Don McKee
Sanderson asserted: "The process of approving a system calendar in February 2011 was legal, but did not represent the spirit of effective governance." He said the board was "hasty in raising the issue and voting to replace a three-year calendar that had been approved by a prior board, and had been in effect only five months."
Although he conceded that the newly elected board members campaigned on changing the calendar (to a more traditional, later start date), he said they "should have recognized their first priority on being sworn in was to become acclimated to and informed about district operations and trained in the basics of school board leadership and effective governance."
Bottom line: Sanderson blames the new school board majority for taking immediate action to change the calendar - restoring a later start date that had been in effect before the previous board, thanks to two flip-floppers, voted 4-3 for the early start.
The most ironic part of this misguided SACS inquiry is that it shifts the focus from Sanderson, the real issue, to the board majority for doing the job it was elected to do. Under Sanderson's "love it or lump it" policy, he has made decisions without informing the board. For example, he changed the grade for the Iowa Test of Basic Skills from eighth to seventh grade without a word of debate or discussion by the board in 2009.
His policy has been to not tell the board of such changes but instead post them on the district's web site and send word to the schools. Ditto his decision to introduce the "standards-based" 3-2-1 grading system in kindergarten and first and second grades without a vote by the school board.
Now Sanderson and other proponents of the "balanced calendar" like to cite a district website poll showing overwhelming support for it. However, after the 3-2-1 decision came to light, it was learned that Sanderson deceptively kept under wraps for six months a survey showing overwhelming opposition to the change. That came on the heels of the disclosure of a longstanding policy of closed-door board meetings in violation of state law.
The root of the problem in this SACS thing is that the board minority and the proponents of the "balanced calendar" cannot stand not having their way. The result is all manner of complaints to the SACS, aimed at making the board majority pay for the calendar vote.
It's not the school board that needs fixing. If members fail to do their job, they will face the voters in the next election. This thing is backward. Instead of the board answering to the superintendent, it's supposed to be the other way around, SACS or no SACS.
dmckee9613@aol.com
Follow us on Twitter!
http://www.gsba.com/Resources/eBoardsmanshipManual/Chapter2
Domain I: Governance Structure
1. Recognize that the authority of the board rests only with the board as a whole and not with individual board members and act accordingly.
2. Support the delegation of authority for the day-to-day administration of the school system to the local superintendent and act accordingly.
3. Honor the chain of command and refer problems or complaints consistent with the chain of command.
4. Recognize that the local superintendent should serve as secretary, ex-officio to the board and should be present at all meetings of the board except when his or her contract, salary or performance is under consideration.
5. Not undermine the authority of the local superintendent or intrude into responsibilities that properly belong to the local superintendent or school administration, including such functions as hiring, transferring or dismissing employees.
6. Use reasonable efforts to keep the local superintendent informed of concerns or specific recommendations that any member of the board may bring to the board.
I don't know if Sanderson is right or wrong. But he called it as he saw it. And, we do have a mess on the board.
By the way, we have excellent schools and that is not dependent on the calendar, the legal representation on the Board, or artificial turf on the football fields. All those are issues that need public oversight. But we are letting all the brouhaha over the shenanigans of the board and the calendar threaten the education of the children. Get a grip.
Weak and spineless board---
Non-existent guidance from legal counsel!
Sanderson has acted with malice and in total insubordination. He should be canned NOW for cause and left to initiate and punch his cause through a civil lawsuit over whatever he still thinks he might be entitled to receiving from the CCSD. He has failed the people of Cobb County, as well as and sabotaged the CCSD BOE...and CCSD BOE legal counsel did dang little to try to prevent such BS from occurring (any competent legal counsel worth their salt could have seen this coming)!