With its accreditation under review, its former superintendent under indictment and many of its schools underperforming, DeKalb County is at a crossroads. The school board will face many challenges next year, including hiring a new superintendent to lead the system back to stability. School board candidates in the Nov. 2 general election tell us how they would deal with these challenges.

1. What qualities should the next superintendent of schools have?

2. How would you involve the communities in the school redistricting and closings process?

3. With the indictments of two top school officials and the current questions from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools about leadership of the district, what will you do to help restore credibility and confidence?

DISTRICT 1

Involve public in SACS process

Merope “Bobbe” Gillis

An art consultant running for the District 1 post.

bobbegillisdekalbschoolboarddistrict1.blogspot.com

1. DeKalb’s next superintendent should be well educated, a great communicator and impeccably honest. It is mandatory that education be their top priority. Our future superintendent needs to be a great leader, who has a strong record of success. Our future superintendent should be someone who is willing to work within the community he/she is represents, implement policies and follow these procedures themselves.

2. I would like to see a series of town hall meetings where members of the communities are able to express their needs and desires regarding school redistricting and closing. Once the decisions about redistricting and closings have been made, I would like to see each board member work within their districts to help members of their community to get acclimated in their new schools.

3. I would like to make the public aware that they can have access to any information regarding school officials, the system and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools questions. The board should be available and approachable to answer questions and solicit ideas and input from the community. The board will then hire a new superintendent with credentials that are completely accessible to the public.

Use data to drive board decisions

Nancy Jester

An actuarial consultant running for the District 1 post.

www.nancyjester.com

1. We need a smart, outside, reform-minded person with a demonstrated record of large organization leadership. We need a superintendent who will challenge the status quo in our district by reducing the bureaucracy, reforming our budgeting process and empowering each community, principal and teacher to find unique solutions to educate the children.

2. I will fastidiously collect and analyze the data provided to me and ask critical questions of those that generate the raw data and reports pursuant to their findings. I will take this information to the communities and discuss the implications of the data as it intersects with maximizing our state and federal funding.

3. We must develop rigorous financial control processes. Our system needs audits of personnel staffing, programs and resource allocation. The results of these audits must be made public and discussed with taxpayers. I will advocate for bottom-up budget development and, at regular intervals, a zero-based budget process. These review, improvement and communication strategies must demonstrate a culture change for the organization; showing the community that we value transparency and are accessible to them.

Board has to be able to explain

Jim Redovian

A business owner and the incumbent seeking re-election in District 1.

jim_redovian@fc.dekalb .k12.ga.us

1. Our next superintendent should have experience in running, as the chief administrator, an organization with 15,000 employees and a annual budget of over $1 billion per year. He or she should be skilled in management techniques to understand the workings of an organization with more than 150 different locations and a diverse spectrum of personnel. While an educational background would be desired, management expertise is more important.

2. We, as a system, must first know exactly what needs to be done, to develop the most efficient plan possible, with regards to our population, our schools and what the future holds for growth or loss of students and in what areas. With that plan in hand we can go to the community for input and discussion. We must be transparent and be prepared to answer any questions that arise. If a question arises we cannot answer, we have not done our job.

3. I believe our response to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools will get a favorable answer; we have already put many measures in place to protect against what happened to our senior management to never happen again. I know it will take time, and we will have to show the stakeholders we mean what we say by following it up with actions.

DISTRICT 7

We must create a sense of fairness

Donna Edler

An accountant running for the District 7 post.

www.donnaedler.com

1. The new superintendent must have a reputation for exemplary ethical and professional standards. My expectation is that the new superintendent will have leadership qualities that challenge counterproductive patterns and build a consensus around change strategies.

2. As a board member, I would communicate my understanding of how the board’s actions will impact students, families and other stakeholders. I would demonstrate to the stakeholders an awareness of this sensitive issue with a positive attitude and respectful behavior. I would explain the decision-making process with input from parents and the public. I believe it is much easier to gain support if the public believes in the fairness and thoroughness of the decision-making process.

3. In order to restore credibility and confidence, I would advocate for the following steps to be taken by the school board: Hiring an effective and proven leader as superintendent. Establishing policies that will ensure that budgeted tax dollars are spent most effectively. Substantially reducing the risk of loss due to waste, fraud and abuse. Developing internal auditing organization and yearly external audits.

New schools chief has to be ethical

Richard Gathany

A lawyer, teacher and engineer running for the District 7 post.

richardgathany.com

1. The DeKalb school board must select the very best superintendent. The new superintendent must have the highest ethical standards, outstanding educational standards and a strong vision for DeKalb schools. In addition, the superintendent must have experience in dramatically improving the achievement level.

2. As school-age populations change, there will always be a need to open or close schools. However, the burden of school closures cannot be put on the schoolchildren and parents of a single area or district. Students and parents must have a school in their neighborhood. Parents must be able to easily participate in their children’s school activities and be able to quickly pick up their students in emergency situations. We must preserve the neighborhood school concept.

3. We must implement the strongest possible code of ethics for board members, administration and employees. And we must insure that everyone under the code of ethics has a clear understanding of expected behavior. I have pledged to never do business with the DeKalb schools and to never intervene in or influence a decision for a position or contract for a relative with the DeKalb County School System.

Restore public’s faith in schools

Willie R. Mosley Jr.

A businessman running for the District 7 post.

www.electmosley.webs.com

1. The next superintendent should bring strong leadership, communication skills and vision; proven administrative and management skills; be accountable; honest and trustworthy; a coalition builder; knowledge and experience in education; able to think “out of the box” and bring innovative strategies that will deliver positive results to take our system to another level to achieve excellence; able to move the bar and set higher standards for our system.

2. I will ensure that all of the citizens are informed of the “real issues,” and I will provide an opportunity for “the people” to provide input on an ongoing basis through my web site, public meetings, community and homeowner associations, PTSA, churches, and all other vehicles where we can reach “the people.” I will bring diversity on the school board representing the grass roots, “we the people.”

3.I know I can make a difference in restoring credibility and confidence among students, parents, teachers, staff and administrators, communities and our citizens that the DeKalb will be the best it can be and strive for excellence in every area. I would look closer at the budget to eliminate waste and duplication for the benefit of our students. Educating our students is priority, and we have to show the results.

Checks and balances needed

Zepora Roberts

A telecommunications retiree and the incumbent seeking re-election in District 7.

zepora_w_roberts@ fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us

1. A superintendent should be honest and have integrity. He/she must have a vision and goals for moving the DCSS forward, and be able to articulate that vision and goals. He/she should have successful experience leading a large, urban school district. The superintendent must be capable of making sound decisions, and be able to bring all stakeholders together. Experience as an instructional leader is certainly a plus. He/she must be an effective communicator with a diverse population, and be fair to all.

2. Once the board decides on a process, it should be communicated to the citizens with clearly defined procedures and criteria. The data used must be correct and validated. The process must be fair, open and transparent, with no exceptions to the established rules and criteria. Input from the community meetings should be considered, provided the input gathered enhances the process.

3. Credibility and confidence will be restored as we continue to put in place more checks and balances with appropriate means of monitoring and showing accountability. Open communications and transparency are vital in this process. I will do my share in ensuring that this is done.

On ajc.com: Go to the AJC Get Schooled blog for more comments from the candidates, blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog. Monday: DeKalb school board Districts 1 and 7. Tuesday: Districts 3, 5 and 9.

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