This is just the latest black eye for our school system, and frankly, we're running out of eyes. I could write for days about the debacle that is the DeKalb County School System. Cronyism? Check. Indictments? Check. Lawsuits? Check. Nepotism? Check. Mismanagement of tens of millions of dollars? Check.
I wrote this email to our Superintendent and Board members today. If you feel so inclined, please do the same...
Dear Dr. Atkinson and Board Members,
As a DeKalb County resident and parent of two students in a DeKalb County school, I'm writing you to express my astonishment that taxpayer funds were mismanaged by the county to the tune of a $41 million shortfall. I'm almost speechless. Almost. As you all are well aware, this is just the latest black eye for education in DeKalb County. It's getting to the point where I am scared to open the newspaper or look online to discover what shoe is next to drop. In my children's school (Evansdale Elementary), parents donate countless hours to support the faculty and staff, donate tens of thousands of dollars to support our education foundation, and yet, we're left shaking our heads at the chronic mismanagement on the county level. We - the parents and students in DeKalb County - are your constituents, and you have to understand that we are at our wits end. Many in our neighborhood have given up on the county and enrolled their kids in private schools. I don't want to do that. My wife and I are ardent supporters of our local schools, but our children's education comes first. To say that our patience is wearing thin would be a huge understatement.
So, I need to know - what is the plan of action to implement oversight, safeguards and accountability to ensure that a disaster of this magnitude never happens again? As you know, this past November, voters took a leap of faith to vote in another SPLOST for DeKalb education. If this $41 million debacle had come out before November, do you think that measure would have passed? Please -- don't fail our students again.
Sincerely,
Jason Hatfield
Cell: 678.571.6723
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Well-said, jason.
ReplyDeleteExpresses my sentiments as well. Good job, Jason.
ReplyDeleteJason I totally agree. I was run out of my child's school by an administrator who has been mismanaging PTA funds and has arrived at his position through nepotism. As a long time resident in Dekalb I have pledged my support for Dekalb for over 20 years. However, after my personal encounter with the principal at Narvie J. theme school and his threats to me as a mother I have decided I can no longer drag my kids through the mud in Dekalb. When will it end?? The answer is that... unfortunately.. it won't.
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