Update April 9, 2008: The county commissioners have asked the entire school board to resign.
In 2003, Clayton County, Georgia's school district was put on probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), for misconduct by the school board. Eight of the nine board members were replaced. However, the board culture did not change, and the Clayton County School District is almost certain to lose SACS accreditation. The SACS report
said infighting among school board members and violations of board procedures have made the district "fatally flawed" and recommended that Clayton's accreditation be revoked, effective Sept. 1.
This is a big deal: the district enrolls 52,800 students. Loss of accreditation means that college-bound seniors won't be eligible for HOPE scholarships. Students may find it difficult to transfer out of the district, as credits may not transfer. Home prices, already suffering, may fall further, limiting the ability of families to move out of the district. The county has the highest mortgage forclosure rate in the Atlanta Metro area.
About 74 percent of the students in Clayton public schools fall under federal poverty guidelines.
"If they are locked out of colleges, where do these kids go? If a Georgia public college won't let them in, who is going to let them in?" Richard Penny asked. "What happens to these kids? No one is answering that question."
The FAQ sheet put out by the Clayton County School District reads:
...the initial review was instigated as a reaction to complaints filed by citizens of Clayton County and Board members against Board members. The issues in question are generally related to accusations of “abuse of power, micromanagement and conflicts of interests” resulting from these complaints
The SACS review did NOT result from questions related to academics, curriculum or student achievement. Rather, its scope at this time appears to be concentrated on possible violations of governance policies and actions not in compliance with SACS standards.
The FAQ sheet goes on to:
CCPS has hired an independent law firm with experience in assisting schools systems with SACS accreditation issues to help develop a corrective action plan. However, further actions will be necessary to address concerns expressed by SACS and include:
- Integrity and autonomy of the Board
- Extent of influence of outside organizations on the Board
- Board being compromised by conflicts of interest
- Abuse of power and micromanagement
- Patterns of verbal and written abuse towards staff
- Unauthorized use of funds, materials, facilities
- Failure to respect the opinions and rights of staff, Board members, and other stakeholders
Hmmn. That's not going to be cheap.
The Hall of Shame: Clayton County School Board members
District 1- A. Michelle Strong (elected November 2006)
District 2- Lois Baines-Hunter (elected November 2004)
District 3- Yolanda Everett (elected November 2004)
District 4- Ericka Davis (Chairman) (elected 2000)
District 5- Rev. W. Rod Johnson (elected November 2004)
District 6- Eddie White (Vice Chairman) (elected November 2004)
District 7- David Ashe (elected November 2004)
District 8- Norreese Haynes (elected November 2006)
District 9- Sandra Scott (elected August 2006)
The article by Megan Matteucci in the ACJ, Clayton's Last Hope read in part:
The National Accreditation Commission will review SACS' findings and vote March 15 whether to strip Clayton of its accreditation.
"It is my belief that they will affirm the recommendations set forward and Clayton County will have their accreditation revoked as of Sept. 1," said Mark A. Elgart, president and chief executive officer of SACS.
SACS outlined nine strict requirements for the district —- many that are similar to the problems that landed the school system in trouble five years ago, which also led to a SACS investigation.
"What makes this unique is the fact that it has occurred again in a relatively short period of time," Elgart said. "You wonder three years ago if the matters were comprehensively acted upon or just hidden."
In the past 20 years, only two school districts —- in Hartford, Conn., and Duval County, Fla. —- have lost accreditation.
[snip]
Elgart said he hasn't seen any improvement.
See the February 5 AJC article, Clayton Schools Take Emergency Action to Keep Accreditation
"They are not doing what is necessary for us to meet our concerns," he said. "Clayton County has an opportunity to take corrective action and take decisive steps to restore accreditation. The question will remain with each of them: Do they have the will to meet that challenge?"
[snip]
Board member Norreese Haynes, who was criticized by SACS for his work with a for-profit teachers' union, called the SACS report "a sham and a farce."
"The welfare of our children appears to be a low priority for [Elgart], despite his many 'I care for thy children' pronouncements," Haynes said in a statement. "We are a little too jaded in Clayton County to actually hang on to Mark Elgart's every word as if it were law and gospel."
Other board members did not comment or did not return calls.
SACS began the investigation in mid-November after receiving complaints from five of the nine board members of unethical behavior by fellow members.
What investigators found, Elgart said, was troubling:
- The district does not have strict governing policies. And the policies in place are not followed.
"They have an ethics policy, but they have not enacted that policy when individuals on the board or staff have violated the policy," Elgart said.
- Inconsistencies with student attendance records. In response, SACS is working with the U.S. Department of Education Inspector General's office, which could revoke Clayton's federal funding if it finds evidence of wrongdoing, Elgart said.
- The district has failed to comply with local, state and federal laws, particularly bidding processes and conflict-of-interest statutes.
Specifically, SACS said:
- Haynes, who serves as executive director of the union Metro Association of Classroom Educators, voted for raises for union members and against companies that his union doesn't support.
- Johnson voted for a raise that would benefit his wife, a teacher.
- Strong voted to hire her husband, a graduation coach.
- The board never addressed allegations that board member Baines-Hunter may live in Fulton County. County Commission Chairman Bell said the tax commissioner and police are looking into residency issues.
- Scott pushed for a Morrow football coach to be fired after he refused to hand over game tapes of her son.
[snip]
Throwing out the board will not solve the problems, Elgart said.
"The board is a different board than they were several years ago. There is a history of concern," he said. "Many of the issues extend long beyond six months, long beyond a year or two years. It's reflective of a pattern."
Update: Maybe some local members of AAAS will run for the board positions.
National science literacy expert and Michigan State University professor Jon Miller is having a running clinic at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting. The goal is to inspire, educate and arm scientists to run for school boards.
It’s a matter of good science citizenship, Miller said, as well as a savvy way to build scientific literacy and better schools.
Sources
Teachers and Trash Education: Clayton County Accreditation December 15 2007
Teachers and Trash Education: Clayton County School Board Woes February 15 2008
Recall Drive to Replace Sandra Scott AJC January 25 2008
Clayton Schools take Emergency Action to Keep Accreditation AJC February 5 2008
Atlanta JournalConstitution (AJC) February 16 2008
Clayton Schools Last Hope AJC February 16 2008
Clayton schools' troubles frustrate community: AJC February 17 2008
More college hurdles raised AJC February 17 2008
Throwing out the board will not solve the problems, Elgart said.
"The board is a different board than they were several years ago. There is a history of concern," he said. "Many of the issues extend long beyond six months, long beyond a year or two years. It's reflective of a pattern."
This comment, if correct, appears to predict that Clayton County will lose accreditation even if the entire board is replaced. So what are the residents to do, and what does Mr. Elgart really suggest? If the problem is reflective of a "pattern", as this quote suggests, what is the pattern and what is he inferring?
Posted by: Faye | Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 04:01 PM