Category Archives: DeKalb County School District

DeKalb's Challenges Ahead for 2016

Posted on December 30, 2015 by | 6 comments

Nancy Jester outlines DeKalb’s challenges ahead for 2016. Below is an excerpt from the article published in this week’s Crier.

Commissioner Nancy Jester

Jester outlines DeKalb challenges ahead for 2016
By: Nancy Jester

As the New Year approaches, I’d like to share my thoughts about what DeKalb County issues you should watch for in 2016.
The budget for 2016 must be reviewed, finalized, and approved by the Board of Commissioners by March 1st. The proposed budget included no change in the millage rate for unincorporated DeKalb.
For those citizens living in cities, your county rate is lower than the unincorporated areas and is dependent on which services your city receives from the county. The good news is that most cities should see an overall decrease …
I continue to believe that the county is overstaffed and inefficiently managed. So despite some positive news for the incorporated areas of DeKalb, the budget is not aligned with the leaner more efficient service delivery strategy that I favor…
I am particularly concerned with an effort in the General Assembly to increase the taxes of newly formed cities via House Bill 711. The legislation would create a new special tax district for unfunded pension liabilities of DeKalb County…
We’ll need to keep an eye out on the proposal for the e-SPLOST V. The school district has shown a stunning lack of planning capabilities over the last 20 years of e-SPLOST. Trailers and poor conditions have proliferated in some areas while new schools were built where enrollment severely declined. The details of the proposal will determine whether it is worthy of support.
As always, DeKalb is in need of economic development outside of the perimeter area. The county and school district must demonstrate that they are capable partners by improving the business climate and academic achievement levels in DeKalb. These improvements must be coupled with a dedication to rooting out corruption and unethical behavior and practices that have plagued DeKalb for too long. Only when DeKalb is seen as a successful, ethical government and school system will real progress take hold.
Most importantly, I wish you and your families a healthy, safe, and prosperous New Year.
Continue Reading at The Crier >>

 
Public Meetings to Present Redistricting Options to Address Cross Keys Overcrowding
Revised 12/22/2015
DeKalb County School District will be holding three (3) public meetings to present redistricting options to address overcrowding in the Cross Keys Cluster. The community will have an opportunity to voice their comments on the proposed options at these meetings. The affected schools include Montgomery ES, Huntley Hills ES, Ashford Park ES, Cary Reynolds ES, Dresden ES, Montclair ES, Woodward ES, Briar Vista ES, Fernbank ES, Laurel Ridge ES, McLendon ES, Avondale ES, Chamblee MS, Chamblee HS, Sequoyah MS, Cross Keys HS, Druid Hills MS, Druid Hills HS, Warren Tech, Oakcliff Theme. Final recommendations on redistricting will be presented for approval at the March 2016 Board Meeting.
Meetings will be held:

  1. Thursday, January 14th 2016, 6:00 pm at Sequoyah Middle School – 3456 Aztec Road Doraville, GA 30340
  2. Tuesday, January 19th 2016, 6:00 pm at Druid Hills High School – 1798 Haygood Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
  3. Thursday, February 11th 2016, 6:00 pm at Cross Keys High School – 1626 N. Druid Hills Road NE Atlanta, GA 30319

 
House Bill 711
House Bill 711 will provide for the retirement of certain pension obligations; to provide for definitions; to provide for the creation of special districts under certain circumstances for a limited period of time; to provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations; to provide for certain taxation in connection with the retirement of such obligations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

DeKalb E-SPLOST V
The proposed fifth Educational Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (E-SPLOST V) will be a continuation of the one percent sales tax currently paid on the sale of good and services sold in DeKalb County. A joint resolution will be developed between the DeKalb County School District, the Atlanta Public Schools and the City Schools of Decatur for the approval of a project list to be presented to the voters via formal referendum in November May of 2016 [Note: data was recently changed on DCSD website]. If approved by the voters of DeKalb County, E-SPLOST V sales tax collections would commence on July 1, 2017 and sunset on June 30, 2022.

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Posted in DeKalb County, DeKalb County School District, Nancy Jester

School Council Fact Sheet

Posted on November 26, 2015 by | Comments Off on School Council Fact Sheet

Stan Jester
DeKalb County
Board Of Education

Frequently, I receive questions related to the roles and responsibilities of School Councils. This post is meant to provide more information about School Councils so all schools and communities can better understand their purpose and function.

