Comments on: Scott Drake Throws his Hat into the Ring

By: At Home in Decatur

At Home in Decatur — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:04:26 +0000

I was wondering if that’s where the higher figure I was quoted was from. Maybe the worth of insurance option was factored in. But it may be that it costs the District nothing extra to give the Board members the option of participating in the system’s insurance plan.

By: nelliebelle1197

nelliebelle1197 — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 13:55:28 +0000

Julie, Dekalb school board members get insurance, too. So you are really missing out, living in Decatur

By: Chris Billingsley

Chris Billingsley — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 02:16:42 +0000

Thanks Ms. Rhame. As far as I’m concerned, neither the Board members nor the members of the Cily Commission get paid anywhere near the compensation deserved for the job. It takes a special person, a true public servant, who is willing to put up with the public and private (blog) grief that is directed towards a member of Decatur’s elected or appointed boards. I may complain about some of the decisions you make but I would think long and hard about serving, no matter what the pay is.
Keep up the good work but see what you can do about my dang taxes!

By: At Home in Decatur

At Home in Decatur — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 08:02:48 +0000

New folks interested in being a school board member have to spend a lot of money and time away from job and family if they have run a campaign against an incumbent. I wish that weren’t so. Elections without competition have less questions asked, less information shared, and less discussion. But when an incumbent resigns or chooses not to run again, it’s easier for new folks to break in. And if they announce quickly, it may discourage others to run and they may not have opposition. For example, as many as three of the current board positions may be coming open next election. I guarantee you that each position will have at least one candidate. Folks are talking about it already.

By: smalltowngal

smalltowngal — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 22:42:52 +0000

Worth noting also: serving on the school board involves a LOT of time, energy and attention beyond attending meetings.

I honestly don’t understand where the notion comes from that “plenty of people would do it for nothing” with reference to either the school board or the city commission. Those serving now are doing it for practically nothing (and flat nothing, in the case of school board members), and yet it’s not that unusual for a candidate to run unopposed–either an incumbent or someone new.