Court upholds law used to suspend DeKalb school board members

Court upholds law used to suspend DeKalb school board members

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/court-upholds-law-used-to-suspend-dekalb-school-bo/nb4Cx/

Restore DeKalb wants to thank Donna Priest-Brown for posting two emails on the Georgia Supreme Court decision concerning the suspension of DeKalb school board members.

We join Priest-Brown call for everyone to have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Kind Regards,

Viola Davis

2 Emails on November 25, 2013, above link and below follows>>>>

Greetings,

On Monday, November 25, 2013, the Georgia Supreme Court will rule whether it was legal for the governor to remove six DeKalb County school board members.  If the high court rules that the action was illegal, it would lead to the reinstatement of the ousted members with the exception of Donna Edler, who died last month of complications of the cancer that she had battled since her run for school board three years ago.  Please read attached — http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/get-schooled/2013/nov/22/coming-monday-will-state-supreme-court-ruling-stab/ 

Updates on ruling should be in AJC and news today. 

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday! 

Yours in Parenting, 

Donna Priest-Brown

South DeKalb Parent Council, Co-President

 

Progress DeKalb: DeKalb County Government and DeKalb Board of Education Host Public Meeting

MEDIA ADVISORY

DeKalb County Government and DeKalb Board of Education Host Conversation + Collaboration = Progress DeKalb

 

WHAT:            The public is invited to attend Progress DeKalb: A Conversation to Move DeKalb Forward, hosted by DeKalb County Government and the DeKalb Board of Education.

 

WHO:              The DeKalb Board of Education

                        The DeKalb Board of Commissioners

                        DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May

                        DeKalb Superintendent Michael Thurmond

 

WHEN:            Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

 

WHERE:           Agnes Scott College – Presser Hall, Gaines Chapel

                        141 East College Avenue

                        Decatur, GA 30030

 

RSVP:              bdavis@dekalbcountyga.gov by Nov. 7^th

Estimate cost for dual accreditation is a steal

Robert Boyd, Superintendent Michael Thurmond, and Ramona Tyson

Estimate cost for dual accreditation is a steal

by Viola Davis RN BSN

The number one goal for Interim Superintendent Michael Thurmond’s ninety day action plan is to address AdvancED/SACS action items and work to achieve unconditional accreditation status.

Click to access 90-day-plan.pdf

Restore DeKalb is proud to announce our active role to help Michael Thurmond with his number one goal to achieve unconditional accreditation status. We have “kicked off” this goal by inviting Robert Boyd, a consultant with the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC), to be a featured speaker to educate parents and homeowners about a second accrediting agency located in Georgia since 1904. By qualifying with the Georgia Accrediting Commission, the DeKalb County School System will have a “second” or “safety net” accrediting agency to protect all the high schools.

We are pushing for dual accreditation for all high schools because we want to ensure DeKalb’s seniors have access to financial aid for technical school and/or college. We have called dual accreditation our “safety net”. We strive to protect our students against the worst case scenario, SACS taking extended time to return our school system to full accreditation. Dual accreditation is a “solution” to a worst case scenario.

Dual Accreditation will prevent and protect the high schools throughout DeKalb from losing its accreditation. It will decrease the business community and public worries about accreditation.

Restore DeKalb had a town hall meeting at the Sanford Realty Company conference room on June 15th to address critical issues such as accreditation, graduation rates, and cell towers.

The featured speakers included Robert Boyd, Ramona Tyson, and the unexpected appearance of Interim Superintendent Michael Thurmond who drove back from Savannah to attend the meeting. District 9 Board of Education member, Mr. Thaddeus Mayfield, also attended. We also had Commissioner Lee May to show his concern.

Michael Thurmond voiced concerns about the amount of resources that will be expended qualifying for two accrediting agencies at once which include:
•AdvancED/SACS
•Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC)

Robert Boyd gave a presentation to educate the parents and homeowners about GAC and show that GAC was not trying to compete with SACS. Boyd later forwarded a document titled, “Estimate of cost for GAC Membership”, to Restore DeKalb that detailed the financial cost of having a second accrediting agency.

