It is 2013 and The Dekalb School Board is the subject of much conversation in the community, the media and even with the Dekalb Senate delegation.
There have been some who have openly asked Governor Nathan Deal to intervene to fix what the voters and business community of Dekalb screwed up by suspending the current board.
This writer finds it amusingly interesting there is so much concern now after the votes have been cast and the decision by SACS to place our school system on probation for one year.
I state that it is amusing regarding the current concerns being expressed by so many in our community. On August 19, 2010 I wrote an article in CrossRoadsNews online about SACS letter asking the School System to respond to seven questions.
The reality is many in Dekalb knew the status of the accreditation of our schools was being viewed by SACS and the voters, community, civic leaders and the business leaders help to elect or re-elect the very people to the school board who were in part the problems of concern being expressed by SACS.
I do not have personal contact with Governor Deal; however, if I did I would ask him not to intervene in the crap created by the people of DeKalb County.
I would ask the Governor to tell the people of DeKalb if they are not satisfied with the state or current circumstance of their school district then the citizens of DeKalb should take whatever steps necessary to recall the school board members who are the cause of the problems of the school system.
Those members who are currently on the board in my view should now realize they have failed the children of DeKalb, the families of DeKalb, the businesses of DeKalb and most important the future of DeKalb as a county where the quality of the schools would cause family and businesses to want to locate to our county.
We as residents of DeKalb County are in a very dangerous place since so few of us time to be involved in the political process. We tend to allow our votes to be influenced by groups and people we know nothing about.
Now it is also funny the Dekalb Senate delegation two years later are concerned about the DeKalb School System. To the DeKalb Senate delegation Chairman Emanuel Jones please ask the Governor to allow the citizens of DeKalb to take responsibility and address the issue with our county school system.
To the current members of the Board of Education please consider resigning now and allow a new board the opportunity to fix the problem you have created for the children, families and businesses of DeKalb.
I realize it would be a blow to your ego to step down, but ask yourself has your time on the board made our school system a better system. If you can say to yourself and believe your time has made the system better for our children and communities then I suggest you continue until the next election and please do not seek re-election.
On the other hand if you ask yourself the above question and your answer is your time on the board has not made our school system better please resign now.
I believe many of you on the board have had plenty of time to make meaningful measurable progress for our school system and now it IS the time for significant changes by you to be made for the county and school you claim you want to serve. PLESASE, RESIGN NOW FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHILDREN, FAMILES, COMMUNITES AND FUTURE OF DEKALB COUNTY.
Please know I hear the concern and hope expressed in your comments. I realize many of us who truly love DeKalb are in part in the minority when it comes to having concerns about the future of our children and our county.
Ms. SimoneRene, I also believe with the addition of three new board members there is hope and the next election should not be the goal we should wait for.
As everyday people we have the power to make change..with the decision by SACS to place our school district on probation the very educational grounds of our community has been shaken.
I firmly believe if we our concern we should be exploring the options of a recall of the board members who are the source of the lack of vision and leadership for our schools, our children and our county.
I am a long time resident of DeKalb County and I recall when the quality of life and the quality of the schools were the envy of other metro counties.
Today...parents and businesses are either leaving or deciding not to move to DeKalb and the quality of our schools are in part of the reasons we are losing residents and businesses.
I am willing to work with any person or group of persons who are serious about a recall of those ineffective board members.
Everyday that no movement toward a recall is a day of lost opportunity for our children and our county. Those of us who are long time residents stay because we believe DeKalb is a GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
This past election got us 3 new folks and honestly, Mel Johnson is a breath of fresh air with experience being a former deputy superintendent. Unfortunately, not everyone was up for reelection. SACS had DCSS placed on advisement roughly 2 years ago and we haven't had a chance to remove the others who don't think that they are doing anything "egregious."
Can our children wait for the process and the election in another year? They don't have books, toilet paper and other necessities. When parents are working all day and just expect that their kids are getting a decent education and a functional building and don't, how long do we let it go on?
No one could see the future and many here in DeKalb hold out hope well past the point of reason. We are officially sacrificing our children's future to keep inexperienced, short-sighted and selfish people employed.
I just want someone to show me why basic common sense is so hard for DeKalb and why I now have to tell my children that plagiarizing is not ok, even though the head of the school system is ok with it.
Thank you so very much for your comments....it is indeed up to those of us who are really concerned about the schools, children and the future of DeKalb.
I realize one of the steps necessary is to meet...and each meeting should set goals and processes to make those goals come to pass.
I applaud Mr. Sims for his efforts in reaching out, however as with any group meeting beware of who attends these meeting.
I know from personal experience there will be those who attend public meetings only to understand how to undermine the efforts to make change happen.
As you stated in your comments regarding the Clayton County School system, losing the stamp of approval of SACS is not good for the future of our children, their education and the future of our county.
Should the process of a recall be put in place now and persons who are really concerned about our children and our county seek a seat on the board we really can began to address the concerns express by SACS.
Please we can clean the slate and find a new way to end the madness reported in the SACS report. Come to one of Calvin Sims meetings. There is LOT of hard work and our community should be given new leadership. Then we as a community should begin the hard work together to create a better DeKalb. I am for one excited to begin the process if given the chance. Come to a meeting and talk to Calvin Sims.