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8 | APRIL 5-APRIL 18, 2013 I
Fixing our schools will create a
foundation for a high-quality dty
As an elected official and active community participant, I
am regularly asked about our collective vision for the city over
the next quarter century. Any answer to that question should
include doing what it takes to build and maintain a high-qual
ity infrastructure that will last well into the future for the ben
efit of all citizens, both today and the next generation.
One important component of our municipal infrastructure
extends beyond the basics of repaving, intersection improve
ments, storm water systems, parks and public safety. The crit
ical piece I’m referring to is our public schools.
Parents have an obligation to educate their children. While
the public school system is not the only avenue for that edu
cation, it is an important foundation block that helps define
a high-quality city.
When the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
issued its earlier warnings and more recently, the probation
ary status to the DeKalb County School District, many Dun-
woody residents (parents of school children and empty-nest
homeowners) all realized a critical threat to our infrastructure
had been breached.
These accumulated warnings not only served as a wake-up
call for many in Dunwoody, but also as a catalyst for Dun-
woody City Council to push the exploration of an indepen
dent school district for Dunwoody to the top of Councils
2013 legislative agenda.
Rep. Tom Taylor (R-Dunwoody) shouldered the responsi
bility of creating and submitting House Resolution 486 to al
low new cities to form their own school systems. This resolu
tion may open the door to the creation of a Dunwoody school
district as a potential solution to possible accreditation failures
and improving the quality of public education for every stu
dent in Dunwoody.
Representative Taylor’s resolution was further supported by
City Council when we agreed in principle to allocate up to
$50,000 to help fund a feasibility study of a Dunwoody city
school system.
This is a positive step forward in helping achieve our vi
sion, but the road ahead on this initiative is long and filled
with many obstacles to overcome. The earliest a new school
system could be created would be well after any student now
in high school graduates.
City Council’s legislative agenda and Representative Tay
lor’s introduction of HR 486 coincided with the formation
of the community 501 (c)3 Dunwoody Parents Concerned
About Quality Education - concerned parents and residents
who are similarly passionate and concerned about the state of
our schools and our control over their fate. We must explore
and exhaust all our available options.
As an elected leader and parent of a Dunwoody High
School sophomore, I am part of a community neither willing
to wait idly on the sidelines, nor gamble that the remote pos
sibility of uncontrollable events will not occur.
In addition to the city partnering with Representative Tay
lor and citizens forming explor
atory organizations, I have also
worked with the Dunwoody High
School Council and other influ
ential individuals to make inroads
with Interim Superintendent Mi
chael Thurmond as well as sever
al newly-appointed school board
members.
Specifically, these outreach re
quests are about securing option
al, dual accreditation of Dun
woody High School to provide a
safety net for our graduating high
school students to protect against
the worst case scenario of SACS.
DeKalb college-bound students need this additional pro
tection. Securing approval from the superintendent and/or
school board on this optional, additional accreditation for
DeKalb County high schools, including Dunwoody High, is
critical.
We strongly believe that all DeKalb high school commu
nities, through their school councils, should pursue option
al, additional accreditation on a single-school basis, such as
through the Georgia Accrediting Commission. No central of
fice funds or central office involvement is required, beyond the
superintendent’s approval allowing the high school principals
to proceed, for this to happen.
As this optional, single-school accreditation involves only
local high schools, it will not interfere or impede the broader
school district governance issues under way with SACS. Plus,
it is not uncommon for schools across the state to hold more
than one accreditation.
Our schools are important — for economical, personal and
societal reasons. Schools help form the foundation of young
minds and provide the tools for future generations of leaders.
A high-quality school system also leads to improved economic
development in our business areas and supports property val
ues for all in the city.
While what we are in the process of accomplishing is daunt
ing and inherently challenging, this mirrors why we became a
city four years ago. We wanted local control over our very pre
cious resources. That is why it’s important to act now and to
gether pledge to affect relevant and considerable change.
Not too long ago many residents and politicians said city
government couldn’t “really” affect the schools. I’m happy
to say that this City Council and its individual members are
working hard to change that paradigm. And that change will
help us all realize a vision for achieving the high-quality infra
structure we expect.
Terry Nall is an At-Large member of Dunwoody City Council.
He is a CPA and a financial services industry executive.
TERRY
NALL
GUEST COLUMN
Weinman nominated for Press Club award
Reporter Newspapers staff writer Melissa Weinman is a finalist for an Atlanta Press Club Award of
Excellence.
Melissa is one of three finalists chosen for the club’s “Rising Star Award” for journalists younger than 30.
David Michaels of The News Enterprise and Atlanta Unfiltered, and Jonathan Shapiro of WABE were also
named finalists for the award.
The winner will be announced April 16 at a presentation at The Commerce Club in downtown Atlanta.
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DUN
