In a mostly partisan vote, the U.S. House of Representatives voted early Friday to pass President Joe Biden’s $1.75 trillion Build Back Better bill, a vast expansion of the nation’s social safety net.
U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath of the 6th District of Georgia was among the Democrats voting in favor of the bill, which passed on a 220-213 vote.
Only one Democrat voted against the legislation (you can read through it here), which got 13 House Republican votes and that now goes to the U.S. Senate.
The bill includes funding for universal pre-kindergarten, lowers the cost of prescription drugs, guarantees parental and caregiver leave, expands Medicare coverage, offers renewable energy tax credits, creates a Civilian Climate Corps and provides money for pandemic preparedness, among other things.
In a statement McBath said that “the Build Back Better Act will set us on a course to create millions of jobs, get Americans back to work, lower health care costs, and provide tax cuts to hard-working families. This historic investment will help put America on the path back to normal, and I am proud to support this package to help meet the needs of our communities.”
Voting against the bill is 11th District Republican Congressman Barry Loudermilk, who represents part of Cobb County. He called Build Back Better a “tax big and spend bigger bill.”
The vote in Congress comes as Georgia lawmakers are redrawing Congressional district lines.
A map proposed by Republicans in the GOP-dominated legislature would cut some of East Cobb from the 6th, which would add more conservative areas in Cherokee and Forsyth counties.
The new 11th district would include some of East Cobb.
The General Assembly is continuing to meet Friday and Saturday and could vote on Congressional reapportionment by Monday.
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The East Cobb Government Service Center is being suggested as the city hall for the proposed City of East Cobb, which would have police and fire services.
After initially proposing what’s called a “city light” set of services—planning and zoning, code enforcement and parks and recreation—leaders behind a movement to create a city of East Cobb said they added public safety based on plenty of public feedback.
After getting comments from citizens in recent months, they said that they “unilaterally wanted police and fire to be included,” said Craig Chapin, chairman of the Committee for East Cobb Cityhood.
He and other committee members conducted a virtual information session Wednesday after the release of a financial feasibility study was released last week.
(You can watch the full cityhood information session by clicking here; it lasts roughly an hour.)
That study, conducted by the Center for State and Local Finance at Georgia State University, concluded that the proposed city of 50,000 was financially viable, even with public safety, and would have a $3 million annual surplus.
State Rep. Matt Dollar and State Rep. Sharon Cooper, both East Cobb Republicans, have filed a bill for the 2022 legislature that if passed would call for a Nov. 2022 referendum on whether to create a city.
While police and fire were not mentioned in earlier virtual town halls held by the East Cobb cityhood group, Chapin said the decision was made to include those services in the study to give a future East Cobb mayor and city council a financial outline.
He also said “we wanted to be as transparent as possible” before a referendum would be held.
The main source of revenue for the City of East Cobb would be the existing 2.86 mills in property taxes Cobb citizens pay for fire services, roughly $15 million.
No new property taxes would be imposed to fund city operations, which are estimated to cost $24.4 million a year.
The current proposal calls for planning and zoning and code enforcement services, along with public safety.
Chapin said cityhood leaders also heard from officials in Milton and Johns Creek, which eventually added public safety, and cited a recent survey by the Atlanta Regional Commission indicating crime as the top concern in the metro area for the first time.
That includes 27 percent of respondents in Cobb County placing crime at the top of their list.
The cityhood group is proposing to conduct city government services out of the East Cobb Government Service Center on Lower Roswell Road, which it would purchase from Cobb County.
It’s the location for Precinct 4 of the Cobb Police Department and Station 21 of the Cobb Fire Department, as well as a Cobb tag office and other existing office and community meeting space.
The city also would purchase Cobb Fire Station 15 on Oak Lane, off Johnson Ferry Road.
For now, parks and recreation are on the back burner. The GSU study includes some financial projections contained in appendix.
Chapin said that “there are not a lot of revenues and there is a lot of expense” in providing those services, which would include East Cobb Park, Fullers Park, Hyde Farm, Mt. Bethel Park and the Wright Environmental Education Center.
The study estimated annual expenses of $2.5 million, and Chapin said the issue is complicated by the expiration of a parks memorandum of understanding with the county in 2025.
Cityhood leaders also updated a continuing “strawman” poll they’ve been conducting since April, indicating that 43 percent of respondents are in favor of a city, with 44 percent undecided and 14 percent opposed.
Issues of planning and zoning are behind the revived cityhood effort. The 2018-19 campaign for cityhood centered on public safety, but Cindy Cooperman, a spokeswoman for the cityhood committee, said development issues are “becoming a hotter and hotter topic.”
