As of Monday, January 14, 2013
© Copyright 2013
Rockdale Citizen
Rockdale County Superior Court Judge David Irwin recently swore in the newly elected and reelected members of the Rockdale County Board of Education. Irwin, bottom left, is pictured with board members, clockwise from back left, returning members Wales Barksdale and Brad Smith and new members Tony Dowdy, Sharon Pharr and Mandy North. The school board also named Jim McBrayer as its chair for the year and Brad Smith as its vice chair. Staff Photo: Michelle Floyd
Rockdale County Superior Court Judge David Irwin recently swore in the newly elected and reelected members of the Rockdale County Board of Education.
More like this story
- Newly Elected Board of Education Members ( January 27, 2011 )
- BOE welcomes new members ( January 17, 2009 )
- School board honors Dugan ( January 6, 2011 )
- Joking judges ( June 14, 2012 )
- Rockdale school board recognizes Gant ( February 2, 2012 )
Comments
1ayk 4 months ago
Good luck you guys, you're going to need it!
ladydawg 4 months ago
The public school system needs help! Parents need to be more involved and support the education of their children. We want and need for our children to be productive citizens and a great education is important. Congratulations to the BOE and let's improve our schools.
hotdog 1 month ago
unfortunately the parents who need to be the most involved are the least involved.
will 4 months ago
Its going to be racial, not one black on the board. How can Dowdy be on this board he has not credentials to support this position. Do they do background checks on elected positions or drug test like they do for county positions such as teachers and staff at schools.
Elmo 4 months ago
Therein lies the problem...everyone thinks of "race" fist, and leadership and administration last. That tends to make the task pseudo-adversarial from the beginning.
When the day comes that we consider the good of the children, community and country without the consideration of the whims generated in the cultural divide, we might get somewhere.
Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!
hotdog 1 month ago
No everyone does not think of race, i am sure these are all fine people....however the board should be a reflection of the student population served.
AJK 4 months ago
Actually, Katrina Young is still on the BOE and she is Black.
Dowdy is on the Board because he was elected....by the citizens of Rockdale County.
After the November election, you're going to tell us about credentials? LOL
As for background checks, I know for a fact background checks were done on all of the BOE candidate back in July. Let's put it this way, the candidates with questionable backgrounds didn't get elected.
Perhaps you should Google or Bing O.C.G.A. 20-2-51, Georgia's law concerning "Election of local board of education members; persons ineligible to be members or superintendent; ineligibility for local boards of education; ineligibility for other elective offices."
will 4 months ago
One with a questionable background got elected and thats a fact.
1ayk 4 months ago
To Will. Did Oden and Nesbit have any creditials except for being a cetain color and representing a certain party? And these two are spending our tax money!
1ayk 4 months ago
How can it be racial. The voters voted didn't they? That's what the blacks are saying about this inept new government that is here now!
will 4 months ago
I,m saying that the black people will make it racial because there is not a black on the BOE, that is how they roll. This school system will never come back to its glory days, its too far gone to the free lunch crowd. I still cant believe Dowdy was elected, no credentials except arrogance and that gets you nowhere.
AJK 4 months ago
I'm glad you clarified your previous post.
hotdog 1 month ago
You can not speak for what black people will or wont do neither can I....if these are the people the county voted for then we as citizens of this county have to support them regardless of color
hotdog 1 month ago
Not claiming it to be racial but to answer your question, it could be racial depending on the drawing of the districts...but it probably is not
ctownslimm 4 months ago
Dear new school board members. Please do us all a favor and review discipline records of High schools and middle schools. Look at offenses committed by students and actions taken by administrations. Ask yourself "how much is enough?". If you want scores and grades to increase, you will do something about all of these problem students who are getting away with terrible behavior. If you want the good families of this county to let their high scoring kids go to these schools, you need to make the schools safe and remove the disturbances. It will take guts and brains. And the school system attorney usually advises against both from what I can tell.
ladydawg 4 months ago
According to the latest rankings, Rockdale County schools rank 40th out of 164 districts. Is that great? No, definitely could be improved. However, we can certainly try to push things in the right direction versus insinuating the world is ending and there is no need to even bother to educate your children as it's a waste.
trOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL 4 months ago
^^^ lefty grove here just did what all the libs have adapted to doing to take make a point that means 100% nada! Lets point out one small little good/bad stat and then preach about it????That sure is some good logic.
we are 40th out of 164 in a state that is 50th overall, typical bs stats. 66% graduation rate we sure are turning around when half are lucky to make it to the 12th grade.
