Superintendent Responds to AJC Trailers Article
Decatur Metro | August 4, 2010 | 2:01 pmIn a memo to the Decatur school board, Superintendent Phyllis Edwards responds to the recent AJC article written about the use of portable classrooms in Decatur this year.
She introduces it in her regular note to the board thusly…
I have also attached a response to the article that appeared in the AJC; at the prompting of a few of our own parents. It rehashed the portable controversy even though individual time and board time has been used repeatedly to explain the reasoning. Just for the record, there are no extravagant furnishings. No office has black leather; most of the chairs are some type of vinyl. I do think it is a shame that of all the things we could talk about in CSD, which have been real wins for the system and would have made a great opening day story, which, by the way, no one covered; the newspaper chooses to run a weak story to make us look bad to the general public. I was not interviewed at all for this piece.
Ah, I’ve been wondering how this story originated. And now I wonder, if the parents did push it, what was the purpose? As I’ve stated previously, we’re going to need to redistrict this year anyway, so why push a story about trailers now?
What was the endgame? Because in terms of coming to any sort of reconciliation, this article instead seems to have divided folks further. And sure that makes for a great story, but heck if it’s good for the community.
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Well, for my part, I was contacted several months ago about being interviewed for the article, and then didn’t hear anything about it after that (the previous reporter doing the story left the AJC). Then someone else contacted me about making a comment, and I did not care to be involved because it wasn’t a timely matter, but I did eventually agree to allow the reporter to use my name. I did not know when the article was going to come out–after seeing it languish for several months, I didn’t expect it to be on the front page the next day.
I stand by my comments and feel the same way about the use of trailers in CSD as I always have–that they are an embarrassing waste of resources. But I never had hope that they would go away this year. My focus has been working to ensure they go away when 5th Ave is complete and Glennwood is reopened.
I agree that the article was weak and generally a waste of time and space. There was no new information in it, there were no real points made and nothing gained, good or bad. I did not “push” the story, nor did I contact the paper–I was reluctant to be involved and I wish I’d had the opportunity to review the article before it was published. The article read like a list of complaints and some random facts. It did not add anything useful to the discussion.
I had surmised that the reporter was going to do some investigative journalism, like find out the merit of the “$300,000 to relocate the administration” claim, or something like that. Obviously that didn’t happen!
So it sounds like, if this story indeed was “prompted by a few of our own parents”, the prompting happened a while ago when the issue was a hotter issue. It does sound like the story wasn’t well-timed or broad enough in scope in terms of what it covered, new information, and who was interviewed or not. Maybe with increased resources put into communication, CSD could offer the AJC what they feel would be more newsworthy for the opening of school.
I see no problems with temporarily using portables as classrooms as an inexpensive way to deal with the fluctuating number of students in the district. I spent one year of elementary school in a portable and at least one of my classes each year throughout junior high and high school was in a portable. They were never uncomfortable and often class was less distracted due to being separated from the rest of the school.
Edwards writes that the newspaper “chooses to run a weak story to make us look bad…”
Too much mind-reading going on here.
Even if something looks like a conspiracy, the more plausible explanation is incompetence.
I agree that the article was poorly timed. There was definitely a big push last Spring to figure out portable need and eventual placement. Fortunately, all the pre-K kids are together so their teachers can work well together. Clairemont Elementary is on way too small a street and lot to have handled 60 additional students and the portables needed to house them, and I applaud CSD for listening to concerned parents/community members last Spring and changing their decision to put them there. I do not envy them the tough decisions needed in future to figure out how best to deal with Decatur’s growing/fluctuating student population.
One can only hope that CSD will do the right thing eventually, in the future. Once 5th Ave is complete and redistricting happens anyway, they could return Westchester back into a school. Although all schools might then not be completely full, it will allow for much needed stability and future growth in the student population. This would completely eliminate the need for trailers, hopefully for a while, and would also give admin. a whole year to find a centrally located building to house themselves. Wouldn’t it be great to have a stable school system for a decade or so without the constant drama? Yes, it may cost a bit more up front, but it would provide space for growth and keep the system calm and stable.
