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Cheryl Atkinson

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Are Stakeholders Stacking the Deck in DeKalb?

Some parents think public comments are being used to convey the wrong message to the school board's new Interim Superintendent.

The DeKalb County Board of Education held its first public meeting on Feb. 11 since reaching a costly separation agreement with former Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Atkinson. It also was the public's first official introduction to a newly-appointed Interim Superintendent, Michael Thurmond, the former state labor commissioner.   The school board complex on Mountain Industrial in Stone Mountain was packed, despite what the camera showed to audiences watching the live webcast. The public speaking time slots were filled to capacity as well, which made up for the relatively light business agenda covered by the board.  On the agenda for the evening was the approval of AP Tests, more computers for STEM labs and a small increase in capacity for the …

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Patch Politics

Patch Analysis: Thurmond Could Save DeKalb BOE's Jobs

DeKalb's new school superintendent has an extensive political background that may play a role in the board of education's future.

Michael Thurmond may be just the man to save the jobs of DeKalb's embattled school board.  Whether that's a good thing, remains to be seen. Thurmond was appointed DeKalb's interim school superintendent Friday afternoon, after the board of education narrowly approved a severance package for former superintendent Cheryl Atkinson. Rumors had been circulating since last week that Atkinson was on her way out. DeKalb's school system is currently under probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The board is set to appear before the State Department of Education on Feb. 21 to brief state officials on its progress in meeting SACS recommendations to keep the school system accredited. The state board is then expected to …

J. O. Watson

6:30 am on Friday, February 22, 2013

Why do educators and the school systems continue be governed by boards who are not educators and have no knowledge of what systems needs. Every profession, doctors, lawyers, nurses, beauticians, are governed by boards of their peers. We need educators with an interest in the students and the system as board members. They would be more aware of the needs; and, knowledge of how better to resolve …   more ›

Friday, February 8, 2013

Dunwoody Blogger: What's Next For DeKalb School System?

As another school superintendent departs, this Dunwoody blogger wonders about the next chapter in the trials and tribulations of the DeKalb County School System.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

DeKalb School Board to Vote on Atkinson Separation Agreement

The board is set to meet on Friday at 4 pm.

Updated: Thursday, Feb. 7, 6:17 p.m. A statement has just been released by the DeKalb County School District: The DeKalb County Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Atkinson have mutually agreed to end their relationship effective Friday, February 8, 2013. The Board and Dr. Atkinson each determined and believe that it is in the best interest of all concerned that there be a mutual separation and they wish each other well in all their future endeavors. Original article: Cheryl Atkinson's tenure as superintendent of the DeKalb County school system is apparently coming to an end. Channel 2 Action News is reporting that DeKalb's board of education will vote on a separation agreement with Atkinson on Friday. The board is set to meet…

Brookhaven Maven

9:08 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013

Again, I will say that all who are concerned about the present and future state of affairs for DCSS should lobby state senators and representatives for the Dunwoody, Chamblee and Brookhaven districts to change the constitution to allow for charter cluster school systems. Brookhaven-Chamblee Unified Charter School System has a nice ring to it. -- The Maven   more ›

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Reviewing DeKalb's Last Search for a School Superintendent

As speculation mounts about Cheryl Atkinson's future, Don McChesney offers his observations on the school board's last search for a superintendent.

Does DeKalb County Need a New School Superintendent?

Dunwoody leaders have been watching the school system's travails for months. Now, Patch wants your opinion on Cheryl Atkinson.

It was a hot topic on Twitter this past Friday, and speculation continues that DeKalb School Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson might soon resign her position or be replaced by the embattled DeKalb Board of Education. The DeKalb Board of Education was set to choose a new chair and vice chair on Monday, but adjourned without doing so. Its next meeting is on Wednesday, Feb. 6, and Atkinson's tenure with the system may come up during the meeting. Leaders in Dunwoody have been following DeKalb's school system troubles for months, and now Patch wants to know: do you believe our local school system needs a new superintendent? Is Atkinson the best person for the job, or is new leadership needed? Related Items: Social Media Ablaza With Speculation …

Betsy Parks

10:06 am on Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Yes! and an appointed temporary replacement BOE members. SIGN and SHARE! http://www.change.org/petitions/governor-nathan-deal-and-georgia-state-board-of-education-review-sacs-findings-if-accurate-replace-the-dekalb-county-school-board   more ›

Monday, February 4, 2013

DeKalb School Board Meeting Monday

Board members will meet at 1 p.m. today.

The DeKalb County Board of Education is holding an afternoon meeting today, Monday, Feb. 4 at the organization's headquarters in Stone Mountain. The agenda does not provide a lot of specifics, but a likely topic is the future of Dr. Cheryl Atkinson, the school superintendent appointed by the board in Sept. 2011. There has been speculation in recent days that she may resign, but this has yet to be confirmed. Current board members are Sarah Copelin-Wood, Jay Cunningham, Donna Edler, Nancy Jester, Melvin Johnson, Jim McMahan, Marshall Orson, Pamela Speaks, and Chairman Eugene Walker. Related Items: Follow Dunwoody Patch's Complete Coverage of DeKalb Schools

Marvin Hightower

3:14 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013

Former BOE member Don McChesney lays out how the process to hire Supt. Atkinson was flawed from the start: http://blog.donfordekalb.com/2013/02/04/179/   more ›

Friday, February 1, 2013

Social Media Ablaze With Speculation About Atkinson's Future

DeKalb school board says there's nothing to confirm or deny.

Twitter is ablaze with rumors that DeKalb Schools Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Atkinson will resign. The DeKalb School Board is currently under probation by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools. Check out what the world of social media is saying about Atkinson's future with DeKalb schools. Related Items: Dunwoody-Chamblee Parents Council Urges Input at DeKalb Hearing Brookhaven-Chamblee-Dunwoody School System? Petition to Oust DeKalb School Board Gains Momentum DeKalb Schools Probaation: 'Upsetting but Not Surprising'

HamBurger

2:45 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013

http://blog.donfordekalb.com/2013/02/04/179/   more ›

Thursday, March 8, 2012

DeKalb Schools need to continue to improve, says group

SACs says district has made strides, but more work ahead

DeKalb County school board members were told Wednesday by an oversight organization that the district would have to continue to improve to retain its accreditation, according to a story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. AdvancED, the parent company of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, put the district's accreditation "on advisement" about a year ago. Since then, the group has interviewed more than a thousand students, parents and faculty members about issues in the district. SACS told DeKalb schools last year to hire a new superintendent. The district has hired Cheyl Atkinson during that period. On Wednesday, SACS called for further improvement in planning, training and creating clear lines of command from top district …

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Daily 10

Daily PatchCast: Atkinson Promises Change, Sandy Springs Bank Robbery, Xerona Clayton Dedication

The day's top headlines for Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Atkinson To Focus On Students, Makes Changes Across System. Riverwood Audit Shows Several Areas Of Concern. Police Investigating Wednesday Morning Bank Robbery. Patch Profile: State Rep. Ed Lindsey Tucker Native Making An Impact At Stanford. Hundreds Celebrate Xerona Clayton Way.

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