DeKalb Schools Warned Again

DeKalb County schools aren't out of thee weeds with an oversight accrediting agency, according to local news reports.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools are asking for a response from the board after numerous complaints from employees and the community, WABE reported this week. The schoool was already under review by SACS.

A SACS official says the board has failed to follow through on its financial responsibilities. He fired hard at the board in the WABE report.

“This system currently operates having two law firms on retainer because they could not agree on one law firm," Elgart says, " They have knowingly budgeted each year approximately $1 million for their day-to-day legal fees and each year, they are exceeding that by approximately 10-15 times what they budgeted.”

SACS also heard complaints about nepotism on the part of the board, charges that have been alleged many times.

Maureen Downey, an AJC editor that writes on local schools, blogged about the alleged problems Aug. 30.

A note from a parent expressed frustration that the district's problems seem to be an ongoing issue with no real solutions and no system for a solution.

"Nothing changes. Not only has our board not improved, but this administration seems reluctant to answer questions from the general public or board members. Our classrooms are bursting at the seams, our teachers have some of the lowest salaries in metro Atlanta, some high schools will be limited to less than a half a roll of toilet paper per student a month, textbooks were not repaired over the summer and no new ones were ordered, etc, etc."