Newspaper Page Text
The Champion, Thursday, March 26 - April 1, 2015 EDUCATION
PAGE 18A
School board member faces
allegations of violating protocols
Board of Education council member Marshall Orson responds to alleged violation.
by Ashley Oglesby
ashley@dekalbchamp.com
The DeKalb County
Board of Education will
consider at its next meet
ing whether board member
Marshall Orson violated
board policy, according to
a statement by Board Chair
Dr. Melvin Johnson.
“Recent news reports
and communications from
stakeholders of the DeKalb
County School District have
raised important and serious
allegations that Marshall Or
son...has violated the prin
ciples and protocols in the
board member handbook as
well as board policy,” John
son said.
According to the board
handbook, possible repri
mands for violating policy
could include a written no
tice, an order to complete
professional development
courses and a public cen
sure.
Orson is responding to a
report by CBS 46 news that
said he has been secretly
supporting Atlanta annexa
tion.
The CBS 46 report said
Orson had met multiple
times with annexation ad
vocates, and now Rep. Karla
Drenner of Avondale Es
tates wants him investigated.
Drenner told the Atlanta
CBS affiliate that a constitu
ent filed an open records re
quest and obtained Orsons
emails, passing them along
to her.
In the report, Drenner
said, “When I read these
emails, I was surprised by
the fact that a member of
the DeKalb County school
board appears to be in sup
port of decimating DeKalb
County schools.”
DeKalb Strong, an or
ganization that is against
Atlanta annexation efforts,
released the emails on its
website. They show email
conversations between Or
son, Together in Atlanta
representatives, and Atlanta
City Councilmember Alex
Wan.
A CBS 46 reporter asked
Orson about statements
that could be interpreted as
pro-annexation in his emails
such as, “This is a complex
issue which, if not handled
properly, runs the risk of pit
ting the school community
against annexation.”
In another email, Orson
appears to write to Wan and
Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver
D-Decatur, “As we all have
discussed at various times, a
key to a successful annexa
tion push will be to keep
school attendance zones
intact, particularly Fernbank
and Briar Vista.”
Orson said in the CBS
report his emails are being
misinterpreted and it’s his
responsibility as a public of
ficial to gather information
from as many people as pos
sible.
Board of Regents approves mission statement for consolidation
In the next step in con
solidating Georgia State
University and Georgia Pe
rimeter College, the Board
of Regents of the University
System of Georgia on March
18 approved a new mission
statement to reflect the mis
sion of the consolidated in
stitution.
The mission statement
for Georgia State University
was developed through an
process involving stakehold
ers from Georgia State and
Georgia Perimeter.
“Georgia State Univer
sity, an enterprising public
research university, trans
forms the lives of students,
advances the frontiers of
knowledge and strengthens
the workforce of the future,”
the statement. “The univer
sity provides an outstanding
education and exceptional
support for students from all
backgrounds. Georgia State
readies students for profes
sional pursuits, educates
future leaders, and prepares
citizens for lifelong learning.
Enrolling one of the most
diverse student bodies in the
nation at its urban research
campus, at its vibrant branch
campuses, and online, the
university provides educa
tional opportunities for tens
of thousands of students at
the graduate, baccalaure
ate, associate, and certificate
levels.
“Georgia States scholar
ship and research focus on
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solving complex issues
ranging from the most
fundamental questions of
the universe to the most
challenging issues of our
day. The scholarly work
and artistic expression of
the university’s faculty cre
ate new knowledge, extend
the boundaries of imagina
tion, and enhance student
learning. The university’s
presence in the Atlanta
metropolitan area provides
extraordinary experiential
learning opportunities and
supports the work of faculty
tackling the challenges of
an urbanizing nation and
world.”
DEKALB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
PUBLIC BUDGET INPUT MEETING
FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30,2016
Wednesday, April 1,2015
TIME LOCATION
5:45 p.m. J. David Williamson Board Room
Administrative & Instructional Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd.
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
The DeKalb County Board of Education will hold a public budget
input meeting to solicit feedback from the public regarding the
2015-2016 school system’s budget.
FOR INFORMATION, CALL THE OFFICE OF THE
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT 678-676-0069.