During the information session they referred to recent zoning cases in the county and critical news articles and columns about them, as well as a proposal to create a Unified Development Code in Cobb.
“We’re giving people the ability to vote for local control,” Dollar said.
The proposed City of East Cobb map is centered along the Johnson Ferry Road corridor, much smaller than the first cityhood map, which included a population of around 100,000.
When Dollar was asked about that, he explained that it was also based on public feedback, and to have a more condensed municipality.
The lines were created to include whole census tracts, and since the new map was first issued, he said the only addition was apartment complexes along Columns Drive.
(You can click here to view the map, which is also shown at the bottom.)
“I don’t anticipate any more changes,” Dollar said, adding that “adding any large chunks would change the outcome of the feasibility study.”
Neighborhoods wishing to become part of a city, should it be created, could do so through existing annexation processes.
Some questions for the cityhood leaders also pertained to schools.
Former Cobb school board member Scott Sweeney said that a City of East Cobb would have no bearing on the Cobb County School District since new cities are barred by law from creating school districts.
A city also would have no impact on school attendance zones, since those are drawn administratively by district officials.
And a new city of East Cobb also would not affect homeowners 62 and older who claim an exemption from paying Cobb school property taxes.
Dollar said the cityhood bill (you can read it here) is likely to be taken up in January or February by the Georgia General Assembly.
For a larger view of the proposed City of East Cobb map, click here.
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The following East Cobb food scores for the week of Nov. 15 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:
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Bob Ott flanked by Cobb Chamber President/CEO Sharon Mason and Chamber Chairman John Loud. Photo Courtesy Cobb Chamber of Commerce
The East Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce has named former Cobb Commissioner Bob Ott its 2021 Citizen of the Year.
Ott was honored at a breakfast Thursday at Indian Hills Country Club for his public service, including 12 years on the Cobb Board of Commissioners and citizen activism beginning with the East Cobb Civic Association on zoning and planning matters.
Ott, a Republican who lives in the Powers Ferry-Terrell Mill area, served three terms representing District 2, which stretches from Vinings, Cumberland and Smyrna to much of East Cobb, until retiring in 2020.
The Chamber also noted his role in helping bring the Atlanta Braves to Cobb County, promoting other development in the Cumberland area and helping secure land for the expansion of East Cobb Park (previous ECN story here).
During the COVID-19 crisis, “Ott was vigilant in helping small businesses stay open, working alongside SelectCobb to propose that $50 million of the county’s federal CARES Act funding would be dedicated to developing grants for small business owners,” the Chamber said in a release.
“His term started with catastrophic floods that devastated East and South Cobb County and ended with a pandemic that crippled the nation. Ott worked tirelessly through those terrible events during his term and has remained a faithful servant to his community.”
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At the Nov. 11 Cobb Board of Education meeting, East Cobb Middle School was recognized as having earned STEAM certification from the Cobb County School District.
It’s the third school in the Cobb school district to earn such certification, which combines the traditional STEAM disciplines science, technology, engineering and math) with the arts.
The other STEAM-certified schools by the Cobb school district also are in East Cobb, Simpson Middle School and Tritt Elementary School. Here’s more about the STEAM program at East Cobb MS.
The Georgia Department of Education has recognized two Cobb schools as STEAM schools: Wheeler High School and Mableton Elementary School.
Also on Nov. 11, the Cobb school district recognized Garrison Mill ES, Rocky Mount ES and Sprayberry HS with having earned STEM certifications.
Here’s more from the district about those designations:
“The Cobb STEM Certification recognizes schools that provide students with STEM-enriched learning opportunities and are committed to helping students cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary for future success in STEM-related college and career fields. ”
A total of 39 of the Cobb school district’s 112 school have earned STEM certifications along with three earning STEAM certification.
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State Reps. Sharon Cooper and Matt Dollar during an East Cobb Cityhood virtual town hall this spring.
The two East Cobb lawmakers who’ve sponsored a cityhood bill for the 2022 legislature will be featured on a virtual information session Wednesday.
State Reps. Matt Dollar and Sharon Cooper, both Republicans, will discuss the results of a feasibility study that’s required for the bill to be considered.
The information session starts at 5:30 and the public can sign up by clicking here. You can also include questions you want answered, as there will not be direct interaction with the participants.
Researchers at Georgia State University concluded in their report that a proposed City of East Cobb, with around 50,000 residents centered along the Johnson Ferry Road corridor, is financially feasible.