hotdog 1 month ago
Georgia ranks 45th based on SAT scores (source: http://gaeducation.blogspot.com/2008/08/2008-sat-results-released-georgia-ranks.html)
Georgia ranks 41st based on Morgan Quinto Smartest State (2006-2007) (source: http://www.morganquitno.com/edrank.htm)
Georgia ranks 47th based on Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate for Public High School Students (source: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/2007/section3/table.asp?tableID=701)
ladydawg 4 months ago
Gosh, I hate to disappoint but I'm not a "lib" nor a televangelist. However, I do tend to make fact based observations and you are incorrect that GA is 50th overall. But I would expect that some people don't take the time to determine what is accurate. Carry on.
travelingman 4 months ago
ladydawg, your ignorance is showing. GA is usually ranked 49th or 50th in the nation. Ignoring the facts won't change anything. Your "if we don't know it already, we ain't interested in learning" mentality is precisely the reason our academic ranking remains so low. For example, you more than likely, can't tell me who in 1775, a 23 year old postal rider, rode 350 miles on horseback from Boston to warn the colonists that the British were invading. George Washington led nine battles but only won three. You can't even get to the Rose Bowl with a record like that. People are not concerned about accuracy. Politicians aren't concerned with education. If they were they wouldn't get elected. We can change things for the better. It's so easy, but we need to admit the truth first.
ladydawg 4 months ago
Oh Traveling Man! Never in my entire 41 years has anyone ever called me ignorant or insinuated that I was stupid.Your response elicited chuckles but I will play along. I'm not sure where you were educated, but I'm quite certain I never said public schools ( or local schools) are in fantastic shape. On a broader scale, the U.S lags behind many modern countries in education so that certainly indicates an issue within our educational system and culture. If you speak with CEOs, many will tell you that it can be incredibly challenging to find the talent that possesses the skills and technical qualifications to perform certain jobs. It's a sad and unfortunate reality. Again, I have no idea what kind of sites you are pulling data from that say Georgia is 49th or 50th in education. Perhaps it's the same manner Manti Te'o found his ,ahem, girlfriend. Georgia is traditionally in the mid 30s. The state models of public education are generally Massachussetts and Maryland, with states like Virginia and NJ usually close behind in rankings. Of course those states have cities that are exceptions to the rule. I don't know if you know where any of those places are, but there is certainly a precipitous drop off after you get past the top 5 or so. And in Georgia? Check out the top 15 districts. I have a friend who is a high school teacher in one of those and her students consist of a 19 year old freshman, a 16 year old expecting her 4th child, and some other sad scenarios. Are they all bad kids? She says many are nice kids.. But if parents aren't proponents of educations then it does make it a bit more challenging for the educators to support them. You know, education isn't always REVEREd (hint), but it is in my house. And I agree, much work needs to be done within the education system as a whole. However, you can either complain or participate, and as a parent I choose to participate.
travelingman 4 months ago
Your answer is REVERE and that is exactly what I've been trying to say all along. Your answer is incorrect as predicted. You missed it by a mile. Actually you missed it by 331 miles. Education is important but although people give lip service to the value of education they resist it vehemently. You don't look for education in this country bumpkin county.
Elmo 4 months ago
The nice thing about America is, you don't have to live in a "country bumpkin county" if you don't like it...bye!
Elmo 4 months ago
Ladydawg, don't let TM rattle you. Again he's attempting to impress the board with his "education" like an impotent man bragging about his conquests.
He keeps a copy of his GED pinned up next to his on-line university certificate on his bathroom walls for motivation in his self-gratification romps through academia.
The only way he can see himself as "intelligent" is to imply that everyone else on the board is "ignorant".
He's yet to make a valid point about anything other than spelling, grammar, and typos.
Southside 4 months ago
I don't care who you are, that right there is just funny
ladydawg 4 months ago
I love that Traveling Man dodged "facts" and failed to address specifics. Of course we can all strive for the educated gold standard and use the word "ain't." Speak for yourself in regards to education being lip service-don't speak for the intelligent people.
travelingman 4 months ago
ladydawg, are you really that easy? It's no contest with you. Do you seriously regard yourself as one of the intelligent people when you can't accurately answer a simple historical question? No one else was able to answer it either. When you ride the bumper cars do you first look to check the rear view mirror? Do you have difficulty applying your mascara while driving the bumper cars? Do you complain because the bumper cars don't have valet parking? Do you complain about the road rage that the other bumper car drivers display? You just don't get it.
Elmo 4 months ago
Ladydawg's posts make a lot more sense than any of yours....bumper cars? really? Did you ask you parents if it was ok to post on this forum?
hotdog 1 month ago
Did the fact that Sarah Palin got roasted on this question offend you? Do you feel smarter?? In 1775 actually if you are a traveling man who was Prince Hall? In 2013 perhaps we can all come together regardless of perceived intellect and political correctness and try to do what is best for the children of RCPS....and not what is in the best interests of a select few.....I would like to see more vocational type programs implemented for the children who do not wish to attend college
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