RUNOFF ELECTION RESULTS
CLAYTON COUNTY: New blood for schoolsAccreditation issue: Voter turnout low despite board's high profile in wake of system coming under fire for operations.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/06/08
With 98 percent of the votes counted, it appears two more educators, a MARTA bus driver and an attorney have been elected to the Clayton County school board.
The apparent winners included:
District 2: Wanda Smith, a MARTA bus driver
District 4: Michael King, an attorney
District 5: Ophelia Burroughs, a retired Jonesboro High School English teacher
District 6: Mary Baker, a preschool teacher
As of Tuesday night, with 59 of 60 precincts in, District 3 was still too close to call. Charles Davis and Jessie Goree were in a dead heat with only provisional votes to be counted. Davis is a retired Atlanta Public Schools maintenance supervisor and Goree retired from Clayton County schools as director of an adult literacy program.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools gave Clayton until Sept. 1 to meet nine mandates or lose accreditation.
Baker garnered the most of the 10 school board candidates vying for the five seats.
"Tomorrow, some rest, and then we get ready for back to school," Baker said Tuesday night. "After that, we'll see what to do next."
Some parents said they were disappointed with the low turnout: Only 13 percent of Clayton's 136,901 registered voters cast ballots Tuesday.
"This is dead," said Katie Hendon, manager of the North Clayton High School precinct. "I thought people would have learned and there would be lines with what's going on in the schools."
As of 4 p.m., only 52 of the 1,493 registered voters at North Clayton had cast ballots, said Hendon, as she and five other poll workers thumbed through magazines in the non-air-conditioned school gymnasium.
For Daphne Buck, voting on Tuesday was one of the ways she can help secure futures for her three children.
"My oldest girl has been having crying spells over accreditation," said Buck, of Jonesboro. "I'm looking for somebody who is going to be consistent and not argumentative on the school board."
Buck's daughter, Chandra, will start her senior year at Jonesboro High School on Thursday and hopes to attend Valdosta State University next year.
"We've been in Clayton 18 years and I don't want to move, but we probably will be forced to," Buck said. "I'll rent a house elsewhere if I need to."
All of the candidates pledged to work to retain the district's accreditation.
Voters re-form school board
DISTRICT 1
> Michelle Strong, elected in November 2006, is now board chairwoman. She is a history teacher in Fulton County.
DISTRICT 2
CLAYTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
59 of 60 precincts reporting.
..........................Votes....Pct.
Wanda D. Smith (D)........1,506 ....53%
Lindsey McDaniel III (D)..1,340 ....47%
Faces Della Ashley (R) in November.
DISTRICT 3
CLAYTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
59 of 60 precincts reporting.
..........................Votes....Pct.
Jessie Goree (D)..........1,338 ....50%
Charles H. Davis (D)......1,326 ....50%
Winner takes office in January.
DISTRICT 4
CLAYTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
59 of 60 precincts reporting.
..........................Votes....Pct.
Michael King (D)............598 ....60%
Milton Mack, Jr. (D)........404 ....40%
Winner takes office in January.
DISTRICT 5
CLAYTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
59 of 60 precincts reporting.
..........................Votes....Pct.
Ophelia Burroughs (D) ....1,017 ....54%
Jennifer Talley (D) ........866 ....46%
Faces Diana Nicholson (R) in November.
DISTRICT 6
CLAYTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
59 of 60 precincts reporting.
..........................Votes....Pct.
Mary L. Baker (D) ........2,852 ....65%
John C. Askew (D) ........1,510 ....35%
Winner takes office in January.
DISTRICT 7
> Trinia Garrett was elected July 15 and has since been sworn in as a board member.
DISTRICT 8
> Alieka Anderson was elected July 15 and has since been sworn in as a board member.
DISTRICT 9
> Sandra Scott was elected in August 2006. She is a fifth-grade teacher in DeKalb County.
Vote for this story!



DEL.ICIO.US
