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Welcome to ODE’s web site.
We’re glad you’re visiting with us!
Your input counts, please send feedback to ode_office@yahoo.com .
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About Us
Click here for information about the ODE board, our mission and more.
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Articles
Click here for informative reading regarding Atlanta’s DeKalb county education system and more.
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Calendar
See current and important events.
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Members
Click here for ODE applications, newsletters, bylaws.
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Communicate
Post or answer messages on ODE’s message board.
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Community Outreach
Visit this section for community organization development news.
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Links
ODE has a wide selection of important links to important organizations and business in Atlanta and the U.S.
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Please Click here to visit or subscribe to
Subscribe to ODENews
Send a blank email to
ODENews-subscribe@yahoogrou ps.com |
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What’s New!
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Flash!
The ODE Internal Concerns Committee will host a meeting to discuss contract options for all future ODE Presidents.
Included discussion items are salary, benefits, sick days, and responsibilities. All members are welcome to attend and submit ideas and concerns regarding any discussion items. The meeting will be held at the ODE Office Thursday, December 2, 2010 beginning at 4:30pm (this is before the ODE Executive Committee Meeting).
FLASH! UPDATED
STONE MOUNTAIN-The DeKalb Board of Education held its second meeting concerning the $18.6 million dollars received from the Education Jobs Bill this morning on October 22, 2010. Once again, ODE was the only organization present representing members at these meetings.
The basics of the decision - The remaining furlough days have been restored, employees will be paid for those days and will work on those days. The remainder of the Jobs Bill money will be divided amongst all full time employees and issued in the form of a check before the of the calendar year. Per the DeKalb County Board of Education “Funds my not be deposited into Teacher Retirement System accounts, Public Schools Employees Retirement System accounts, or the Board-sponsored Tax Sheltered Annuity account.” Monies may only be deposited into independently established optional DeKalb Board of Education approved Tax Sheltered Annuity accounts offered through DeKalb Board of Education approved vendors.
(This version CORRECTS information in paragraph 2 from Board-TSAs to independently established optional DeKalb Board of Education approved Tax Sheltered Annuity accounts offered through DeKalb Board of Education approved vendors.)
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Atlanta Hawks
Be in “The Highlight Factory”
Following Offers are FOR MEMBERS ONLY
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Saturday, October 30
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Atlanta Hawks take on the Washington Wizards
Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 7pm.
Tickets are available in the 200 Level Side for $35; 200 Level Base for $30; and 300 Level Side for $21.
>> Click for Order Form
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Sunday November 7
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Atlanta Hawks take on the Phoenix Suns
Sunday November 7, 2010 at 5pm.
Tickets are available in the 200 Level Side for $45; 200 Level Base for $35; and 300 Level Side for $30.
>> Click for Order Form
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Sunday, November 14
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Atlanta Atlanta Hawks take on the Minnesota TWolves
Sunday, November 14, 2010 at 2pm.
Tickets are available in the 200 Level Side for $35; 200 Level Base for $30; and 300 Level Side for $21.
>> Click for Order Form
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Saturday, November 20
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Atlanta Hawks take on the Mavericks
Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 8pm.
Tickets are available in the 200 Level Side for $45; 200 Level Base for $35; and 300 Level Side for $30.
>> Click for Order Form
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Monday, November 22
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Atlanta Hawks take on the Boston Celtics
Monday, November 22, 2010 at 7pm.
Tickets are available in the 200 Level Side for $57; 200 Level Base for $57; and 300 Level Side for $52.
>> Click for Order Form
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ODE Professional Development Committee Presents Grant Writing Workshops
Attention Members, are you interested in applying for grants but need help getting started?
If your answer is yes, the PD Committee has the help you need! Please join the PD Committee on September 25, January 22, and May 25 from 9am-12pm.
>> view flyer
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message from the president
Sept 13, 2010
ODE Lobbying on Testing Reduction Successful!
We are delighted that Interim Deputy Superintendent Dr. Morcease Beasley announced on Thursday the additional benchmark testing is being discontinued immediately. ODE has advocated and lobbied for this change since it started. Thank you to all of our members who attended the August AR meeting when Dr. Beasley spoke, listened to our concerns, and answered our questions. I relayed our concerns to Interim Superintendent Ramona Tyson several times and in person when I met with her late last month.
