School board a no-show at public hearing
News August 20, 2018DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Public hearing or public embarrassment?
The Lumpkin County School Board advertised for a public hearing and invited citizens to speak about a tentative tax increase last Monday then declined to listen to a single word they had to say.
Four of the five board members were present when the work session started. Mera Turner was absent. But before the public hearing started, the four disappeared into a backroom and did not emerge until the public hearing ended.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Brown conducted the public hearing, despite the fact that a quorum was not present. Three speakers rose to be heard in a room absent of their elected officials
Questioned about the highly unusual situation Brown defended the board. “The board is not required to be present,” he said. (Public hearings) are for the superintendent to receive comments from the public.”
Some would argue that public hearings are for citizens to address their elected officials and for those officials to consider what the citizens have to say.
Dahlonega Mayor Sam Norton said, “It doesn’t make much sense for your elected officials not to be there for a public hearing. It defeats the purpose. The reason for you to have a public hearing is to gather public input. It’s an information opportunity not only for the public to be aware of what you’re doing but for you to be aware of public sentiment.”
In a Facebook posting Saturday, school board member Craig Poore said, “Just because I was not at one meeting does not mean that community input was not important to me. Monday during the hearing we were in executive session and had further business to attend to so we sent our representative to the meeting to report back to us.”
But that does not pass the smell test.
School boards, county commissions and city councils all across Georgia routinely hold public hearings on the same day as executive sessions. They simply open the public hearing, listen to citizens’ comments, close the public hearing then go into executive session. It is not that difficult. Monday’s public hearing lasted only about half an hour.
Poore continued his Facebook rant by inviting citizens to “Come by the tire store and sit down with me let’s talk about the issues, or call me, email, or just stop me in Walmart. Hey that’s my job it’s not going to bother me. I always appreciate people taking interest in our schools and children.”
One county official who asked not to be named said the meeting was not a legal meeting because no quorum was present when the public hearing was held. If he is right, any action taken at the meeting can be rescinded, and fines could be imposed on the board as well as the individual members.
The same official added, “I’ve seen these things done right and I’ve seen them done wrong. Sometimes they get called out on them but most of the time they just keep on moving and no one knows the difference. I don’t think that is right.”
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Lumpkin County School Board tackles school safety
News March 1, 2018
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – In the aftermath of the shooting that killed 17 students and faculty in Parkland, Florida, and threats to “shoot up” schools in White, Dawson, Hall, Forsyth and Gwinnett counties last week, an anxious community filled the meeting room at the Lumpkin County School Board office Wednesday to discuss the only item on the agenda: school safety.
School Superintendent Dr. Rob Brown opened the meeting by saying, “School safety is the first consideration in every decision we make. We want to have an open conversation to include thoughts and ideas from everyone.”
In the two hours that followed, parents, teachers, law enforcement officials, school counselors, social workers and representatives of city and county government participated in a free-wheeling, constructive dialogue. The overwhelming sense of purpose that filled the room was “not-in-my-schools.”
Ideas that were explored included installing additional video monitors and metal detectors, locking all doors and having one single entry point, manned guard shacks at all schools as a first-line of defense and being more diligent about getting troubled kids help or getting them out of school.
Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said, “Every measure you put in place is a good measure. The more stringent they are the better.”
Georgia Mountain Education Charter High School Assistant Superintendent Tracy Sanford said, “There is no foolproof plan.” However, he cautioned school officials not to limit their attention to guns. He pointed out that the shooters who killed 13 people and injured 20 others at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999 intended to use a bomb to blow up the school. He said the next tragedy could be a truckload of fertilizer driving into a school building.
Sheriff Stacy Jarrard discusses security at Lumpkin County Schools during the Board of Education meeting.
Sanford praised the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office: “As you all know, I work with 15 counties and their SROs (school resource officers). I guarantee this is by far the best and easiest to work with in north Georgia.”
Arming teachers is an issue that has sparked heated debate at the national level. Four of five Lumpkin County School Board members said they are open to the idea if a teacher is willing and has extensive firearms training. Only Craig Poore did not support the idea.
Brown said mental health issues have been at the root of many of the active shooter incidents the nation has experienced over the last couple of decades.
He said the school staff has been proactive in trying to address that issue. “Our social worker and school counselors have been offering a Parent Education Night since last spring to address an issue that is very, very important when we talk about school safety,” Brown stated.
Brown commended school social worker Joni McElwaney. “She works directly with families to ensure they know what community resources are available to them. She is usually the first one our administrators contact when they know there is an issue with a child, especially if there is a mental health concern,” the superintendent added.
The school board is expected to review the ideas presented and begin to implement some, or all, of them as soon as possible.
