Seven students from high schools in East Cobb have been named to the 2023 class of Cobb Youth Leadership, a development program from high school juniors.
The Cobb Chamber of Commerce said in a release that the program is sponsored by the Leadership Cobb Alumni Association and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and includes interactive participation.
The students recently had their orientation session and will be introduced to community leaders and activities in public safety, public service, business and entrepreneurship, arts and culture, health and sports and armed forces:
“Through six evening programs during the course of the school year participants in the CYL program are introduced to local, state, and national leaders. They also receive information on the responsibility, ethics, and tools for effective leadership, as well as potential career paths for after graduation. The monthly programs run from August through April. They cover topics such as community service, arts & culture, armed forces, and business. Students also participate in one overnight retreat where they focus on team building and personality inventories.”
This year there are 55 students participating, and they include the following from East Cobb schools:
Josh Markwood and Kali Sweeney, Wheeler High School
Aidan Matthews, Walton High School
Ryan Duckett, Lassiter High School
Sam Moon and Rebekah Ives, Sprayberry High School
Dylan Tolchinski, Pope High School
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The McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA is seeking volunteers on Saturday, Sept. 9 to pack and distribute food to local families in need. Attendees will also assist with beautification upgrades at Green Acres Baptist Church. Community members are invited to take part in the service project from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. or 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. at Green Acres Baptist Church located at 591 Pat Mell Rd SE, Smyrna, GA 30080.
This event is part ofthe YMCA of Metro Atlanta’s Annual Days of Service events. The Y is hosting this year’s annual events on Friday, Sept. 8 and Saturday, Sept. 9. The organization will bring together volunteers from across the metro Atlanta area to complete service projects benefiting neighbors and partners in need. Working together with volunteers, staff and partner organizations, the Y aims to make a measurable collective impact within the community.
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The following East Cobb residential real estate sales were compiled from agency reports. They include the subdivision name and high school attendance zone in parenthesis:
Aug. 7
4080 Riverlook Parkway Unit 15, 30067 (Willows by the River Condos, Walton): $293,000
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Judge Robert Leonard led a celebration Friday where the Cobb County Veterans Accountability and Treatment Court (VATC) graduated two veteran participants during a ceremony at the Cobb County Superior Court Building with over 100 in attendance. This was the 19th graduating class of successful veterans, bringing 60 local participants who had completed the 18-month intensive treatment program. The Cobb County VATC began June 13, 2014, joining a nationwide surge of accountability courts specifically tailored for veterans, addressing issues of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, and other mental health issues via counseling, job training, and additional needed services to achieve success.
The Veterans Accountability and Treatment Court’s mission is to increase public safety by reducing recidivism, alleviate the tax burden of incarcerating law-breaking veterans by assisting participants to become productive taxpayers versus inmates, provide intensive case management to address mental health issues and offer familiarity of structure and accountability, like what they encountered during military service.
An estimated 774,464 veterans reside in Georgia, with 47,000 living in Cobb County. Locally, 4,500 active duty/reservists are assigned to Dobbins Air Reserve Base. According to data collected from the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), nationwide, over 39 veterans attempt to commit suicide daily, and 20 a day take their lives. Approximately 70% of veterans who took their own lives did not access services provided by the VA, which could have possibly prevented a majority of these suicides. The tragic daily deaths of 20 veterans is potentially a number that is under-reported since many of these veterans were embarrassed or unwilling to report their veteran status before ending their lives.
Together with the Atlanta VA, Cobb County VATC participants receive alcohol and drug treatment in Decatur and are given additional treatment locally via a private counselor. When a participant is stable in their recovery and treatment, the assigned VTC team addresses other issues that hinder an enrollee’s success, such as unemployment, lack of stable housing, the need for continuing education, or the benefits of family counseling.
One of the most unique aspects of the VATC is the Mentor Program. Each VATC participant is paired with a veteran who understands the challenges encountered by their assigned veteran to succeed in the program and graduate. VATC mentors must be honorably discharged from military service, have no prior criminal record, and are willing to commit to the duration of assisting a minimum of one veteran for the entirety of their 18-month VTC program.
Two veteran participants graduated from the VATC on August 25. With their mentors by their sides, these veterans turned what once seemed like a dismal path into a very bright future for themselves and their families.
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Why should students participate in dual enrollment? What colleges participate in the Cobb Schools Dual Enrollment Program? Who pays the tuition? How do students enroll in the program? What are the qualifications? Who helps students coordinate college classes with high school requirements?
All those questions and more will be answered at the Cobb Schools Dual Enrollment Summit scheduled for 6:00–8:00 PM on August 31 at the Cobb Civic Center.
