Former DeKalb board member on school chief search: Hidden political agendas and dubious choices
Former DeKalb school board member Don McChesney has a new essay on his blog criticizing what he deems the flawed and politically driven process that led to the 2011 hiring of Cheryl Atkinson to lead DeKalb schools.
McChesney raises his concerns now because he presumes that the DeKalb board will be embarking on yet another search because Atkinson appears ready to bolt. Neither Atkinson nor the school board will confirm her resignation, but it certainly appears that the board is interviewing interim candidates, including former labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond.
(McCheseney lost his seat to Marshall Orson in November.)
Some of the machinations that McChesney describes are a normal part of any major candidate search. I also think it’s been shown that Lillie Cox, the front runner who withdrew from consideration, was not driven away by school board antics, but was more interested in a job closer to home. In less than two weeks of withdrawing her name in DeKalb, she took the top …
McChesney raises his concerns now because he presumes that the DeKalb board will be embarking on yet another search because Atkinson appears ready to bolt. Neither Atkinson nor the school board will confirm her resignation, but it certainly appears that the board is interviewing interim candidates, including former labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond.
(McCheseney lost his seat to Marshall Orson in November.)
Some of the machinations that McChesney describes are a normal part of any major candidate search. I also think it’s been shown that Lillie Cox, the front runner who withdrew from consideration, was not driven away by school board antics, but was more interested in a job closer to home. In less than two weeks of withdrawing her name in DeKalb, she took the top …