The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current, September 22, 2016, Image 15

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Newspaper Page TextCHAM PJO M EDUCATION Sept. 22-28, 2016 • Page 15A DeKalb County School District board member Stan Jester opposed a decision to designate John R. Lewis Elementary colors and mascot. Board member Marshall Orson introduced a recommendation designating John R. Lewis Elementary School’s official colors as royal blue and silver as well as its official mascot as a jaguar. School colors, mascot disputed by DeKalb school board member Board member Stan Jester contests procedure in adopting John R. Lewis Elementary’s royal blue, silver and jaguar by R. Scott Belzer sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com Board member Stan Jester voted against designating John. R. Lewis Elementary’s official colors and mascot at the DeKalb County School District’s (DCSD) Sept. 12 meeting. Jester warned the district about his dissent during the board’s business meeting, which would have designated the school’s colors as royal blue and silver. In addition, the school’s mascot officially would be a jaguar. Jester said his disagreement is rooted in the district’s policies and regulations regarding the overall naming and meeting process. Specifically, Jester mentioned the number of people in attendance, the misrepresentation of an individual as a district employee, an absence of meeting minutes, an inadequate number of meetings and a lack of public ballot. Jester mentioned similar reasons for voting against the naming of John R. Lewis Elementary and Barack H. Obama Magnet School of Technology. According to the school district’s website, a meeting concerning the school’s colors and mascot took place on Aug. 16 and 11 people were present. This included board member Marshall Orson as well as school administration officials, principals and parents. “We had a meeting; we had 11 or 12 people present; we had a discussion; various ideas were proposed,” Orson said. “The colors royal blue and silver along with the [jaguar mascot] was the conclusion and the majority vote of the people in the committee.” Orson, who serves on the school’s naming committee and presented the item, said the meeting and what took place at the meeting is completely legitimate. Orson clarified the individual named by Jester—Regional Superintendent Rebecca Jackson—has been on the naming committee since its inception. He also stated the missing minutes could be presented upon request. He said official documents do not include an 11th person. “To the extent the documentation was prepared, the minute, finite detail, or minutiae of the detail, is not there,” Orson said. “The people assembled and there was a robust approval of the blue and shade of blue. This is only a recommendation and the board can change the color should they choose to do so. This was met with approval by the people assembled.” Jester said requests for details regarding the naming committee’s meeting began in late August. “[Joyce Morley] asked for them a couple of months ago,” Jester said. “What’s going on here? As chair of this committee I hold [Orson] responsible.” Jester proposed delaying the decision on John R. Lewis Elementary’s colors and mascot until proper documentation is produced. “This is not accurate whatsoever,” Jester said. “If you seek to delay a school having their school colors and mascot, you’re free to make that motion,” Orson said. “The only people that will be negatively affected by that motion are the children at that school, but that’s [Jester’s] prerogative.” Jester cited official school policy when stating “the superintendent shall enact administrative regulations for the selection of school colors and mascot to be implanted whenever a new school is to be open.” “The committee shall meet at least three times in a four-month period,” Jester said. “[Regulations say] minutes shall be maintained. Did we do that? Can you tell [the board] about those meetings? It says you’re to meet three times about the mascot and colors.” Orson said he is not obligated to respond to any questions from a fellow board member and said he refused to engage with Jester’s “antics.” “We’re breaking policies left and right,” Jester said. “Are we not going to follow board policies and regulations anymore? We’ve broken every policy and regulation we have [about school naming and mascots].” Orson said the process followed proper procedure and said certain policies and regulations do not apply to board members. “Adminstrative regulations provide a guidepost,” Orson said. “These are administrative regulations. They do not govern the board. This committee worked hard and came to consensus. At the end of the day, if [Jester] has an objection, he can voice it and vote on it. We have a responsibility to those children to give them colors and a mascot so they are fully invested in their school.” Jester said he did not have a recommendation and the overall decision of the board rested with each individual board member. “Are we going to follow policy as a board or follow policy whenever we feel like it?” Jester asked. The decision to make John R. Lewis Elementary’s official colors royal blue and silver and its official mascot a jaguar passed four to one with Jester opposing.

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The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current, September 22, 2016, Image 15