Get Schooled

By WFC

March 10, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this

I believe that school boards should consist of:

By Jeff

March 10, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this

I like WFC’s idea, but I would balance the people who actually know what schools do with the general populace.

That said, I would add an educational tech person, a finance expert (not necessarily education, but someone with advanced expertise in finance - maybe a local CPA or some such), and a civil engineer (those are the engineers that design roads/bridges/ other infrastructure, right?).

That way, you have a balance of people - 6 experts and 6 non experts - all who live in the county and HOPEFULLY can plan a school system that could be the absolute best it could be.

Oh, and I would put the Chairman of the Board - a 13th position - who doubles as Superintendent. In this scenario, no longer do you need 30 full time ‘assistant’ superintendents. You now have 12 part time ones who are actually experts in their field (well, 6 of them anyway, with the other 6 HOPEFULLY being attuned to what their districts need/want.)

By BillyRip

March 10, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this

An idea candidate for the any school board would be someone with strong morals and values. Someone who would be fair and impartial. Someone who would place the education of the children above all else. Someone who believes in transparency in government. Not someone who gives their friends all the high paying jobs, even though more qualified people applied. Not someone gives contracts to companies then look for kickbacks. In the case of Clayton County someone who would work to be all inclusive, taking into account the demographics and contract with more minorities. A county with 90% minority population with only 00.5% of the government contracts. That’s no return on the tax dollars spent by those folks. Someone who will work to break the ‘good ole boy stronghold on the county. We have idea candidates in the county; however they must be strong enough to fight off the forces that will try to manipulate or destroy them once they’re in office.

By HS Teacher Too

March 10, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this

WFC, I like your suggestions, and I like Jeff’s additions.

As for my own two cents, I’d suggest that — particularly in a large, county-based district — you need more than one active teacher, because you’d need to understand the needs and trends at the different grade levels. Lest some folks say, “there those teachers go again,” let me be clear: I don’t think the board should be dominated by teachers by any means. However, I do think that elementary teachers and high school teachers not only have different needs and perspectives, but also have their “ear to the ground” in different ways. So, having more than one teacher can’t be a bad thing. It can also help, at least on some level, to ensure that the person selected isn’t just a puppet of the administration, etc.

As we’ve discussed on this blog before, a not-small part of the problem in education today is that there are too many top-down decisions made by people who have never set foot in a classroom. (You could make a similar argument in Gwinnett that the top-down decisions are made from someone who never set foot in an academic classroom, and no matter how much you value the trades (and I do) you can’t say that the concerns of elective teachers are the same as those of academic, non-elective course teachers, especially if there are EOCTs and so forth.) Attempting to balance that top-down “business” decision making with at least a slightly stronger voice of teachers would, in my opinion, help things at least on some small, local level.

If nothing else, the teachers would be able to inform the board as to practical concerns in implementing or taking away whatever programs they might be considering.

My two cents.

By Concerned Clayton Citizen

March 10, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this

In the past, I served 3 years as an elected member of a school board in another state.

I beleive the standards still stand for what is needed. A person who is honest, moral, takes time to listen and be a part of the whole. They do not have to be the “most important”. A board member must, above all, be ready to put the children first in every vote they make. This is an important time in Clayton County and we must look at a person and see them in total. Do not look through colored glasses. The color does not matter. what a person is made of is the most important. No students, no teachers, no so called experts, just honest people with an upstanding background who will keep their commitment and do their very best for the children. We have those people here who would be happy to serve.

Concerned Clayton Citizin

By JustMe

March 10, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

I don’t know the “ideal” number of school board members. But, I would say a good mix would include experienced teachers currently working in that district in the core areas….

In addition, I would include….

That would make a total of 9 members, which is a good number because there couldn’t be a tie.

By edge770

March 10, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this

Why have a school board? Is it a constitutional mandate for a “school board”? Create a czar of education and then appoint the superintendent.. I think issue is a bunch of busy bodies in the liberal elite world trying to create a control freak fiefdom of political correctness. (look at the challenges of Gwinnett’s dysfunctional school board and superintendent). Representation is good and patriotic, but when you have a continual crisis brought on by uneducated voters that elect these fools, let’s try a different approach.