DeKalb to Receive $18 Million in Federal Education Jobs Bill Funding. ODE Lobbies DeKalb Board of Education to Pass Money onto Employees
Three ODE leaders and I addressed the DeKalb BOE at its work session on Tuesday, September 6 to urge them to use the money from the federal education jobs bill to benefit employees by reducing the number of furlough days and possibly giving a COLA or Step Increase. I made this same request to the Superintendent when I met with her last month. We also lobbied BOE members Paul Womack and Don McChesney when they spoke at our AR meeting in August. Over 50 ODE members attended the BOE Work Session on Monday, many of you wearing your ODE shirts to show your support! Thank you for attending! It is important that we continue our lobbying efforts in an ongoing manner, and not just at the BOE meetings during the Citizens' Comment time.
On another note, the much publicized GFT rally at the meeting was a big flop. The Georgia Federation of Teachers President spoke and a handful of their members attended, including only one wearing a GFT shirt.
DeKalb Board of Education Policy GBS
DeKalb BOE Policy GBS: Professional Organizations states: No business of employee organizations, including recruiting, literature distribution, or meetings, shall be conducted during regular work hours.
The Georgia Federation of Teachers has been flagrantly violating this policy. Please immediately report to the ODE office any instances of GFT recruiters showing up during the school day to recruit members. Some principals are not aware of this policy.
I am deeply concerned that the GFT in their desperation to recruit members is deliberately misleading DCSS employees to believe they are a "real union." Collective bargaining for public schools in Georgia is not legal. A simple review of tax records available on the Internet shows that ODE/GAE has far more members in DeKalb County than the GFT has statewide. We have 5 full time employees dedicated to helping ODE members. The GFT does not have a DeKalb local and has no full time employees dedicated to assisting their members in DeKalb. Furthermore, they have not successfully represented employees at Internal Investigations or with Area Superintendents. Their dues are slightly lower because they do not have local dues. We will not be able to assist any educator that leaves ODE/GAE/NEA to join the GFT and does not receive adequate representation from them if they experience problems. The GFT simply does not have the resources or infrastructure to effectively and successfully assist their members in DeKalb. Please caution your fellow members about believing their misinformation.
DCSS Undertakes Review of All Board of Education Policies
Interim Superintendent Ramona Tyson announced that the school system is undertaking a systematic review of all Board policies. We are establishing a committee to review the policies and provide input to the school system. Four policies impacting the DCSS report to SACS were passed at the BOE meeting on August 31. Notably, Board of Education member Zepora Roberts was the only board member to vote against the Conflict of Interest Policy. (ODE had three representatives at the meeting, the GFT and PAGE had no representation at the meeting.)
DeKalb Board of Education censures Zepora Roberts
The DeKalb BOE voted 8-0, with Mrs. Roberts abstaining, to censure her for threatening to slug a CBS Atlanta Channel 46 reporter. ODE was the first to call for Mrs. Roberts to resign and still believes she should resign from the Board of Education immediately. I will not publicly respond to her bizarre attack on me at the May BOE meeting. Suffice it to say that on numerous occasions her words and actions have been inappropriate for a Board of Education member. I reported her inappropriate comments at the Area 3 meeting held about one year ago to then Superintendent Crawford Lewis, Chief of Staff Alice Thompson, and DeKalb Board of Education Chair Tom Bowen. ODE will make endorsements in the DeKalb Board of Education races this year.
DeKalb Legislators Hold First Hearing on DeKalb Board of Education Governance
On Thursday, September 9, I attended the first DeKalb Legislative delegation hearing concerning DeKalb BoE Governance. The thing that concerned me the most was the statement made by Georgia School superintendent Brad Bryant, that the DeKalb BoE and DCSS had repeatedly rebuffed offers of state assistance. The joint House Senate Committee is co-chaired by Senator Emanuel Jones and Representative Mary Margaret Oliver. I met with Sen. Jones last month to relay our concerns and will meet with Rep. Oliver next week. (No one from the GFT or PAGE attended the hearing.) Two ODE leaders and I attended the joint meeting of the Chamber of Commerce and the DeKalb Legislative delegation with the DeKalb Board of Education in August. (Once again GFT and PAGE were not represented.)