Restore DeKalb was informed of three top facts concerning GAC:

1.GAC membership is $50.00 per school/per year.
2.GAC has offered for the accreditation process to occur in late January or early February 2014 to prevent interfering with SACS.
3.If approved, the accreditation would be retroactive to the beginning of the school year 2013-2014.

The initial cost was estimated to be approximately $50,000 to $70,000 dollars to qualify for GAC by Restore DeKalb; however, the cost to update our qualifications with GAC were reduced to as little as $10,000 to $15,000 dollars.

Dunwoody Councilman Terry Nall stated that he would have no problem getting the support of the business community to help finance the cost of secure the “safety net” accreditation. Restore DeKalb see the second accrediting agency as a “win-win” for the students, parents, community, and businesses with little financial cost. What a Deal – What a Steal!

What do you think?

Visit the Georgia Accrediting Commission website and note the accrediting commission has served Georgia’s schools since 1904.

http://www.coe.uga.edu/gac/index.html

Email and Call DeKalb Board of Education: DeKalb County School District – 678-676-1200

Chairman Dr. Melvin Johnson District 6 Melvin_Johnson@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us

Vice Chairman James L. McMahan District 4 Jim_McMahan@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us

Mr. John W. Coleman District 1 John_W_Coleman@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us

Mr. Marshall D. Orson District 2 Marshall_Orson@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us

Mr. Michael A. Erwin District 3 Michael_Erwin@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us

Mr. David Campbell District 5 David_Campbell@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us

Dr. Joyce A. Morley District 7 Joyce_A_Morley@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us

Ms. Karen W. Carter District 8 Karen_Carter@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us

Mr. Thaddeus Mayfield District 9 Thaddeus_Mayfield@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us

Contact Person: Viola Davis at RestoreDeKalb@gmail.com or phone 770-267-0034

Please view the document prepared by Robert Boyd, a GAC consultant, for Restore DeKalb:

Robert Boyd with the Georgia Accreditin​g Commission (GAC) to Speak at Restore DeKalb Town Hall Meeting June 15, 2013 – Press Release

Dear DeKalb County School Supporters,

We are Restore DeKalb and have scheduled a town hall meeting for June 15, 2013 at Sanford Realty Company Conference room at 4183 Snapfinger Woods Drive from 10am- 12pm.

Robert Boyd – Georgia Accrediting Commission Consultant

We are proud to announce that Robert Boyd with the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC) will give a presentation and answer questions from the public concerning a “second” or “safety net” accreditation.

Visit the Georgia Accrediting Commission website and note the accrediting commission has served Georgia’s schools since 1904.

http://www.coe.uga.edu/gac/index.html

Ramona Tyson

Ramona Tyson, Chief Strategy Officer, will attend and represent the DeKalb County School District.

We will provide critical information on serious issues that parents, homeowners, taxpayers and voters want addressed. Learn where we are with DeKalb’s Accreditation to include:

•What have our school system done to “restore” full accreditation?

•Should DeKalb County School system have a secondary accrediting agency (Dual Accreditation) to provide a “safety net” for our high school students?

•What are the plans to improve graduation rates for DeKalb County schools?

•Where does the school district stand on the issue of cell towers on school grounds?

Help us protect our children’s ability to qualify for college and financial aid.

Please view the graduation rates for DeKalb County compared to Metro Atlanta and individual high schools with the school system to include:

We must address the fact that 3505 seniors did not graduate according to the data provided by the Georgia Department of Education. We must address the fact that over 68% of our schools did not rate equal or above the state level. We must remember that the newspaper reported 1,194 seniors did not graduate last year. What plans have we enacted to correct this crisis?

Please read the article published July 7, 2012 by Crossroads Newspaper by Jennifer Ffench Parker and Carla Parker titled, “1,194 Seniors fail to graduate”, that caused a major outrage in DeKalb.

http://stonemountain.patch.com/blog_posts/restore-dekalb-a-mission-to-address-dekalbs-critical-issues

We dedicate our town hall meeting to one of our “Foot Soldiers for Justice” – Gregory K. Davis.