By V for Vendetta

March 10, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

I like a lot of the suggestions so far. Edge brings up an interesting “devil’s advocate” position as well. My ideal board would be similar to some of the others previously stated:

3 teachers of core classes

3 parents

3 business professionals from the private sector (the logical breakdown would be managerial, economical/accounting, and industrial/engineering.)

There would be NO super, no one person who was over all the others. I also left out admin types because I honestly don’t think they would be all that important. Currently, in many counties, admins serve as “go-betweens” for the school board to individual teachers/schools. They do little else. I think a highly educated teacher (let’s say a masters would be mandatory) would be more effective.

In a perfect world …

By NICK

March 10, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

White run. It is the ONLY way it will work.

By Private School Guy

March 10, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

I would suggest people who had had experience with multi million dollar budgets and people who have hired CEOs who earn over six figures. Experiance with educational institutions should come after that.

By khadar noor

March 10, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

I think school board member should have experience about educational administration with graduate degree. However, I srongly believe that strong parent should be member

By khadar noor

March 10, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

I think school board member should have experience about educational administration with graduate degree. However, I srongly believe that strong parent should be member

By Tater

March 10, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

V

I agree with your perfect school board. I would add one thing.. Run a backgound on everyone who is willing to serve to find out if they have ANY financial dealings with the school district or other school districts.

DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE who has direct dealings financially to serve, since I will guarantee that they will not be serving the district.

As with everything in life it is either politics and money. Unfortunately sometimes it is both.

By jim d

March 10, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

A clown

A pimple squeezer

A politician wannabe

A society dame

And a Suzy home-maker

All to hire a super that is a shop teacher.

OH Wait—That’s already been done, with less than stellar results, in Gwinnett County.

By Vince

March 10, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

Billy Rip….

I agree with much of what you said, but I do have two issues. First, the “good ol’ boy” mentality in Clayton is long gone…hasn’t been in place for more than 10 years.

Secondly, you state you would want the people who are most qualified for the position, contracts, etc. to get the jobs. However, you then say that you would want contracts awarded on the basis of skin color instead of qualifications. Which is it? Character and qualifications or color of skin? Granted, the two are not mutually exclusive but it is odd to hear someone speak of transparency, fairness and quality an dthen turn around and say “award jobs based on skin color.”

By The Bell Tolls

March 10, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this

I think the idea of 3 teachers of core classes, 3 parents and 3 leaders in the business community is good. In addition to Tater’s comment about ensuring they don’t have any financial links to anyone in the County, make the following mandatory requirements for the post:

1) criminal background 2) education verification 3) employment verification 4) credit check 5) drug screen 6) reference check 7) residency verification (actually do one)

Make darn sure, you know what you’re getting. Businesses do this as a matter of practice. For positions this important no less due diligence should be acceptable.

This should help eliminate putting people on the board who are incapable, unethical and could care less about our children’s future.

By Voice of Reason

March 10, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

My computer had to reset. Disregard.

By V for Vendetta

March 10, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

NICK, Sorry, you must have us confused with the Sandy Springs blog or Wooten’s usual gaggle of mouth-breathing hicks. We tend to frown on unprovoked racism here.

Private School Guy, How would what you suggested by any different from what many counties have now? We’d only end up with a bunch of Educrats.

JimD, LOL and Double LOL. Hilarious!

By Vince

March 10, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

Jim D…

Gosh! I wonder which one of those is my friend!… The society dame? the homemaker? LOL

Seriously though, I think Gwinnett does it just fine. Planning for such a large and rapidly growing district…. Great test scores…especially for a majority-minority district… Tremendous facilities, a wealth of AP offerings, great athletics. I think they do it right.