I don’t mean this to be a personal attack, but that excerpt suggests that Ms. Edwards is an unusually poor writer for someone with her level of education, not ot mention the fact that she’s a school superintendent. The penultimate sentence of the excerpt is especially cringe-worthy.
She’s a Ph.D. or Ed.D., so Dr. Edwards is the proper way to refer to our Superintendent. Of course, at home she can be Ms. Edwards, Mom, Phyllis, whatever. I don’t think she necessarily meant for this note to be posted widely. It sounds more like something one would say in frustration to one’s friends, not to the whole community.
I did not mean any disrespect by not using “Dr.” I’m happy to refer to her however she likes. I disagree with you about Dr. Edwards’ memo. It was not like a note to a friend. It was a formal memorandum to the school board about a matter of public interest.
Jeez. The grammar police will have a field day on her memo. I suggest she go audit a class on the proper use of a semicolon; maybe it’d help her.
DEM & makresident:
Maybe you should both proofread your own work before criticizing others. DEM needs to acquaint his/herself with a spell-checker, and think more deeply about what CSD issues are truly “cringe-worthy” (hint: Dr. Edwards’ written prose is not one of them).
makresident: I suggest that you attend the same class you propose for Dr. Edwards. A phrase like “maybe it’d help her” doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in your own grammatical or stylistic prowess. (perhaps this phrase was meant as tongue and cheek, but I doubt it)
Don’t either of you have anything more pertinent to add to the dialogue? For my own part, I agree with Dr. Edwards. The AJC missed an opportunity to highlight some really positive developments at CSD and instead chose to rehash an old story. My own opinion is that the portable classrooms issue is overblown. Are there people out there who really think that the temporary use of these trailers will have a negative long term impact on quality of education? People can have legitimate disagreements over whether they are the best use of resources, but I seriously doubt whether they will harm our students in any significant way, and that’s the bottom line for me.
Strangely, it almost seems to be some sort of natural law that one will make misspellings in a message board post criticizing another’s writing/grammar. And so I did. As did you. Perhaps it is best ended there.
I believe there is an Internet law, similar to Godwin’s law, that states when a poster turns grammar cop on another he usually commits grammatical errors.
Hilariously, grammar cops are also referred to as “grammar Nazis”, and this usage makes for an interesting collaboration between this “law” and Godwin’s.
OMG!!! Who is going to fix all the grammar problems?!
It’s called Skitt’s law and has roots in editing…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/6408927/Internet-rules-and-laws-the-top-10-from-Godwin-to-Poe.html
That’s some English there for sure! Betcha she can teach them kids good!
Personally I am sick and tired of some parents expecting the taxpayers to finance a private school education. Trailers are an efficient temporary measure which allows the school system to make fiscally responsible growth plans.
I agree . . . it’s a temporary fix. It’s not like there’s 10 or twenty at each school.
Exactly how does a dislike for trailers translate into parents wanting taxpayers to pay for a private school type education?
“Poor” is harsh, though I’d expect better writing from a doctorate-person-type. Grade: C+
Strictly on the basis of what’s actually there, as a former English teacher, I’d give her a C (I’d give her the benefit of the doubt on some of her punctuation, if it’s the case that she just happens to be a bad typist, as I am myself). Nobody’s perfect, but as you obliquely point out, her advanced degrees foster the expectation that her communications would be better-written. We’re talking about the Chief Educator of CSD, after all…
Hmm, I’m tagging it now. 2011/completion of 5th Avenue Academy could possibly start a decade of a Decatur school system without drama. Anyone want to bet on this?
My guess is the AJC sat on the story because the initial reporter left and then they didn’t have a news peg. Couldn’t run it over the summer as school is out. I bet they waited for school to start and ran it. Believe me, I doubt there’s a conspiracy at the AJC against Decatur City Schools. Heck, the AJC is not even based in downtown Atlanta. However, I have question: Are the fields at Westchester still available for use?
As long as there are no cars parked on them!
…and the flood plain is dry.