Please read Crossroads Newspaper article titled, “DeKalb bus mechanic remembered for standing up for co-workers, children.

http://crossroadsnews.com/news/2013/jun/06/dekalb-bus-mechanic-remembered-standing-co-workers/

and Restore DeKalb article titled, “Greg Davis – A “Foot Soldier for Justice”.

Greg Davis – A Foot Soldier for Justice

We have provided a biography of Robert Boyd below:

ROBERT J. BOYD SR.

Native Georgian, born in 1936, educated in public schools

Received a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University Georgia 1958

Received a reserve Army Commission upon graduation

Army active duty for six months (February – July 1959)

Began teaching in Fall of 1959

Married Annette Thompson in July 1960. We now have two sons and a daughter all grown and married

with eleven grandchildren ranging from one year to twenty-five.

Assistant High School Principal 1965-1967

Received a Masters in School Administration from Auburn University 1967

Post Graduate work at Georgia State University 1970-72

High School Principal 1967 – 1989 (22 years)

Worked in Real Estate from 1990 – present

Assisted with the organization of a private high school and served on the board of directors 1999-2009

Worked as a consultant with the Accrediting Commission for Independent Study 1999 – 2005

In 2005 the Accrediting Commission for Independent Study merged with the Georgia

Accrediting Commission where I continue as a consultant.

Please contact Viola Davis at 770-256-0034 for further information or email restoredekalb@gmail.com.

3505 Seniors Fail to Graduate from DeKalb Schools – 1194 Seniors Fail to Graduate from DeKalb Schools last year

Dear DeKalb County School Supporters,

We are Restore DeKalb and have scheduled a town hall meeting for June 15, 2013 at Sanford Realty Company Conference room at 4183 Snapfinger Woods Drive from 10am- 12pm. We are proud to announce that the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC) will give a presentation and answer questions from the public concerning a “second or safety net” accreditation.

Visit the Georgia Accrediting Commission website and note the accrediting commission has served Georgia’s schools since 1904.

http://www.coe.uga.edu/gac/index.html

We will provide critical information on serious issues that parents, homeowners, taxpayers and voters want addressed. Learn where we are with DeKalb’s Accreditation to include:

•What have our school system done to “restore” full accreditation?

•Should DeKalb County School system have a secondary accrediting agency (Dual Accreditation) to provide a “safety net” for our high school students?

•What are the plans to improve graduation rates for DeKalb County schools?

•Where does the school district stand on the issue of cell towers on school grounds?

Please view the graduation rates for DeKalb County compared to Metro Atlanta and individual high schools with the school system to include:

We must address the fact that 3505 seniors did not graduate according to the data provided by the Georgia Department of Education. We must address the fact that over 68% of our schools did not rate equal or above the state level. We must remember that the newspaper reported 1,194 seniors did not graduate last year. What plans have we enacted to correct this crisis?

Please read the article published July 7, 2012 by Crossroads Newspaper by Jennifer Ffench Parker and Carla Parker titled, “1,194 Seniors fail to graduate”, that caused a major outrage in DeKalb.

http://stonemountain.patch.com/blog_posts/restore-dekalb-a-mission-to-address-dekalbs-critical-issues

We dedicate our town hall meeting to one of our “Foot Soldiers for Justice” – Gregory K. Davis.

Please read Crossroads Newspaper article titled, “DeKalb bus mechanic remembered for standing up for co-workers, children.

http://crossroadsnews.com/news/2013/jun/06/dekalb-bus-mechanic-remembered-standing-co-workers/

and Restore DeKalb article titled, “Greg Davis – A “Foot Soldier for Justice”.

Greg Davis – A Foot Soldier for Justice

Please contact Viola Davis at 770-256-0034 for further information or email restoredekalb@gmail.com.

Restore DeKalb Town Hall Meeting for June 15, 2013

Restore DeKalb: Maintain Accreditation of DeKalb Schools

Learn where we are with DeKalb’s Accreditation to include:

· Should DeKalb County School System have a secondary accrediting agency to provide a “Safety Net” for our high school students?

