Jonesboro, GEORGIA

Only three school districts have lost their accreditation in the U.S. in 20 years. The Clayton County School District in Jonesboro, Georgia, might be the fourth.

If they don't lose their accreditation, then accreditation isn't worth the 20 lb. photocopy paper it's reproduced on.

August 2, 2008 - An 2,300-page report on the Clayton County School District was delivered Thursday to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The outside audit of the district was submitted to SACS to avoid losing their accreditation.

SACS investigators will return to Clayton Aug. 14-16. SACS has given the district until Sept. 1 to meet nine mandates or lose accreditation.
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TT - The Atlanta Journal -Constitution does not link to the report submitted to SACS. The 2,300-page document was released to the newspaper on Friday through an open-records request. The audit, which was completed as part of the accreditation plan, looked at the district's employment practices. The report found continuing problem areas, including questionable hiring policies, a string of unethical behavior by school board members and board members who went around the superintendent and violated board policies.

The audit found incomplete personnel records and "inconsistent and questionable hiring, promotion and compensation decisions." Randy Reece, a former human resources chief for Cobb and Fulton County schools, interviewed 14 top employees who said board members pushed for the hiring of teachers, paraprofessionals, substitutes and coaches who were not qualified.

Employees also complained about board members changing employee termination recommendations to suspensions and creating unbudgeted positions.

From numerous accounts, it has not been uncommon for board members or former superintendents to contact administrative staff regarding a board member's desire to have relatives hired, or the relative or child of a community member," wrote auditors with the Investigative Accounting Group in Marietta.

The latest report acknowledges that several board members have resigned and one was removed. However, several of the board members criticized in the report still serve on the board.

Board member Rod Johnson's wife, teacher and state Rep. Celeste Johnson (D-Jonesboro) collected a paycheck from the district while she was at the Capitol, instead of taking leave. She later paid the district back $1,858.

Board member Norreese Haynes, who also served as the Metro Association of Classroom Educator's (MACE) director, used his position as a board member to gain "unusual access to information." That information was turned over to his boss, union chairman John Trotter. Trotter also pressured staff to hire teachers fired from other districts, Reece's audit found. Hayes is no longer a board member.

From the January 2008 report that recommended the district lose their accreditation:

In particular, the Metro Association of Classroom Educators (MACE) actively presents opposition to the decisions and policies of the Clayton County Public Schools. MACE promotes and encourages action against the school district and individuals employed by the district. For example, MACE publishes lists of of employees of the school district that, in the opinion of MACE, should be dismissed from employment. The executive director of MACE is a member of the Board of Education and endorses such actions.

The January 2008 SACS report PDF

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) website
What accreditation can mean for students from their website.

The current school board here.

In a July 2008 editorial, the newspaper urged voters to "save Clayton's name, future"

First up for Clayton voters are five school board contests. One problem is that many candidates in the runoff are educators or school employees. Ideally, parents should be the dominant voice on school boards rather than current or past school employees.

The election turnout runs around 21%. Fewer than 75 residents showed up to listen to 15 candidates.

From another story on the election, one reason for the low turnout was suggested.

people are on vacation, Georgia refuses to adopt a more sensible month, such as May or September. Those in office would hold elections for an hour on Christmas morning if they could — because they know that a paltry turnout minimizes their risk of defeat. And whether the post is U.S. senator or county surveyor, the No. 1 priority of the officer holder is to get re-elected.

Citizens ought to rise up and demand that their state legislators schedule elections at times when more voters are likely to show up.

It looks more like the rotten candidates than the timing, however.

Previous TT coverage here here and here
This is the second time in five years Clayton County’s accreditation has come under question.