EDITOR'S NOTE: Below is a selection of responses shared by readers of MDJOnline.com in reaction to recent MDJ stories ...

Cobb school district shifts position on plans to ban media from videotaping board's weekend retreat ...

Hey, Jay wrote: If you're worried about board members having an "open discussion without the distraction of a video camera," you need to see to it that all future board meetings aren't taped. Everybody knows how certain board members strut and preen and bluster for the camera.

2010Bill wrote: Learning how to communicate and work in a group involves changing your personality. If you haven't learned it by the age of the BOE members, then give it up. No need for the taxpayers to pay the bucks for this group of self-centered elected officials. If they wanted a seminar, then do it at Glover Street. Most large corporations gave up off-site training and group retreats with the dot.com bust. This board needs to come up-to-date and get out of the '90s. Be responsible and responsive to Cobb residents.

The board throws away money at ridiculous things and pinches pennies with necessities. Residents are so very, very fed up with their actions. Resign. All of you.

Concerned voter wrote: Great job, Kim Isaza. Crowder-Eagle has the same attitude as John Abraham - bad. These people are highly educated? Only that they think they can make their own rules and break the ones that apply to the system. (Board Chairwoman Lynnda) Crowder-Eagle and Abraham - we all vote - can you say bye-bye? Please keep on them, and the grand jury to continue to investigate them.

Old Vet wrote: Where is (former board member) Kathie Johnson when you need her?

What a joke wrote: It's outrageous that they are even going ... too much money is being spent on this! Are you kidding me? They need a retreat to learn about communications? And then Crowder-Eagle throws (schools PR Chief Jay) Dillon under the bus, ha! And then she has the arrogance to "bring it on"! I think my high school freshmen classes (I teach) are more mature than they are!

What a bunch of blubbering, self-serving, arrogant, pompous, idiots!

Curious wrote: I will likely watch the videotaped retreat and be entertained to see what dumb things David Banks says, how confused Dillon is, Abraham trying to keep his silence, Holli Cash and her cheers and Crowder eating her peas - what a waste of time and expense this retreat will be.

NE Cobb mom wrote: I find it so interesting that the CCSB just recently put a parent questionnaire up on its Web site. This has to be in response to the bad judgment calls of the board, the less than flattering PR, and the taxpayers shouting that the board is ignoring them as constituents.

The questionnaire is a farce. It is so skewed with questions, not the real issues that the board members should be asking parents. It is just another smoke bomb put out there to cover up all the problems within the organization.

I can hear (Superintendent Fred) Sanderson now: Let's throw a survey out and let the parents THINK we care about what they're saying. It really is an insult to us all.

Anonymous wrote: Gimme a break. So Jay Dillon just randomly comes up with an answer that no one agrees with? More likely he was told to say "no cameras" by a certain chairperson and when it got a bad review, then everyone jumps on the messenger instead of the person responsible. This board will never agree or work together. Sad for the kids and the community.

Eazie wrote: What's interesting regarding this $6,000 weekend retreat is when you look at the average Cobb County teacher's salary of $52,747 (provided from the district's Web site), divide that by the number of days in a year, 365, you come up with $145. That would pay for 42 teacher's salaries for one day or pay one teacher for 42 days. With all the concern about budget shortfalls, teacher furloughs and budget cuts, why spend money when they could have a workshop session covering the same topics for little to no money in town. Interesting.

Heidi Toombs wrote: Jay when are you going to learn that LCE will throw you under the bus any time she can? We all know what she told you to say. Jay - time for a new job!

Frankie58 wrote: This BOE is beyond a joke! From Crowder-Eagle back pedaling, trying to make it look like Dillon was "confused" to trying to get the chamber involved in this mess called a "retreat."

I can't wait to see what's next with this bunch!