ODE/Towers High School Cluster Back to School Rally on Saturday, September 18
Our annual Back to School Rally will be held at Bethune Middle School on Saturday, September 18, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. The guest speaker is DeKalb County Commissioner-Elect Stan Watson. Volunteers are needed to staff the ODE Math and Reading tents and the ODE table. Gift card drawings will be held for volunteers. Gift cards include two $50 gas cards.
Avondale, Columbia, Towers, Southwest DeKalb (ACTS) Parent Council Forming
Several ODE members have been assisting parents in the central part of DeKalb County to form a parent council similar to the Chamblee-Dunwoody and Emory-LaVista Parent Councils. An informational meeting will be held for parents from the Avondale, Columbia, Towers and Southwest DeKalb clusterson Saturday, September 18, 9:00 am in the Bethune Middle School Media Center. Breakfast will be served. The meeting is open to PTA Officers, School Council members and other parents from the four high school cluster schools.
I hope to see some of you this morning at Commissioner Larry Johnson's Health Walk at Arabia Mountain.
David Schutten
President
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message from the president
I hope everyone has had a great start to the school year, in spite of the added stress. In response to concerns raised by our members, I have invited two guest speakers to the AR meeting on Thursday:
Paul Womak, Chair of the DeKalb Board of Education Budget Committee will speak and answer questions concerning the DCSS Budget, furlough days, TSA, etc.
Dr. Morcease Beasley, Interim Deputy Superintendent for Instruction will speak and answer questions at 6:15 about issues centering around Teaching and Learning, i.e., Lesson Plans, Assessments, etc.
The Georgia Federation of Teachers is planning some type of protest concerning pay issues for the September 7 BOE meeting. Some of our members have shared that they felt ODE did not do enough concerning pay issues in relation to the 2010-2011 budget. Please be aware that the GFT did little if anything to address concerns about the budget and pay issues as the budget was being developed. Where were they when we were there pressing the BOE to enact a small millage increase to prevent some of the furlough days and cuts in the Board TSA? I find it laughable that they think showing up at the BOE meeting in green T-Shirts after the fact will make any difference.
Unfortunately, a handful of our members have succumbed to their misinformation that they are a "real union" and will provide better representation. Collective bargaining for public school employees is against Georgia law. The only thing that might make them think they are a "real union" is the fact that they are members of the AFL-CIO and pay an excessive amount in per capita dues assessments to the Atlanta Labor Council, the regional AFL-CIO, the state AFL-CIO, and the national AFL-CIO. How does paying those extra dues benefit GFT members in DeKalb? When it comes to negotiating working conditions, pay issues, and personnel issues in DeKalb County, there is no bang for the buck with these extra dues to the AFL-CIO. They have no experience in working through issues in DeKalb County nor do they have a DeKalb local. From what we can surmise, ODE probably has more members than the GFT has statewide. If they show up at your school during the school day to recruit members, please report this immediately to the ODE office as this is not allowed.
As for their statements regarding the fact the most NEA state affiliates in the South allow administrators as members, this is true. However, we always represent the lowest ranking member. We also try to mediate disputes and have been extremely successful at doing this.
How many employment issues has the GFT successfully resolved in DCSS? What have they accomplished for DCSS employees? They have been Missing In Action for a very long time. Get the facts before you decide to join the AFL-CIO.
As many of you know, Tricia Audrain is out on maternity leave. GAE is providing extra staff assistance as needed.
Interim Superintendent Ramona Tyson will be our guest speaker at the September AR meeting.
Thank you for your membership.
David Schutten
President
ODE
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"The Organization of DeKalb Educators received the National Education Association's Rosena J. Willis Memorial Award at the Association's annual Human and Civil Rights Awards banquet in New Orleans.
The Tucker, Ga., organization was honored for its outstanding community outreach—an effort that has included tackling literacy and raising awareness of pressing issues faced by schools, students and educators. ODE's work has been credited with increasing public support for public education."
HCR Banquet
Attention members,
Please take a moment to read the information below from Jerry Newberry with NEAs Health Information Network and participate in the survey. The questions asked and the responses captured will help to provide the membership with a website that is best suited to meet members needs.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
Dear Colleague,
The NEA Health Information Network (NEA HIN) is conducting a web site assessment. NEA HIN’s goal is to get a better understanding of what NEA affiliates and members want and need from our website.