But Dollar, Cooper and Cityhood representatives scheduled to appear on the information session will most likely be questioned above all about a surprising development in the Cityhood initiative.
That’s the inclusion of police and fire services (new cities must provide a minimum of three) which were evaluated in the GSU study.
East Cobb News contacted Dollar and the Committee for East Cobb Cityhood to provide more details before the Wednesday session about those changes.
Cindy Cooperman, a cityhood spokeswoman, said that “after reviewing service options and community feedback, public safety was added to the scope of the study in the October timeframe. This addition is very favorable from both a public quality of life and an economic standpoint for the residents of East Cobb.”
The bill Dollar and Cooper submitted in March, near the end of the 2021 legislative session, proposed planning and zoning, code enforcement and parks and recreation services.
Road maintenance was added in July, when the feasibility study was commissioned.
During three virtual town halls over the spring and summer, police and fire services were not discussed.
The initial East Cobb cityhood effort in 2018-19 included police and fire services, but the bill was eventually abandoned before the 2020 legislative session.
The revived effort was modeled on what’s called “city light” services, which typically don’t involve expensive public safety services and the imposition of new taxes.
The proposed cities of Lost Mountain and Vinings, whose financial studies also were released recently, focus on zoning and development and do not include public safety.
In the East Cobb study, parks and recreation services were pushed back to an appendix and road maintenance services were given a “snapshot” assessment to “assist a city council in the future to negotiate with the county,” Cooperman said.
The recent GSU study includes transferring the current Cobb County Fire Fund, with a 2.86 millage rate, and that would be the proposed city’s largest source of revenues.
The report also concludes that the city of East Cobb would have a $3 million annual budget surplus.
The city would purchase two existing Cobb fire stations, but there’s no funding for leasing facilities for city government.
Cooperman said that the East Cobb Government Service Center on Lower Roswell Road “would work perfectly for the city hall.”
It’s the location for Precinct 4 of the Cobb Police Department and Station 21 of the Cobb Fire Department, as well as a Cobb tag office and other existing office and community meeting space.
“Should East Cobb become a city it would have access to this facility for its office space and equipment needs,” Cooperman said, adding that “the elected council ultimately has responsibility for the final decision.”
The cityhood bill, if passed by the legislature, would establish a November 2022 referendum for voters in the proposed City of East Cobb to decide whether to incorporate.
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Cobb COVID-19 case rates compiled by the Georgia Department of Public Health. For more details click here.
As of midnight Wednesday there will be no longer a mask mandate in most Cobb County government buildings.
The county announced Tuesday that a COVID-19 emergency declaration issued by Cobb Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Lisa Cupid would expire, along with a mask mandate.
The mandate included all indoor county facilities, including libraries.
However, a mask mandate will still be in place at county courthouse buildings, according to county spokesman Ross Cavitt.
He quoted Cupid in statement saying that “although the transmission levels of COVID-19 are still considered high, Public Health officials say they are declining along with the number of newly reported cases and the test positivity rate. One of my biggest concerns was the effect on our local hospitals, but WellStar reports low levels of COVID cases and they recently transitioned to “green” status, meaning that beds are vacant and visitors are again allowed in the hospital.”
During that time, attendance was limited at public meetings, including commissioners meetings.
As of Tuesday 14-day average of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in Cobb County is 112. An average of 100 or higher is considered a high rate of transmission.
The test positivity rate in Cobb County is 4.33 percent, under the 5 percent threshold cited by public health officials as a concern.
Citizens using Cobb County buildings are still encouraged to wear masks, and the county statement said that “The Chairwoman indicated she would remain in contact with Public Health officials who remain concerned that colder weather and the holidays could reignite a surge.”
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A Cobb Superior Court judge has granted a request by Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church to add a leader of the denomination’s conservative wing to its legal team.
Judge Mary Staley Clark ruled in a motion on Friday that Keith Boyette, head of the Wesleyan Covenant Association and a qualified attorney in Virginia, could work on behalf of Mt. Bethel in a pro hace vice admission.
That’s when an attorney from one state is granted special admission in a court in another state in a specific case.
Attorneys for the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church filed an objection to Mt. Bethel’s request, contending that Boyette was actively involved in the East Cobb congregation’s attempts to disaffiliate, and that one of his “primary goals was to take land and buildings currently used by the United Methodist Church from the United Methodist Church so that they can be used by a newly formed denomination.”
But Staley Clark noted in her motion that the State Bar of Georgia, “having investigated the matter, found that Mr. Boyette has paid the requisite fees for pro hac vice admission.”
