Moderator’s introduction
Today’s moderator: Maureen Downey
Maureen Downey has written about local, state and federal education policy at the AJC for 12 years. She’s also taught college classes in mass communications and journalism. However, she’s learned more about schools from having four children in them.
»Join the discussion online today: Share your opinions and ideas on Maureen's blog Get Schooled.
Seven DeKalb County schools may make history this month by becoming an autonomous cluster of charter schools outside the purview of the central office. While the public vote on creating the Druid Hills Charter Cluster passed overwhelmingly, the DeKalb Board of Education votes later this month on the proposal. Today, we offer a pro/con on the upcoming vote, which will impact Druid Hills High and the six schools that feed it: Druid Hills Middle and Avondale, Briar Vista, Fernbank, Laurel Ridge and McLendon elementary schools. Readers sound off on another contentious issue — whether schools should paddle errant students.
Today's columnists:
- Cluster creates private schools at public expense, by Cindy Lutenbacher
- Yes, it will improve teaching and learning conditions, by Sophie Binney
- Response to recent conversation, by our readers
About the Author
Maureen Downey has written editorials and opinion pieces about local, state and federal education policy since the 1990s.