Who should not be on a school board? People from teachers’ organizations who only want to disrupt the business of the Board. Dishonest people who want some sort of financial gain or power should not be on a Board. If a clown a homemaker, a pimple squeezer, a society dame and a political wannabe have the interests of the students at heart and they have the knowledge to do the job then I say “More Power to Them!”

By HS Teacher Too

March 10, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

Vince,

You are clearly on the outside looking in at Gwinnett.

All those great test scores? As how much class time is spent prepping for tests instead of learning content material that would, by default, prep kids for any test that comes along. then, look closer at the outstanding test scores and you’ll see that the schools that pull the average up are not (yet) majority-minority schools. So the SYSTEM looks good on average, but the nitty gritty would say otherwise.

Outstanding athletics? At what cost? (And there are many costs that have been discussed on this blog.)
Etc. etc.

“Gwinnett is great,” as the water tank says, but that second tank ought to say “on paper.”

By Vince

March 10, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this

HS Teacher Too…

I have 5 kids. Three are in Gwinnett schools and 2 have graduated from them. I have been part of athletic booster groups and school councils. I look at Gwinnett through the eyes of an “outside” educator….and I still say, unequivocably, that they do a great job. The Board too.

By jim d

March 10, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this

Well vince,

I wouldn’t turn my back on Ms. “How nice” or the one with the hair that resembles that of a well known tv personality (Bozo) from the 50’s. As for the Beave’s mom? I don’t know her too well, but she has cast a dissenting vote once or twice. The zit popper and the wannabe? Don’t trust them to help my mom to cross the street. And Alvin——? Best not to go there on this forum, suffice it to say we just don’t see eye to eye. (never have—never will)(he reminds me too much of a shop teacher I once knew)

Just for the record vince, GCPS provides an education despite the system not because of it.

By jim d

March 10, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this

V,

It would be funny if it wasn’t so sadly true.

By jim d

March 10, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this

There is but one additional requirement I’d like to see for BOE candidates. That being, they must have a child in the system.

I find it rather ironic that in Georgia one must have a child in a school to serve on a school council but the same requirement doesn’t exist for a BOE member.

By Vince

March 10, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

Jim

I guess my friend would be the Beav’s mom.

By Erin

March 10, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this

Anyone not black? We all know they are the WORST leaders out there. Clayton County schools, Grady, Atlanta, DeKalb PD, etc. Why do you think you never see black CEO’s, owners, presidents/GM’s of pro sports teams, etc. I just read there was a shooting at Atlantic Station Saturday night. Thanks for moving in so fast and messing up that nice area already like you did to Buckhead. Nice job killing two innocent, caring, college girls who you did not even know. The second it happened, I knew the killers were black, as they usually are. Just blows me away.

By Penguinmom

March 10, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this

I think have a person with education experience would be a good thing for the board.

I don’t understand the concept of a current teacher on the board. Aren’t teachers slammed with too much work right now? And you want to add something else onto their already full plate?

Also, how can a person (a teacher in this case) make non-biased judgements about topics that could affect their own personal pay, hours, benefits, etc? Finally, the amount of pressure that person would feel from their colleagues would be enormous. If they voted in an unpopular way, would they be ostracized in their school.

I just don’t see a current teacher being a viable choice for a school board. Not sure that would receive the accrediting boards approval either since board members are supposed to stay out of day-to-day school operations.

By HS Teacher Too

March 10, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this

Vince,

I’m glad your experiences with GCPS have been so good. I still don’t believe that GCPS is as good in reality, in individual schools, as it may be on paper. People tout test scores and I ask, at what cost?

I’m with jim d on this one. Kids in GCPS get an education — and sometimes get a great education — despite the system, not because of it.

But I don’t want to turn this into an anti-GCPS blog.

Back on topic, jim d, I’m not sure about requiring people to have a kid in the system, because there are some amazing people (teachers, business leaders, etc.) who would be fabulous board members but either no longer have kids in the system, don’t yet have kids in the system, or just plain don’t have kids. I think to exclude them with a blanket rule potentially hurts more than it helps. But I’m sure you’ve got your reasons — so please do talk a little more on this topic if you can. I’m interested.

