DEL.ICIO.USUpdated: 8:28 p.m. August 27, 2008
Judge: Yank Clayton school board members
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
A state judge has recommended that Gov. Sonny Perdue immediately remove four Clayton County school board members as the schools await a decision Thursday on whether they will lose their accreditation.
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Clayton County Schools
A judge has suggested that Gov. Sonny Perdue remove four Clayton school board members; (left to right) Yolanda Everett, Lois Baines-Hunter, Michelle Strong and Sandra Scott.
• Photos: Timeline of Clayton schools' woes• AJC editorial: Less hope
Read the full report to SACS:
• Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (Large PDFs)
- Read SACS' report (PDF)
- Photos: Non-meeting | Angry parents | 400 protest
- Clayton County news
Judge Michael Malihi of the Office of State Administrative Hearings said Wednesday that Michelle Strong, Sandra Scott, Lois Baines-Hunter and Yolanda Everett should be removed for violating Georgia’s Open Meetings act and the state ethics code.
“The probative evidence shows that the respondents have violated the Georgia Open Meetings Act, have violated the board’s code of ethics for board members, and have engaged in conduct unbecoming of a board member and in breach of the public trust,” Malihi wrote Perdue Wednesday in his ruling.
Bert Brantley, the governor’s spokesman, said it is unclear if or when Perdue will act.
The judge’s decision came several hours before the national schools Accreditation Commission’s scheduled vote Wednesday on whether to revoke Clayton schools’ accreditation. The accreditation group contends the board is “fatally flawed” because of serious micromanaging, misuse of funds, abuse of power, and conflict of interest.
The commission’s Southern Association of Colleges and Schools will announce the results Thursday.
Perdue asked the judge to get involved in July after five Clayton residents filed a complaint, alleging the four board put the school system’s accreditation at risk by violating state ethics law.
“The evidence, as [the judge] pointed out, was so overwhelming that it would have been a shock had he not ruled the way he did,” said attorney Albert Wallace, one of the petitioners and a former Clayton district attorney.
School board attorney Julie Lewis defended the board members, however, saying they did not get due process. She was critical of Perdue for referring the matter for review within his executive branch.
“The judicial process in this instance was fatally flawed,” Lewis said in a statement. “We are not surprised by the decision. We could tell what the outcome was going to be from the very beginning, and it was continually reaffirmed throughout.”
About three hours after issuing her statement, Lewis asked in a e-mail to rescind her comments, saying Clayton County Schools Superintendent John Thompson had issued a gag order in talking with the media.
Board member Baines-Hunter, whose term ends on Dec. 31, said she was not surprised and called the ruling a mere “formality.”
“They wanted us off the board, and they’re getting what they want,” she said. “Political reasons or whatever. The taxpayers and the children are the ones who will suffer because I tried to do the best I could.”
“This is nothing new,” she said of her likely dismissal from the board. “It’s just a new way of doing business, that’s all.”
Strong, the board chairwoman, was disappointed, but contended she did nothing wrong and there were never any violations of the Open Meetings Act.
“I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong,” she said.
Strong said she felt like the ruling was disenfranchising Clayton County residents because the decision to remove the board members came from people who don’t live in the county.
“If I have to be the martyr and save those kids and save their accreditation, then fine,” she said.
Members Everett and Scott said they could not comment.
Malihi issued his ruling after hearing more than 40 hours of testimony and reviewing thousands of meeting minutes and other documents.
He said he found repeated Open Meetings violations and egregious behavior by board members, including name-calling and verbal attacks. He was also critical of outside influence from leaders of two rival teachers unions.
“The inability of the board to function properly during this critical period of SACS accreditation issues constitutes a breach of the public trust of the board,” the judge wrote.
Lewis said the ruling may have set a precedent allowing anyone upset with a board member to file a complaint with the governor and have that person removed.
“The standard is very low,” she said.
Former Gov. Roy Barnes removed Oscar Stokes Jr. from the Griffin-Spalding County school board in January 2000 after Malihi found Stokes violated the state ethics code by sexually harassing three school employees.
Lewis said she was unclear on what ramifications the decision may have on Clayton’s chances of retaining accreditation.