Too funny. Seriously, I don’t know if one asks CSD or the City (Parks) or what. I think that’s school land, not park land. On weekends and evenings, you often see adult or kids’ teams practicing there. This has been true for years. I’m sure that in Ms. Kuebler’s day she knew exactly who had activities on the field and when. She was meticulous about the school grounds and building. I have no idea if folks get permission now or just show up.
I intended to offer an explanation at next week’s board meeting (and may do so), but here goes:
I never reached out to the AJC or initiated any contact with its reporter(s). Last Thursday, a reporter asked me to clarify points raised in the letter I sent to CSD dated May 4. (The reporter had a copy.) The reporter and I spoke for approximately 20 minutes, during which I repeatedly explained that CSD (and Dr Edwards, in particular) responded to my letter promptly and respectfully. I stressed that Dr Edwards demonstrated tremendous leadership in reconsidering her decision to add a second trailer to Clairemont.
I told the reporter that I considered the use of trailers to be a moot point. Most metro districts use trailers, just as CSD does, because they are an inexpensive means to address short-term capacity issues. CSD recently and repeatedly has expressed its desire to rid the system of trailers. In my view, the community is interested in hearing more details regarding this point.
As I stated several times (but was not reported), CSD has pledged to start an important community dialogue sometime in early 2011. During the board meeting in May, Dr Edwards explained that CSD would be working through the summer and fall to develop attendance zones for the Glennwood K-3. Sometime after that, according to Dr Edwards, she intended to set up community forums to discuss options for addressing any unresolved capacity issues, including trailers and/or reopening Westchester as a school. I was very pleased to hear Dr Edwards’s plans, and remain so.
I told the reporter that the past year has been a good one for CSD and the community, insofar as both have worked to bridge gaps in trust and communication. I referred the reporter to the Decatur Education Foundation and its upcoming CSD 101, for instance, because I believe the course offers a tremendous opportunity for positive community engagement. I also told the reporter that my kids and I were looking forward to a great year at Clairemont, despite the possibility that my kids might end up in a trailer (they didn’t have classroom assignments at that point).
Anyhow, I was very surprised to find the AJC article last Friday. My understanding was that the reporter wanted background information for a developing story. Quotes attributed to me represented half-sentences (and terrible grammar) chosen at random to build a paragraph. I guess that’s what reporters do. I wish the article had not been published: it contained no news, and had the effect of a stink-bomb thrown at CSD’s first day of school.
For the record, my kids are off to a great start at Clairemont, and my wife and I are as pleased as ever to be part of CSD.
Don, thanks for setting the record straight. I agree that Clairemont is off to a great start this year and the atmosphere at the school is positive and the teachers are expressing their excitement to be part of the school.
Also, thanks for sharing your experiences with Dr. Edwards. In all of my interactions with her, she’s been professional and has shown true leadership. In observing her interactions with the school principals and teachers, it’s obvious that she has their admiration and respect. If she can continue to keep our amazing staff of administrators and teachers happy, which in turn keeps my kids happy, which keeps me happy, then I think she’s doing a great job.
In Dr. Edwards’ defense, wasn’t it under her predecessor that the decision was made to turn Westchester into administrative offices? Also, it’s my understanding that there were material modifications to Westchester to make this happen that would not be trivial to undo..
“In Dr. Edwards’ defense, wasn’t it under her predecessor that the decision was made to turn Westchester into administrative offices?”
No.
Right. This part I remember clearly. The strategic planning round tables/study groups were convened under Dr. Love but then nothing happened. I’m not sure why Dr. Love was let go but that inaction may have been part of it. She certainly seemed like a very odd bird the one time I dealt with her and the scuttlebutt was awful. Among the School Board’s big charges to Dr. Edwards as a new superintendent were the strategic plan and reconfiguration.
