that you can build a cell tower anywhere just by getting a permit is not a correct statement,” he said. “We now require a public hearing before cell towers are built. So we called this meeting to give people a better understanding of the code and to recommend changes on cell towers and many other issues.”

But some residents were still skeptical.

Louise Runyon, co-chair of Good Growth DeKalb, said the Medlock neighborhood-based group appreciates the chance for input but is not yet convinced it will lead to a better zoning code.

“A public hearing is different from having a code that says no commercial development in residential neighborhoods, including cell phone towers,” Runyon said. “We want a code that says no to any commercial development in our neighborhoods.”

Vincent Latimer, president of Cedar Grove Neighborhood Association, would like to see more upscale commercial development in the Bouldercrest area and stricter code enforcement on residential property owners and developers.

“We need more control on how far back houses should be from the street, the quality of building materials, the number of houses per lot, and the number of cars parked on driveways and lawns,” Latimer said. “To attract more business to South DeKalb, we have to keep it clean and make it the kind of neighborhood where business owners would want their employees to live.”

To address all concerns, DeKalb adopted a comprehensive zoning plan in 2007 that outlines a vision for controlled expansion to be achieved by the year 2025.

Baker told the meeting that the county has been using a 1999 zoning code to implement that plan.

“In order to fully implement the comprehensive plan’s vision, the county needs a more updated zoning code that is consistent with current trends of development,” he said.

He presented slides with excerpts from the proposed code, and planning workers placed charts around the auditorium illustrating the various development zones.

The Zoning Code Update has several goals:

*  Reduce traffic by creating mixed-use walkable communities.

*  Identify the best locations for new growth.

*  Promote redevelopment of underutilized retail centers.

*  Provide “predictability” by creating standards.

*  Protect single-family neighborhoods.

The proposed code also creates new standards for lots, streets, landscapes, open spaces and site improvements.

Baker said the proposed changes should make it easier for initiatives such as aging in place, mixed-use development, intergenerational activity centers, and neighborhood protection.

“The new code is user-friendly and includes graphic illustrations, useful tables and more concise regulatory standards,” he said.

It also encourages redevelopment and repurposing of existing commercial sites as an alternative to demolition, thus causing fewer disruptions to residential neighborhoods.

Runyon said the plan displayed on June 18 is an improvement over the one that Baker presented on May 28.

But she says it still needs tweaking on the issue of public input, a sensitive topic for her group that has been fighting the construction of a Walmart at Suburban Plaza.

Good Growth DeKalb is suing in DeKalb Superior Court to block the construction of a Walmart near the congested six-way intersection of North Decatur Road, Scott Boulevard and Medlock Road.

“There is strong evidence that excess power is given to the planning director and to staff that communities do not have the same appeal rights as developers and that public notice about new development and public hearings is insufficient,” Runyon said.

“What we need is clear, understandable language that spells out very specifically how the interests of neighborhoods will be improved upon in this new plan.”

Commissioners did not take a final vote on the Zoning Code Update at their June 25 meeting and deferred the matter until Aug. 27.  (They have still not voted and are expected to do so before the end of September.)

District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson, who chairs the Planning and Economic Development Committee, said the code will likely go through more fine tuning and the public will get additional opportunities to offer suggestions this summer.

The draft plan is available at www.planningdekalb.net. Click on “Project Overview.”

Please leave respectful comments below:

Understanding the contracting chain when tower workers die

Understanding the contracting chain on cell tower jobs can be complicated, but crucial when workers die.

William “Bubba” Cotton, 43, was the first of 11 cell site workers who died on ATT projects from 2006 through 2008, years when the carrier merged its network with Cingular and ramped up its 3G network for the iPhone.

As ProPublica and FRONTLINE reported last month, tower climbing ranks among the most dangerous jobs in America, having a death rate roughly 10 times that of construction.

The project Cotton was on involved several layers of subcontractors, which is common in the tower industry. The accident was more unusual. Most of the 50 tower climbers killed on cell site jobs since 2003 have died in falls, but Cotton was crushed to death by an antenna.

A wrongful death lawsuit subsequently filed by Cotton’s survivors, as well as a personal injury suit filed by his cousin and co-worker, Charles “Randy” Wheeler, explored two questions at the heart of every tower fatality: Who controlled the tower site? And who was responsible for the safety of the subcontractors working on it?

Here’s a breakdown of what happened in the Cotton case:

The Project

An upgrade of a cell site in Talladega, Ala., replacing the antennas on a 400-foot tower. AT&T had designated the upgrade a top priority because of an upcoming NASCAR race, a company manager said in court testimony.

The Subcontractors

To handle the tower work, ATT (then known as Cingular) hired Nsoro, a large management firm (also known as a “turf vendor.”) Nsoro hired a subcontractor, WesTower Communications, a large North American tower company. WesTower subcontracted the on-site work to a Missouri-based tower company, ALT Inc.

ATT also directly hired Florida-based subcontractor Betacom Inc. to work on a concrete equipment shelter at the base of the tower.

The Accident

On Friday, March 10, 2006, around noon, the ALT crew, led by foreman Josh Cook, was lowering an antenna from the tower, while the Betacom crew, which included Cotton and Wheeler, worked inside the shelter.