Thanks!

By Penguinmom

March 10, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this

Isn’t having a child in the system what got one Clayton board member in trouble ? I understood this board member didn’t like the way a teacher or coach treated her child so she started putting pressure to have that person fired/disciplined.

I don’t think it takes someone with children currently in school to figure out what is best for a school system. You just have to have people whose total goal is excellence in the school system. That could be a business man who wants to improve the standing of the county in order to improve his business. He’s actually more likely to get something done than a mom/dad who is just worried about how things work at Junior’s school.

By Taxpayer

March 10, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this

How important is it that all members have a college education? In DeKalb, several board members finished high school and that’s it. Granted, book sense does not necessarily mean someone has common sense, but I’d like to see members who have both.

By Lee

March 10, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

First of all, I don’t think you are allowed (or would want) to have active employees of the school system sitting on a board. Here are a few of my choices:

• A financial expert, preferably a CFO (chief financial officer) of a medium-large firm. Even small counties have budgets in the tens of millions. You need someone familiar with managing budgets on that scale.

• This will sound strange coming from me, but a government bureaucrat - specifically, someone like a retired city or county manager. The biggest problem that business people have when they get elected to something like this, is trying to understand how a government bureaucracy works. It is a strange animal that does not lend itself to “prudent business practices.” Sad but true. You need someone who can navigate the maze.

• A retired school administrator. For much of the same reasons listed above, but from an educational bureaucratic perspective.

• A Human Resources professional. Larger school systems such as Cobb or Gwinnette have these on staff. Your smaller systems have someone who was a principal last year and may or may not have attended the seminar “HR for Dummies.” After all, one of the biggest expenditures on any school budget is for salaries.

• A procurement professional. I have read about more systems that get into trouble with the way they procure and contract for goods and services. Again, look at how much school districts spend to “buy stuff.”

• A contractor who has experience with large construction projects. My local BOE is letting contracts to build schools worth tens of million$ and not a one on that board knows how to drive a nail, much less know what goes into managing a project of that size.

• Retired teachers. After all, all that stuff above is really to support the main mission, which, believe it or not, is to TEACH.

Somehow, we keep forgetting that…

By teacherteacher

March 10, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this

I am amazed at some of the comments about teachers not being/being included on BOEs. The penguinmom comment just about knocked me out of my seat. She said “they might be biased against decisions that affect their hours worked, assignments, etc.” Does she (and everyone else) realize how many decisions are made that affect my hours anyway?

I am a teacher with a professional background in the corporate world. NEVER in a million years would I go to the accounting department and mandate changes in their policies and procedures without knowing what they did and why. I am not an accountant. However, it seems that EVERYONE wants to come into education, valid background or not, and tell teachers how to do their jobs.

It might seem that I am getting off topic, but I mean to introduce the fact that we need AT LEAST three teachers - one elementary, one middle, and one high - on a school board to help the “budged minded” understand that some of the most financially sound decisions spell disaster in the classroom. Case in point: some of the new special education requriements in schools. They are dumping more responsibility on the regular classroom teacher to save a few dollars on special ed teacher salaries. This is only one of the many examples I can quote.

Wouldn’t everyone on the board make biased decisions based on their backgrounds? Isn’t that what a board of multiple backgrounds and professions is for - to come up with a best solution? Because I can tell you with absolute certainty: just because it saves money does not mean it’s an excellent policy for education.

By Penguinmom

March 10, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this

I think a retired teacher on the school board is a great idea. I just don’t think a current employee of the school system should also be on the board. (As Lee said, it is probably not allowed.) I know decisions are currently made about paychecks, hours, assignments etc. That’s what I was saying. How could a school board member, who is also a current employee, have an unbiased vote on an issue that could directly impact his/her wallet? They couldn’t. So they would have to recuse themselves on those matters.

I think honesty and integrity should be paramount in fielding a candidate. After that, business experience and/or community involvment would be a big plus.

