* Why hasn't Mr. Beverly printed letters to editors submitted to The Citizen?

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Fayette Co. Board of Education

Why hasn't Mr. Beverly printed letters to editors submitted to The Citizen?

Fri, 07/11/2008 - 10:28pm

By: fairandbalanced

Dear Editor:

Quoted below are statements from the Clayton County SACs report:

“Board members have become regular fixtures at the administrative building, and have insinuated themselves into every aspect of the school district…Board members subjected the administrative staff to insults, accusations, and derogatory comments…Board members routinely acted beyond the scope of their legal authority by holding their own meetings with constituents, staff and administrators…Board members discussed with their constituents issues that should have been referred to administration or staff.”

Unfortunately, Fayette County has at least one Board Member who fits all the above statements. Information, based on an Open Records Request, shows that Marion Key does all of the above.

Marion Key makes numerous unannounced visits to all schools (except whatever the reason – North Fayette Elementary). She constantly disrupts principals and central office directors and coordinators by meeting with them – always unplanned. She demands resumes of high level administrators she dislikes (based on voting against them). She talks about these administrators to school personnel, and even the newspaper, trying to convince others that certain administrators recommended by Dr. DeCotis are not qualified to do their jobs.

Marion Key demands copies of numerous documents such as who gets paid overtime, personnel transfer requests, personnel recruitment documents, rejected applications on salary requests, payables under $300 for contracted services, and copies of invoices.

Marion Key complains about school boundary changes, and as an individual board member tries to change boundaries outside of official school board meetings. She also forces personnel to justify academic adoptions outside regular scheduled curriculum meetings with central office curriculum specialists.

Marion Key needs to refrain from her many years of attempts at micro managing before SACs has complaints on her as it has on Clayton County Board members. Actually, electing Marion Key to the Clayton County Board of Education would be a much better idea than re-electing her to the Fayette County Board of Education.

Respectfully,

Juliette Babb

I worked for many years

Submitted by suggarfoot on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 6:16am.

for a very large company who's stock was mostly owned by one family. They would call in all the time so you never knew who you were talking to. It unnevered you sometimes, but it kept us on our toes. I was a good employee, but once in a while, I like everyone else, would fall into going through the motions. Looking back on it, they were pulling us back into place and keeping us with a healthy respect for our jobs and company. That family is long gone and so is so many things that made Delta Airlines great.

Since then, I've worked a couple of others places, and always, when someone is checking up and you know it, it makes such a difference.

We are lucky to have Marion Key micro managening, if that is the way you want to put it. I don't think you could ever compare Marion Key with anything from Clayton County.

Accreditation is the point.

Submitted by Pinhead or Patriot on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 7:08am.

FCBOE isn't owned by a family. It is owned by the taxpayers/property owners of Fayette County. Our property values are falling due the economy. Do you think it will help if SACS starts an investigation that could cost our school system its accreditation? The consequences are all to the the students and teachers! Graduates won't be eligible for some scholarships and teacher's retirement is in danger.

Did the family you worked for pay anyone to supervise you? Didn't you have a manager or supervisor who kept you on your toes?

Every school system employee is supervised by someone. It is not the role of a board member to supervise or intimidate employees. It may be okay with you. but it isn't okay with the agency that accredits the school system.

Pinhead, Delta was the company

Submitted by suggarfoot on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 8:49am.

and the Biedenhorns of Monroe, La. were the family. Yes, there were supervisors. I don't think you have ever worked out in the real world. No matter where you go, you have to answer to someone. If you do your job well, each and every day, then you have no problems with ...who...and ...when... someone is checking.

Marion Key is a kind person and I can't imagine her doing anything without sincerity and compassion. You make her sound like she swoups down like an avenging angel. I'm sorry you feel that way, but, the cold hard fact is that the rest of us just don't share your feelings. I think you are making a mountain out of a mole hill.

We have real problems, schools built in the middle of no where, BOE buying 100 acres next to it, hoping to hawk it developers. She was the lone voice against this. I hope that she and Mr Todd, get voted some help to keep this sort of thing from happening again.

