DeKalb school board: two candidates in District 6, three in District 7

1. What should the school board do to improve test scores and graduation rates?

2. What qualities do you think the district needs in its next superintendent?

3. What should the school board do to ensure all students receive equitable support from funding and resources?

4. How much local control are you willing to cede to schools, and in what administrative areas?

DISTRICT SIX

Bridgemon Bolger, 28, has been an event planner and political campaigner. He has a political science degree from Clayton State University and is president of the DeKalb County Young Democrats. He has two children.

1. Ensure more children are literate by the third grade. Identify and inspire at risk students before they dropout. Strongly consider alternatives to suspension such as community service, specialized counseling, mediation, and restorative justice. A reduction in class sizes. Increase the number of student counselors. Identify students who score at the minimum level. Practice test year round.

2. A clear vision for the system, an instructional leader, an effective communicator, a good manager, a good listener, not afraid to take risks or make a commitment, and flexible with the concerns of the diverse demographics of the district.

3. Cut wasteful spending. Reduce legal fees. Consider holding a referendum to allow more revenue from an education sales tax and reach out to philanthropic interest. Lobby the federal government for funding for refugee students.

4. The board missed out on a great opportunity with the Druid Hills Charter Cluster. Parent councils and citizen advisory committees should have a role in hiring school administration and some power over how money is spend in relation to contracts, vendors, and special programs.

Melvin Johnson, the incumbent, retired from the DeKalb County School District, where he was deputy superintendent, rising through the administration after starting as a teacher. He graduated from Fort Valley State University and has a doctoral degree from Atlanta University. He is married with four grown children.

1. Make Dekalb School District a charter system. Be vigilant in reviewing the data and in determining factors contributing to academic achievement. Title I [federal poverty] funds should be used more effectively to level the field between the advantaged and the disadvantaged.

2. An experienced leader (educator) who has worked with a cross section of ethnicity, is visionary, opened-minded, and capable of being communicative with staff, community and students, and who is instructionally focused.

3. Develop policies and accountability procedures to support high expectations for all students. Data driven decisions should be employed to differentiate staffing and resources based on student needs.

4. A local school should have all of the local control presented in its petition and approved by the DeKalb Board of Education including administration.

DISTRICT SEVEN

Kim Ault did not provide a response.

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Lee V. Dukes, 61, a retired engineer from AT&T, spent over a decade as a substitute teacher for the DeKalb County School District. He graduated from North Central College in Illinois with a degree in computer science. He is married with two children.

1. The answer is not easy. However, I do know that to fix any problem, one must first understand what the problem is and what causes it. As a board member, I will take the problem to the community.

2. A clear vision for the district. An instructional leader and an effective communicator. Should know the most important job of the district is to make sure students are learning and achieving at high levels and be supportive of the teacher in the district. A good manager. Not afraid to take risks or make commitment and be flexible.

3. Look at equality as a concept of fairness. Fairness does not require absolutely equal per-pupil expenditures. An equitable system may provide greater funding for schools with greater needs.

4. I am willing to give all that I can to the school district, students, parents and teachers. I will be approachable and visible in the community to allow parents an opportunity to know who their representative is and to share their concerns.

Joyce Morley, the incumbent, was appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal. A consultant, she holds advanced degrees in education administration and counseling. A former school teacher, counselor, administrator, professor, director of college programs and director with Teach for America in Georgia, she has been board president of the American Association of University Women and is secretary/treasurer of the National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation. She is a grandmother with three grown daughters.

1. Pay teachers, counselors, and auxiliary personnel, based on their education and experience, commensurate with [their] jobs; promote parent engagement.

2. Communication skills; sustainability, a change agent; constructive; knows how to use past mistakes and failures … a 360 degree vision; a strong educational background; a proven leader; media savvy; not afraid of challenges; will take a stand; will not bend under pressure; high morals and ethics; respectful; values [people]; is not a dictator; is not intimidated by large budgets; works cooperatively, collegiately, and collaboratively with the board; has a strong sense of self.

3. By continuing to fund programs [that focus] on student achievement, teacher and administrator quality, and parent engagement, on high achievers, marginal achievers, and under achievers.

4. I am willing to cede to schools the local control determined by the superintendent and agreed upon by my fellow board members.