By Lee

March 10, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this

A quick check and yes, an active employee of the school system is not allowed to serve on thier own BOE. See below:

TITLE 20. EDUCATION
CHAPTER 2. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
ARTICLE 3. LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION

O.C.G.A. § 20-2-51 (2007)

§ 20-2-51. Election of county board members; persons ineligible to be members or superintendent; ineligibility for local boards of education; ineligibility for other elective offices.

(a) No person shall be eligible for election as a member of a local board of education who is not a resident of the school district in which that person seeks election and of the election district which such person seeks to represent. Whenever there is in a portion of any county a local school system having a board of education of its own, receiving its pro rata of the public school fund directly from the State School Superintendent and having no dealings whatever with the local board, then the members of the board of such county shall be selected from that portion of the county not embraced within the territory covered by such local system.

(b) Whenever a member of a local board of education moves that person’s domicile from the district which that person represents, such person shall cease to be a member of such local board of education, and a vacancy shall occur.

(c) No person employed by or serving on the governing body of a private educational institution shall be eligible to serve as a member of a local board of education. No person employed by a local board of education shall be eligible to serve as a member of that board of education. No person employed by the Department of Education or serving as a member of the State Board of Education shall be eligible to serve as a member of a local board of education. This subsection shall not apply to institutions above the high school level.

(d) In all counties of this state having a population of not less than 500,000 or more than 600,000 according to the United States decennial census of 1990 or any future such census, the members of the county boards of education taking office after December 1, 1975, shall not hold any other elective governmental office. If any member of any such board should qualify at any time after December 1, 1975, for nomination or election to any other elective governmental office other than for membership on such county board, such member’s position on such county board shall thereby become vacant. Such vacancy shall be filled as provided by the law applicable to any such county board.

By HS Teacher Too

March 10, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this

Penguinmom,

Good points about bias with current teachers, but during salary, etc., votes perhaps the teacher(s) would be disqualified from voting. But in terms of top-down decision making, the board — and in turn the rest of the teachers and most importantly the students, would benefit from having the voice of current teachers. With any luck, they would be the voice of reason as to being able to say a particular bandwagon program is good or bad; would be helpful or a waste of money. And of course, theirs is only an opinion and the board could act despite their advice; but at least they would have had some advice!

As for teachers’ time restraints, I’m sick to death of that argument. Teachers have a lot to do, and yes, a lot of work goes home; but how teachers spend their time and whether they want to be civically involved really shouldn’t be dismissed because “there is already soooo much on their plates.” Those teachers should just not volunteer. :)

By beenteachingawhile

March 10, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this

While I believe that in most cases a grassroot campaign for many things gets positive, effective action, education does not always work that way. In my experience, I am dictated by federal budget laws (I am career and tech) and by state DOE. My ideal BOE would start at the top. Each person on the state board of education would be elected from their district, not appointed by the govenor, and they would hire the state superintendent. The state superintendent should hold a doctorate in school improvement and leadership and should have experience running schools and school districts as well as experience in the classroom teaching all levels of students, not just gifted ones. I have known many educators that fit that bill, but will not run-they say they are educators not politicians. The State Superintendent should not be a politician. I have searched the GA DOE website to find out what credentials Kathy Cox has to be state superintendent. I cannot find her degrees and where she went to college. I may have more education than she does. I know she was a classroom teacher and a state representative. We as a state elected some one to run all our schools who has never run one school.

By Tater

March 10, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this

I am very intrigued by the comments regarding retired administrators and teachers being on the board. Since they are retired, I believe that they have nothing to gain except providing their years in the educational environment to improve the school system..

Very good idea..

By teacherteacher

March 10, 2008 6:14 PM | Link to this

Penguin mom, I see your point - however, who would represent the teachers that are currently teaching under the current standards in the classroom? A retired teacher serving on the board would have to spend time getting up to speed on the different requirements/standards/policies that are in force NOW in the classroom as opposed to two years ago. Not only do things change quickly, but there is a vast and varied difference between a policy that works well in a math classroom than one that can work in an english classroom.