To help us do this, we ask that you:
1. Place this link on your state web site: NEA HIN web site assessment
2. Publicize this link to your members: NEA HIN web site assessment
By participating in the site assessment you will help NEA HIN provide the most useful and relevant health and safety materials for NEA members through our web site. For more information, you may contact NEA HIN at 202-822-7570 or contact Jerry Newberry (jnewberry@nea.org) or Zachary Kolsky (zkolsky@nea.org) via email.
To learn more about NEA HIN, please visit www.neahin.org, www.facebook.com/neahin, or www.twitter.com/neahin
Thanks,
Jerry
ODE and the Community Cabinet honor the 2010 PILOT Legislative Team!
>> ODE Spring Newsletter 2010
>> click here
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 message from the president
By this time everyone has received their 2010-2011 contracts which reflect the realities of the budget challenges facing the DeKalb County School System. The contracts show what you will be paid under the worst case scenario: the equivalent of a 6.25% salary reduction for 12 month employees. Although under all budget options, 10 months employees will receive at most at 5% salary reduction, all contracts reflected the 6.25%. We are advocating that the BOE choose furlough days as opposed to salary reductions. The BOE is considering choices of 1.25%, 3%, or 5% salary reductions for 10 month contract employees.
At the BOE Finance and Budget Committee meeting on March 18, several BOE members expressed support for a 3% salary reduction. However, the BOE now believes they must cut around $115 million from the proposed budget. Jim Redovian has emerged as the BOE member who is most sensitive to how the proposed budget cuts will adversely affect the employees.
Coupled with the salary reduction is the proposal to suspend either half or all of the payments to the BOE sponsored Tax Sheltered Annuity. Dr. Eugene Walker, who at the previous meeting was most adamantly opposed to suspending payments, did a complete reversal and stated that he believed teachers would rather give up the TSA than to increase the class size by one student. During the Citizen's Comments period, I told the BOE members that I did not believe that is the way employees felt. Since that time I have talked to scores of teachers, and everyone has told me they would be willing to have an increase in class size in order to maintain all or part of the TSA.
When the employees voted to leave the Social Security System in the mid 1970s, the DeKalb BOE promised to fund the Tax Sheltered Annuity with the funds they would no longer pay into Social Security. For over 35 years the DeKalb BOE kept its word. It is obvious that many of them as well as the majority of the citizens in DeKalb County do not understand the implications of DeKalb County employees not being a part of the Social Security System. They clearly do not understand the hardships caused by the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision which cuts Social Security payments to DeKalb County School System retirees who have earned them. It is imperative that you contact the DeKalb BOE members to let them know what you think. E-mail them from your personal e-mail or call them! Their contact information is on the school system web site. Our voices must be heard!
Below is the link to the page on the web site that lists BOE contact information. Click on their name under the picture to bring up each individual BOE member's e-mail, address and phone number so you may contact them.
http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/board/members/
Other areas of concern include:
1. A proposal to cut the salaries of all Paraprofessionals in order to save the pre-K programs. However, the amount of funds saved from a 10% salary reduction for all Paraprofessionals appears to be far greater than the $800,000 saved from keeping pre-K in only high needs areas of the county.
2. Elimination of graduation coaches or reduction in pay of graduation coaches to state funded levels. I told Dr. Jamie Wilson yesterday, that we did not believe this reduction would be fair as DCSS only hired counselors for these positions. All graduation coaches need to be offered a 10 month employee job, preferably as a counselor, for which they are qualified.
3. Elimination of a planning period for schools with a 7-period day. This would mean that teachers in these schools could have upwards of 180 students with only 55 minutes of planning time. With talk of eliminating the block schedule in some high schools, this could impact far more than the teachers at the three schools currently on the 7 period day.
4. Elimination of in school summer school for high school students. Many students do not have a computer available at home to take on line classes.
5. Reductions of Paraprofessionals, Counselors, Assistant Principals and CTSS. This eliminate part of the safety net in many schools and make everyone's job far more stressful.
6. Lack of understanding about the Reduction in Force policies for the DeKalb County School System as these policies and procedures are not published. Employees in the central office jobs whose positions will be eliminated will be placed under the RIF procedures.