I believe that it was at least a full year after the reconfiguration that Westchester became administrative offices. The first year, it housed all the preKs and the Clairemont kindergarten classes while College Heights, Clairemont, and Winnona Park were renovated or added onto. The interim principal did not do a great job of keeping up the grounds. Some of us who still had children playing there went out and removed gigantic prickly weeds that were taking over the groomed playground area. During the reconfiguration and right afterwards, there were multiple options put out there about what to do with the Westchester facility. A major option was putting an alternative school there, but some of the neighborhood right around it was concerned about that. I liked that option because it kept Westchester as a place for kids but had to defer to the opinion of people who lived in the immediate neighborhood. I still say that there’s an unused gym, auditorium, stage, cafeteria, and playground that are rarely being used by the grown-ups, except for outdoor parking. Now that the high school has excellent meeting space, the Westchester common space is even less in demand.
As far as space being altered, Westchester feels eerily the same except for the kitchen appliances were evidently removed from the kitchen (but the cafeteria is still there) and the art room was made into a suite for the superintendent. Whether this is honoring the promise to keep Westchester available as a school if needed, I’m not sure. Undoubtedly, there’s also been some deterioration of certain parts of the building and grounds, especially the playground equipment, because any building or home has deterioration of facilities if they lay unused for a long time.
“Also, it’s my understanding that there were material modifications to Westchester to make this happen that would not be trivial to undo..”
Just the opposite actually. They said they would not make significant changes so that it would be easier to reopen as a school should the need arise.
AJC is known for misquoting, under quoting and quoting out of context. I had a gawd-awful experience with them twice in the past few years. I now refuse to talk to them about anything since they have completely misrepresented what I said twice. Their behavior is unethical IMO. Anything for a story.
I don’t even read the garbage they spew anymore. It’s a waste of time.
Well, the AJC does make mistakes, but I think this place does far worse in slinging around innuendo and character assassination. Dr. Edwards has been regularly vilified on this site. Now we’re slamming her use of semicolons?
Wait, so your comparing the AJC’s articles to DM’s comments? Or are you saying that I sling around innuendo and character assassination?
At least I didn’t write an article that misrepresented the parents and pissed off the Superintendent, setting community relations back where we were a year ago.
Oh no, I wasn’t saying DM did anything. I think the folks who comments have been slinging around a lot of stuff lately.
Further, I KNOW how to use a semicolon. It separates two independent clauses in a sentence without a conjunction. If you use a comma when a semicolon is required, that’s a comma splice.
I am going to apologize to DM, and I will stop writing.
I ask for DM’s forgiveness; I have nothing more to say.
No need to ask for my forgiveness Diane. I just thought you meant that I was dealing in character assassination and innuendo. Just a misunderstanding.
My apologies.
The AJC has a paid editorial board and staff.
DM just has us nuts in the peanut gallery.
Stereotyping!
(In case it’s not clear, this is jest, not a jibe.)
I want to be a filbert.
POOF! You’re a filbert.
We’re not nuts! We’re goobers!
I’m still bothered by Gumby’s attack. This Gumby person gets to decide who is being tongue-in-cheek and who isn’t. Sorry, I wasn’t as overt as David was; might have helped ya out there, pal, if i wuz a wee bit more tranzparent for ya…
As for adding to the dialogue, glad you agree with the good doctor (who still can’t write). I wanted to point out her lack of writing skilz. And, yeah, i do have an opinion and it’s probably one ya dont want to hear. See, I vote with my actions: I pay my taxes and send my child to an excellent private school — a school where they aint got no trailerz and where the superintendent can read and rite with the best of them.
oh, go ahead, tell me where i wuz being under-grammatical. and thanks for taking the time to flame us — rather than address the fact that your superintendent cant write…
This is pretty typical of the anti-CSD crowd. They are more concerned about the punctuation that the Superintendent uses (or the use of trailers for temporary fluctuations in attendance) vs. the quality of education that they are putting out.
In my humble opinion, and admitting guilt to doing this with centralization vs. local-control Republican advocates, I think this is a logical fallacy plus stereotyping.
If you get out a Venn diagram, my head will explode
Gee, I thought it was a pertinent observation. Go figure.