“Even the administrative judge acknowledges the board of the last few months is a very different board,” she said. “Based on all the work that’s been done, we should maintain our accreditation. … We did everything they asked us to do.”
Wallace, who filed the complaint with three other attorneys and a retired Clayton math teacher, called the victory against the board members bittersweet.
“They just never got it,” he said.
Comments
By Maggie Martinez
Sep 22, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
Maggie Martınez Qualifies To Run for School Board, District One Seat
Hampton,GA- Educator and community activist Maggie Martinez has qualified to run for office for the school board seat for District 1. ıToday is a new day in Georgia and we are going to bring about diversity to the school board and a wealth of experience to gain back our accreditation for the Clayton County school systemı, Martınez said.
With a dozen candidates vying for the District 1 seat, Martınez says, "I am pleased to see that 12 candidates are running for this position, and are willing to bring their talent and experience to the school system. Certainly, only one will be elected but we can not loose perspective that all this candidates can also help even if they donıt get elected".
After the November 4th General Election, Martinez says she will work to bring all these leaders together in a roundtable discussion to determine how can everyone can work together to help the students, parents, teachers, and principals regain accreditation.
Many may already know Martinez through her community involvement, but she extends an open invitation for residents in District 1, and across Clayton County to come out and meet her one-on-one this weekend. ıI will be at Dollar Queen at 11139 Tara Boulevard (besides Publix) on Saturday, September 20th, 2008 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. to meet and greet parents, students, and community stakeholders and to answer questions and concerns about accreditation and the No Child Left Behind Act." Everyone is invited to attend. Martinez will also talk about how this community must work together to comply with SACıs mandates for re-gaining accreditation.
To find out more about Maggie Martinez and her platform, please visit her website at www.maggiemartinez2008.com or e-mail her at maggiemartinez2008@yahoo.com.
MORE ABOUT MAGGIE'S PLATFORM:
ACREDITATION:
ı To establish and foster healthy relationships with government and legislative branches. In addition, to ensure graduating Seniors have the opportunity to apply for the HOPE Scholarship.
ı To gain back the accreditation for Clayton County School System.
ı To create policies and procedures for continuous improvement of our schools and commitment to the accreditation standards.
ı To organize a committee composed of leaders/liaisons communities to bring about solutions to regain the school system accreditation
ı To abide by the Codes of Ethics, diplomatic relations with the community, parents and other board members.
ı To promote and enforce procedures for an efficient governing school board.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT:
ı To improve and increase K-3 reading programs.
ı To help schools gain higher academic achievement levels for our school system.
ı To support the use of technology in the classroom and improve the virtual school program.
ı To improve teachersı working conditions and salaries.
ı To continue the development of bilingual schools in Clayton County to make sure the children are ready to compete in the real world, in a global economy.www.maggiemartinez2008.com
By Maggie Martinez
Sep 22, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this
Maggie Martınez Qualifies To Run for School Board, District One Seat
Hampton,GA- Educator and community activist Maggie Martinez has qualified to run for office for the school board seat for District 1. ıToday is a new day in Georgia and we are going to bring about diversity to the school board and a wealth of experience to gain back our accreditation for the Clayton County school systemı, Martınez said.
With a dozen candidates vying for the District 1 seat, Martınez says, "I am pleased to see that 12 candidates are running for this position, and are willing to bring their talent and experience to the school system. Certainly, only one will be elected but we can not loose perspective that all this candidates can also help even if they donıt get elected".
After the November 4th General Election, Martinez says she will work to bring all these leaders together in a roundtable discussion to determine how can everyone can work together to help the students, parents, teachers, and principals regain accreditation.
Many may already know Martinez through her community involvement, but she extends an open invitation for residents in District 1, and across Clayton County to come out and meet her one-on-one this weekend. ıI will be at Dollar Queen at 11139 Tara Boulevard (besides Publix) on Saturday, September 20th, 2008 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. to meet and greet parents, students, and community stakeholders and to answer questions and concerns about accreditation and the No Child Left Behind Act." Everyone is invited to attend. Martinez will also talk about how this community must work together to comply with SACıs mandates for re-gaining accreditation.
To find out more about Maggie Martinez and her platform, please visit her website at www.maggiemartinez2008.com or e-mail her at maggiemartinez2008@yahoo.com.