· What have our school system done to “restore” full accreditation?

Learn what you are not being told at the Restore DeKalb Town Hall Meeting at Sanford Realty Company, 4183 Snapfinger Woods Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30035 on June 15, 2013 from 10:00am – 12:00pm.

Help us protect our children’s ability to qualify for college and financial aid.

Contact Person: Viola Davis with Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter at 770-256-0034, Joel Edwards with WORC and King Ridge Homeowners Association at 404-966-1121 or Willie Pringle with WORC and a Southwest DeKalb High School Parent at 678-451-9333.

Email: RestoreDeKalb@gmail.com

Future Website: http://www.RestoreDeKalb.org

Dual Accreditation: DeKalb’s Safety Net

Dual Accreditation: DeKalb’s Safety Net for Children, Homeowners and Businesses
by Viola Davis RN BSN

Restore DeKalb was planning a meeting for May 18th to provide information on the issue of dual accreditation.

North and South DeKalb have united to work as a unified front to provide a safety net for our students as our school board work through these turbulent times. Nancy Jester and Sheriff Tom Brown had originally agreed to attend our meeting and speak. Unfortunately due to a conflict, we had to reschedule the meeting..

We had also spoken with the Executive Director of the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC) name Carvin Brown. We requested a consultant to attend our meeting on this issue to explain the positives on having dual accreditation and eliminate the fear and misinformation. We were instructed by Mr. Carviin Brown that the consultant for this area is Mr. Bob Boyd. After making contact with Mr. Boyd, he had agreed to keep the date open.

This was one of the first meetings scheduled to occur in South DeKalb on the issue of dual accreditation for North and South DeKalb to demonstrate that we have the ability to once again work together and place our children first. We had two prior meetings that were well-attended in South DeKalb that drew a racially mixed crowd from all parts of the county to the Sanford Realty Building on Snapfinger Woods Drive.

We agree with Nancy Jester that DeKalb County School System needs dual accreditation, especially since our school system is on probation. Dual Accreditation is a solution for the worst case scenario. Dual Accreditation is a safety net for our children, our homeowners, and our local businesses. What will additional coverage hurt?

We are asking parents to call for a unified front to place our children first and our accreditation second by contacting Superintendent Michael Thurmond and the entire Board of Education to vote for dual accreditation.

We had parents in South DeKalb to request the DeKalb County School System to finance the dual accreditation because the cost does not compare to the money spent on attorneys and central office staff. Several parents commented that dual accreditation is the least our school system can provide to ensure our children have a back up plan to attend college and qualify for financial aid. What do you think?

Once again, we strive to provide information to the general public on the issue of dual accreditation. Please let us know if you are interest in helping ensure our student have a safety net by sending an email to RestoreDeKalb@gmail.com.

Restore DeKalb Town Hall Audience Questions for DeKalb Board of Education and Superintendent Michael Thurmond

Memorandum

To:        DeKalb Board of Education & Superintendent Michael Thurmond

CC:      Restore DeKalb, Get the Cell Out Atlanta, WORC, Restore DCSS, Parents for DeKalb Schools, Concerned Citizens for South DeKalb, Stephenson Community Council, DeKalb School Watch, DeKalb County Council of PTAs, Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter and all appropriate parties

From:  Viola Davis with Restore DeKalb

Date:   3/3/2013

Re:      Restore DeKalb Town Hall Audience Questions

Restore DeKalb Town Hall Audience Questions

 

Restore DeKalb is a consortium of parents, organizations, homeowners, taxpayers and voters with a mission to unite and put the children first in DeKalb County to ensure a high quality of education and maintain the district’s accreditation.

Restore DeKalb invited DeKalb Board of Education, Superintendent Michael Thurmond, and the DeKalb Delegation to attend the question and answer town hall meeting to address the public’s concerns dealing with the accreditation of the DeKalb County School District.

Restore DeKalb takes great pride in thanking Donna Elder and Jay Cunningham for answering the call.  Elder and Cunningham displayed tremendous courage to attend the meeting without requesting prior questions.  Both Board of Education members allowed the public to ask questions and voice their concerns.