It was the first legal disposition in what figures to be lengthy litigation involving the North Georgia Conference, which in September sued Mt. Bethel over assets and property following a months-long dispute.
In April, North Georgia Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson reassigned Mt. Bethel senior pastor Rev. Dr. Jody Ray to a non-ministerial position.
Mt. Bethel announced it was not accepting a new pastor, and Ray turned in his UMC ministerial credentials. Mt. Bethel has kept him on as CEO and lay pastor, positions, the Conference say violate its Book of Discipline governing protocols.
Mt. Bethel then announced its intent to disaffiliate from the UMC and declined to provide Rev. Dr. Steven Usry, the newly appointed senior pastor, office space or pay him a full salary.
The Conference further ruled that Mt. Bethel was not a church in good standing, and ordered it to turn over its properties and other physical assets. Attempts at mediation fell through over the summer.
Mt. Bethel has nearly 10,000 members and is the largest denomination in the North Georgia Conference.
It’s been grappling for years with doctrinal and other disputes increasing in the UMC, especially over same-sex marriages and lesbian and gay clergy.
Mt. Bethel has been actively involved in the creation of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, which is being tapped as a future destination for conservative Methodist congregations.
But national UMC delegates are not scheduled to vote on allowing congregations to break away until September 2022 at the earliest, due to COVID-19 delays.
The Mt. Bethel Administrative Council scheduled a meeting for members on Monday night.
A group of members upset with the congregation’s leadership, which calls itself Friends of Mt. Bethel, has formed its own website and started a newsletter.
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For a larger view click here. Map: Wellstar Health System
A construction and expansion project is getting underway at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, and a number of traffic and access changes have been put in place, effective today.
Wellstar sent out a news release Monday afternoon noting that the Church Street access to the hospital will be closed.
Also, the covered walkway from the Blue parking deck to the main entrance, also will be closed while the construction work continues.
Patients and visitors to the labor and delivery entrance will now use Kennestone Hospital Boulevard, off Tower Road, and follow the signs to the Blue parking deck.
Here’s more from Wellstar about what’s going to be different while the expansion is ongoing:
The main lobby entrance will remain open, as will Kennestone Hospital Boulevard, but the covered walkway from the Blue Parking Deck will not be accessible.
Visitors who park in the Blue Parking Deck can use the other sidewalk into the lobby or enter the hospital through the Purple Tower.
The new Labor & Delivery entrance location is covered, with ample space for curbside drop-off. The area will be open 24 hours a day and fully staffed to welcome and direct patients to their destination.
Signs will be posted on the construction barricades, in the parking deck, and in the hospital corridors to guide visitors to their desired location.
Traffic directors will be stationed outside the hospital lobby to help visitors navigate the changes.
The $263 million project includes a new patient tower that would replace the Baird Tower, which was built in 1964.
The new seven-story building would house expanded services for women and children and include more campus amenities and private rooms.
The project would be completed by mid-2025, if the Georgia Department of Community Health approves. A decision deadline is expected by Dec. 13.
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Arc 3 Communications, a public affairs agency located just off the historic downtown square of Marietta, Ga., recently celebrated their 10-year business anniversary. Started by founder and president, Patrick L. Burns, Arc 3 Communications has provided winning content, digital, and advocacy solutions for clients since 2011. For 10 years, Arc 3 has provided quality services to trade associations, businesses, non-profits, and government agencies, helping them achieve their organizational goals in a complex media and public affairs landscape.
“I am so grateful to our clients from across the country who have entrusted us to serve their content, digital, and advocacy needs,” said company founder and president, Patrick Burns, “I look forward to working with our growing, talented and innovative team to help our clients achieve their public affairs goals for many more years to come.”
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The service features music and messages from a variety of faiths and faith communities, including Chestnut Ridge Christian Church, Congregation Etz Chaim, the East Cobb Islamic Center, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Emerison Unitarian Universalist Congregation, St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church, Transfiguration Catholic Church and Unity North Atlanta Church.
The theme of this year’s service is “Rebuilding Hope Together.”
Each year the service collects donations for its Give-A-Gobble program, which purchases Thanksgiving turkeys and food for those in need.
This year’s recipient is East Cobb-based United Military Care, a non-profit that supports veterans in crisis.
Among the speaks is United Military Care founder and president Kim Scofi.
If you’re interested in donating, you can do so by clicking here.
More information on the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service can be found here.
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Among the many East Cobb area events that didn’t take place in 2020 was the Sprayberry PTSA Craft Show, the organization’s biggest fundraiser that benefits school projects and helps students get volunteer hours.
