Author Archives: Stan Jester

GOP Governor Runoff – Kemp has the Mo

On Tuesday, July 24, Georgia will hold a primary runoff election. Republican Brian Kemp and Casey Cagle will go head to head to see who will face Democrat Stacey Abrams for Governor in November.

Georgia Governor Election Race

In recent weeks, a tape surfaced showing that Casey Cagle supported legislation in order to prevent one of his opponents from getting campaign support. The legislation expanded a tax credit for Student Scholarship Organizations. I realize that there are people on both sides of this issue. Regardless of your opinion on this legislation, or any other issue, I hope we can all agree that it is shameful to use children and parents as pawns in order to direct or prevent specific campaign donations.
Subsequent to the revelations in the tape of Casey Cagle’s conversation with former candidate Clay Tippins, several former candidates running for Governor have endorsed Brian Kemp. Both Hunter Hill, who finished third, and Clay Tippins, have endorsed Brian Kemp. Georgia Speaker Pro Tem, Jan Jones, has also endorsed Brian Kemp. Of course, Nancy and I endorsed Sec. Kemp quite early on in this run-off and did so on the basis of his character and commitment to the people of Georgia.
Brian’s plans for education in Georgia center around doing what is best for the individual child. He joins those of us that think students and teachers are burdened by too many standardized tests. He wants to reduce this burden. He knows that our educational funding formula remains outdated. He knows that Georgia still has problems with educational standards and curriculum. He knows that Georgia educational outcomes need to drastically improve.
If you voted in the May 22 primary, you must vote in the same party’s primary for the runoff. Voters who didn’t participate in the primary may choose to vote in either the Democratic or Republican runoff.
For specific times and locations for early voting, find your county’s information here.

DeKalb Teachers Get a 2.5% Raise And Start Stepping

DeKalb teachers will get a raise and start stepping.

Teachers

Teacher Salary Schedule

Phase 1 Teacher salary schedule 2018-2019
Phase II (DRAFT) -DCSD Teacher Pay Schedule 2018-2019

Phase 1 – July 1, 2018 – 2.5% across the board pay raise.
Teachers, Counselors, Social Workers, Psychologists, Librarians/Media Specialists, OT/PT/ST.
$17,170,646.00 for Phase 1-with benefits included

Classified staff to include the following: Bus Drivers, Custodians, Food Service Workers, Nurses, Bus Monitors, Paraprofessionals/Teacher Aides, Bookkeepers in the school, Campus Supervisors, Secretaries in the schools, Clerks in the schools, Interpreters in the school, Information Technology Technicians at the school, Registrars, Receptionists at the school, Liaisons at the school, Administrative Assistants at the school, School Healthcare Workers.

Phase 2 – January 2019 – approximately $6.2M
Implement the NEW Step Structures for Teachers, Counselors, OT/PT/ST and Classified Staff positions (those positions listed above) as well as the Classified Staff at the District Office –not school-based

Note: Phase II salary structure has not been approved by the board yet.

Phase 2a – January 2019 – 2.5% raise across the board – approximately $250K
Chiefs, Deputy Superintendent, Regional Superintendents, Associate Superintendent, Executive Directors, Directors, Principals, Assistant Principals and all other District Office Staff – not school-based.
$6,479,732.00 for Phase 2/2a