Another recommendation was that schools become more diligent in getting rid of students who cause trouble. Board member Mera Turner said state law makes that issue extremely difficult for educators to address. State law requires that every student be given a public school education until they reach the age of 18, or 21 if they are in a special education program.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Sheppard, Mayfield, Turner Win Lumpkin County Races
News, Politics July 27, 2016
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — All Lumpkin County General Primary runoff races resulted in landslide victories last night. Veteran law enforcement officer Jim Sheppard coasted to victory in the coroner’s race, beating challenger Amanda Jones-Holbrooks 1,704 to 462. Bobby Mayfield defeated incumbent District 2 Commissioner Steve Shaw 1,596 to 549 and longtime educator Mera Turner beat Catherine Ariemma 1,597 to 719 to win the vacant school board seat.
After his resounding win, Sheppard said, “I’m honored the Lumpkin County citizens have elected me to represent them as their next coroner. The campaign has been a humbling experience, one filled with new friendships and discovery. As your Lumpkin County Coroner, I’ll work hard daily to maintain the honor and integrity that you expect of me. Thank you for my supporters who never gave up, especially my wife Rhonda and my daughter Anna who were with me each and every day of the campaign.”
Jones-Holbrooks was plagued by personal and legal problems. After winning the General Primary last May, she was arrested and charged with first-degree forgery, a felony one week before the early voting began. Lumpkin County authorities are also investigating a complaint of theft by deception leveled against her by her ex-husband.
After two terms on the Board of Commissioners, Shaw suffered the same fate as many incumbents across the state and nation in his loss to Mayfield, who captured 74.4 percent of the vote.
Turner, who captured 68.9 percent of the vote en route to winning a seat on the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners, said, “I am looking forward to serving on the Board of Education now that voters have selected me to see that Lumpkin County continues to provide a quality education for all students. I appreciate all that helped me achieve this position.”
Mayfield, Sheppard, Turner Win Runoff Elections
News July 26, 2016
In Tuesday’s General Primary runoff races, Bobby Mayfield defeated incumbent District 2 County Commissioner Steve Shaw 1,596 to 549. Jim Sheppard captured the coroner’s race, beating Amanda Jones-Holbrooks 1,704 to 462 and Mera Turner was elected to the school board, besting Catherine Ariemma 1,597 to 719. All results are unofficial until certified by the Lumpkin County Elections Office on Friday.
Lumpkin School Board Introduces New Superintendent
News June 7, 2016
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — The Lumpkin County Board of Education met in regular session Monday and introduced the school system’s new superintendent — Dr. Robert Brown.
Brown replaces Dr. Dewey Moye who has retired after 35 years of working in the local school system, including 12 as superintendent.
Brown has an impressive background in education, serving as a middle school and high school teacher and coach, high school assistant and principal, executive director of high schools and superintendent of schools. Most recently, he served as superintendent of the Jeff Davis School System.
He holds a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Alabama, a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Jacksonville State University, a B.S. in Physical Education & Health from Carson-Newman College and a B.A. in Psychology from the same institution.
I spoke to Dr. Brown before the meeting and he made it crystal clear where he stands on the Obama Administration’s guidelines regarding the use of bathrooms and locker rooms by transgender students. Those guidelines state that transgender students be allowed to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity.
But Brown said, “We won’t have girls going into boys’ bathrooms or boys going into the girls’ bathrooms,” he said. “They will use the bathroom of their own sex as designated on their birth certificate.”
But Brown added that schools would do their best to make all students comfortable in their own skin.
Caroline Stewart presented a review of the school system’s general fund balance sheet for the period ending April 30, 2016 which showed total assets of $8,933, 630.48, total liabilities of $3,599, 424.29 and a fund equity of $5,334, 206. 19. The year to date SPLOST collections are down from $1,284, 833 in 2015 to $1,248,832, a difference of $35,996.
The Board decided to wait until after the runoff election between Mera Turner and Catherine Ariemma to fill the vacant District 1 seat.
Voters Elect Dockery to Second Term as Chairman
News, Politics May 25, 2016
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — Chairman Chris Dockery was re-elected to a second term on the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners Tuesday.
The Army veteran received 2,089 votes to defeat District 1 Commissioner Doug Sherrill who had 1,692 votes.
Dockery said the one thing he most wants to accomplish in his second term is to build a better relationship between the city and county. “That is important,” he said. “What we do as a county impacts the city and what the city does impacts us. So, we have to work together.”
Dockery is a business owner who has held many leadership roles in civilian and military life.
“I’ve commanded troops in peace time and in war time overseas,” he said. “That experience prepared me. There is nothing like leading men when their lives are on the line. I’ve also held leadership positions here in the county. I chaired the Development Authority for several years and served as Vice Chair of the Water Authority.”