The Dual Enrollment program offers Georgia high school students an opportunity to simultaneously receive high school and college credit when attending and passing approved college classes. The state pays for the courses and are at no cost to the student when college eligibility requirements are met. Dual enrollment is available online or on the college campus, depending on the student’s choice.
Dual enrollment offers a diversity of opportunities for students. High-demand trade skills such as welding, auto mechanics, and digital technology (to name a few) are readily available for those seeking to be career-ready while still in high school.
Other students interested in accelerated courses, such as multivariable calculus, that may not be available at their high schools will gain an edge on college readiness. A large variety of academic-based classes are available.
The purpose of the Summit is to provide a venue for interested high school students and parents to learn more about eligibility, the application process, and the many diverse opportunities available to Cobb students.
Students will learn how the dual enrollment program can earn them free tuition, books, and college credit. Cobb school counselors and representatives from Chattahoochee Technical College, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State University, and Georgia Highlands College will be on-site to chat with families at the summit.
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A student was hit by a school bus at Wheeler High School on Friday afternoon and has been hospitalized, the Cobb County School District said.
A district spokeswoman said the student was a pedestrian and was struck by a bus in “an unfortunate incident.”
The female student was crossing Holt Road when she was hit, but was conscious when first responders arrived.
Her condition has not been released and nobody else was injured.
“We are grateful for the quick actions of first responders,” the spokeswoman said. “Our thoughts are with the student, who we wish a speedy recovery.”
UPDATED, SUNDAY, AUG. 27:
The student’s mother, Brittany King, has begun a GoFundMe campaign to pay for her daughter’s “medical bills, hospital stays, and physical therapy regimens.”
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The Cobb County School District is investigating what it is calling an “inaccurate e-mail” that was sent out Thursday saying that the district will not be participating in a statewide reading contest.
An e-mail was posted Friday morning on at least two Facebook groups dedicated to discussions about Cobb schools that the district would not be taking part in the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl for the 2023-24 school year “due to an abundance of caution and in light of recent events.”
That’s a reference to the district’s decision earlier this week to pull two books from 20 middle school and high school libraries because of “sexually explicit” content that the district said violated district policy and a recent state law.
The e-mail, which was entitled “Cobb HRRB Announcement,” reportedly came from the Cobb HRRB co-chairs, Susan Buckert, a media specialist at McEachern High School, and Heather Kindschy, who has a similar position at Dickerson Middle School.
The Cobb HRRB is made up of school library staffers who serve on an all-volunteer basis. The Cobb County Association of Educators has said that the HRRB’s steering committee called off participation in the Reading Bowl, fearful of running afoul of content restrictions.
The message concluded with a quote from performing artist Taylor Swift saying that “Books train your imagination to think big.”
The Cobb school district called an e-mail attributed to the Cobb Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl steering committee “inaccurate.”
A district spokeswoman told East Cobb News that “the District is aware of an inaccurate email which indicated Cobb students would not be participating in the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl. The specifics of that email are currently being investigated.”
She didn’t say what was inaccurate but further stated that “there is currently no change to Cobb student eligibility” for the competition.
In addition, she said, “all District partners are expected to use books, videos, or other forms of digital content which are in accordance with District policy and the Law.”
East Cobb News has followed up to clarify those comments.
Nothing has been updated on the Cobb HRRB website or Facebook page since the 2023 Reading Bowl earlier this year.
The Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl was started in the late 1980s and is named after a former DeKalb County school librarian who wanted to foster a love for reading in her students.
Competing students from grades 4-12 are given booklists at the elementary, middle and high school levels that are from the Georgia Children’s Book Award Top 20 listings.
There are district, regional and state quiz-style competitions based on the contents of the books that take place from January-March.
The Cobb school district spokeswoman also did not respond to a question from East Cobb News if it is evaluating the books that have been selected for the Reading Bowl; the Cobb HRRB website has posted the corresponding reading lists for the 2023-24 competition.
A Libs of TikTok screen grab from Cobb school district official John Floresta about two books pulled from school libraries this week.
The books the district pulled from the school libraries earlier this week contained discussions about sex acts, including oral sex and masturbation, and have been removed from a number of other school districts around the country.
Some Cobb parents denounced the decision on social media, saying the district was unfairly censoring materials related to sexuality and gender identity.
That came after last week’s vote by the Cobb Board of Education to terminate a Due West Elementary School teacher for reading a book to her class about gender identity.
The district did not reveal who reported the books that were removed from the libraries, nor did it explain the process for doing so.
On Thursday, the “Libs of TikTok” a high-profile social media account popular with conservatives, claimed in its newsletter that it reached out to the Cobb school district last Saturday “to ask them for comment on why they were offering pornographic themed books to their students.”
The newsletter contained a screengrab of what it said was its message to the Cobb school district, with the offending passages and images.