Members of the coalition that make up Restore DeKalb made a commitment to write down the questions asked at the town hall meeting and submit the questions to the Board of Education and Superintendent Michael Thurmond to answer at a later date.  The questions include:

1. 1.    Stepping Down:
   1. Are you willing to step down to keep our accreditation?
   2. Aren’t you being selfish thinking of yourselves by not stepping down and playing the race card?
   3. We want you to step down before people start moving out of the county, selling their homes to get a better quality of life and education.
   4. Ms. Edler said that the reason the board is spending DCSS money to challenge the constitutionality of the law is because the vote at the state BOE was against the Board.  Why is the Board unilaterally deciding to challenge the law?  It should be the decision of the public whether to bring the suit.
   5. Why are you using taxpayer money to keep your jobs?  Why don’t you use your own money if you want to keep your jobs?  Why won’t this Board step aside?
   6. Why not step down and submit your services on an advisory level instead of using more tax dollars to file lawsuits as opposed to using the money for the children and the school house?
2. 2.    Attorney Fees:
   1. Why are monies still being spent for lawsuits against the board when you have a staff of paid attorneys?
   2. Why was a $150,000 contract for governance training offered to the newly named Superintendent’s former law firm without a competitive bid?
   3. A substantial amount of money appears to be either misappropriated or simply missing, money intended for the use of textbooks.  I believe the SACS report cited this lax accounting standards associated with that loss in its review of the DeKalb School Board.  What is the status of the internal search for the missing funds and the people responsible for the loss of the money?
3. 3.    Financial Resources:
   1. What is the real financial situation of the district?
   2. How much money is in our accounts?
   3. Why aren’t we doing proper accounting practices?
   4. Why don’t we have our check book on the internet/website so that “The Public’ knows where our money is being spent?
   5. What is the time line/plan to replace the lost resources as a result of the budget cuts?
      1.      Resource Officers
      2.      Media Clerks
      3.      Instructional Coaches
      4.      Increase pay to attract better teachers and to retain the good ones
   6. There is too much money being spent on things that are not relevant.  Stop having closed door meetings.
4. 4.    Education:
   1. Programs don’t teach.  When will we allow our teachers to teach (not to test) and help our children to learn and grow?
   2. When you look at the multiplicity of issues and problems that were addressed in the SACS report (poor governance, financial mismanagement, nepotism, interference in school day to day operations) is there any one of those issues that you feel most contributed to placing the district on probation?
   3. Thursday proved SACS is a poor organization.  Will you consider dropping SACS and use a different accreditation agency?
   4. Why pay Michael Thurmond full salary for only an interim basis when you have to get another Superintendent?  The teachers and the children’s’ moral is at stake.
5. 5.    General Questions:
   1. Do you feel like because what’s happening in DeKalb County is why some of the northern cities or surrounding cities are breaking away?  Because the DeKalb County board looks like they don’t know what they are doing.
   2. Why a governance class is not given to the board in advance or written some place to follow up or guide the board?  Why now when everything is in turmoil?
   3. Talked about the Interim Superintendent being knowledgeable in all areas other than the educational portion.  How will you work with him to find a person for education?  Another salary?
   4. On the issue of race – DeKalb is not just black and white.  We have a very diverse community and county.  What about our families that are not black or white?
   5. Why did Superintendent Michael Thurmond attend two meetings up north, yet totally ignored us in South DeKalb?  Why did a majority of our Board of Education refused to come and answer our questions?

 

On February 16, 2013, Restore DeKalb held the information and education town hall meeting to review the SACS report and Grand Jury Investigation.  We promised the parents, homeowners, and taxpayers present that we would invite the Board of Education, Superintendent Michael Thurmond, and DeKalb Delegation to be present to answer the public’s questions concerning our accreditation.  Restore DeKalb fulfilled this promise on February 23, 2013.

We would highly appreciate the Board of Education and Superintendent Michael Thurmond answering the audience questions submitted above.  With the cooperation and participation of our elected officials, the question and answer town hall meeting will be a success.

