School Board Members Spar Over Proposed Policy Changes

Three policy changes proponents say would strengthen the Cherokee County School Board's governance were the subject of a lengthy debate during the board's meeting on Thursday. 

The board spent roughly an hour hashing out three proposals that would reiterate a current policy, and add two more regulations for the board to abide by. 

The first reading of two policies, which spell out the job descriptions and responsibilities of the school board chair and vice chair and stipulates the superintendent of schools is responsible for establishing ad hoc committees, were approved 4-3, with members Michael Geist, Kelly Marlow and Rob Usher rejecting. 

Board members could not come to an agreement on the third proposed change, which states school board members must submit agenda items to the board chair to be placed on the agenda and outlines the protocol for that process.

The board rejected an amended version of the policy. The amendment, proposed by Marlow, would have removed the stipulation that the board chair and the superintendent would decide if an item will be placed on a board agenda for discussion.

Three members of the public spoke on the proposed changes. Both Thomas Hart and Chris Knowles said they opposed the changes, while Carol Taylor said she was in favor of the change.

Board member Michael Geist said he opposed the changes because he felt the board was trying to legislate behavior that hadn't occurred yet. He noted it was "unfair" to paint the current board with the same brush as the school board that was in place 15 years ago.

That's when the district was placed on accreditation probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. 

He also added he was opposed to the changes related to the ad hoc committees, noting he was "uncomfortable" with saying the board couldn't establish committees if there had been no precedent to gauge how the process turned out.

"We’ve created policies that restrict the representatives of the people while not restricting in any way, even in an equal measure, the representatives of the government or the school system," he added, comparing what the superintendent and board members were allowed to do. 

Read noted the changes prevent board members from serving on committees because a board member's presence could "stifle" the thoughts or actions of those serving on the committee. She said some members of a certain committee could feel intimidated by a board member's presence. 

Read added the changes state each board member is welcome to hold monthly town hall meetings to get feedback from the public, and noted Marlow has done so on a regular basis.

The proposed changes were drafted by Cherokee County School District staff at the request from Board Chair Janet Read, who said the changes were recommended by Zenda Bowie of the Georgia School Boards Association during an April 25 training session she conducted with the board.

They were designed to ensure the board is in full compliance with SACS and would not endanger the district's accreditation. 

The issue of ad hoc committees was hotly debated during the May 2 board meeting when Marlow asked if the board would establish a citizens committee to review Common Core standards. 

The board will consider the final reading of the two proposed policies during its June 13 meeting. 

Board members also unanimously approved a proposal from Headley Construction to make renovations to an existing classroom to build a video broadcast room at Sequoyah High School and voted 6-1, with Marlow opposing, to award a bid to Williamson & Company to perform the district's audit for fiscal years 2011-12 and 2012-13. 

Headley is proposing to do the work for $296,700. The district set aside $400,000 for the project, which is authorized in the district's five-year facilities plan. 

Williamson & Company will perform the audits for $82,900. 

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