If it sounds like I am targeting you, I apologize … I am just getting a little tired of people (school boards, ga state legislature) make policies for education without having true educators involved in the decision making process.

By BillyRip

March 10, 2008 7:20 PM | Link to this

Vince,

I beg to differ with your opinion, the ‘good old boy system’ is alive and well in Clayton County. You may have Black Elected Officials at all level, however, when you peel away the layers you find those rich (white) good old boys still controlling the puppets they put in office. There are some vendors/contractors whom have had the same contract for ten (10) years or better. Look 00.5% minority contractors, come on, when will the playing field be level. Even the Federal Government with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) has provisions for set-asides in contracting for minorities to try to level the playing field. Even the Federal Government has recognized that 40 years of real freedom don’t offset 400+ years of slavery and oppression. Did you learn anything? Do you have anymore questions?

By Sick of This

March 10, 2008 7:21 PM | Link to this

Anyone not associated with MACE; Home Association who thinks that can pick someone. If it’s anything like that rude Seynamon Baldwin we don’t need them. We can’t leave out Sid Chapman group since Erika Davis email him to start picking a group for this up coming election. The problem in these organizations is that people or place in order to be told what to do. We don’t need anyone that the commissioners recommend either. The point I’m making is that we need someone who don’t have a personal agenda. We need

By Lee

March 10, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this

BeenTeaching, here’s a link to Kathy Cox bio…

By Penguinmom

March 10, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this

teacherteacher,

It doesn’t matter who is elected to the board, they will have to spend time getting up to speed. Perhaps a good solution would be a teacher advisory board that includes a teacher or two from each level - elem, middle, hs, gifted, special (any others?). They could speak to the board about how they believe the policies will affect their schools and their students. Then the board would have that input without the problems attached to it. Unfortunately, I think this type of thing has to be put into place by the board so it’s not that likely to happen.

(I didn’t feel targeted. I just hadn’t seen any raise any concerns about a current teacher on the board and wanted to add that to the discussion.)

By mmm

March 10, 2008 10:47 PM | Link to this

School board members have a duty to represent the interests of the OWNERS of the schools, NOT the employees, and NOT the customers.

They are there to make sure that the interests of the entire taxpaying community are efficiently served in a way that is consistent with community priorities and expectations. To that end, it is a slippery slope to stack the board with persons that will have a built in habitual loyalty to the interests of either staff or the LOUDEST parents. Retirees may have expertise in “how it has always been done” but not perspective or the drive to move things to a new level that positions the district to suceed in either the wider world or the changing future. The most important characteristics involve having both a full board balance of professional skills, solid core values, and an ability to listen and work toward solving problems without letting individual egos get in the way.

By jim d

March 11, 2008 5:17 AM | Link to this

Too,

I just take issue with anyone setting on a BOE when they have their kids enrolled in a private school.

By mmm

March 11, 2008 7:08 AM | Link to this

jim d

Do you think I would be a good school board member?
The first duty of a parent is always to their own children. This trumps marrige, job, and anything you might have wished to do as an adult before you had children.

I have fought to improve public education for years without ever receiving a dime for my efforts. But the middle schools where I live are so bad, that I will not sacrafice my oldest child’s future to the one she would be expected to attend. Either I must run the gauntlet (and it is a gauntlet in DeKalb) to create myself a school that is different, or I must move or put my older child in private school.

So would DeKalb be better off with a critical thinker who is knowledgeable about educational policy and has very high expectations and a track record of association with others that have collectively created and run an excellent public school? Or a grandmother that can’t understand what causes her children to complain and wish to leave the system that she grew up in?

By jim d

March 11, 2008 7:09 AM | Link to this

Perhaps we just need to find people that believe this commentary from 2005

By Vince

March 11, 2008 7:29 AM | Link to this

Billy Rip…

Did I learn anything? Yes, I learned that you are a bigot only interested in skin color. I learned that you wish to shift responsibility for the mess in Clayton County to people other than those who are really responsible. I learned that it is thoughts and opinions like yours that got Clayton into this mess in the first place.