Oh, great Caesar’s ghost, Susan! That’s just a completely inaccurate generalization on your part. I’m so not “anti-CSD”– I don’t even have children in the system (don’t have any, period), but the importance of good schools isn’t lost on us childfree folk (property values stay high where the schools are good); it’s one of the reasons most people choose to live here. Given that, it follows that we don’t have to be “anti-CSD” to observe/express concern that the person who’s the head of education in this City uses poor punctuation & syntax.
Play nice or NO RECESS!
Geez Louise! We need Nanny McPhee!
I would like for cl to explain the punctuation rules used in the first sentence of his/her comment.
We’re talking about one of the chief posters on DM, after all.
But, I’ve got a fabulous idea of how to raise money for some school cause.
Have a Superintendent and Decatur School Board dunking booth. Everybody can come out and throw balls at a target to see if they can dunk one of these people into water. Or pay for throwing a pie in the face.
Look at the school systems around us. DeKalb’s former superintendent was indicted, and the SACS officials are questioning their accreditation. Atlanta is embroiled in a scandal about test cheating, and few people move into Atlanta for the schools.
Does the school system make mistakes? Yup. But I’m truly bothered by the fact that people make personal attacks under the shield of anonymnity. (Not sure about spelling on that last word…. , not gonna take the time to look it up either. Guess my career as a superintendent is kaput.)
Wow, I’m supposed to be thankful and content because I’m in a school system that isn’t about to lose its accreditation and doesn’t have a superintendent that’s headed to jail? That’s good enough? Really? That’s the bar?
Great point. That shouldn’t be the bar.
I guess my point is that I don’t thing slinging mud at our superintendent anonmyously is going to help the school system. And I don’t think school officials listen to folks who spend most of their time criticizing and little time working to improve the schools.
Speaking of the trailers at College Heights, I was just taking a walk by the school today (around 2:15) and spotted some of the “trailer kids” sitting on the sidewalk IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT, waiting for their parents. WHAT ARE THESE TEACHERS THINKING???? If I was the parent of one of these kids, I would rip someone a new one.
I have pictures that I would post if I knew how. This is insane.
I don’t get it. You have pictures of children in the sunlight and that’s bad somehow? Was it fouling their otherwise flawless flourescent tans?
Seriously, were they out there all day or something?
Scott, it seems obvious that these children are vampires. That’s why exposing them to direct sunlight is so awful. Vampires are entitled to an education too, you know.
First zombies, and now vampire children?!?! Jeez, Decatur really does have problems!
But do the children of the undead mind being in the trailers? That’s the real question.
…and what is their lunch like?
Kids love trailers. It’s a fact of life parents just need to get over. Zombie Kids, Dead Vampire Kids, and ordinary kids love ’em. It’s like camping all day
It’s only the fourth day of school and there are still kinks to be worked out, but today the College Heights learning cottage children were waiting in shade. My child was one of them… No need to “rip someone a new one.”
Well, Missy. Your kids might have been in the shade…there was some close by…but many of the kids were not. Like my post says, I have pictures.
How would you have felt if your child had been one of the ones roasting in the sun when you pulled up?
I’m sorry….you are right Scott. 3 & 4 year old kids sitting in the direct sun on a day when there is a heat advisory (heat index over 100) is no big deal.
My bad.
Did you miss that there smiley face, JD? DM promised emoticons would solve all the problems…
I guess, like sunlight, any amount of light-hearted silliness is too much. Let us now resume our dour dissatisfaction with others. Maybe we can use all the energy we invest to power an AC unit to chill us all out.
Had they been sitting there for an hour? 10 minutes? I’d agree with you that parking them outside for a long time today would not be a great idea. But sitting in the sun for a short while doesn’t seem harmful.
Oh, and Missy…..a trailer is a trailer….no matter what you call it.
Learning cottage…..LMAO.
What does that even mean? Why is it a trailer and not a learning cottage?
I could call it a dang “Happy Farm” and it would be no more or less accurate than the word “trailer”.
You may not like the PR spin associated with “learning cottage”, but it’s not as cut and dry as you propose.