We also have a real problem with redistricting that has to be dealt with so these kids are not moved every year or two. The schools in the middle of no where only made this worse.

And you want to worry about Marion checking out the schools?

You need to get out more.

Suggarfoot, OldBeachBear, too bad or whatever name you are using

Submitted by Pinhead or Patriot on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 9:14am.

You missed my point completely so let's start over. You are right, no matter where you go, you have to answer to someone. Do you really think that unless Marion Key pops into the building, nobody is doing anything? There are over 30 locations with employees to be supervised in the FCBOE. According to your illogic, they would all be asleep at their desks (or trucks or busses or computers or maintenance facilities) if it weren't for fear of the kindly old Grandma Key popping in occasionally. Likewise, in a company the size of Delta, just in case a Biedenhorn touched base, nobody from the top down at Delta did what they were supposed to do either.

Like Delta, the school system has supervisors who are responsible for evaluating employees
Unlike Delta, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools can take away the school systems accreditation for meddling by board members

Unlike Delta, the Biedenhorns don't own the business, ALL OF THE TAXPAYERS own the business

A little bit like Delta, the local economy suffers when something bad happens to the company

Unlike Delta, if one board member abuses her position, the whole system suffers: property owners, teachers and students.

Unlike Delta, graduating seniors won't have to worry about graduating from a non-accredited school when they apply for college.

Unlike Delta, teachers won't have to transfer to an accredited system to be eligible to participate in the teacher retirement system.

You are the one who needs to get out more.

Pinhead/citizenblogger/rnsnell

Submitted by suggarfoot on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 9:47am.

you are really streaching and giving it your last bit of venom to abuse Marion Key. The problem is, we agree with her and we are all going to vote for her. She is a kind woman with our children's best interest at heart.

You want to control so bad, and it ...R.E.A.L.L.Y... shows.

You are trying to switch the public's attention from the very real problems you have created, that being

1. schools in the middle of no where that children will have to be
bussed a long way to.

2. 100 acres next to these schools, that can only be sold to developers, there by filling up the schools, and making it a whole waste of the taxpayers money in regard to helping overcrowding in the areas like PTC

3. We now have too many schools, and not enough 'little butts' to fill them. Making a lot of us feel is why you don't get rid of the out of county kids.

You need to face the fact, you have lost already and go gracefully into the sunset. You should have never ran again, you are going to make a fool out of yourself. Wait till the votes are in!

Suggarfoot

Submitted by rm.snell on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 2:32pm.

Would you please let Mr. Beverly know which name you want to use to identify yourself? Suggarfoot or OldBeachBear. It seems that you stopped using Oldbeachbear after all of the racial hating against black people you were spewing. You were over the top in some of the comments you made and I thought you might get banned. (Wished you would be banned) I was wrong. I thought that The Citizen only allowed the use of one name? Am I wrong in this Mr. Beverly?

Hey Snell

Submitted by Pinhead or Patriot on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 3:09pm.

How can we convince Suggarfoot/OldBeachBear/HeadRagg/Too Bad that we don't have to pretend to be more than one person just because she does?

Pinheaded Snell

Submitted by suggarfoot on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 4:03pm.

you seem to want to talk about how bad you think Marion Key is because some employee didn't like her comming to a school. That seems to be the only bad thing you can say about this woman.

But, you seem to ignore talking about the schools in the middle of no where and the 100 acres and some schools crowded and some with empty spaces. PLEASE tell us...

1. what is your take on where the new schools have been built?

2. Do you think it is good that the BOE bought extra land around the school with the idea of reselling it?

3. What do you think about redistricting

You have told us very little about your views on this subject. What are they? I think these are fair questions.

Suggarbeachragg - oops you did it again

Submitted by Pinhead or Patriot on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 10:33am.

Problems I have created? You must think I'm a board member but I'm not.

And that's why I'm going to vote for Marion Key

Submitted by bad_ptc on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 12:23am.

It has become obvious that Marion Key is attempting to look out for the Fayette County tax payer.

I personally don't care if she pulls a school principle out of locker combination duty to get the information she needs.

She works for us!

As per many posts on here, The Citizen, the Fayette County BoE has been non-responsive to the tax payers.