We also hope that the BOE will consider a millage increase to alleviate some of the budget stress. At this time four members appear to be in favor of a millage increase: Jim Redovian, Zepora Roberts, Eugene Walker, and Sara Copelin-Woods. Four members are opposed: Tom Bowen, Don McChesney, Pam Speaks, and Paul Womak. Jay Cunningham is undecided. A one mill increase would result in the average homeowner paying an extra $10 per month in property taxes.
Please take the time to look over the different budget plans and options. The best way to describe the plan options is to look at it as menus from which the BOE will make their final decisions. Below is the link to the budget planning page on the DCSS web site:
http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/superintendent/fy2011-budget.html
Again, please take the time to contact DCSS Board of Education members. Your voice counts!
We ask that each school send members to the next three critical budget meetings all being held at the Brad Bryant Center at 6:00 pm on the following dates: Monday, April 12; Wednesday, April 15; and Wednesday, April 22. Please plan to arrive early if you want to be able to get into the meeting.
Again, thank you for your membership.
Contact us if you have questions.
David Schutten
President, ODE
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FLASH
>> Colleagues, the Credentials and Elections Committee has voted to extend the deadline for completion of voting for this ODE 2010 election.
The new deadline will be Friday, April 2, 2010. Thanks for your patience as we work with this new vendor, Ballot Point, who is handling this year's voting.
 Meet the 2010 ODE Candidates
>> Click here for bios
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ODE Celebrates Women’s History Month
Join us as we celebrate Women’s History Month and take advantage of information
that is designed to empower us mentally and physically. We will have guest speakers, representatives from various national and community based agencies along with food, music, fun, and door prizes!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Gresham Park Elementary School
1848 Vickie Lane, S.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30316
>> click here for flyer
ATTENTION ALL RETIRING ODE MEMBERS!!!
Please be advised that Perry Williams and Robert Moore of The Hartford are offering FREE retirement consultations to ODE members.
The consultation will assist you in determining your financial needs in retirement and provide a risk and needs analysis. If you have questions about retirement accounts, retirement income, taxes etc..please contact Perry Williams @ 404-234-3291 to schedule an appointment
Anansi Storytelling Festival
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Fundraiser for: Oakhurst Presbyterian Youth Programs & Peach Seed Youth Storytelling Festivals
Show Times: 2:30pm & 4:00pm
Oakhurst Presbyterian Church
118 Second Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030
>> Click Here for Flyer
Organization of DeKalb Educators
Levi A. Simon, III Scholarship Dance and Banquet
Are you ready to party for a purpose? Would you like to be in attendance when
ODE honors its best members and DeKalb’s brightest students?
If your answer is yes, then this deal is for YOU!
Tickets are available now for the Levi A. Simon, III Scholarship Dance and Banquet. The Scholarship Dance will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2010 from 8pm-12am and the Annual Awards Banquet will take place on Friday, May 7, 2010 beginning at 6:30pm.
Both events will be held at the Holiday Inn Select-Downtown Decatur.
>> Click Here for Flyer
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The luncheon honoring ODE members who will be retiring this year or did retire in December, 2009 will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2010.
If you know that you plan to retire, or you know someone who is planning to retire from the DeKalb County School system, please let Gloria Slaughter, Co-chair of the ODE-Retired Committee know.
Please call Gloria at: (770) 413-7518 (please leave message) or email her at: GlonJohn@att.net
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Update on ODE's Reaction To The Superintendent's Pay Raise
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***Black-Out Thursday
Thank you for your awesome participation! If you have pictures of your staff dressed in black, please forward them to us so we can post them on the ODE website this afternoon. We have reports of nearly 100% participation at some schools! Please send us a report as to what percentage of employees are participating in Black-Out Thursday at your school.
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ODE Statement Concerning Possible Changes to Superintendent Dr. Crawford Lewis’ Contract
The members of the Organization of DeKalb Educators are extremely disappointed and insulted that the Board of Education would even consider granting Dr. Lewis a raise or other increase in compensation in the midst of the present economic turmoil, as well as the District Attorney’s ongoing investigation into possible financial improprieties within the school system.
>> Read More
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REMINDER: ODE Election Deadline is January 15, 2010 @ 5:00 P.M.