My daughter is a Fernbank alum who spent one year in a trailer. (By the way, no sane person In the DeKalb County system believes that their trailers are temporary. Ours started to come AFTER construction added a gym and several classrooms, and have since grown in number.) There were pros and cons. On the downside, kids had to go into the main building to use the toilet. Lightning drove the students into the gym where I doubt any learning took place. On the positive end, her teacher — and she had a GREAT teacher that year — felt more free to create a physical space to her liking and felt less supervised. It was perhaps my daughters best year because she had a fantastic teacher who believed she could teach the way she wanted to teach. The trailer actually helped to create a great learning environment. However, if she had had a terrible teacher, a trailer would probably have made matters much worse.
JD, my child was in the sun every day except today. I had a cold drink waiting in the car. Is it ideal? No. But 10-15 minutes in the sun is manageable. There are people all over our city, our country, this world, who have no choice but to spend their days in the sun. My child played on the playground twice today, in this extreme heat, and seems no worse for the wear.
Your concern for our children is valid. After taking your pictures, did you approach any of the teachers or other staff at the school to offer your help in suggesting alternative places for the children to wait while in carpool line?
I am beginning to think DM posts these things to drive up his page views 😉
Maybe the resource allocation issue boils down to the fact that Phyllis Edwards is a good educational administrator but not the best at facilities management. And yes, that is half her job.
Have we considered hiring a good facilities manager who can take true charge of these issues, get to know parents and more importantly teachers, and work one on one with whomever does demography for the district, and limit the hiring of outside consultants who will never know the community the way a day to day staff person would? That seems to be the real issue here- all sides seem to agree that Phyllis Edwards is doing a good job at the school and teacher stuff (para-pro controversies aside). Wouldn’t everyone-including Phyllis Edwards- benefit from an assistant superintendent level role – someone who could get to know CSD inside and out and give CSD real, on the ground advice on the big picture?
Seems like the facilities department is just that from what I could gather- facilities and maintenance. I think it could be more and I think an expanded role from that department could be a lot of help. Large science and education facilities like Zoo Atlanta have VP roles dedicated to these sorts of decisions so the executive director can focus on the cash and the second in command can focus on the science.
CSD is trying to do a lot and a lot of facilities strategy seems to come from consultants. Seems like this kind of position could allow Phyllis Edwards to focus on her strengths.
By the way, from where did the Bad Grammar Note of Shame originate? I read the school board memo, and other than some wacky capitalization choices (the kind that science majors and lawyers love), it was perfectly well written.
You’ve nailed it! What a common sense solution! Hire someone who knows the area & the people & planning & facilities needs… nelliebelle, how are you with a hammer & a wrench?!
Gotta say that I sure admire how Dr Edwards handles herself when criticized publicly by parents. Both times in recent months, she’s calmly made a pretty effective case. Not saying that the parents’ concerns aren’t valid. Just that they could stand to take away a lesson or two from her approach.
(I keep picturing DM wandering around Portland, cursing his blackberry, saying “ OMG! PEOPLE!!! WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON??” And I keep expecting MRS. DM to shut this sucker down!)
Say what?!? As a taxpayer, I would have a REAL big problem with CSD creating an administrative position to address a non-problem. (Wouldn’t that money be better spent on para-pros?) As someone aptly put it yesterday, it’s not up to Decatur taxpayers to fund a private school education. It’s a public school system, and we’re damned lucky it’s running so well and generating such good educational outcomes, given the current economic climate. Trailers have been a fact of life in public schools for a long time and are unlikely to go away. As long as the teaching going on inside the trailers–and inside the main buildings–is top-notch, we should feel like we’re getting our money’s worth, and getting what the children deserve.
A non problem? Seriously?A school system this small should not have to reconfigure twice in 5 years.I have a serious problem with that and I think a lot of other people do, too.
CSD is spending money every year on construction project managers and consultants; not all but some of that money that could be spent internally. I know from experience that this type of position can save money on both consultants and mistakes.
I just scanned the 2010 audit. Consultant fees are buried into capital and per the audit general administrative costs, so I couldn’t get to whatever figure they are spending. The money is already being spent.
