That's the good news.
The bad news is that the school board seemed perfectly content to keep Brock aboard, even though he has played a central role in nearly all of the board's high-profile governance debacles and public relations debacles during recent years.
In fact, his not-so-hidden hand in so many of those decisions ultimately is said to have rebounded to the detriment of his own law firm, Brock, Clay, Calhoun & Rogers, to such an extent that his announcement to step back from the board's business reportedly was prompted by associates at his firm - not by the board - according to well-placed sources. As we said, most of the current asleep-at-the-wheel school board is content to continue business as usual.
This is a school system where it seems that no one is ever held accountable except for the lowly schoolteachers. The bigger one's salary, and the higher up one works in the central office, the less accountability there is.
BROCK'S FORTE is education law. He also represents the boards in Fulton and Clayton counties. But he has been up to his elbows in a long string of blundering moves by the Cobb board in recent years. Most are familiar to our readers and need no elaboration here.
And in fairness to Brock, although he made too many errors, there is no question but that he has been saddled with a poorly informed school board that is the least inquisitive local elected body in recent memory.
WE HOPE the board and public will give Doyle the chance he deserves. He is no stranger to education law, having formerly represented the Marietta school board, and is considered one of Cobb's true legal up-and-comers.
Brock's departure is overdue, and there is strong speculation that Superintendent Fred Sanderson may soon announce that he will retire at year's end rather than when his contract expires next summer. But those aren't the only changes needed. Some are in the process of being implemented by the county's voters, and others will hopefully follow once the new board is fully in place next year.
For now, the change in attorneys and the changes being made by the voters offer a chance for a fresh start. We hope the board will make the most of it to repair its shredded credibility with the public.
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Brock made mistakes. Doyle is from the same firm.
Why should we think that will make a difference?
to never look for the Whole Truth, but always print the Half Truth. This editorial certainly
follows that party line.
Sorry MDJ I'm not convinced.
The newly elected school board needs to accept bids for a NEW law firm, not simply a NEW lawyer with the same law firm which has a track record of failing miserably over the years.
Suggesting another lawyer is Brock and Clay's last ditch effort at trying to keep their hand in the pot with the CCSD.
And please, by all means, Sanderson, don't waste any time leaving. You have made an absolute mess of the CCSD. The sooner you leave, the better. Teachers, parents, and children will welcome your leaving early. Let the NEW board determine the NEW superintendent as well.
We will only be off to a positive change when we have BOTH a NEW superintendnet decided by the NEW board AND a NEW law firm decided on by our NEW board who needs to also correct policy on the superintendent's powers making room for open communication between the school district and school board, better checks and balances for more balanced power, and better measurements on spending practices with outside audits (i.e. minus the superintendent's hand in the internal audit as a member of the internal audit committee member...).
Keeping Brock & Clay in the mix will only continue to dirty and spoil the NEW waters.
Don't stop the flow of positive progress by keeping Brock and Clay.