The deadline for nomination forms for the upcoming 2010 ODE election is fast approaching.
Nomination forms are available for:
President
1st Vice-President
2nd Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer
Elementary School Representative at Large
Middle School Representative at Large
High School Representative at Large
Political Action Committee Representatives
NEA-RA Delegates
Biographies of no more than 150 words, single spaced, 12 point font and photos (jpeg/passport size, if available) are due in to the ODE Office by 5:00 P.M. on January 15, 2010.
All forms and election information are available at: www.odegaenea.org and at the ODE Office.
>> Read More
Organization of DeKalb Educators Candidate Intent Form
2010 NEA Representative Assembly Delegate
Candidates who wish to have biographies distributed in an ODE mailing must have the information delivered to the Credentials and Elections Committee c/o the ODE
office no later than 5:00 P.M. on January 15, 2010.
>> Click Here for Form
2010 Elections Procedures and Guidelines for Candidates
>> Click Here for Form
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ODE News Flash
>> Click here for ODE August 2009 Newsletter
Year At-A-Glance Calendar
>> Click here for Calendar
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 Special Announcements
Levi A. Simon III Scholarship
2010 Application and Tips
Scholarship applications will be accepted between January 12 and March 26, 2010.
The application deadline has been extended. Applications now must be received in the ODE Office on or before Friday, March 26, 2010.
>> Please Click here for more information and application
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ODE Newspaper Ad
>> Click here to view
ODE/GAE Dues Payment Conversion Form
This for is for existing members to convert to Payroll Deduction
>> Click here for form
GAE / NEA Membership Form
>> Click here for form
Hospitality Request
>> Click here for form
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GAE / NEA
Membership Enrollment Form
Year: September 1, 2009 - August 31, 2010
>> Click Here
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ODE Members Produce Record Attendance at DCSS Budget Meeting
Several hundred members of the Organization of DeKalb Educators packed the auditorium and hallways outside the Jim Cherry Library at Perimeter College Wednesday evening. They were present to hear the presentation of the proposed budget for the 2008-2009 school year and voice their frustration that no STEP raises are included.
During the presentation of the budget Chief Financial Officer Marcus Turk’s stated that “… a job and a small raise are better than no job at all.” Increased costs for utilities and fuel as well as the current economic climate were cited as issues addressed in drafting the proposed budget. Many ODE members later stated that they were offended by the comments. “All those price increases affect us, too. We still have to have gas to get to work and food to feed our families,” said Debra White, bus driver.
Sixteen speakers were given the opportunity to address the Board of Education concerning their issues with the proposal. Eleven of the speakers were members of ODE.
Interest Based Bargaining Chair Lisa Morgan, Midway ES, presented the members of the board with a comparison of the DCSS salary schedule to six other core Metro-Atlanta systems. “Out of the 120 possible steps, DeKalb County ranked fifth, sixth, or seventh 61 times.” Morgan went on to say that “if it’s this bad for the teachers, it must be much worse for the cafeteria workers, bus drivers, and custodians.”
Jeff Bragg, Cross Keys HS, addressed the impact no STEP increase would have on staff morale. He pointed out that the approximately 20 million dollars needed for the increases is equivalent to 2% of the total budget.
“I don’t want to be forced to choose between my health and my job,” stated ESP Chair Sallee Arnold. A paraprofessional at Marbut ES, Arnold reminded the Board of Education that employees will experience a 7.5% increase in health care premiums. “For many of our members the cost-of-living adjustment won’t even cover that.”
ODE President David Schutten asked all present to take their concerns to the party ultimately responsible for reduced funding to the school system. He pointed out that Governor Sonny Perdue has extended austerity cuts that have reduced funding to DCSS by over $93 million since 2003.
Trina Knox, Henderson MS, stated, “I’ve already signed a contract for next year so I will be returning to DeKalb. But without a step increase, rising fuel costs may force me to consider working in Gwinnett County where I live.”
“I’ve already waited three years for a STEP increase,” said Sherica Freeman from Open Campus HS. “And now you expect me to wait another year. You have to do something for those of us new to teaching. We’re the future of the school system.”
Judi Polacek, Hawthorne ES, Antoinette Smith, Cedar Grove MS and Judith LaRoue, Midway ES spoke concerning the demands on school system employees and the seeming lack of respect they receive in turn.
