Broad Prize win makes diversity a focus in Gwinnett school board race

By D. Aileen Dodd

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

After Gwinnett's win as the nation’s top urban district, a veteran school board member is being challenged by a newcomer who says the system’s diversity must be reflected in leadership to continue its success.

The race to represent District 4, one of Gwinnett’s most diverse school zones, is heating up as some neighbors point to the prestigious Broad Prize victory as a symbol of the growing multiculturalism in Gwinnett. The recognition comes with $1 million in student scholarships for large urban systems who narrow the achievement gap.

But to close the gap between whites, the poor and minorities, some say another disparity must be addressed.

The state’s largest school system, which has a majority minority population of more than 161,000 students, is served by an all-white school board and superintendent.

Incumbent Dr. Robert McClure, a Lilburn dermatologist, has been criticized for being out of touch, but he says that in his nearly 16 years on the board, he has effectively represented the interests of all families and delivered results even as the district grew more diverse. The district’s average SAT score of 1532 has improved three consecutive years and continues to outpace the state and nation.

“The Broad Prize alone, I think, is evidence of the excellent job we have been doing,” McClure said. “At a time of decreasing revenues and increasing standards and federal regulations, we have improved student performance consistently.”

Challenger Mark Williams, a DeKalb County high school counselor, however, says a school board lacking diversity of opinion and ethnicity won’t serve the district well as it becomes more urban. The lack of cultural understanding in leadership, said Williams, who has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Morehouse College, has resulted in an over-representation of minority students being disciplined compared with whites and a disparity in minorities heading schools.

Of Gwinnett’s 130 schools, most principals -- appointed by the school board -- are white.

“There is nothing wrong with serving for a long time, as long as you continue to grow as an individual and grow with the community,” Williams said. “I don’t think they have changed with the people at all. I think it is a ‘good old boy network.’ Parents and the people in the community don’t get their voices heard.”

Gwinnett's enrollment is 10.3 percent Asian; 28.6 percent African-American; 25.3 percent Hispanic; 31.6 percent white and 3.8 percent multiracial. A recent student discipline report examining the end of the 2009-10 school year found that minorities were the largest groups facing long-term punishment. Of 2,177 students facing discipline panels, 45.3 percent were black; 28.6 percent were Hispanic and 18.2 percent are white.

Gwinnett's board has received criticism from some people who say it makes executive decisions on policy and land purchases without consulting parents. Others say the board's stability and authoritative leadership set the stage for the Broad win.

Community activist Marlyn Tillman, however, said the school board still needs more "culturally competent leaders."

"It doesn't have to mean that they look like me," said Tillman, who is African-American and has two Gwinnett graduates. "I want people who are open to others' thoughts and cultures. I don't think our current board has that. I want that in administrators, teachers and staff as well."

McClure, whose six kids graduated from Gwinnett Schools, says he often keeps in touch with neighbors who visit his practice or the schools he stops in. McClure says he's better equipped than Williams to lead Gwinnett through another tight budget and preserve the quality of education. McClure supports the creation of a law to allow Georgia schools to use a portion of SPLOST (special local option sales tax) funds as a new resource for operations expenses. The funds currently cover construction and technology.

“The next four years will likely be the most difficult financial years we have faced,” McClure said. "We cannot continue to do more with less."

Williams, who has a preschooler, also supports expanding SPLOST usage with oversight. However, as a counselor, he says he's better trained to listen to parent concerns and respond respectfully with solutions that work. Williams has a master's in school counseling from Auburn University.

"We haven’t seen much of McClure in District 4 in 16 years,” Williams said. “He’s out of touch. We need a change. ... Our schools reflect the world.”