BOE closes meeting to self-assess

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Wednesday, October 10. 2012

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The Barrow County Board of Education met during a called meeting Oct. 4 to discuss board members’ self-assessments through a process provided by the Georgia School Boards Association. The meeting, lasting two-and-a-half hours, took place behind closed doors. BOE chairman Mark Still said the reason the board was meeting behind closed doors was because a large part of the discussion was related to personnel, including superintendent Wanda Creel.
For the full story, see the Oct. 10 issue of the Barrow Journal.

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#1 Sybil on 10/10/12 at 12:32 PM [Reply]

I'm confused. If the subject was self-assessments conducted by the board on themselves, why was the meeting closed? Board members aren't hired personnel, thus no closed meeting, and Ms. Creel isn't a member of the board, so there should not have been discussion about her. Am I missing something her? Sounds fishy to me - wonder what will come from it that will blindside us.

#1.1 wake up boe on 10/10/12 at 07:30 PM [Reply]

Your insight and question is right on. The BOE, by state law, can only meet in Excecutive Session for: Personnel, Purchase Property, and Student Discipline. Self-Assessment does not qualify. The BOE was out-of-order and in conflict with state law.
Yes, the BOE's working relationship with the Superintendent is part of the Assessment. However, that is assessment is NOT her evaluation; it is an evaluation of their (BOE & Supt.) working relationship.

Mike, did the BOE "call" this meeting as an Executive Session meeting?

One option for the Self-Assessment is for the BOE members to complete the assessment individually and then the Chairperson compiles the results...no need to meet at all. That is why it is called a SELF assessment, not a group assessment.

The Superintendent is the secretary of the BOE and along with the Chairperson is responsible for following state laws regarding Open Meetings.
2.5 hours means there was much disagreement about something. The disagreement is about the Superintendent's ability to do the JOB!

#2 wake up 6 BOE members on 10/10/12 at 07:38 PM [Reply]

You are correct, this meeting should not have been closed. The BOE can only meet in Executive Session for 3 reasons: personnel, purchase of property, and student discipline. This assessment does have a component about how the BOE and the Superintendent work together. But, that is not Creel's evaluation. It is an assessment of Creel's and the BOE's working relationship. So, Mr. Still, this was not a "Personnel" meeting.

This assessment can also be completed individually by each BOE member to be compiled by the Chairman. That is why it is called a "self" assessment instead of a "group" assessment.

This meeting was out-of-order and in conflict with GA State Open Meetings Law. The Superintendent is the Secretary of the BOE and, along with the Chairman, is responsible for following State Law! Was the meeting "called" for the purpose of Executive Session or for Self-Assessment. Mike, you should inquire and report this to our Secreatary of State.

This meeting lasted 2.5 hours because there is much disagreement with the leadership ability of Creel....not because they were completing a self-assessment.

It would not take me 2.5 hours make up my mind.

#3 Amazed on 10/10/12 at 08:30 PM [Reply]

This group is beyond dysfunctional. It is obvious that they have made a horrible mistake in their selection of superintendent and now they or the majority of them cannot own that mistake. Instead they would rather the entire school district spiral out of control. I have never witness such spineless elected officials who are more concerned with themselves than they are in acting responsible in the execution of their duties.

#4 BOE assessor on 10/10/12 at 08:43 PM [Reply]

Bill Bramlett(F)Mr. Bramlett must have promised to support Dr. Creel unilaterally if she named his sister principal OR she promised to fix his tax problems. Dan Cromer (F) Mr Cromer is obviously letting his career as a superintendent blind him to the character flaws of Dr. Creel. He is clueless and out of touch. Connie Wehunt (F) Mrs. Wehunt is woefully out of her league as a BOE member--just ask her relatives. Randall Holland (F) Mr. Holland is a good man who is proving to be ineffective. Ditto that for Mitch Churchill--both grade and comment. They need to find some other way to occumpy their free time. Lynn Stevens (F) I am disappointed that as a savvy business woman you have allowed Dr. Creel to so snow you. You should be ashamed. Mark Still (C-) Better late than never, Mr. Still, You knew the truth about Dr. Creel over a year ago but refused to see the truth. I guess better late than never. Rickey Bailey and Will Dunn (A) You are men of wisdom and integrity; keep up the good work.