ODE First Vice President Nicole Duff asked that board members review the comparison presented earlier and notice that there is an apparent disincentive for teachers to further their education. “I am working on a degree right now and the salary increase for that degree makes me question whether the county appreciates those of us who work hard to increase our knowledge and skills.”
“We expect you (the Board of Education) to be fighting for us,” declared David Runyon of Dunwoody HS.
After all the public comments, Dr. Crawford Lewis, Superintendent, vowed that his senior staff would re-examine every item in the proposed budget. “I’m not making any promises,” he cautioned.
Lisa Morgan
Interest Based Bargaining Chair
>> Click here to view DCSS Pay Rankings
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 Shaw University Scholarships Applications
ODE President David Schutten is working with the Shaw University Board of Trustees to identify 10 seniors in the DeKalb County Public Schools or children of ODE members to receive full President's Scholarship to the university.
Shaw is a Historically Black College located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Students must have a minimum 3.5 GPA. Students planning to major in Math or Science are especially encouraged to apply.
For more information about Shaw visit their web site at www.shawuniveristy.edu . For more information about applying for a President's Scholarship contact David Schutten at the ODE office, 678-837-1170, or Mr. Joe Bell at 912-238-1752.
Any students or parents who would like more information about Shaw University should contact Mr. Andre Sifford at Towers High School.
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DeVry University Passport 2 College
DeVry University is offering free college credit classes to high school students graduating in 2009 or 2010. Two classes are available at the Decatur campus. For more information visit www.atl.devry.edu/passport2college or e-mail bwright@devry.edu , or call 404-292-7900, ext. 2357.
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ODE Constitution Ratified rev. 9202007
>> view
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ODE Negotiates Higher Cost of Living Adjustment
for Staff in DCSS Budget
The ODE Bargaining Committee successfully negotiated an increase in Superintendent Dr. Crawford Lewis’s proposed COLA for employees in the DCSS 2007-2008 budget. Dr Lewis initially recommended a 2% COLA for all employees. Collective Bargaining Chair, Lisa Morgan; ODE President David Schutten; and UniServ Directors Tommy Green and Tricia Audrain met with Dr. Lewis, Chief Finance Officer Marcus Turk and Assistant to the Superintendent Debbie Loeb after the first budget hearing. Morgan and Schutten stressed ODE’s historical position that DCSS not lower local supplements. At a follow up meeting a few days later, Schutten, Morgan, ODE Vice President Nicole Duff, and ODE Grievance Chair Rosilind Taylor met again with Lewis, Turk and Loeb. At that time Mr. Turk proposed a 2.87% pay COLA which would ensure no certified teacher’s local supplement would be decreased.
At the second budget hearing on April 17, Schutten, Duff, Morgan and ODE Executive Board member Lila Miller were the only DCSS employees to speak. All four speakers thanked the board for ensuring all employees received the COLA increase. No other professional organizations or unions have testified at DCSS budget hearings on behalf of employees since 1997. ODE is the Voice of DeKalb Educators! ODE is the only organization which lobbies the school board on behalf of employees. Remember, “You get what you pay for.”
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ODE Stand Tall at DCSS Budget Hearings
For the 10th year in a row, ODE was the only organization to speak on behalf of DeKalb County School System employees at the DCSS budget hearing. the last time any other organization spoke on behalf of employees at a budget hearing was in 1997. ODE Executive Board members were the only citizens to testify at the budget hearings. ODE President David Schutten, ESP Chair Sallee Arnold, Bargaining Chair Lisa Morgan, Public Relations Chair Jackie Henry and Team Leader Lila Miller all spoke eloquently on behalf of our members. At least 10 other ODE members attended the hearing.