"And the times they are a changing!"

A budget of $200,000,000+ deserves all the attention it can get.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools cares...

Submitted by Pinhead or Patriot on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 7:16am.

Be careful about not caring about board member behavior...even if nobody files an ethics complaint against Marion Key, the accreditation team will be here interviewing people in January because the district accreditation process begins next year. They will talk to people all over the school system. If someone tells on her then, it could still cost us our accreditation.

All the more reason to oust Janet Smola & Terri Smith

Submitted by buckstopshere on Mon, 07/14/2008 - 9:36am.

If the accreditation team is coming into FCBOE I can't think of a better reason to oust Janet & Terri. If the people in this county had any idea of what has really been going on...it would be a no brainer to clean the house. It is time to take out the trash...goodbye Janet & Terri!!!

July 15 is Tuesday

Submitted by suggarfoot on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 10:04am.

Pinhead, can't you just hold it till then? If you are right, your friends will be ahead and then you can come back here and tell us all how right you were. I'm not sure why you dislike Marion Key so bad, but why don't you just try to hold off till Tuesday? If you are correct, you will have the last laugh.

Hysteria Doesn't Help

Submitted by tc on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 8:59am.

Pinhead, get a grip. An open records request is just that. It is a request, usually by a citizen for information. The request itself simply means that someone wants information. A request is not proof of anything. Everything that happens at the school system, with a few personnel and student exceptions, is open - BY LAW - to the public. Since we elect the school board members, they are our respresentatives and should have immediate access to information to make informed decisions. All information is - by law - open. This is a good thing. This promotes transparency in our governement. Don't forget that the school system is a government entity owned by the public, not a private company. Speaking of transparency, this whole discussion was conveniently started just a few days before the primary. That in itself says more than the factless accusations.

Reading comprehension skills might help...

Submitted by Pinhead or Patriot on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 9:21am.

I understand that the Open Records Request was possible because records are available to the public. I was trying to explain that you don't have to follow someone around to see what they are doing. You can submit a request, then the employees are bound - BY LAW - to tell you if a board member is behaving like one from CCBOE. In this case, it turned out one was. The results of the Open Records Request PROVE THE ACCUSATIONS are based on FACTS. This information is important now more than ever because in a few days, a board member could be reelected who endangers the systems accreditation and we have a newspaper who only prints the side of the story that supports that board member. Now that's convenient, open up a hornet's nest on the school system so that you can keep juicy stories on the front page of your paper.

it doesn't prove anything

Submitted by suggarfoot on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 9:56am.

except that someone ..may...feel threatened that someone from the school board stops by to see if what is going on, if they can help, or improve the situation. With her background as a teacher, I think she can really help. What is your background? Have you ever taught?

please juliette babb

Submitted by Linda Wheatley on Fri, 07/11/2008 - 11:53pm.

what a pathetic letter against marion key from the worst administrator in fayette county history...............

Marion Pays Attention, Takes Job Seriously

Submitted by tc on Fri, 07/11/2008 - 11:10pm.

While I agree that we should learn from Clayton County's mistakes, I'm wondering if it is possible that you might be over-reacting. Frankly, it sounds like you have a personal vendetta against Marion and are following her around. I find it hard to believe that you could have first-hand knowledge about so many details of a person's interactions in such a large organization, but even that is not really the important point.

What Marion has said over and over is that she visits schools to see what impact board decisions have on the students and teachers. To be quite honest, I would be worried if a board member DIDN'T visit the schools.

But Marion isn't the only school board member who visits schools. I was recently going through some e-mail correspondence and found a note from Janet Smola to a parent about the Booth Middle School. In part, the note reads: "Being a frequent visitor, as I am at all of our schools, affords me the opportunity to talk with staff and students all through the year."

In regards to your comment that Marion complains, I can only say thank God someone is complaining. Our school system is in a very precarious situation. We have budget problems, many schools in very underdeveloped areas that are sucking resources out of our tax revenues, and a lack of programs for high schools that are prevalent in similarily affuluent districts throughout the country. Thank goodness someone is paying attention.