#5 thoughts on 10/11/12 at 10:17 AM [Reply]

Edmund Burke wrote ".. it ought to be the happiness and glory of a representative to live in the strictest union, the closest correspondence, and the most unreserved communication with his constituents. Their wishes ought to have great weight with him; their opinion, high respect; their business, unremitted attention. It is his duty to sacrifice his repose, his pleasures, his satisfactions, to theirs; and above all, ever, and in all cases, to prefer their interest to his own. But his unbiased opinion, his mature judgment, his enlightened conscience, he ought not to sacrifice to you, to any man, or to any set of men living. These he does not derive from your pleasure; no, nor from the law and the constitution. They are a trust from Providence, for the abuse of which he is deeply answerable. Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion".

Burke also wrote "the only thing evil needs to prevail is for good men to do nothing"

#5.1 BOE assessor on 10/11/12 at 12:27 PM [Reply]

Mark Twain also had something pertinent to say on this subject--"In the first place God made idiots. This was for practice. Then He made school boards."

#6 Parent on 10/11/12 at 01:51 PM [Reply]

I continue to find the BOE antics very strange. They need a midday meeting to extend a contract of DWC. Now they need a closed door meeting to discuss self-assessments, including the performance of DWC. Why don't they have an open forum and let the tax paying parents of Barrow County express concerns over DWC and the system? If they can explain why the school system is in disarray in an intelligent manner, then we will live with it. I think there are too many people on the BOE has no clear understanding of the system. I think they are easily manipulated and try to stand by their choices no matter how bad they are.

Unfortunately the grades for the BOE members above are correct and based on the outcry concerning DWC, this many people can't be wrong. I trust WD, RB, and MS will continue to work and listen to what they feel is best for the students and future of the county. The others need to look at the transportation debacle, hiring practices, budget issues, school calendar, massive teacher/admin./assist super turnover, poor school lunches, loss of teacher pay...and explain what DWC is doing. The new super will bring in new teachers/admin/ assist super. just as she has and have his/her own ideas. Change in the system is happening, but it needs to go in another direction.

#6.1 Another parent on 10/11/12 at 02:24 PM [Reply]

I agree with your sentiments here. The BOE or at least 2/3 of them seem to stand by their decisions even when they are obviously wrong. I can forgive mistakes but when mistakes become the norm and people try and defend those mistakes rather than own them I become concerned with motives. Mike Buffington hit the nail on the head in his opinion piece when he wrote Creel has been a lightening-rod for controversy. Sometimes leaders attract enemies when they deal with controversial issues. Most of the controversy that surrounds the BCSS is created and projected by Creel.

#7 Educator on 10/11/12 at 03:14 PM [Reply]

The principal of WBHS has cited transparency as being a proud corner stone in different faculty forums lately. Apparently transparency has become a buzz word sent from above because Darby does not come up with anything original or authentic. I applaud the Barrow Journal's open poll. While i doubt the BOE in its arrogance will take note it stills clearly sends a message when nearly 70% of the respondents give you a failing grade.

#8 Fed Up and Frustrated on 10/11/12 at 03:38 PM [Reply]

The state of the BCSS reminds me of the time period in which the Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians. They felt oppressed and were in dire need of someone who had the power to free them from years of slavery. Pharaoh had a hard heart and refused to give the Israelites freedom, no matter what hardships or plagues his people suffered as a result of his stubbornness and hardened heart. He finally relented and let the Israelites leave Egypt; however, by that time much destruction and death had occurred. How does this compare to the present time BCSS? The Israelites are the students, teachers, administrators, and every other BCSS employee. Pharaoh is Dr. Wanda Creel. The hardships and plagues represent an exhaustive list of things that have occurred under her leadership, such as: fear of jobs if there are perceived differences of opinions; drawing teachers names out of a hat to determine transfers; demotions and undeserved salary cuts; over 100 resignations from certified staff as well as administrators in less than a one year time span; putting a stop to letting BCSS employee children ride school buses that have many empty seats from school to school; transferring administrators within the county so that two elementary schools have totally new administration (it is not working); making coaches get their CDLs so they can drive their students to venues AFTER they have worked a full day; and the list goes on. BOE, the Israelites NEED you to be our Moses and lead us out of this oppressive system! Much damage has been done and we cannot afford any more destruction!

#9 Rocket Man on 10/11/12 at 05:02 PM [Reply]

What a great analogy you make fed Up and Frustrated. I read about 21/2 hour meetings to discuss who knows what and I wonder when does this board and superintendent find the time to doing meaningful work. It seems they are always embroiled in one controversy or another which detracts form the business they were elected to do. How long will they make excuses for Creel?