It’s also among those events that’s back on the schedule for 2021, and it’s taking place this coming weekend, Nov. 20-21.
This is the 39th year for the craft show, which includes more than 200 craft booths and in the past has attracted around 10,000 to do some early holiday shopping over two days.
More information can be found on the flyer at right and by clicking here.
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Pass along your details to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.
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Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
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State Rep. Matt Dollar is co-sponsoring another East Cobb Cityhood bill to be considered during the 2022 legislature.
The Committee for East Cobb Cityhood has released a feasibility study declaring financial viability without imposing new taxes.
The group’s press release can be found here; a link to the full report, which was compiled by researchers at Georgia State University, can be found here.
A major change in the focus of the report is the addition of police and fire services to the financial analysis.
Police and fire services were included in the initial 2019 Cityhood effort, although legislation filed for consideration in 2020 was abandoned.
The proposed city introduced this year would contain a population of 50,406, around half from the 2019 bill.
The new boundaries would include the Johnson Ferry Road corridor, running west to Old Canton Road and including most of the Walton High School attendance zone and some of the area around Pope High School (click here to view map).
Areas of East Cobb closer to the city of Marietta, comprising most of the Wheeler High School zone, were taken out.
The revived Cityhood effort, which was announced in March, included planning and zoning, code enforcement and parks and recreation services. Road maintenance was later added.
The Cityhood committee said Friday that police and fire were added back into the feasibility study based on public feedback and that parks and recreation were pushed back to the appendix to be considered on contingency, along with road maintenance.
Researchers from the GSU Center for State and Local Finance made comparisons to similar-sized cities—Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Johns Creek, Marietta and Smyrna—to help craft their report.
The study estimated annual revenues of $27.7 million and estimated annual expenses of $24.65 million for a budget surplus of $3 million annually (see chart below).
The single-largest revenue source would be existing property taxes ($15 million), and public safety services would be the largest expense ($14.3 million).
The existing property taxes would be the 2.86 mills that make up the current Cobb County Fire Fund, and that would be transferred to a new City of East Cobb.
Under the proposed city, that would become the primary revenue source, collecting around $12 million a year.
Other taxes include around $1 million in real property taxes, as well as utility and franchise fees and alcohol taxes.
The City of East Cobb would purchase two existing Cobb County Fire Department stations that are within the proposed city boundaries (they’re not identified in the report but they are No. 20 at the East Cobb Government Service Center on Lower Roswell Road, and No. 15 on Oak Lane near Johnson Ferry Road).
The study did not indicate how big a police force or fire department would be staffed, in terms of number of employees.
The study estimated around 50 total employees would be on staff citywide, but the report didn’t detail a breakdown.
The Georgia State researchers estimated startup costs of $984,000, and their report indicated no expenses for facility leases.
In fact, there’s no mention of a a City of East Cobb government having a physical location, other than public safety services.
The Lost Mountain proposal does not call for a city government facility to be owned or leased, but for existing community space to be rented for meetings and other public events.
But Lost Mountain and Vinings are not proposing public safety services.
The East Cobb Cityhood study was to have been released this coming Monday.
There will be an information session next Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 5:30 p.m. with state Rep. Matt Dollar, state Rep. Sharon Cooper, co-sponsors of the East Cobb Cityhood legislation to be considered in 2022, and the East Cobb Cityhood Committee.
Their bill, if passed by the legislature, would establish a November 2022 referendum for voters in the proposed City of East Cobb to decide whether to incorporate.
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Activities involving the Cobb Board of Education—in particular open conflicts in public meetings, members’ communications with the public and the elected body’s code of ethics—constitute a considerable portion of a special review report compiled by the Cobb County School District’s accrediting agency.
In its report delivered to the district this week, Alpharetta-based Cognia said it was continuing to maintain full accreditation status for the 107,000-student CCSD, the second largest public school district in Georgia.
But it cited several areas for progress over the next year for the district, and especially for the school board, to address.
The district released the report and accompanying documents late Thursday night, after the school board held a previously unannounced executive session.
Cognia, which announced it was doing an unusual “special review” in April at the behest of three Cobb school board members and after receiving nearly 50 complaints from the public, conducted more than 170 interviews during that week-long process in August.
Of the four areas of its focus, Cognia said the Cobb school district met the highest ranking on its 4-grade system on only one of them—educational equity, and that was with some conditions.
The other three—board policy-making, the board’s code of ethics and fiscal responsibility in the school district—were cited as needing improvement.
