Sunday: Education Day in Dunwoody

This Sunday has turned out to be a day dedicated to the education of our children in Dunwoody.  I have stayed away from all of the education and school debates in the past.  The reason was pretty clear and logical to me.  My kids attended Marist and it never felt quite right for me to stick my big nose into an issue where I was not truly a stake holder. 

With the recent events at the BOE and Tom Taylor’s bill   that would allow new independent school districts, we all have a stake in what is happening with education in DeKalb.

First, Sunday at 4 PM, there will be a Public forum to discuss “Improving Education in Dunwoody”.

The forum will be held in the Felowship Hall at Kingswood United Methodist Church. 
I am sure the conversation will be lively and passionate. I am also sure it will be crowded

DHA Board Meeting

Sunday, March 3rd

7:30 pm

Cultural Arts Center Room 4
Announcements and introduction of distinguished visitors
1. Approval of minutes for February 2013
2. Presentation and discussion with DCSS Interim Superintendent Michael Thurmond (tentative, based on his travel plans. Will re-schedule to April, if necessary)
3. Presentation from Matt Hagan, Regency Centers
4. Presentation and discussion with Michael Starling, City of Dunwoody Director of Economic Development
5. Discussion of DHA Resolution to support Rep. Tom Taylor’s HR486
6. Discussion of Summer Concert Series
7. Dunwoody Preservation Trust – Lemonade Days Sponsorship
Votes as needed on any motions during Board only session

At 7:30 Sunday night the DHA will be holding its monthly meeting at the Arts Center on Chamblee Dunwoody.  Topics on the agenda include both the discussion of Rep. Taylor’s House Bill 486 and a visit from Michael Thurmond the new Superintendent of DeKalb County schools.  That I can assure you it will be PACKED.  If you want a seat, get there early.

My feelings on all of this now are that I do not think Tom’s bill will pass.  I am probably wrong but getting a resolution to pass and then getting all the votes and voters in the State to approve it, is a VERY tall mountain to climb. While I am strongly in favor of HB 486.  I grew up in Paramus NJ.  Paramus had its own School Board as did every town around it.  A County School system never made sense to me.  So while I favor it, my political sense tells me it has less than a 35% chance of moving forward.

Replacing the School Board, while I believe was absolutely necessary, does cause and raise some serious constitutional questions.  Voter nullification should never be taken lightly.  Our worst nightmare will be those that were ousted (except for Nancy) will be reelected.  Then what do we do?  Anytime someone can nullify the vote of the public, we should be concerned.  I am not a constitutional lawyer so we will all await the outcome of the Federal Court case that will follow.