You see Billy, most people only want what is best for society and they don’t care at all about skin color. (Witness the widespread support for Obama). The folks in Clayton voted in a Board with only one thing in mind…RACE. And yet, folks like you still want to fault the people who ran the system years ago. Clayton was once a proud system (I am a graduate!)and to try to blame the people who ran it well doesn’t make too much sense.

Wake up and join the 21st century.

By jim d

March 11, 2008 7:36 AM | Link to this

mmm,

Probably not. Well at least you’d not get my vote.

In my opinon anyone that truly believes they can salvage a failing institution should be willing to risk their own childrens future in that very institution they control.

I find it rather hypicritical to say on the one hand that you know what is best for everyone elses children but that the same doesn’t apply to your own. If one has that little faith in our schools they most certainly should not be in control of that which they have the power to change, but don’t.

By Reality

March 11, 2008 7:52 AM | Link to this

“never see black CEO’s” Erin, your ignorance is repugnant. The CEO who saved American Express was B-L-A-C-K. Enron and other defunct companies had a white CEOS. However, I will never paint all white CEOS with the same broad brush. I’m more fair minded than that. Erin, ever heard of Bennie Carson? The youngest man ever to be appointed Chief of Pediactirc Neruosurgery at Johns Hopkins, also black and grew up in a single parent home in the inner city of Detroit. I could go on. I’m sure you have heard of Dianna Ross. Her younger sister is the first black female to be appointed dean of a U.S. medical school, The School of Osteopathec Medicine in New York. Peace.

By Vince

March 11, 2008 8:07 AM | Link to this

Jim D…

I agree with you wholeheartedly. If a person has his/her children in private school they have no business being on the school board. It would be akin to a Canadian running for US President. (“I don’t wanna live there,butI know what is best for you.”)

By susie

March 11, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this

I agree that current teachers should not be on the board due to conflicts however I do agree that there should be an advisory board comprised of teachers/administrators from all levels. I believe that they should be consulted and have strong input on what can, can not, does, does not work in the schools before certain things are decided by the board.

By jim d

March 11, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this

Right Susie,

Like the public has input prior to land purchases in certain counties where this is done behind closed doors in direct violation of Georgia statutes?

See? I can comment too without bashing the GCPS system. :-)

By jim d

March 11, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this

anyone else think term limits on BOE members would bring new/fresh ideas to education?

By jim d

March 11, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

After considerable thought about who would make an ideal school board.—here’s a few names I would love to see on one.

Don Kingsland

Gerald Bracey

George N. Schmidt

Monty Neill

and

Alfie Kohn.

Wow—would things look differently?

By WFC

March 11, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this

TEACHERTEACHER: I’m a recently retired teacher (31 years) who also has experience as an administrator (Chattahoochee H.S.) I guarantee you that I could “get up to speed” more quickly than the wannabe politicians we currently have on the Board.

By mmm

March 11, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this

jim d I didn’t say I had put my daughter in a private school, I said that when all other avenues are closed, I would consider it. Actually, first I would go with the Georgia Virtual Academy (which would be to continue in a public school, but one not under the management of this district.) Would that change your mind.

I like your link. One thing that we tend to forget is that the bedrock reason that we currently have publicly supported schools, was that the argument was made 150 years ago that “common” schools were necessary to a form a strong democracy. It is incredibly important that publicly funded schools be good enough that affluent successful members of society also see them as good enough for their own children.

One thing of the big questions posed by my charter school is “Do we believe in common schools? Will we ALL support them both financially and through our own involvement and our children’s attendance?” The best way to make the “melting pot (or whatever you wish to call it)” work faster is to all associate with one another in meaningful ways that allow each person to feel they have a stake in the common good. Many of the refugees will tell you that they don’t want to be labeled refugees—-they either “are” or “are becoming” Americans. They know fully the pain caused by war and autocratic rule, and they love the welcome that they have recieved here despite the poverty that many of them live in. In America you can eat or speak whatever you want at home. In public you must support a minimal but essential agreement that all are equal under the law(as individuals not ethnic “groups”). This is what has allowed the US to avoid the problems of many other areas.