And this has nothing to do with trailers OR the education outcomes, by the way. It has to do with long-term strategic facilities planning, maintenance and use. It’s a much larger issue than temporary trailers and it’s a separate issue from education. I don’t feel like I am getting my money’s worth when the schools are being shuffled every few years because of what was plainly poor planning and poor work by Sembler, who I believe was rehired by the school system, though I hope I am wrong on that.
Short term fixes like this have impact, by the way. My husband is still waiting for the facilities impact study of adding that many trailers, additional teachers, students and cars on a site as small as College Heights. He’s really worried about the plumbing. You know the trailers are going to eventually kill that big tree whose roots they are sitting on? Not today, but that 100 year old tree’s life has been cut short. I think people who don’t do construction, who don’t understand systems and how they work don’t really get the impact on our facilities. I certainly don’t but my husband does and he is worried in a way that is out of character for him.
Echo…
NB, this is the third or fourth time you’ve mentioned the company that botched the enrollment projections being rehired by the school system. I know you have legitimate beefs with the system, and I don’t have any desire to debate or contradict them, but this one issue keeps undermining some of the other things you’re saying.
Here’s how I’ve heard it: The company you’re referring to is Rosser, not Sembler. They are an architecture, engineering and construction management firm that has worked with CSD a lot. At one point, they took on the task of the projections and, as I understand it, farmed them out to a subcontractor (because it’s not what they do).
Yes, the projections got botched and yes, Rosser was ultimately responsible but no, the city has not since engaged Rosser in managing any enrollment projections or other demographic work. They have only been rehired in their core capacities which, to my knowledge, no one has had any problems with. So, if they’ve done a good job with design and construction and have been rehired to do more, why would rehiring them demonstrate any poor judgment on CSD’s part?
Stick with the things that aren’t deceptive (like the tree impact you mention, for instance). According to some of the folks ’round here, there’s more than enough of ’em to keep us busy for a while.
Thanks, Scott. I was obviously confused on that.
And you are right.
Nelliebelles’s suggestion to hire a dedicated facilities expert is a good one. Kinda surprising that it wasn’t done when all the reconfiguring work started. CDS will be assessing capacities & placements for several years to come. Continuity & the other community benefits that would come from having a Decatur based specialist would surely serve us all better than a consulting firm that has to constantly be filled in on City of Decatur nuances.
Why is this even on DM? Just to see hot and heavy it can get? Leave CSD be and let them do what they can for our kids… Did you see the 1st day responses!
Let’s see?? Maybe ’cause it’s the reason this space exists??
“Discouraged by the fact that the city of Decatur, GA doesn’t have a single source for daily news about our community, I decided to do something about it.
Though a relatively new resident of the city, my local travails and studies on the east side of Atlanta have brought me in close contact with Decatur’s history, development and fine establishments for many years. After becoming a tax paying citizen early in 2007, and subsequently falling in love with the city, I found myself trolling the far reaches of web to stay informed about the city’s goings on. I wished for a website that would give me the latest news and opinion about the city in an entertaining and engaging fashion.
So in late Sept. ’07, I created www.DecaturMetro.com
Decatur Metro is dedicated to bringing you all the latest news from incorporated Decatur, Georgia and its surrounding environs every day. While it may not be the city that never sleeps (all those kids have to be get up in time to make an eco-friendly commute to/from school!), there’s always something going on in Decatur. Be it a development controversy or one of the many annual festivals, Decatur Metro will always have the latest scoop.
So sit back with a pint of high-gravity beer from the Brick Store, and a plate of fried chicken from Watershed and enjoy the ride! “
As I referenced in my post, my main draw was the Superintendent’s assertion that the parents had recently pushed for this article. But two of the three parents have since responded that this was not the case.
I think that this point itself was reason enough for the post.
The post is newsworthy.
Looks like Dr. Edwards made a reasonable assumption. The two parents here are responsible for some of the AJC article’s content. While they agree that the timing is unfortunate, they also say that they spoke with the newly assigned reporter last week. A little less “go along to get along” might well have killed the story. Instead, it looks like they got played.
