MDJ File Photo by Jon-Michael Sullivan
Photo by Laura Moon
Photo by Laura Moon
MARIETTA — The Cobb County school board voted 4-3 Wednesday morning not to move forward with Kathleen Angelucci’s request to proceed with censuring colleague David Banks.
In other business, the board unanimously approved hiring 30 teachers to alleviate overcrowding in schools; to allow retired administrators to serve on the three-person panel for tribunals when board members are unable to attend; and to hire Christine M. Dinizio as Dowell Elementary’s new principal.
Angelucci said after the meeting that the “censure could have been an important means of distancing this board from Mr. Banks’ counterproductive and unethical behavior.”
“It was imperative that a very clear message be conveyed to every citizen, staff member and employee that they can and should report to the superintendent and board chair all violations of Board Protocols, Board Policies and Code of Ethics witnessed, without there ever being fear of retribution of any kind,” she said.
Board Chair Scott Sweeney, Vice Chair David Morgan, Lynnda Eagle and Banks opposed her request.
Banks said only that the vote “was an appropriate decision.”
Among the reasons Angelucci cited in requesting the censure were the allegations that Banks used his position on the board for personal gain; criticized colleagues and staff in his constituent newsletter, David’s Grapevine, which he sends out on the district’s network; and refused to abide by board decisions.
Eagle asked how Banks’ actions were any different than board member Alison Bartlett’s, who spoke at a forum over the weekend announcing a school calendar proposal even though the district has formed a committee to tackle that task.
“It’s repetitive behavior,” Bartlett said of Banks’ actions. “We have clear policies that we have repeatedly agreed to.”
Stultz, who voted in favor of the censure, asked if there was any way for the district to move forward with a censure without the hearing, but board attorney Clem Doyle said there wasn’t.
Toward the end of the discussion, Sweeney asked board members if they agreed that none of them should be at a school without an invitation. Only Banks said no.
“Well, you have six members who feel differently,” Sweeney said.
In another vote, the board unanimously agreed to hire 30 teachers to help relieve overcrowded classrooms throughout the district.
“The additional teachers are all due to the unexpected growth in the district,” Hinojosa said. “We had almost 1,300 more students than projected … at almost every campus.”
The district will initially take $3 million from the reserve fund to pay salaries for these additions and will pay the account back after Full-Time Equivalent funds come in from the state in either April or May, Chief Financial Officer Mike Addison said.
Sweeney asked if the district knew what caused the increase in students, but Assistant Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Hungerford could not say. She believed some of them were from Imagine International Academy of Mableton that was closed after last school year but was not sure where the others came from.
Sweeney asked that the district look into the enrollment growth.
“We need something in place to try and address this down the road,” he said.
The board also unanimously agreed to allow non–board members to serve on the three-person panels for tribunals.
The request came from Eagle, who said that the hearings are very timely and that the district is often unable to find three board members who can participate. She wanted the option for the district to contact retired administrators to serve if needed.
These individuals would be paid for their service, but that amount was not disclosed during the meeting. Additionally, board members could not say how much training, if any, those selected would undergo before being selected to serve.
In other business, the board approved hiring 15-year teaching veteran Dinizio to be Dowell Elementary School’s new principal. She has been an assistant principal at Sanders Elementary in Austell since 2007 and will start at Dowell on Monday.
Dinizio started her education career as a teacher at Garrett Middle in 1997. She taught for nine years and served for one year as a math facilitator at the elementary level before being an assistant principal.
Her salary will increase to $89,068 from $72,851, according to the district.
The school’s former principal, Janis Komara, resigned from the position last month for reasons the district will not release to the public. Former Cobb Schools Deputy Superintendent Alice Stouder has been serving as the school’s interim principal.
The board also learned more about the $20 million to $30 million in Race to the Top funds that Hinojosa is interested in the district pursuing.
Chief Academic Officer Dr. Judi Jones gave a brief presentation about the Oct. 30 deadline, the four-year time period in which it would be distributed to the district, what they are required to do with the grant money, the focus and goals of the grant and how to sustain the programs and staff positions after the funds run out.
Angelucci asked what strings were attached to the grant, to which Jones said only that teacher and leader evaluation would need to be implemented one year earlier than required by the state.
Bartlett said she was concerned about funding the new programs after the grant ends.
Hinojosa said he understood the concerns but hopes the grant and required programs change the way the district operates.
“It gives us an opportunity to do something different with somebody else’s money,” he said.
The board also discussed, but took no action on, approving short and long term targets for the newly revised Strategic Plan and the document’s format; a recommendation to extend a $900,000 contract for digital video surveillance cameras at elementary and high schools; the reduction of one furlough day sometime towards the end of the school year; the superintendent’s evaluation form; and a Memorandum of Agreement with the Georgia Department of Education regarding Cobb’s four “Focus Schools.”
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And anonymous is right about who the puppet master is.
you have run an awlful campaign.
To the posters who are admonishing the primary candidates that ran against him Banks would have won even if there was only one opponent. He somehow was still able to garner over 50% of the vote. For there to have been a run off he would have had to obtain less than 50%.
I look forward to more Bank's buffoonary over the next four years. Unless he does something egregious we're stuck with him.
- The alternative candidates were not very: Loud, Proud, Active, Out there,Compelling
Being: "Not Holli" worked for Stultz, but didn't quite work for whoever it was that ran against Banks (Hanson? and someone else already forgotten)
It almost worked, but not close enough. Better candidates are needed from Post 5.
Do you know where taxes come from? Net taxpayers like me. Spending tax $ willy nilly is how we get further into US debt - How irresponsible can you be?
You are a moocher of OPM - other people's money!
He proposed a new building for Glover Street, and returning a furlough day to staff even though budget cuts look grave for next year.
In addition to what anonymous says, didn't Banks recently request a pay raise for the teachers and also to draw down the reserves below board policy levels?
His reckless pandering (in addition to the childish behavior you mention) is unacceptable.
Don't know why there's not a stronger push for Cobb County School Board Decertification - Clayton County got decertified for failing to reach a budget - CCSD is much worse!
Thank you for reading.
Atlanta Public Schools
Dekalb Schools
Clayton Schools
Cobb County Schools
empty chair
Bartlett made a suggestion of a calendar as part of an election campaign. There is nothing wrong with campaigning with a calendar as part of the platform. Show us one candidate who hasn't made a statement of preference. Banks also did, but then again, he went back on his campaign promise to support a traditional Labor Day calendar.
Good to see she didn't bother running and will have more time for her yoga classes (the reported reason why she could not attend the meeting where Bartlett was voted in as Chair).
LESSON TO FUTURE BANKS CHALLENGERS: Get in the race EARLY and work it hard to make sure a third candidate doesn't jump in!
- it was a combination of the above:
- candidates running nearly non-existent campaigns
- incumbent at top
- likely shenanigans (after all the public shenanigans he pulls, it would be no surprise to learn of after dark shenanigans)
I believe Banks, like Crooks, touts membership at JFB - perhaps the JFB crowd and take a stronger role in reigning in their own.
Censure is a toothless measure and not worth the time, resources or drama when the focus needs to be on education.
Post 5 voters knew about Banks behavior, and their majority appears to endorse his behavior since they re-elected him.
Mr. Banks had the unmittigated gall to publicly declare that he has a right to appear at any school sans invitation and in violation of board protocols. When he publicly defies rules, it's clear he doesn't care about them which is hysterical considering his disingenuous and constant reference to "I Care."
Post 5 - you've re-elected Banks and saddled the remainder of the county with a bully for four more years.