Morgan Gets Colleagues to Address Vision

South Cobb’s school board member, David Morgan, opened a discussion at Wednesday’s Cobb County Board of Education work session on the strategic plan and the priorities and vision of members for the .

Morgan, who represents and high schools, led his colleagues in providing glimpses at their core beliefs and values.

Although board Chairwoman Alison Bartlett suggested taking up those issues at the board’s planned summer retreat after a new superintendent is on the job, Morgan asked his fellow board members to reveal their priorities and vision.

Morgan said it is “dire that we, ASAP, establish some priorities and core beliefs, or vision, so that we can have a definitive direction.”

Bartlett agreed with Morgan’s assessment, but she also said it is important early on to be a “team” with the new superintendent.

Morgan’s own answer focused on the financial side: “Creating additional revenue streams through relationships with national philanthropic groups.”

Also during the meeting, the board briefly took up East Cobb/Northeast Cobb member David Banks’ suggestion to use the $11 million saved from SPLOST construction projects this year for purchases of textbooks, technology and transportation.

Bartlett asked SPLOST Chief Administrative Officer Doug Shepard to compile information about the budget surplus for the board to go over during its July work session and to get information to the school system’s Facilities & Technology Committee.

After reporting at the board’s April 28 meeting that 10 principals are retiring from the Cobb district and an assistant principal is resigning, Chief Human Resources Officer Donald Dunnigan presented a report Wednesday on contract extensions, promotions, reassignments and other moves.

The board unanimously approved the personnel report, which included extensions for the district’s Executive Cabinet: Chief Financial Officer Mike Addison, Director of Communications Jay Dillon, Dunnigan, Chief Accountability and Resource Officer Judith Jones, Chief Technology Officer Chris Ragsdale, and Shepard.

Extensions also were offered to Assistant Superintendents Robert Benson, James Carter, Dale Gaddis, Angela Huff, Cheryl Hungerford, Carol Seay, Alice Stouder and Edward Thayer.

In personnel moves involving South Cobb schools:

• teacher Kimberly H. Jackson has been promoted to be Pebblebrook High School assistant principal.
• Pebblebrook teacher Preston Moses, teacher Johnetta Spivey and teacher Kendra Jackson have resigned.
• teacher Dennis Davis’ contract has not been renewed.