Cognia is giving the district until December 2022 to meet the requirements of what it calls a “Progress Monitoring Review.”
Among Cognia’s major findings, it concluded that the school board ethics code “is not adhered to with fidelity by most board members.”
The Cobb school district also was found to lack “a consistent and formal process for making resource allocation decisions raised questions about how the Board handles its fiduciary responsibility,” in particular its purchase of equipment related to its COVID-19 pandemic response, and the board’s appointment of a law firm to draw reapportionment maps.
The accrediting agency urged the district to “revise [its] strategic plan to “include measurable goals, initiatives, and budgetary allocations would better ensure the presence of a comprehensive plan to guide the system during its continuous improvement process.”
And fourthly, the report concluded that while standardized assessments show that academic “progress is being made in subgroup performance even though there is still a need for a continuous focus on closing the achievement gaps.”
In a statement accompanying the district’s release, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said that “as is the case with any feedback we receive, our educators will review Cognia’s process and recommendations closely and consider areas of recommended growth. I am committed to keeping our focus on high-quality teaching and learning and meeting Cobb County’s high expectations for all students.”
He did not specify those areas of improvement, nor did he mention issues regarding school board relations.
A Fractured School Board
Cognia’s report concluded that divisions and “the lack of trust among board members projects a negative light on the district and hinders the Board’s ability to lead the district toward its mission of ‘One Team, One Goal: Student Success.’ ”
Charisse Davis
The current school board is made up of four white Republicans and three black Democrats, and for the last two years sharp partisan divisions have deepened over issues involving race and equity and COVID-19 response, among others.
Those Democrats—including Charisse Davis, whose Post 6 includes the Walton and Wheeler clusters—first went to Cognia, complaining that they were being silenced by their GOP colleagues.
In late 2019, the Republican majority voted to change board policy to ban board member comments at the end of meetings.
That enflamed differences even more, even as the board tried to find consensus on an anti-racism resolution in 2020, but could not.
After the 2020 elections—in which then-chairman Brad Wheeler and vice chairman David Banks—narrowly won re-election to maintain a Republican board majority—the GOP contingent pushed through a policy change to limit how board members can place items on meeting agendas.
While the chairman and superintendent can unilaterally add items, any other board members must now get a majority of his/her colleagues to agree.
For most of 2021, issues that Democratic members have wanted to discuss—including a possible name change for Wheeler High School—have not been aired in meetings, other than from citizens making remarks during public comment.
There also was no discussion on the board regarding a resolution to ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory, a measure that passed by another partisan 4-0 vote, with the Democrats abstaining.
In its report, Cognia said faulted board leadership for not fully communicating with colleagues about what’s on agendas, and not giving them adequate time to review them before a meeting:
“Debate related to the removal of Board Member Comments highlights the Board’s recent lack of transparency and trust and the change in Board dynamics. The discussion also shows that some board members may not be able to fully represent their constituents due to their lack of knowledge of what will be discussed and voted on before the board meeting and in time to study the issues fully.”
The Cognia review also outlined that the district is aware of 113 “potential Board policy violations” by Howard, 41 by Davis, 13 by Tre’ Hutchins (the other board Democrat) and two by Banks, all “through social media, traditional media, or other interactions with the public or the District.”
Wheeler, current chairman Randy Scamihorn and board member David Chastain—all Republicans—were found not to be in apparent violation of any board policies.
The review also found “some inappropriate comments by board members” that violated board policies encouraging them to make comments to the news media that “should be helpful to the District and not harmful.”
Cognia’s directives include having the board find an “external expert” to facilitate a self-assessment process “about best practices in school governance and develop a plan to use findings from the self-assessment to improve the Board’s effectiveness, collegiality, and trust among board members.”
Purchases in Question
Another area of concern were financial matters related to the Cobb school district’s COVID-response.
In December 2020, the board approved a request from Ragsdale to spend $12 million in general fund balance to purchase UV disinfecting lights and hand sanitizing stations that would first be installed at the elementary school level.
A contract for disinfecting UV lights was abruptly cancelled.
Ragsdale explained at the time he was confident the district would be reimbursed through additional federal CARES Act funding.
While noting that the district has historically excelled in financial reporting, the Cognia report stated that “a review of board meeting work sessions and board meeting videos may demonstrate a lack of clarity about the collection and analysis of data used to assess the impact of resources on meeting identified goals and priorities.”
Among the recommendations are for the Cobb school district to “develop, implement, and monitor board actions regarding fiduciary matters to ensure adherence to adopted policies.”