On Monday, the newsletter entry said, it received a response from John Floresta, the Cobb school district’s Chief Strategy and Accountability Officer, expressing surprise.
“Frankly, we weren’t aware of the sexually explicit content in these books until your email,” he said. “Any book, video, or lesson which contains sexually-explicit content is entirely unacceptable and have no place in our schools, period. We have removed both books from our schools.”
Floresta thanked “David,” the Libs of TikTok writer, “for bringing this to our attention, you have made our schools better for our students.”
David concluded the newsletter post by saying that “students should not be offered porn in schools and we will keep fighting until we get the porn removed from every school in America.”
Libs of TIkTok did not indicate how it learned of the presence of the books in Cobb school libraries that were removed.
Libs of TikTok has several million followers on its social media accounts, which post unflattering stories, photos and videos of liberals in their own words and actions.
Started by Chaiya Raichick, a former real estate agent in New York, Libs of Tik Tok has been designated as a “hate” group by some liberal advocacy groups for what it claims are anti-LGBTQ+ views.
Raichick recently published her own children’s book, “No More Secrets: The Candy Cavern,” about “the dangers of keeping secrets from your parents,” according to a publisher’s blurb.
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Judy Boyce (center) and her late husband, former Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce, were the 2022 East Cobb Citizens of the Year.
Submitted information:
The Cobb Chamber is now accepting nominations for the 2023 Citizen of the Year Awards. The Citizen of the Year Awards, created by Cobb County civic clubs and co-sponsored by the Cobb Chamber Area Councils and Cobb County business associations, have annually been presented to extraordinary individuals for the work they have done in Cobb County.
Awards are given to deserving individuals based on nine local area nominations: Acworth, Austell, East Cobb, Kennesaw, Mableton, Marietta, Powder Springs, Smyrna, and West Cobb. Given to honor an individual whose impact through the years will be recognized and regarded with pride throughout the area as a role model, these outstanding citizens are chosen for their definable, exceptional deeds, with which he or she has made their community a better place to live.
The presenting sponsor is Capital City Bank. For more information on the Citizen of the Year Awards, contact Katie Guice at 770-859-2334 or kguice@cobbchamber.org.
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Several schools in the Cobb County School District notified parents Monday that books with “highly inappropriate, sexually explicit content” have been removed from their libraries.
The book’s titles weren’t named, nor were the individual schools, but the messages—which were worded identically and distributed to a number of schools, mostly middle schools and high schools—said that “this is unacceptable, and an investigation is underway.”
In response to a message from East Cobb News, a district spokeswoman said that 20 school libraries contained “Flamer,” about a 14-year-old gay boy struggling with his sexual orientation, and/or “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” a novel about high school boys who befriend a female student who is dying of cancer.
“We removed the books immediately, are in an ongoing investigation, and are committed to ensuring our students are taught with content in line with Georgia standards, Board policy, and the Law,” she said without elaborating.
She did not explain how the books were discovered and did not describe the process for removing them from the shelves.
The district said that’s a violation of 2022 Georgia law banning the teaching of “divisive concepts” in education, although numerous parents and educators spoke in support of Rinderle.
Students were not in person at Cobb schools on Monday, which was an “asynchronous” learning day due to teacher training.
East Cobb News has seen messages regarding the book pulling that were sent out to the Kell High School and Sprayberry High School communities that contained identical language. They reportedly were sent out to Walton, Wheeler and Pope high school communities as well as to parents of students at Hightower Trail Middle School in East Cobb.
The messages, which were distributed around 5 p.m. Monday, called the incident an “oversight” and said that “with thousands of books purchased over the decades, we are making every effort to insure that our library only includes materials that are aligned to Georgia standards, supported by law and CCSD policy, and contain content that is age appropriate for our students.”
Parents are being asked to communicate with teachers, principals and “appropriate school staff whenever you have a concern about what your student is reading, hearing, or learning.”
In its policies regarding media library programs, the Cobb school district said that it “acknowledges the right of parents/guardians and other citizens to be involved in the library media programs of the schools and the use of supplementary materials and to raise questions through established procedures when materials appear inappropriate for public school use.”
Cobb schools limit complaints to parents or legal guardians of students who notify a school principal, with the book being reviewed by a school committee within 45 days.
A number of public school districts in the country have recently been pulling books following parental complaints, particularly along lines of sex and gender identity.
Both of the books pulled in Cobb are among those most frequently removed from school libraries.
“Flamer,” published in 2020 by Mike Curato, a gay author and illustrator, is intended for youths ages 14-18. In the book, the lead character is a boy who is the subject of taunting and verbal abuse from other students for appearing to be gay.
“I hate that word. Gay. It makes me feel . . . unsafe,” reads a passage from “Flamer.” PEN America, which advocates for the rights of authors and free expression, said it was the most-banned book in its 2022 index of school book bans.