David Miller beat Bill Scott 2,150 to 1,430 to win the District 1 County Commission seat.
All other local races will have to be contested in the June 26 runoff.
Bobby Mayfield, who had 1,511 votes in Tuesday’s County Commission District 2 race, will run against Steve Shaw who had 1,187.
Long time teacher Mera Turner and Catherine Ariemma will also meet in next month’s runoff. Turner had 1,668 votes to Ariemma’s 1,152.
Amanda Jones won the closest race of the day beating Jim Sheppard by just 18 votes. Jones had 1,262 votes to Sheppard’s 1,244. Incumbent coroner Ronald Fortner finished a distant third with 1,014 and Diane Kimmel had 246. Jones and Sheppard are headed for the runoff.
Lumpkin County Republican Party Forum Board of Education District 1
Politics May 2, 2016
BOE Candidate District 1 Jay Sessions
BOE Candidate District 1 Mera Turner
Standing-room-only crowd greets Lumpkin County Candidates
News, Politics April 27, 2016
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — The standing-room-only crowd that attended Tuesday night’s candidate forum at the Lumpkin County Parks and Recreation facility learned a lot about the people asking for their votes in the May 24 Republican Primary.
One thing they learned was that political opponents can highlight their differences and make a case for their election without attacking one another.
In an informative,well-organized and respectful two-hour question and answer session, candidates for Board of Commissioners Chairman, Board of Commission Districts 1 and 2 and Board of Education District 1 put their best foot forward.
The evening began with Commission Chairman Chris Dockery and challenger Doug Sherrill front and center.
Sherrill said he decided to leave his Dist. 1 seat to run for chairman because he believes the Board needs new leadership.
“My number one leadership skill is I’m a father,” Sherrill said. “I’ve served as the District 1 commissioner for 3 and a half years, I chaired our Board of Health here, I’ve been pastor at a number of churches and been a youth pastor. I’ve also coached youth sports.”
Dockery outlined his military leadership. “I’ve commanded troops in peace time and in war time overseas,” he said. “That experience prepared me. There is nothing like leading men when their lives are on the line. I’ve also held leadership positions here in the county. I chaired the Development Authority for several years and served as Vice Chair of the Water Authority.”
Both believe the Comprehensive Land Use Plan needs to be updated and that private property rights are not adequately protected.
Bill Scott, who is running for the District 1 seat vacated by Sherrill, was out of town on business. His opponent, David Miller, joined District 2 candidates DJ Wight, Bobby Mayfield, Carlton Smith and incumbent Steve Shaw in answering questions.
Miller said if he’s elected, he wants to work with Northeast Georgia Hospital System and Chestatee Regional to develop a medical facility at the intersection of Hwy 60 and Ga. 400 where NGHS already owns 52 acres.
“Hospitals don’t just attract surgeons,” he said. “They also attract many support service jobs that pay $15 to $20 per hour.”
Wight, a former Army Ranger whose responsibility was to deploy a 12-man combat squad anywhere in the world within 18 hours, made a strong case for his ability to attract new businesses to the county.
“I own a real estate business that helps retail businesses find a place to relocate,” he said. “I have 2,000 customers, 200 of which are municipalities. I help them to recruit retailers to their area which is what I want to do as commissioner. For example, in the last 15 years, we haven’t had a good grocery store here.”
Shaw shrugged off that suggestion saying, “If grocery stores were going to come here they would already be here.” Shaw added that he and several commissioners had already recruited grocery stores unsuccessfully. “Not only can we not get a grocery store, we can’t even get a Firehouse Sub.”
Wight drew a laugh from the audience when he countered with, “If every time somebody told me I couldn’t do something I just tucked my tail, rolled over and peed on myself, I wouldn’t have accomplished anything.”
The laughter turned to tears when School Board candidate Mera Turner was asked if teachers should be held accountable for the success of their students.
“To a certain extent, yes,” she said. “But some students come with more skills than others. Some of them, because of their situation of being homeless and needing food, it’s very hard for them to concentrate on what you’re teaching. when they’re worried about where they are going to sleep that night or what they’re going to have to eat. That’s very sad to me.”
After a lengthy pause, tears streamed down her cheek, her voice cracked and she continued, “We can do better for our kids than what they’ve been getting. If I’m on the board that will be one of my passions.”
Her opponent Jay Sessions said, “There is a point where if there is a continuous departure and continuous flow of parents coming to the administration and the Board of Education with complaints about teachers, that’s when they need to be held accountable.”
Both said they opposed Common Core, but Sessions said it was something that teachers would have to get used to.
Catherine Ariemma was out of town and unable to attend.