Nancy Jester Republican Georgia State Superintendent Official Campaign Site

DCSS Budget - Links to the FY14 draft budget documents and my thoughts on the budget.

Relinquish - What should we look for in a new Superintendent?

FY14 Budget - 3rd Public Hearing - June 3 @ 12pm.

Lawyers and Schools
Think DeKalb is the only school district with interesting legal arrangements? Check out this story in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer about the Muscogee County School District. Here's a blurb...

"If you think friction between factions of city government is troubling then look at what is happening with the Muscogee County School Board. For the past two years, the board has heard complaints about what it pays Hatcher, Stubbs, Land, Hollis & Rothschild - the only law firm employed in the 63-year history of the school district. That came to a head when attorney Frank Myers came before the board with information that he said showed the school district was paying more for legal work than other systems in Georgia.

Events that followed were startling. A board member asked the state attorney general for a ruling on executive sessions. Board leaders asked the police chief to invite the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to look into the actions of Myers and state Sen. Josh McKoon. Three board members filed a fruitless ethics complaint against McKoon. The law firm scheduled an appearance before the board to talk about fees then backed out. A board member quarreled with the administration over being denied access to documents pertaining to what the law firm is being paid. At the same time, the board was given the name of four finalists to replace Superintendent Susan Andrews, who 401 days ago announced she was leaving. Wonder what these candidates will think about working for a school board that has the GBI on speed dial?"

Click here to read about MCSD's recent struggle with closing schools, laying-off teachers and increasing class size.

Click here to read about Cobb County's budgeting woes. Their board made some interesting choices.

And of course we have all the recent discussion about "Common Core" but I'll blog on that another day.

Continuing Education Opportunities:

The Georgia Council for History Education (GCHE) & The Carter Presidential Library are hosting

"The Making of the Constitution"

A teacher workshop

at the

Carter Presidential Library

Friday, June 14

9 am - 3 pm

Featuring: Carol Berkin , historian & author of

A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution

Joel Walker, Education Specialist National Archives Atlanta

Cost: $25 for current GCHE/NCHE members (includes materials & lunch) $65 for non-GCHE/NCHE members (includes GCHE/NCHE membership, materials, & lunch)

Click here to register.

K-12 Grant Writing Workshop

at Georgia Tech Research Institute

June 18 - 20, 2013

June 18th - 8:30am - 4:30pm

June 19th ¬- 8:30am - 4:30pm

June 20st - 8:30am - 12:30pm

This workshops spans two and a half days. At the beginning of class, you will be expected to have a project idea/need in mind. You're strongly encouraged to go online and look for grant opportunities prior to attending the workshop.

The registration fee is $95 with a $10/person discount for teams of three or more. For more information and to register, contact Therese Boston at (404) 407-6305 or therese.boston@gtri.gatech.edu.

Best wishes for a terrific last week of school!
--Nancy