School visits aren't the problem

Submitted by Pinhead or Patriot on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 7:11am.

Snooping, intimidating, attempting to supervise, interfering, violating Federal privacy laws of students are the problem.

According to an Open Records Request means that personnel reported this stuff, not that somebody was following her around.

Janet Smola & Terri Smith are the problem

Submitted by buckstopshere on Mon, 07/14/2008 - 9:30am.

the real way the system would lose acceridation is if Janet & Terri were doing something illegal...I wonder if anything illegal has been done?
Marion has not done anything illegal...for you to imply that she has is absolutely ludicrous.
Trying to compare going to visit schools and asking questions, to the shenanigans of the CCBOE is a stretch at best.
Janet the truth is going to come out soon enough. Getting your friends to run against Marion and having them harrass her, and then trying to make the public fear that we are headed down the "Clayton County" route is indicative that you have something to hide...

Well said Buck

Submitted by Linda Wheatley on Mon, 07/14/2008 - 9:37am.

Marion Key has been to my children's school a number of times to be the grand marshall of a reading parade. I have never seen another board member at the school. They are just mad that Marion cares enough to actually take the time to visit the schools and that makes them look bad!

Marion Key IS a micromanager

Submitted by NUK_1 on Fri, 07/11/2008 - 10:57pm.

Yet the problem seems to be that some voters feel like that is a "good thing" because it keeps the hired help "on their toes."

Fact is, it's never a good thing and only bad, as directly referenced by what has transpired in the cesspool of Clayco.

DeCotis gets paid good $$$ to run the school system on a day-to-day basis and I think he does a job that overall most people in the county feel is far better than average for a school system, and light-years beyond the state of GA's pathetic standard.

School board: you set the vision. Leave the real work and the day-to-day implementation of that vision to the person you hire and you manage, DeCotis. Beyond that, stay away. You have the power to hire/fire/discipline DeCotis or whoever you else is in that position, and that is all.

NUK_1, what is it going to take?

Submitted by bad_ptc on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 12:45am.

We either have a micro-manager, Marion Key, or no manager at all.

Most of the current BoE members have not proved themselves to be responsible for the task that they've been entrusted to accomplish.

Until the citizens of Fayette County can have faith that the decisions made by the BoE are in the best interests of the citizens of Fayette County I welcome a micro-manager as you refer to Mrs. Key.

When we can be reasonably assured that our tax dollars aren't being spent educating children from other counties and the BoE is not in the "Land Development" business I say let Mrs. Key have her day in the sun.

At least someone will be watching where the $ is going.

Support for Carol JensenLinton not printed in The Citizen

Submitted by fairandbalanced on Fri, 07/11/2008 - 10:32pm.

Dear Editor,
I was so excited to hear that Carol Jensen-Linton is running for the Fayette County School Board. She has been an active member of Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church. I have gotten to know Carol and her family over the past 13 years. She truly cares about our children, our schools, and our community. God has blessed her with many gifts and she freely gives them back to our church, schools, and community.

Carol’s love for children and teaching has been evident at Christ Our Shepherd where she leads a Bible study group and serves on the Internship Committee, that helps train and educate future pastors. She is a communion host and lay reader. She has taught 8th grade Confirmation classes and coordinated Confirmation Sunday. She loves children and has presented numerous programs to our high school youth. Carol is a member of the steering committee for the annual Holocaust Remembrance Service which is held jointly with Congregation B'nai Israel.

Our school system and county will be blessed with her presence on the School Board. I heartedly recommend her and encourage you to vote for her on July 15.

John Weber
Senior Pastor
Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church

Cal, Many Letters Not Printed in The Citizen?

Submitted by tc on Fri, 07/11/2008 - 11:31pm.

Cal, can you give us some background on what appears to be limited space for letters recently? Is it because of the election? I've heard from several people that their letters have not been printed. I don't recall this having happened before so I am wondering... thanks in advance for your response.

Pastor Weber

Submitted by skyspy on Fri, 07/11/2008 - 10:51pm.

I'm surprised that your letter was not printed. Thank you for placing it here.

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Why hasn't Mr. Beverly printed letters to editors submitted to The Citizen?

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