For further details and information, please contact Joel Edwards at 404-966-1121 or via email at restoredekalb@gmail.com.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours Sincerely,

 

Viola Davis

Restore DeKalb Question & Answer Town Hall Meeting

Press Release
Contact Person: Joel Edwards at 404-966-1121

Restore DeKalb: Maintain Accreditation and Local Control

Attend the Question and Answer Town Hall Meeting and ask the elected officials questions such as:

· Why was DeKalb County Board of Education placed on probation?

· How many Required Actions have our administration answered since SACS placed DeKalb County School District on probation?

· What plans have been executed to save our accreditation?

Learn what you are not being told at the Question & Answer Town Hall Meeting on February 23, 2012 at Sanford Realty Company, 4183 Snapfinger Woods Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30035 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm.

February 23, 2012 – Questions & Answers Meeting. The DeKalb Board of Education, Superintendent Michael Thurmond, and the DeKalb Delegation are invited speakers.

Citizens for Transparency, Education, Ethics and Accountability

Restore DeKalb Question & Answer Town Hall Meeting on February 23, 2013

18th February 2013

The DeKalb Board of Education, Superintendent Michael Thurmond, and the entire DeKalb Delegation have been invited to attend the Restore DeKalb Question & Answer Town Hall meeting to address the public’s concerns dealing with the accreditation of DeKalb County School District.

Restore DeKalb is a consortium of parents, organizations, homeowners, taxpayers and voters with a mission to unite and put the children first in DeKalb County to ensure a high quality of education and maintain the district’s accreditation.

Members of the coalition that make up Restore DeKalb have sent out invitations in the form of emails and also hand delivered invitations that request the attendance of the elected officials.

· How many Required Actions have our administration answered since SACS placed DeKalb County School District on probation?
· Does the Board of Education plan to challenge the Georgia Board of Education and Governor Nathan Deal in court if both decides to remove the DeKalb Board of Education?
· What plans have been executed to save our accreditation?

On February 16, 2013, Restore DeKalb held the information and education town hall meeting to review the SACS report and Grand Jury Investigation. We promised the parents, homeowners, and taxpayers present that we would invite the Board of Education, Superintendent Michael Thurmond, and DeKalb Delegation to be present to answer the public’s questions concerning our accreditation.

We would highly appreciate the participation of the elected officials in our question and answer session to help educate the general public on the issue of the accreditation of our school system. With the cooperation and participation of our elected officials, the question and answer town hall meeting will be a success.
For further details and information, please contact Joel Edwards at 404-966-1121 or via email at restoredekalb@gmail.com.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours Sincerely,

Viola Davis

Summaries to Educate DeKalb County Parents, Homeowners, and Taxpayers Include:
Eleven Required Actions SACS Requested from the DeKalb Board of Education

· Top Five Violations in SACS Report
· http://www.scribd.com/doc/125424269/Top-Five-Violations-in-SACS-Report

· Five Major Charges Alleged in Grand Jury Investigation – March-April 2012
· http://www.scribd.com/doc/125424919/Five-Major-Charges-Alleged-in-Grand-Jury-Investigation

· Five Demands to Restore DeKalb County School District
· http://www.scribd.com/doc/125425472/5-Demands-to-Restore-DeKalb-County-School-System

Restore DeKalb Information & Education Town Hall Meeting was videotaped by Raharkne and placed on YouTube to include:

1. Concerned Citizen Meeting – http://youtu.be/VxK_4wPA7co
2. Concerned Citizens Meeting Part 2: http://youtu.be/iU_HZRmGtYQ
3. Concerned Citizens Meeting Part 3: http://youtu.be/N-EyPIFT9oA
4. Concerned Citizens Meeting Part 4: http://youtu.be/SccqN889Xnw
5. Concerned Citizens Meeting Part 5: http://youtu.be/uS91Nv0PkKw
6. Concerned Citizens Meeting Part 6: http://youtu.be/29uVSWs2IOQ
7. Concerned Citizens Meeting Part 7: http://youtu.be/MMFXBGK3f2M
8. Concerned Citizens Meeting Part 8: http://youtu.be/JLhhzxER3n4