RUNOFF ON DECEMBER 2.

I know many of you are focused on the upcoming holidays beginning with Thanksgiving. I am also aware that voting, campaigning, and political speech is probably last on your agenda at the moment. However, I need your help one more time. I truly would like to represent the district on the school board. I see multiple challenges ahead for the board and I would like to be part of the change that takes us  to more positive territory. I have spent months studying the issues in DeKalb schools. The task ahead is daunting, but we must help our school system return to more positive days. I have followed closely the zoning impact on our school system, also the condition of our school buildings along with numerous transportation issues. We have to try return the schools to our neighborhoods and involved parents. We must also begin to enforce our residency requirements. We have enough problems without importing someone else's responsibility. We must also get control of discipline in our schools. Without that, you will not see an appreciable rise in test scores. 

The school board is in charge of policy not daily interference in school activity. We must get Dr. Lewis to enforce our rules by empowering our principals and staff. If we do these things we will attract better teachers and principals that will buy in to their daily jobs. We can make them decision makers and not just pawns.

Lastly, I ask for your vote on Dec. 2. I know how schools work. I have 34 years in the classroom. I know what school boards can do to help or hurt educational endeavors. I am also retired. This will allow me to devote the proper time to this position. I am also mindful that you would like to see some positive return for your tax dollars. I assure you, I am paying attention.

Thank you for your vote.

LINDBERGH-LAVISTA CORRIDOR COALITION

I attended the Lindbergh-LaVista Corridor Coalition meeting on Sat. Nov. 22. I found out some interesting information regarding their development plan and its impact on schools.

For those who may not be familiar, the LLCC is a group of homeowners, businesses, and interested parties that are trying to develop a more livable community in an area that is undergoing change. The concept is to affect the change rather than change occurring without any input from residences. The study has been worked on by numerous Ga. Tech architectural students that are planning travel corridors, environmental studies and design improvements. Their plan is beautifully done. They have made sincere efforts to address living conditions in the area. However, one of the things they did not address was impact on schools. I asked the first question. Have you thought about the impact that the increased density of population will have on the school system, particularly in the Briarcliff-LaVista area where some of the major changes would take place? The Tech professor looked at me furrowed his brow and said simply, NO. This is true of much of what our county commissioners are doing. The heart of district 2 is the primary focus of development within DeKalb County. With numerous Town Centers and and smaller developments being planned from Buford Hwy,Executive Park, Toco Hills and now the Briarcliff - LaVista road area we better become mindful of the impact on our schools. If all this development takes place our neighborhood schools will be overwhelmed. Somehow we must make county commissioners, developers, and planners be responsible for the impact they will place on the schools. Please stay involved in your communities affairs. If we are not vigilant we will add another problem to our school system.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE ON DECEMBER 2.

SOME FACTS ABOUT POSITIONS

I have seen that some want to paint me into the corner as a one issue candidate. Nothing could be further from the truth. In my campaign I promised that I would represent all DeKalb neighborhoods in a fair and equitable manner. Nothing has changed there. One of the things I feel we need to start looking at is the information we get from county staff. This is one place we need to start asking the hard questions. Our goal is to improve all of DeKalb schools not just some of them. I remain committed to neighborhood schools and will follow closely zoning items that may have a direct effect on our neighborhood schools. We must also be aware of our crumbling buildings and how we can better maintain them in an economical manner.

DON IS IN THE RUNOFF ON DEC. 2

Thank you for everyone that supported me in the school board election. Now I need you one more time. I know that many people are tired of campaigns and voting right now, but I need for you to go to bat for me once more. December 2, is the day. I want to represent the district on the school board and hopefully help take it in a less contentious direction. I am prepared to go to work with the newly elected members and those that remain on the board. Please help me in my quest.

SOME THANKS ARE IN ORDER

A thank you is in order to all my former students who have contacted me and wished me well in my quest to be a member of the Board of Education. I have heard from Shamrock, Tucker, and Parkview students that are supporting me. I also have heard from large numbers of Briarcliff graduates who are in my corner. It has been great seeing and hearing from many students that I went to school with at Briarcliff. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Some new responses on zoning.

People are asking if the zoning commission pays any attention to impact on schools. As cochair of the Sagamore Hills zoning committee I have been to many commissioners meetings. Never once have I heard the schools mentioned when development is being proposed. These proposed increased density developments will have an impact on our schools. The Williamsburg area and the Toco Hills Town center along with the Ashkouti development on N. Druid Hills Rd. are potential dangers to our schools. When the economic climate improves you can rest assured that many of these developers will be back pressuring these communities again. Don't forget Sembler they still present a danger in the future. One of my opponents said at our Fernbank forum that the school board members were not really involved in zoning issues. It is obvious that some  know little about the zoning issues that have impact on central DeKalb and the possible effects on students and school population.

DON'S CANDIDACY ENDORSED BY FORMER DEKALB SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT

James R. Hallford, former DeKalb County School Superintendent has endorsed Don McChesney. Mr. Hallford first hired Don to teach at Tucker High School when Mr. Hallford was principal at Tucker. 

I am proud to have this endorsement. Mr. Hallford was one of the finest principal's I ever worked for. His ability to lead DeKalb County Schools, while superintendent, was outstanding. He was faced with operating DeKalb Schools during a difficult transition period. Thank you Mr. Hallford.