School board promotes employees, hires new public relations firm
- 8/9/12
- Categorized in: DeKalb News, Education
The DeKalb County School Board voted to move several employees into consolidated central office positions but decided to freeze their pay raises, pending a review later this year.
Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson asked the board to promote three department directors to executive directors of their departments, which would give them increased responsibilities in the newly structured positions.
The board voted to appoint Sherry Everette, former director of the curriculum and instruction division, to executive director of her department; and Dan Drake, the former director of forecasting and planning in the operations division, to the executive director of transportation and planning of operations. Joyce Wimberly, formerly the director of school nutrition, will become the executive director of school nutrition; and former facilities, planning and construction director Joshua Williams will serve as the executive director of facilities management.
In late 2011, the district approved a plan to streamline and restructure the central office, which is expected approximately $5 million. In the process, also district officials expects to lay off 70 central office employees.
Board members didn’t oppose the promotions but several, such as Nancy Jester, voiced opposition to any promotion that included a pay raise and suggested the board focus on “the schoolhouse” instead.
“I’m not inclined to approve a move internally that comes with a pay raise,” Jester said.
However, board members approved the promotions after member Paul Womack made a compromise and suggested that they approve the promotions but freeze their pay at the director level pending further review by the end of September.
Additionally, the board approved the hiring of a new public relations firm beginning Aug. 1 and continuing through Dec. 31, at a cost of $96,000. Dickerson Communications will manage internal and external communications for the district.
The board also hired Cynthia Bricston as a regional superintendent. Bricston currently serves as an assistant superintendent in the Greene County School District in Greensboro, Ga.
This is not the way to start off a new school session. The morale of the teachers is at an all time low. The school board, along with superintendent Atkinson are constantly taking away all the gains and promises made to the teachers, while they are promoting and giving raises to their own. This is not right superintendent Atkinson. A true leader leads by example.
Make no mistake, the Dekalb County School System has the most qualified and dedicated teachers in the state of Georgia. Both of my children are products of the Dekalb County School System and are successful adults. Teachers should not have to suffer every time the so-called school board mismanages tax-payer s money. This has been going on too long and needs to stop. Some of the voters of Dekalb County have already expressed their displeasure with certain school board members by voting them out…that was a good start…NOW WE NEED TO FINISH!!!!!