Dan Cromer
Dan Cromer, BOE district 7 candidate
Post seeking: Board of Education, District 7 (at-large)
Career:
Retired
Describe your background:
I grew up on the family farm in Madison County in a community known as Diamond Hill.
I graduated from Madison County High in 1963 as second in my class. I attended the University of Georgia in a fiveyear program graduating with a B.S. Chem. and a B.S. Ed. in Science Education. I pursued a Master’s in Science Education, a Master’s in Administration and a Ed.S. in Administration completing all by 1980.
I began my employment in Dekalb County in 1969 teaching Chemistry and Physics at Henderson High School. I subsequently became assistant principal in 1972 and served as principal in 1973-74. I returned to the University of Georgia in 1974 as a member of a research team investigating effective teaching practices in small and rural schools. This work resulted in co-authoring a book, Rural Education – In Search of a Better Way. I began work in Barrow County in 1978 as Director of Human Resources. I then moved to Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, Associate Superintendent and completed my public education career as a Superintendent of Schools, Barrow County from 1992 through 1998. I was recognized by the Georgia Association of Educational Office Personnel in 1993 as Georgia’s Administrator of the Year. I was also recognized by the Georgia Educational Leadership Association in 1997 as Georgia’s Educator of the Year.
After retiring, I incorporated a small business (Synergon, Inc.) working as a contractor for the Georgia Finance and Investment Commission for six years administering grants to school systems in Georgia. I ran for the District 7 Barrow County Board of Education seat in 2006 and have served in that seat since.
As for personal information, I am 65 years old; I am married to Cheekia Marcus Cromer. We’ve been married for 43 years. We have one daughter, Margaret Perry, who is a teacher. She is married to Joey Perry, a Barrow County gentleman, and they have one son, Cale, who is seven months old.
•If the E-SPLOST referendum fails, will you vote for a property tax increase to service the school system’s debt?
The question is somewhat rhetorical for there is no real alternative available to the board. By law, if the E-SPLOST fails, the debt must be serviced by ad valorem taxation. Keep your fingers crossed because no board member wants to raise ad valorem taxes.
•What are your plans to deal with budget constraints in a way that will preserve quality instruction for Barrow students?
First and foremost will be attention to the quality of teachers providing that instruction. Barrow is one of the few systems in Georgia as having every teaching position filled by a teacher ranked as highly qualified. For all board members quality instruction at the sacrifice of everything else is not just a priority, it is THE priority. The board’s emphasis on effective teaching was made clear with this year’s budget when the superintendent and her staff were instructed to recommend cuts that would NOT directly impact instruction. Reduction in M&O expenses, energy costs, transportation, and administrative personnel received the most attention. Many systems cut the arts and music – Barrow did not. Many systems RIFd teachers – Barrow did not. Central office positions were cut, but the teachers are still there and are still ranked as highly qualified.
•What are the three biggest issues that Barrow County Schools must address over the next five years?
In order, the first will be the continued financial crisis. It’s been suggested that private sources of revenue could be sought. It’s uncertain as to how much more private revenue might be available to school systems when statewide costs run into the billions. Barrow County already has a significant private investment with the Partners in Education, and available private grants. One grossly overlooked resource already in place is the tremendous amount of teacher-generated revenue seen when teachers purchase materials and supplies from their own pockets.
Second, movement to Charter System status will be a major shift in local input to policy and practice. This effort will involve the community to a greater degree and will provide the local board of education with much more decision- making authority. However, it also makes local decision makers more responsible for outcomes. Our students must have the opportunities necessary to fulfill the “World Class Education” portion of our stated purpose.
Third, while growth has slowed somewhat, it is still significant. We must provide quality housing for those students who are here now and for those who will continue to come to Barrow. This next E-SPLOST is crucial to being able to build and pay for that construction.
Retired
Describe your background:
I grew up on the family farm in Madison County in a community known as Diamond Hill.
I graduated from Madison County High in 1963 as second in my class. I attended the University of Georgia in a fiveyear program graduating with a B.S. Chem. and a B.S. Ed. in Science Education. I pursued a Master’s in Science Education, a Master’s in Administration and a Ed.S. in Administration completing all by 1980.
I began my employment in Dekalb County in 1969 teaching Chemistry and Physics at Henderson High School. I subsequently became assistant principal in 1972 and served as principal in 1973-74. I returned to the University of Georgia in 1974 as a member of a research team investigating effective teaching practices in small and rural schools. This work resulted in co-authoring a book, Rural Education – In Search of a Better Way. I began work in Barrow County in 1978 as Director of Human Resources. I then moved to Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, Associate Superintendent and completed my public education career as a Superintendent of Schools, Barrow County from 1992 through 1998. I was recognized by the Georgia Association of Educational Office Personnel in 1993 as Georgia’s Administrator of the Year. I was also recognized by the Georgia Educational Leadership Association in 1997 as Georgia’s Educator of the Year.
After retiring, I incorporated a small business (Synergon, Inc.) working as a contractor for the Georgia Finance and Investment Commission for six years administering grants to school systems in Georgia. I ran for the District 7 Barrow County Board of Education seat in 2006 and have served in that seat since.
As for personal information, I am 65 years old; I am married to Cheekia Marcus Cromer. We’ve been married for 43 years. We have one daughter, Margaret Perry, who is a teacher. She is married to Joey Perry, a Barrow County gentleman, and they have one son, Cale, who is seven months old.
•If the E-SPLOST referendum fails, will you vote for a property tax increase to service the school system’s debt?
The question is somewhat rhetorical for there is no real alternative available to the board. By law, if the E-SPLOST fails, the debt must be serviced by ad valorem taxation. Keep your fingers crossed because no board member wants to raise ad valorem taxes.
•What are your plans to deal with budget constraints in a way that will preserve quality instruction for Barrow students?
First and foremost will be attention to the quality of teachers providing that instruction. Barrow is one of the few systems in Georgia as having every teaching position filled by a teacher ranked as highly qualified. For all board members quality instruction at the sacrifice of everything else is not just a priority, it is THE priority. The board’s emphasis on effective teaching was made clear with this year’s budget when the superintendent and her staff were instructed to recommend cuts that would NOT directly impact instruction. Reduction in M&O expenses, energy costs, transportation, and administrative personnel received the most attention. Many systems cut the arts and music – Barrow did not. Many systems RIFd teachers – Barrow did not. Central office positions were cut, but the teachers are still there and are still ranked as highly qualified.
•What are the three biggest issues that Barrow County Schools must address over the next five years?
In order, the first will be the continued financial crisis. It’s been suggested that private sources of revenue could be sought. It’s uncertain as to how much more private revenue might be available to school systems when statewide costs run into the billions. Barrow County already has a significant private investment with the Partners in Education, and available private grants. One grossly overlooked resource already in place is the tremendous amount of teacher-generated revenue seen when teachers purchase materials and supplies from their own pockets.
Second, movement to Charter System status will be a major shift in local input to policy and practice. This effort will involve the community to a greater degree and will provide the local board of education with much more decision- making authority. However, it also makes local decision makers more responsible for outcomes. Our students must have the opportunities necessary to fulfill the “World Class Education” portion of our stated purpose.
Third, while growth has slowed somewhat, it is still significant. We must provide quality housing for those students who are here now and for those who will continue to come to Barrow. This next E-SPLOST is crucial to being able to build and pay for that construction.
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