In the Cobb school district release Thursday, Scamihorn issued a statement saying that the district still hasn’t been provided with all of the “specific allegations” that led to the special review.
The district said it spent $75,000 to prepare for the review. Cognia fully reaccredited Cobb in 2019, through 2024.
In its report, Cognia did not indicate what might happen if the Cobb school district doesn’t meet the directives of its improvement plan.
“It is disappointing the Special Review Team chose not to consider much of the context leading to various Board decisions, and their review of evidence requested from the District appears to be cursory and incomplete,” Scamihorn said. “While I am pleased this review is unlikely to have an immediately negative effect on the District’s students, it did serve as a significant distraction for the staff.”
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The Cobb school district Thursday night released the Cognia special review report, which does not recommend changing the status of the district’s full accreditation.
The agency did note several areas of improvement for the district to address over the next year, especially involving school board policy-making and ethics and fiscal responsbility.
Our follow-up story to the report below can be found by clicking here.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
The Cobb County School District has received the findings of a special review conducted in August by its accrediting agency, but isn’t commenting on them for now.
Nor is the district immediately releasing the report from Cognia, based in Alpharetta, which was responding to complaints from three members of the Cobb Board of Education and around 50 others from the community.
A Cobb school district spokeswoman told East Cobb News that “the District is in the process of carefully reviewing the report from Cognia in preparation for release in the near future. Cobb Schools remains committed to providing a world-class education and continuing the District’s legacy of student success.”
When asked if the report would be provided to media representatives upon request, the spokeswoman said that request should be directed to the district’s open records officer.
Under the Georgia Open Records Act, public agencies have three business days to respond to open records requests.
Cognia delivered its report to the Cobb County School District on Monday.
During its special review (previous ECN story here), Cognia representatives interviewed school board members, district staff, principals, teachers, parents, students and other stakeholders in its special review in August on a range of board governance matters and concerns over equitable opportunities and student performance.
The district announced in April that Cognia would be conducting the review, expressing concern that “determinations made through a Special Review Team can negatively impact college acceptance rates, college scholarships, enrollment, funding, and educator recruitment and retention . . . Impacts can also negatively affect a county’s economy, property values, and bond credit ratings.”
In 2019, Cognia reaccredited the Cobb County School District—the second-largest in Georgia, with more than 107,000 students—through 2024.
But Democratic board members Charisse Davis, Jaha Howard and Tre’ Hutchins went to Cognia after saying they were being ignored by the board’s Republican majority and Superintendent Chris Ragsdale to discuss early literacy, educator and employee support and board governance training topics.
Depending on the findings, a special review—which is a rare occurrence—typically affords school districts time to make recommended changes before a possible loss of accreditation.
In September, Cognia released its findings in a special review of Gwinnett County Public Schools, indicating several areas of improvement. But the accrediting agency did not recommend any change in that school district’s full accreditation status.
At a Cobb school board work session Thursday afternoon, the Cognia report was not on the published agenda, nor was it discussed until the very end, and then only in procedural terms.
The board heard several presentations about the district’s legislative priorities and its quarterly financial report.
Just as the board was to approve the agenda for the Thursday 7 p.m. business meeting, Howard asked board chairman Randy Scamihorn if an item for discussion of the Cognia review could be added.
“There was some big news that came out, and we haven’t talked about it yet,” Howard said. “I would like the agenda to reflect that urgent matter.”
But Scamihorn said the agenda can be revised for an emergency, and said he didn’t think Howard’s request was “applicable, as the agenda has been developed.”
When Howard appealed to Suzanne Wilcox, the board attorney, she said such an item would could be added if the board determined it was “necessary” and in particular if it was a matter that was “not known about in advance.”
When Howard asked her why she didn’t recommend revising the agenda, she said that state law says an item has to be considered an emergency to be added.
“At this time, I’m not aware of anything that makes it necessary to address,” Wilcox said.
Howard then asked if a Cognia discussion could be added to the board’s December agenda, but Scamihorn said he couldn’t give an “absolute yes or no” since “none of us have seen the report yet. . . . But the chair appreciates your concern.”
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Four parents of medically fragile students in the Cobb County School District are appealing a federal judge’s denial of their request for an injunction over COVID-19 protocols, including the district’s lack of a mask mandate.
Attorneys with the Southern Poverty Law Center filed a notice of appeal on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for Northern Georgia in Atlanta (you can read it here).
On Oct. 15, federal district judge Tim Batten denied their request for an injunction and a temporary restraining order. The parents wanted the court to order stronger COVID-19 measures in the schools, including mandatory masks, saying their children are unable to learn in-person as a result.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys have said the parents have removed their children from in-person learning, which “has had a negative effect on them socially, physically, and emotionally.”