MORE ABOUT MAGGIE'S PLATFORM:
ACREDITATION:
ı To establish and foster healthy relationships with government and legislative branches. In addition, to ensure graduating Seniors have the opportunity to apply for the HOPE Scholarship.
ı To gain back the accreditation for Clayton County School System.
ı To create policies and procedures for continuous improvement of our schools and commitment to the accreditation standards.
ı To organize a committee composed of leaders/liaisons communities to bring about solutions to regain the school system accreditation
ı To abide by the Codes of Ethics, diplomatic relations with the community, parents and other board members.
ı To promote and enforce procedures for an efficient governing school board.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT:
ı To improve and increase K-3 reading programs.
ı To help schools gain higher academic achievement levels for our school system.
ı To support the use of technology in the classroom and improve the virtual school program.
ı To improve teachersı working conditions and salaries.
ı To continue the development of bilingual schools in Clayton County to make sure the children are ready to compete in the real world, in a global economy.
text to be linked
By Do the right thing
Aug 29, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
I live in Clayton County and I have a 10 year old that attends public school in CLayton. I can't understand how the school board members are so self centered and selfish enough to ignore the crys for them to resign. They are helping to ruin the future of all children for a part time job they refuse to give up. They are really sick, heartless individuals that should have never been voted for.
By Do the right thing
Aug 29, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
I live in Clayton County and I have a 10 year old that attends public school in CLayton. I can't understand how the school board members are so self centered and selfish enough to ignore the crys for them to resign. They are helping to ruin the future of all children for a part time job they refuse to give up. They are really sick, heartless individuals that should have never been voted for.
By Do the right thing
Aug 29, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
I live in Clayton County and I have a 10 year old that attends public school in CLayton. I can't understand how the school board members are so self centered and selfess enough to ignore the crys for them to resign. They are helping to ruin the future of all children for a part time job they refuse to give up. They are really sick, heartless individuals that should have never been voted for.
By Jim
Aug 28, 2008 11:50 PM | Link to this
WHAT???!!! I'm really shocked. I thought these 4 STRONG BLACK WOMEN would save us. I thought that if we all payed our tithes and shuffled for Creflo Dollar that we would be o.k......OHHH LAWWDY LORD!
By Jergen
Aug 28, 2008 10:36 PM | Link to this
Whats the racial demographic and will anyone be surprised with the answer? I bet it AINT (yea I said AINT) white or Asian. A Chinese friend of mine told me how grades work for Chinese kids: A=Average, B=Bad!, C=crap!, D=Dead! In Georgia I suspect it works like this: A=not possible B=Not possible C=Come on, I said not possible! D=Drug dealer F=still whining about something that happened to their grandfathers grandfather.
By TCarter
Aug 28, 2008 10:02 PM | Link to this
OMG, I have just finished reading seven pages of opinions from a lot of people who need to pray for forgiveness tonight, finish their education (middle school), get a life, or just plain kill themselves.
There were too many comments that weren't worth reading. There were some comments that made complete sense. There were comments from people whoı..I just donıt know what to say. Donıt you feel guilty being so stupid?
I have lived outside this great country, and trust me when I say, "There's more idiots, racists (blacks and white) and lazy cry babies in the good "USA". I have also lived in Georgia for many years, and it also appears from the comments that many years ago (1977-1990) WAY too many parents worked too many hours at their jobs while leaving kids home alone. These children (many of the writers in this blog) were evidently left to eat paint chips, play Nintendo, MTV, BET or themselves. It appears that now they are left to spend their time writing totally irrelevant blogs for no apparent rhyme or reason.
I am actually laughing while writing this because I know how quickly these idiots will react. Use your energies to do something positive like mentor a child, build a park or house, and help feed the homeless or how about pray? Try to take care of your or someoneıs elders. Go to another country as missionary. Get a life!
Donıt fret idiots; I won't be back to this site, as it was just an accident that I landed here in the first place.
My only criticism is ıNo Vote, No Voiceı. Good luck to Clayton County.
(p.s. you can write your original useless blog in Word, use spell check, re-read it, cut and copy and paste it to the blog).
By mike 1
Aug 28, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this
this is what happens when stupid, uneducated females run things.
By mike 1
Aug 28, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this
this is what happens when stupid, uneducated females run things.
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