I actually thought the Superintendent’s note didn’t show her in the best light either. And I really wondered whether she meant it to be circulaed, given the peeved tone. Either way, a public note is going to eventually circulate around. When it’s in the light of day, e.g. on this blog, I actually think it gets treated more fairly, with point-counterpoint allowed, rather than one-sided, partisan word of mouth with all the exaggeration that occurs over time with that method of communication. Others may disagree. Some folks enjoy the subjective discussion that blogs engender, some don’t.
My take is based on the note/memo response combo. I give Dr. Edwards props for dialing it back to “peeved” in the note when I’m sure she was royally ticked off!
I agree wholeheartedly with the value of airing it on the blog.
( I meant to say “It KINDA seems they got played. Not at all thrilled with the AJC about their handling of this issue. Their true colors will show if they do- or don’t do- a follow-up with input from the parents & Dr. Edwards.)
The memo is attached to her Superintendent’s Report that is available on the CSD Board’s website. It is open for anyone to read. In fact, that’s how I first came across it, when I was reading her report for next week’s board meeting.
Anyone who has something to say about school issues should come to a board meeting. Anyone who wants to get a feel for Dr. Edwards’ personality and the way she superintends, come to a board meeting.
Is this an earnest suggestion? It’s reading otherwise. I’d like to feel we’re all welcome to comment on anything on Decatur Metro.
Yes, how does it read otherwise? I wish more people would come to board meetings. I’m encouraging anyone who would like to get better insight on CSD or who has anything to say, please come to a board meeting. Bristle much?
It’s bristly to ask for clarification when I’m not sure? I’ve always thought that it was the best way to avoid misunderstandings.
Hmm.
While standing at my DHS classroom door last Friday, Dr. Edwards knocked on the back door. She was by herself and carried several bulky folders. After some brief small talk, I invited her into my room to speak to 9th grade students. For someone who just came in from the back parking lot (maybe 100 degrees), she gave the students an excellent pep talk on the new school year. She encouraged them to get involved in extra-curriculars and do their best in all their classes. She spoke proudly about the new gym and arts center and looked forward to the renovation of the vocational building. The students listened politely and gave her a nice round of applause before she left.
No chauffeur, assistants, or other assorted toadies that seem to follow superintendents in other systems. I admire her work ethic, toughness, and intelligence. As far as trailers at the elementary schools, some of us remember the pre-air conditioning days when the indoor temperature in some classrooms at Clairemont and other schools reached the high 90s, even into the 100s. It was so bad at Clairemont that teachers would bring their classes to the air-conditioned library in shifts because their afternoon classrooms were like ovens. The facilities we have today have not come about without headaches. It was not easy for anyone.
I would want not my child to be in a portable but there are more important things; a good teacher, friendly cafeteria and maintenance staff, a principal who roams the halls and comes into the classroom to interact with the students, transportation employees that care about and know your child’s name, and a strong emphasis on safety. These are the important things. Even systems with great facilities are just wastelands without love. Isn’t that what its all about?
For those of you who have kids in the system, you are and will always be their most important teacher. Try to support what is done in the classroom with as little criticism as possible. Be careful what you say and write to teachers, administrators, bloggers, and the AJC (I’ve learned the hard way). And finally, don’t forget to participate in the DHS Close Up Club “Rake and Run” in late October or early November.
(Sorry for the shameless plug but I really want to take a team of students to D.C. again this year!)
What a rockin” comment! You earned the plug!
Best wishes to you & your students for a great school year!
Mr. B. ROCKS! One of our city’s finest teachers. When my daughter was in his class, he sent emails home frequently about her schoolwork and always responded. Mr. B, though Catholic (I think) is a real mensch.
Chris — I have not always ideologically agreed with everything you’ve posted here but I can think of no other word to describe these comments than beautiful. I am thankful to have my child in the Decatur system and I’m thankful for the tireless work of people like you.
My only concern is that your comments about the superintendent focus on things like education, leadership and accessibility and don’t touch on truly important issues like kowtowing and hand-holding.
KIDDING!
Seriously, great to hear. Have a great year.