By mmm

March 11, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

Yes I like term limits.

I still think one should look at the whole situation. What about someone with one child in public and one in private?

I know a parent who would make a wonderful school board member, but instead now has her house on the market to leave the district. PTA pres, organized her neighborhood in support of the local school etc.

By Ernest

March 11, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

I like the suggestions that Lee made @ 5:10 regarding Board makeup. I would amend it by having someone with a technology background as a part of the group since successful integration of technology throughout a school system could help reduce some labor costs. It shouldn’t be done to replace teachers but to supplement instruction along with improving back office processes.

One thing I noticed that no one commented on was the compensation. In the metro area Board member compensation probably ranges from 12K to 20K per year. Given the time demands and expectations stakeholders have of Board members, what kind of candidates do you think could ‘afford’ to do this?

By BillyRip

March 11, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

Vince,

I must be educated you, Life Lesson#1, Reality Check 101: If you don’t think the Charlie Griswells, the Gail Buckners, the Sid Chapmans and your other crooked friends in Clayton County are not behind the scenes working, you are really naïve. I’ll agree with you on the overwhelming 80% vote Obama picked up in this county, however, I know you were in the 20% who didn’t support him. I told you this before, your friends whom ran the school systems years ago were all crooked but wasn’t exploited by all the mediums like the county is today. To summarize Reality Check 101: Open Your Eyes, and stop trying to hoodwink me and the readers.

By jim d

March 11, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

mmm,

I think you may be missing my point. Public schools must provide for all students. That being said, if a board member had several children in public school but one child with needs that were not being met, placing them in a private school to meet those needs, when they have the power to remedy the situation for other children with the same needs but that are stuck in public education and they fail to do so. they are doing a disservice to those children and the public they have sworn to represent.

In an instance like that it is my firm belief that this person should not be a BOE member.

By mmm

March 11, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this

Jim d,

Ok, now I am starting to agree with you. With the following caveats. 1. Rarely can a single school board member “remedy” a situation. They usually don’t have “the power to remedy the situation”. Often it is a rat’s nest of interests that creates the specific situation, and the temptation to “fix it for my child” in a none-policy way creates the very kind of lack of restraint that is part of Clayton County’s mess.

You may well be correct that, that person’s family needs are great enough that they cannot bring to the board a 100% commitment to public education AS WE KNOW IT TODAY. But my point is that I think one duty of a school board is to feel the gap between what is, and what ought to be for the sake of the children and our society. To that end, I would not consider it an automatic disqualifier. To “gate keep” out all such individuals when more and more people see a huge gap between what is, and what we would want for our children, is to put the prettiest cheerleader’s in charge.

By collgrad

March 11, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

I agree with the very first post. I would add a student as an advisor, not a voting member. That would keep the board appraised of things going on in the schools that they normally would not know about. However, none of this is going to work as long as the voting public elects based on color of skin only.

By Northview Teacher

March 11, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

The main thing would be to look at whatever the Fulton County School Board does and do exactly the opposite, especially that loathsome Ashley Widener. Everytime I hear another one of her stupid ideas, I just cannot believe that she’s on the Board. Oh, I forgot, she “represents” Johns Creek, so I can believe she’s on the Board.

Ashlet represents everything that is wrong with school boards today. She’s personal, petty, unprofessional, and political. I wouldn’t want to deal with her, but I suppose old Bob Burke does.

No wonder good teachers are leaving Fulton in droves.

By Vince

March 11, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this

Billy Rip…

Actually our correspondence can really be summed up with the first statement in your reply to me: “I must be educated you.”

Here are three things I know:

By BillyRip

March 11, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

Vince,

We’ll get it together!!! However, it will require patience. Be still, quiet and wait. Thanks

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