#9.1 BOE assessor on 10/11/12 at 05:52 PM [Reply]

I have been thinking about the contrast between a "peacemaker" and a "peacekeeper". The first is active and the latter is passive. A peacemaker does the hard work of bringing the truth to light and facing problems head on so that real, lasting harmony can evolve; it often involves working through conflict and painful actions but the short term pain yields long term gain. Peacekeepers on the other hand avoid unpleasantness, choosing to take the easy way out at every critical juncture; and as my boss often says, "Bad news don't get better with time." The majority of this BOE has opted to be peacekeepers while Mr. Bailey and Mr. Dunn--and of late Mr. Still--have chosen the braver role of peacemaker where the infamous Dr. Creel is concerned. There is no middle gound here--she must go in order for real healing, growth, and progress to begin.

#10 No raise in years on 10/11/12 at 06:27 PM [Reply]

Is barrow County getting it's money's worth?

From the Barrow Patch

The following is salary information for the 2012-13 school year for Barrow County Schools top administrative officials.

•Superintendent Wanda Creel — $148,680
•Assistant superintendent Jake Grant — $111,589
•Chris Griner, executive director of business services — $101,726
•Sherri Freeman, executive director of human resources — $94,283
A comparison to salary information obtained through the website open.georgia.gov for 2011 shows the superintendent will receive a salary increase of $2,178.84. Cindy Beggs, administrative assistant to the superintendent, said this is based on what the state of Georgia calls a "step increase." Under this plan, every certified educator is eligible for a raise based on years of experience, and the state determines every year whether step increases are funded.

Salary comparisons between 2012-13 and 2011 indicate assistant superintendent Grant will see a salary decrease of $485.24. Beggs said that decrease is likely due to furlough days — there were five furlough days in 2011 and there are six in the 2012-13 school year. As Grant is not employed in a certified position, he was not eligible for a step increase like the one Creel received.

The following salary information was obtained through the website open.georgia.gov for for 2008 through 2011.

Barrow County School System administration

Superintendent Wanda Creel

•2011 — $146,501.16
•2010 — $41,884.94 from Barrow County School System and $99,793.13 from Houston County
Former superintendent Ron Saunders

•2010 — $124,150.29
•2009 — $151,122.36
•2008 — $150,531.42
Assistant superintendent Claire Miller — Note: Miller is no longer with the Barrow County School System as of the 2012-13 school year, having accepted a position with Oconee County Schools

•2011 — $111,922.44
•2010 — $107,582.04
•2009 — $103,007.94
•2008 — $95,915
Assistant superintendent Jake Grant

•2011 — $112,074.24
•2010 — $111,589.02
•2009 — $114,500.04
•2008 — $109,785.96

#10.1 enough on 10/12/12 at 05:38 AM [Reply]

The Superintendent should not recieve a "step increase". That is for teachers that are on a state salary scale. Creel is way beyond above that scale. She receives a given salary for her contract.
The BOE voted to extend her contract. Bad,bad, bad decesion; but,it has been voted on. Now, the terms have not been set. I strongly suggest you establish the salary at $1.00 for the term of the contract.
If you (BOE) think you will get a court battle out of her on that salary (and you probably will, then let's bite-the-bullet. BUY HER OUT!
In a 100 million dollar budget, what is $200,000 dollars? $200,000 dollars is money well spent to get rid of her. There will be no court battle (no grounds). And, the damage she will continue to do to adults and more importantly children has a MUCH bigger price tag.
This system cannont be focused on Student Achievement when everyting is really about Creel and her insecurities, power-trip, emontional rollercoaster, and vindictiveness.

#11 Held Hostage on 10/12/12 at 02:05 PM [Reply]

It does seem the BOE is over a barrel so to speak. It it like the old Midas commercials "you can pay me now or you can pay me latter". Latter will come with many more problems which stem from the root problem, the superintendent.

#12 Ron on 10/12/12 at 03:01 PM [Reply]

Well, I guess if the BOE doesn't do the right thing and get rid of Creel, then the next election we need to get rid of them. They work for the tax payers of Barrow and they had better start listening to their bosses! Dr. Creel is self centered and has her own personal agenda, which is not in the best interest of Barrow County, it's students, and teachers. Wanda, do the right thing and resign!

#13 friend on 10/19/12 at 08:39 AM [Reply]

It makes me so mad that these people are getting paid high salarys and all the employees took a pay cut .Than this year the employees insurance is so much some employees had to drop dental coverage to be able to pay there insurance with the $166.00 pay cut plus there part of insurance they have to pay .If the employee has a spouse on insurance it costs more to .How does an employee survive bus drivers and lunchroom workers and monitors don't make enough as it is to pay these expensive prices .Keep on and ya'll are going to lose alot of employees .

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