As Cotton, Wheeler and two co-workers exited the shelter for lunch, the rope ALT was using snapped. The 50-pound antenna plummeted more than 200 feet to the ground, killing Cotton.

Two of Cotton’s co-workers ran off to the nearby woods and vomited. Wheeler cradled Cotton’s head with his t-shirt and prayed, waiting for emergency responders to arrive.

The Investigation

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which regulates worker safety, opened investigations into ALT and Betacom after Cotton died. The agency did not open investigations into any of the other companies in the contracting chain, even though Cook told an OSHA inspector that he had felt unsafe working above other contractors on site and had asked for a deadline extension so that he would not have to do so. (In an interview in March with ProPublica and FRONTLINE, Cook said he was not concerned about Betacom workers on the day of the accident because they were working inside the concrete shelter and not out in the open.)ALT was cited for failing to inspect and remove the rope that snapped and fined $2,000. Betacom was cited for failing to ensure that workers on the ground crew wore hard hats and fined $4,900. OSHA sent letters to both companies saying it was dangerous for tower crews to work above other crews, and that even though regulations did not forbid it, they should avoid such situations.


Damon Depew, a project manager working for ATT agreed with Cook and later gave sworn testimony that he had asked Terry Newberry, then an ATT implementation manager, for more time. Depew said Newberry denied the request. Newberry testified that he did not recall the conversation.

According to a sworn deposition, an AT&T safety manager initiated an internal investigation after the accident, but stopped “once he found out that it wasn’t an (sic) Cingular employee” that had died.

The Litigation

Cotton’s two daughters, both minors, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Talladega County Circuit Court in March 2006 against AT&T and Betacom. They later amended the suit to include ALT, WesTower and the owner of the tower, Crown Castle, as defendants. The case was subsequently moved to U.S. District Court of Alabama.

Wheeler, who claimed he suffered a back injury diving to avoid the falling antenna, filed a personal injury lawsuit against ATT, ALT, WesTower and Crown Castle in U.S. District Court of Alabama in October 2006.

Lawyers for the Cotton family and Wheeler argued that all of the defendants should share some responsibility for the accident. As the operator of the cell site, they said, ATT had a legal duty to ensure the workplace was safe that day, they claimed.

The plaintiffs also argued that ATT had created a work environment where “time and money took precedence over safety” and had repeatedly pressured subcontractors to meet an “unreasonably dangerous schedule.” Further, the plaintiffs alleged, the carrier had insisted that the tower crew replace antennas at the same time that it should have known Cotton and Wheeler were working on the ground. ATT employees had regularly visited the site but had failed to establish any coordination procedure to prevent the two subcontractors from endangering each other, lawyers for the plaintiffs said.

ATT argued that it should be dismissed as a defendant from both cases and said it had no duty to Cotton or Wheeler, who were independent contractors, not employees.

Though ATT acknowledged it had set the project’s specifications and deadlines, it said it had not controlled how contractors performed their work — specifically, it did not tell ALT how to lower the antenna and did not tell Betacom when to break for lunch. ATT also argued that Betacom’s work on the day of the accident was not inherently dangerous and “if Cotton or Wheeler had taken the slightest care in the performance of their duties, they would have been able to cross the tower premises safely.”

The carrier also claimed that the multi-employer doctrine, an OSHA policy that extends liability to companies who supervise subcontractors at a job site, had been abandoned by the agency and was never recognized in the Eleventh Circuit, the jurisdiction where this case was being heard.

The Outcome

In August 2008, ATT entered into a confidential settlement with the Cotton family without admitting wrongdoing. ATT’s “potential exposure in this wrongful death case is significantly higher” than the amount of the settlement, the judge noted in approving the deal.

A judge dismissed ATT as a defendant in the Wheeler case in October 2008, concluding Wheeler had not proved that AT&T controlled the subcontractors’ work on the day of the accident or that the carrier knew ALT’s crew would be working over Betacom’s that day.

After Wheeler appealed, ATT filed a notice of intent to seek costs from him, estimating it had spent more than $14,000 on the case. In February 2009, Wheeler dropped his appeal and ATT dropped its claim for reimbursement.

ALT settled with Cotton’s children and Wheeler in November 2008 for undisclosed amounts. Betacom agreed to pay workers’ compensation in the Cotton case, splitting the payments between Cotton’s daughters. WesTower and Crown Castle were dismissed as defendants in both cases.

AT&T declined to comment on the Cotton case, referring ProPublica and FRONTLINE to a written statement it provided about issues related to tower work. So far, Nsoro, WesTower, ALT and Betacom have not responded to requests for comment related to this story.

Mapping the Contracting Chain

The ATT cell tower job in which William Cotton died involved several layers of subcontractors. This chart shows which companies in the contracting chain were investigated by OSHA and the results of litigation by Cotton’s family and his co-worker, Charles Wheeler.

Photo: The tower site in Alabama where William "Bubba" Cotton was killed.


article in full:  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/social-issues/cell-tower-deaths/anatomy-of-a-cell-tower-death/