School Councils and Principals are the gateway to the community. School Councils shall provide advice and recommendations to the school principal, the board of education, and superintendent on any matter related to student achievement and school improvement. The board of education shall respond to each recommendation of the school council and provide all information not specifically made confidential by law.
Purpose of School Councils
Georgia’s A+ Education Reform Act of 2000, O.C.G.A. § 20-2-85–86, required that school councils be established at every public school. School councils are policy-level advisory bodies to the Principal, Superintendent, and Board of Education. They may advise and make recommendations on any matter related to school improvement and student achievement. The purpose of school councils is to “bring communities and schools closer together in a spirit of cooperation to solve difficult education problems, improve academic achievement, provide support for teachers and administrators, and bring parents into the school-based decision-making process.”
Who Serves on a School Council?
Law requires that parents be the majority of the members. It still, however, allows flexibility in the membership of a school council. At a minimum, a School Council is composed of seven members:
•  The Principal
•  Two certificated teachers elected by the teacher 
•  Four parents (or guardians) elected by the parents; two of the parents must be businesspersons
•  Two businesspersons, selected according to the school council’s bylaws
The school council may, within its bylaws, increase the number of members as long as the parents remain the majority.
What are the Roles and Responsibilities of School Council Members?
All members of the School Council are accountable to the constituents they serve and must:
• Maintain a school-wide perspective on issues,
• Regularly participate in School Council meetings,
• Participate in information and training programs,
• Act as a link between the School Council and the community,
• Encourage the participation of parents and others within the school community, and
• Work to improve student achievement and performance.
The meeting minutes of the School Council shall be made available to the public, for inspection at the school office, and shall be provided to the School Council members, each of whom shall receive a copy of such minutes within 20 days following each School Council meeting. All school councils shall be subject to Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50, relating to the inspection of public records, in the same manner as local boards of education.
“The councils shall provide advice and recommendations to the school principal and, where appropriate, the Board of Education and Superintendent on any matter related to student achievement and school improvement, including, but not limited to, the following:”
• School board policies;
• School improvement plans;
• Curriculum and assessments;
• Report cards issued or audits of the school conducted by the Office of Student Achievement;
• Development of a school profile which shall contain data as identified by the council to describe the academic performance, academic progress, services, awards, interventions, environment, and other such data as the council deems appropriate;
• School budget priorities, including school capital improvement plans;
• School-community communication strategies;
• Methods of involving parents and the community;
• Extracurricular activities in the school;
• School-based and community services;
• Community use of school facilities;
• Student discipline and attendance;
• Reports from the school principal regarding progress toward the school’s student achievement goals, including progress within specific grade levels and subject areas and by school personnel; and
• The method and specifications for the delivery of early intervention services or other appropriate services for underachieving students.
How do School Councils Conduct Business?
• All meetings are open to the public.
• School councils must meet four or more times a year as stated in their bylaws.
• A quorum, which is a majority of the members, must be present at the meeting.
• The council may appoint committees, study groups, and task forces.
• Meetings are subject to the Open Meetings Act.
• Records are subject to the Open Records Act.
What is the Role of the Principal with School Councils?
The school principal shall:
• Perform all of the duties required by law and the bylaws of the council;
• Communicate all council requests for information and assistance to the superintendent and inform the council of responses or actions of the superintendent;
• Develop the school improvement plan and school operation plan and submit the plans to the school council; and
• Aid in the development of the agenda for each meeting of the council after taking into consideration suggestions of council members and the urgency of school matters.
• An item may be added to the agenda at the request of three or more council members.
What is the Role of the Board of Education with School Councils?
The Board of Education shall:
• The Board of Education shall respond to each recommendation of the school council within 60 calendar days after being notified in writing of the recommendation.
• Provide all information not specifically made confidential by law, including but not limited to, school site budget and expenditure information and class sizes by grade.
• Designate an employee of the school system to attend council meetings when requested.
• Receive and review the school council’s annual report.
• The central administration shall respond to requests for information from a school council.
• The members of the school council shall be afforded an opportunity to present information in support of the school council’s report or recommendation; and
Are School Council Members Required to Have Training?
The law requires each Board of Education to provide a training program to address the organization of school councils; their purpose and responsibilities; applicable laws, rules, regulations and meeting procedures; important state and local school system program requirements; and a model school council organization plan. The law also requires that additional training programs be offered to school council members annually to assist school council members in the performance of their duties. State Board rule 160-3-3-.04 allows professional learning funds to be used for school council training.

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Posted in DeKalb County School District, Legislation