About Dunwoody reporter. (Sandy Springs, GA) 20??-current | View Entire Issue (April 5, 2013)
COMMENTARY Reporter Newspapers Brookhaven Reporter I Buckhead Reporter Dunwoody Reporter I Sandy Springs Reporter www. ReporterNewspapers. net Published biweekly by Springs Publishing LLC 6065 Roswell Road, Suite 225 Sandy Springs, GA 30328 Phone: 404-917-2200 • Fax: 404-917-2201 ABOUT US Our /ni,i,non i,i to provide our reader,! with fresh and engaging information about life in their communities. CONTACT US PUBLISHER Steve Levene Steve levene® re porter news papers, net MANAGING EDITOR Joe Earle joeearle® reporter newspapers, net ASSOCIATE EDITOR/ DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER Dan Whisenhunt danwhisenhunt@reporternewspapers. net STAFF WRITER Melissa Weinman me lissawein man® re porter news papers, net COPY EDITOR Diane L. 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For locations, check “Where To Find Us” at www.ReporterNewspapers.net For delivery requests, please email delivery@reporternewspapers.net. © 2013 With all rights reserved Publisher reserves the right to refuse editorial or advertising for any reason. Publisher assumes no responsibility for information contained in advertising. Any opinions expressed in print or online do not necessarily represent the views of Reporter Newspapers or Springs Publishing, LLC. 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. www. ReporterNewspapers. net DUN
