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Home > Clayton.Talk > Archives > 2008 > September > 08
Monday, September 8, 2008
Give new BOE members a chance
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
School board member Michael King’s (District 4) short stint in office is off to a rocky start. At a recent meeting (the legal one), some of his constituents were already voicing displeasure and talking recall.
Isn’t it ironic that King spent his first days publicly berating colleagues for illegal acts, and is now accused of committing similar illegal acts himself?
As per Clayton County Public Schools, attorney King violated at least six board policies last Friday alone, possibly setting a new Board of Education record for the most infractions committed during one meeting.
But I digress, King deserves a chance to redeem himself since they all are learning exactly what this job entails as they go. But he should have already known that one of the nine SACS mandates requires him to attend training sessions, which King skipped last weekend. As a newly elected member, he should welcome this training.
Interim Chairwoman Alieka Anderson (District 8) and Trinia Garrett (District 7) also deserve an opportunity to learn and understand the parameters of their new position. Hopefully the addition of Jessie Goree (District 3) will only strengthen our BOE.
All were elected in the midst of the accreditation firestorm. This problem was not created overnight and will not be resolved immediately, regardless of whom we elect or how much experience they possess.
“It’s time for us to work together. Once we get everybody working together, from the school board to the community, everything will flow so that we can accomplish retaining accreditation and take care of the students,” says Anderson. “But we’ve got to come together and work together. The community needs to look at themselves as being a part of this team, too.”
Since community involvement is also a SACS requirement in order to retain accreditation, we need to find ways to work with those elected, as well as Corrective Superintendent John Thompson, yet hold all=2 0accountable when necessary. The next school board meeting will take place on September 22.
On September 16, either Marcela Bodkin or Mary Baker will be elected to represent District 6 - who gets your vote, and why?
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