They covered a wide range of topics. Schutten asked the Superintendent and Board of Education to continue to fund Prevention and Intervention Specialists in the schools despite federal Title 1 cuts. He pointed out the need to keep the safety net in place for Rish students. He also stated that High School principals and assistant principals needed to receive a pay increase to adequately compensate them for the extra hours that they work. He acknowledged the fact that Dr. Lewis addressed this issue at the last Adminstrators;s meeting, but he added that this raise needed to be put into effect as soon as possible. He also asked the Board to address the apparent shortage of substitue teachers. Ms Henry also addressed this issue. Both Henry and Schutten as well as Ms Miller addressed our concerns about the number of paraprofessionals that are required to serve as substitutes in violation of the BOE's policies. They also expressed concerns about teachers having to split up classes when substitutes were unavailable. HR Director Dannie Reed later pointed out that there are over 1,500 substitutes, but they may choose which schools in which they will sub. (As educatiors we all know that substitutes tend to stay away from schools in which students do not treat them with respect. In light of senior administrators' stressing the need to look at data, it appears that it would be an ideal time for Human Resources to study the data as to which schools have difficulty obtaining substitutes.)
Ms Morgan pointed out that many teachers choose other school systems because new teachers receive no substantial raise for three years and do not receive the Board TSA until their fourth year of employment. Ms Henry also pointed out issues surrounding the TSA and Social Security. BOE member Lynn Cherry Grant later pointed out that DeKalb's teachers voted to leave the Social Security system. Schuteen then went back to the microphone to point out that decision was made before then President Ronald Reagen pushed the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision through Congress. GPO/WEP unfairly penalizes teachers in DeKalb as well as other systems that are not in the Social Security System and robs us of some of our earned Social Security benefits.
Miller, Henry, and Arnold all pointed out the importance of all employees receiving a raise as well as ensuring that the step increases went into effect in September, not January. Ms Henry asked the Board to pass on the entire state pay raise this year.
After speaking with two BOE members after the meeting, we decided we will start advocating once again that DCSS start paying certified employees bimonthly as opposed to the present monthly system.
ODE will continues to address these issues as well as others at upcoming Board meetings and budget hearings. Where were the other organizations like PAGE, MACE, and AFT? Missing in Action Once Again!
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Stress Management Seminars Offer Relief to School Faculty
A new benefit to members of ODE and GAE are the Stress Relief Programs given by Tommy Green and Derrick Bumpers. The two have joined forces in an effort to help faculty and staff at local Dekalb County schools with their stressful daily classroom activities. The stress management program includes tips, ideas, and exercises to help control stressful and anxiety causing circumstances we face each day in and out of the classroom. If you would like more information about the new benefit please contact Tommy Green or Derrick Bumpers at the ODE Office at 678-837-1170.
Additional workshops offered are :
Conflict Management- How to deal with conflict and difficult personalities
Surviving and Thriving (has been used for mentor teachers and protιgιs) - Highlights teacher-parent issues, Georgia laws that govern teachers, Code of Ethics
Code of Ethics Training- in depth look at the PSC COE and highlights recent changes
NEA Member Benefits- Describes the benefits of the Association and how educators can save money
Financial Planning- Offered by Security Benefit Group
School Safety Discipline and the Law- explores ways that educators can contribute to safe schools and laws that govern:
Abuse- Explores issues involving abuse in schools
Bullying- discusses bullying law and ways teachers can identify perpetrators and their victims
Classroom Management for Paraprofessionals
Classroom Management for Teachers
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DeKalb County School System Human Resource Incident
As you know, the newly hired Human Resources Director, Darren Ware, was fired last week when the school system learned of his criminal record from the results of his background investigation. We do not believe Mr. Ware was involved directly in any hiring or firing decision. However, we are concerned that he had access to employees' records including social security numbers and addresses. I have been in frequent contact with Assistant to the Superintendent, Debbie Loeb since last week about our concerns. The school system started investigating last week whether or not Mr. Ware accessed employee information.
All employees were mailed a notice by the DeKalb County School System this week about the incident. This notice addresses our concerns. Although Mr. Ware did not print, download or save any confidential employee information, you should monitor your personal credit information as a precaution.
Lanta, the search firm employed by the Board of Education, to fill the Human Resources Director position, verified that they had checked Mr. Ware's background. The Board of Education severed all ties with the firm. School Board Chair, Cassandra Littlejohn, assured me this week that the Board would vigorously seek a refund of the fee paid to Lanta. (This firm successfully recruited at least three other employees and also hired Lanta to perform an audit of the Human Resources department prior to this incident.).
Channel 2 covered our concerns when they aired portions of my interview with Dale Carswell on Monday. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at the ODE office.
David Schutten
President
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