The parents “further allege that unless and until the school board reimplements safety measures, they will be unable to attend school and will continue to suffer irreparable harm.”
The four parents, including Sara Cavorley of East Cobb (previous ECN story here), filed suit on Oct. 1, claiming that the Cobb school district’s policies are denying their children a proper in-person education under the federal Americans With Disabilities Act.
The SPLC issued a press release Wednesday saying that “this case isn’t just about masks, this is about disability discrimination in the Cobb County School District and ensuring that all children have an equal opportunity to access an in-person learning environment.”
Cobb schools have a masks-optional policy this year after mandating them for the 2020-21 school year.
But unlike last year, the 2021-22 school year does not provide virtual learning options that are identical to classroom instruction.
The Cobb school district is making a limited number of virtual options available for the spring semester via a lottery process (the deadline for applying for that has passed).
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When she received a medical discharge in 1994 to end her career in the U.S. Navy, Amy Stevens felt like many other military veterans.
Feeling disconnected after years of structure, routine and a close-knit system of support, she struggled to make the transition to civilian life.
But for Stevens, a current East Cobb resident, her challenges went beyond learning how buy a home and other basics of everyday living that were new to her.
A single mother, she had a special-needs son to raise.
Above all, the invisibility of female veterans was a bracing reminder of the historic limitations placed on them during their time in the service.
“The typical woman veteran—you would not imagine that they served in the military,” said Stevens, who was an educational and training specialist in the Navy for 15 years, rising to the rank of lieutenant.
While many male veterans proudly wear hats and t-shirts signifying their military service, Stevens said women veterans quite often do not.
In fact, she’s noticed that many of her fellow women veterans don’t even mention their military background.
Recognition for women veterans is starting to increase. Last weekend, Cobb County and state and federal veterans services agencies paid tribute to women veterans in an observance at Jim Miller Park.
Stevens is the organizer of a Facebook group, Georgia Military Women, and weather permitting, will appear on Thursday in the Marietta Veterans Day parade on a float for the Disabled American Veterans association.
Amy Stevens as a Navy lieutenant.
While she’s proud of those and other broader veterans organizations that she belongs to, Stevens has become an ardent supporter of other females who’ve left the service.
“I’m a connector person,” said Stevens, now 68, who earned master’s and doctorate degrees post-Navy and has been a licensed therapist.
She formerly was a mental health specialist with the Georgia National Guard, a role that launched her volunteerism for women veterans.
When Stevens signed up for Officer Candidate School in 1979, the U.S. armed services were changing for women.
Through the Vietnam War, most women in the military were nurses or served in other strictly support roles.
When they left the military, Stevens said, “they couldn’t just jump into the higher-paid jobs” in the civilian world.
Stevens was an outlier during that time, with a degree in broadcast television, and she served in a variety of communications, education and training positions in the Navy.
By the time she left, she noticed that “there was a different type of woman in the military.” It’s estimated that 20 percent of the nation’s current veterans are women.
The Georgia Military Women Facebook group, which was started in 2012, has more than 4,000 members and is strictly about making connections and referrals.
“We’re not a therapy group,” Stevens said. “We’re a girlfriend group. It’s great just to have friends who know what it’s like to serve.”
Stevens said there are an estimated 93,000 female veterans in Georgia, the fifth-highest total in the U.S., and around 38,000 in metro Atlanta alone.
Of that latter total, she said around 20,000 receive regular services from the Veterans Administration.
The women’s veterans groups she’s a part of tend to be younger than her, many of them with families and careers. But they still face similar challenges as their older mentors.
While many of the women come to the Facebook group seeking mental health help, Stevens said the networking efforts extend to such topics as financial issues and referrals for veterans and other services.
Group members are dispersed across Georgia, but Stevens enjoys the occasions when some of them can get together in person, just to socialize.
“It’s all about helping each other,” Stevens said. “It’s all about friendships, and it’s very rewarding to be a part of a forever family.”
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The following East Cobb food scores for the week of Nov. 8 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:
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Turnout was low, just under 10 percent across the county, with most East Cobb precincts in the 10-20 percent range;
The highest turnout was in the City of Marietta, which had mayor’s, city council and school board elections.
As we noted then, “yes” votes in the SPLOST referendum won every precinct, and handily.
What follows below is the vote count in East Cobb precincts. These include election day, advance, absentee and provisional totals, as well as the turnout at each polling station.
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