DEL.ICIO.USTo keep accreditation, school system has nine mandates to meet in 158 days
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/26/08
The Clayton County school system has 158 days to overhaul the district or lose its accreditation.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools gave the 52,800-student district nine mandates to meet by Sept. 1.
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School board attorneys said they have laid a foundation to meet eight of the mandates. Whether the board can police its own behavior — the first requirement — is another question, said attorney Glenn Brock, who was hired to address SACS' concerns.
"I am confident that the ones within our control can be met," Brock said. "I'm not confident they can meet the one related to board activity. That's up to them."
But James E. Bostic, one of two state board of education members Gov. Sonny Perdue appointed to help Clayton, said the district still has "a great deal of work" to do before meeting the nine mandates.
Mandate: Establish a governing board that is capable of fulfilling its roles and responsibilities. Seven of nine board members told SACS the current board is dysfunctional.
What's been done: The school board has revised several policies to prohibit board members from directing school staff, attending administrative meetings or interfering with day-to-day school operations.
What still needs to be done: The board plans to relocate its office outside of the school administrative offices to reduce micromanaging. Attorneys recommended the board appoint an oversight committee of eight to 10 citizens to gauge the board's behavior. Brock is also proposing the board establish what he calls a "key communicators" group comprised of three parents from each school to increase communication about the accreditation issue.
Board member Rod Johnson has announced his resignation, but refuses to say when. Board chairwoman Ericka Davis said she will resign before the July primary.
Mandate: Remove the influence of outside groups/individuals that are disruptive to the work of the school district.
What's been done: The board approved a policy that prohibits board members from talking with vendors during bid processes. Employees can no longer use the district's e-mail system for group activity, such as to recruit union members.
What still needs to be done: Attorneys are revising a conflict-of-interest policy. School administrators will be trained how to handle unwanted visits to school offices by board members and others.
Mandate: Enact and commit to an ethics policy that governs the actions and work of the board members and staff, including appropriate steps when the policy is violated.
What's been done: Ethics legislation with strict penalties has passed in the state House of Representatives. Board attorneys continue to point out ethics violations as they occur at board meetings.
What still needs to be done: The Senate is scheduled to vote on the bill Thursday.
Mandate: Implement a comprehensive review of board policies. Train board members on the purpose and expectations of policies.
What's been done: Attorneys have reviewed all policies.
What still needs to be done: Attorneys are rewriting some policies to make them clearer and more comprehensive. They are scheduled to bring the amended legislation before the board by the end of May. The board will then be trained on how to follow the new policies.
Mandate: Conduct a full, forensic audit of finances by an independent, certified accounting firm. Take appropriate steps to address the audit findings.
What's been done: The board selected two auditing firms as finalists.
What still needs to be done: Board attorneys, SACS representatives and state auditors will meet this week to determine the scope of the audit before selecting a company. The company will present its findings to the state auditor's office.
Mandate: Conduct a comprehensive audit of student attendance records. Take appropriate steps to ensure attendance records are accurate and meet legal requirements. Incorrect attendance records could affect the district's federal funding.
What's been done: The two liaisons appointed by Perdue have arranged for the state Office of Student Accountablity to audit attendance records.
What still needs to be done: The audit is scheduled to begin in the next 10-14 days.
Mandate: Ensure each board member is a legal resident of the county and is eligible to hold office.
What's been done: The board voted March 3 to remove Norreese Haynes after Clayton police found he had lived in Cobb County for at least two years. Haynes has filed suit in Clayton County Superior Court, alleging he was illegally removed.
Clayton County police have cleared board members David Ashe, Eddie White, Michelle Strong, Yolanda Everett and Davis.
What still needs to be done: Police are continuing to investigate Johnson, Sandra Scott and Lois Baines-Hunter. Tax Commissioner Terry Baskin has said he received complaints that Baines-Hunter lives in Hampton, which is outside her district. Baines-Hunter and Scott have also not signed affadivits verifying their addresses.
Mandate: Hire outside consultants with expertise in conflict resolution, governance and organizational effectiveness.
What's been done: Randy Reece, a retired school human resources director, was hired this month to review the district's hiring practices and personnel procedures. The board attended trainings on ethical relations with its staff and teambuilding in December and January.
What still needs to be done: Reece will train the district on better hiring processes. The board will attend another 54 hours of leadership training with the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government, along with conflict management training.
Mandate: Appoint a permanent superintendent with the experience to lead the district.
What's been done: The board has postponed a search for a permanent superintendent for a year, opting instead to hire a temporary leader to help salvage the district's accreditation. The board has interviewed two finalists for corrrective superintendent, former Pittsburgh schools superintendent John Thompson and former Fresno schools superintendent Santiago Wood.
What still needs to be done: The board is meeting Saturday to discuss its selection for a temporary superintendent. SACS said the mandate still requires the district to hire a permanent superintendent.
