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Home > Clayton.Talk > Archives > 2008 > June > 09
Monday, June 9, 2008
No DADS or diplomas
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I have to wonder if the Clayton County Board of Education and Superintendent John Thompson read the same SACS report as everyone else did, since they somehow manage to find new and improved ways to alienate the community.
According Mark Elgart during our Q&A, “[CCPS] must fully engage the community so that the beliefs, values, and expectations of the community are embedded in the mission, goals, and purposes of the school system.”
First, the CCBOE decided it was a good idea to propose holding public comments at a separate meeting, make constituents tell the CCBOE secretary what they want to discuss by 4:30pm the day of, and submit 10 copies of their comments in writing, in advance.
I don’t see what difference any of that will make since it is obvious to many who attend CCBOE meetings that school board members aren’t paying much attention during public comments, anyway. This new process makes it that much easier for them to dismiss and ignore us and/or discourage citizens from speaking out. But perhaps that’s the game plan.
Next, Thompson sacked The Diverse And Dedicated Support (DADS) organization. DADS was here before the SACS report, John Thompson and some of the remaining CCBOE members. According to AJC news reports, their success spun off chapters in nine schools.
Yes, all CCPS volunteers should definitely submit to a background check. But why kill DADS completely when it is clearly effective, and some members actually have completed background checks?
Only disruptive students will benefit from this loss.
Many believe their ouster was politically motivated because some DADS members support CCBOE resignations and recalls. Newsflash CCBOE - they are not the only ones.
It seems our children get the short end of the stick again, compliments of CCBOE administrators. This was also evident when graduating seniors were handed a diploma case containing a blank piece of paper because the current superintendent’s name was not listed on the diplomas.
Never mind that Thompson has been on duty for less than two months contributing little, if anything, to the Class of 2008.
Seriously, do any high school graduates out there know or care who their superintendent was, or about any other name listed on the diploma besides their own? I don’t.
After receiving my high school diploma, I spent what I thought was a few seconds backstage just staring at it and feeling proud. Later, my grandmother asked what took me so long to come back out and I told her after working so hard I wanted to check out my diploma!
So I felt every graduate’s pain on that note. The very least someone could have done was warn graduates via word of mouth beforehand. Since Thompson was willing to spend $80,000 on new diplomas, as a Clayton taxpayer I’d prefer some of that money fund background checks for DADS members, which would benefit our children so much more.
Let’s hope Thompson re-evaluates, finds a way to get the necessary background checks done, and allows DADS to continue their good work because more volunteers like them are needed in CCPS, not less.
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