There are also discussions in the book about sex acts and masturbation.
“Flamer” was included in a high-profile restriction of books in school libraries in Florida following the passage of a recent state law touted by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is vying for the Republican nomination for president.
“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” by Jesse Andrews, was published in 2012 and also has been pulled from school libraries in Florida and elsewhere because of complaints about frank discussions of sex and gender identity.
The book also includes passages about oral sex.
In a recent interview, Andrews said that “it’s important to point out that most of the targeted books are about what it is to be not white or straight or cisgender in America, and I want to be really clear that I worry a lot more about the smearing and censoring of those viewpoints than I do my own.”
(“Cisgender” is a term coined by transgender activists to refer to people whose gender identity matches their biological sex.)
Moms for Liberty, which has been pushing for book restrictions in school libraries across the country, said it is not in favor of banning books, but advocating for age-appropriate materials in schools.
The organization has four chapters in Georgia, in Fulton, Hall, Oconee and Chattooga counties.
Defenders of the book restrictions have said they’re also necessary to ensure parental rights.
Those were the arguments made by parents on Thursday before the school board regarding the Rinderle termination.
The book she read, “My Shadow is Purple,” is meant to encourage children to move “beyond the gender binary.”
Rinderle hasn’t said whether she will appeal her firing to the state board of education or sue the Cobb school district. But one of her attorneys from the Southern Poverty Law Center said “this is not the end of this case. This is the beginning.”
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The following East Cobb residential real estate sales were compiled from agency reports. They include the subdivision name and high school attendance zone in parenthesis:
July 31
2850 Howard Drive, 30062 (Mill Creek Manor, Pope): $1.05 million
729 Gardenside Circle, 30067 (Gardenside at Powers Ferry, Wheeler): $502.000
3086 Balearic Drive, 30067 (Valencia Hills, Wheeler): $390,000
2926 Torreya Way, 30067 (The Woods Condos, Wheeler): $325,000
2307 Gardengate Way, 30067 (Gardenside at Powers Ferry, Wheeler): $450,000
3215 Brookview Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills, Wheeler): $450,500
3840 Creekview Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills, Walton): $1.625 million
2390 Snug Harbor, 30066 (St. Charles Square, Sprayberry): $600,000
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Premier Night—the Junior League of Cobb-Marietta’s kick off to its annual Mistletoe Market—will be held Thursday, Nov. 9, at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta.
“Premiere Night is a fun event that gives Mistletoe Market shoppers a first glance at some amazing specialty holiday gifts,” says Cristin Kennedy, JLCM’s 2023-24 VP of Fund Development. “It is a fun evening out with friends, loved ones, neighbors, co-workers and more to help kickstart the holiday season.”
Mistletoe Market, the Marietta-headquartered nonprofit’s fall fundraiser, brings together more than 50 specialty merchants from across the Southeast for the premiere holiday shopping experience in our area. The market features locally created, premium goods, and shoppers also have access to on-site monogramming, holiday décor, jewelry and much more!
The 2023 event will be held from Thursday, Nov. 9, to Saturday, Nov. 11. Tickets for Premier Night and Market Day, which will be sold separately, will be available online starting Friday, Sept. 1, at jlcm.org. Tickets for Premier Night will be $25 each, and Market Day tickets will be $8 in advance and $10 at the door.
2023 Mistletoe Market Shopping Days and Hours
Premiere Night: Thursday, Nov. 9, from 6-9 p.m.
Mistletoe Market Days:
Friday, Nov. 10, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The 2023 Premiere Night, which is always a fan-favorite among guests and merchants, will be held Thursday, Nov. 9, from 6-9 p.m. Join us for a festive night with your friends and family, and be the first to shop this year’s merchants. Guests will also enjoy light bites, beverages and entertainment, and the first 100 guests will receive an exclusive swag bag filled with goodies and discounts from many of our vendors, as well as local donors and sponsors.
Thanks to proceeds from the 2023 Mistletoe Market, JLCM awarded scholarships to Cobb-Paulding County Adult Education so that 10 women could graduate and receive their GEDs. We also provided period products to every Cobb County public school that requested them, among other initiatives.
“Mistletoe Market is not just a reason to have fun while shopping for you and/or your loved ones,” says Tammy Thorpe, 2023-24 JLCM President. “This an event that truly makes a difference in our community. Your support of the market allows of League of incredible women to help meet the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.”
The Junior League of Cobb-Marietta is still accepting merchant applications for this year’s market, and interested artisans and businesses can emailJLCMMistletoeMarket@jlcm.org for more information about participating in this year’s event.
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The Cobb Veterans Memorial Foundation Board of Directors is hosting Concerts & Cocktails, a fundraising event, 5 – 9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 25, at The Cowan Historic Hall, 4271 Southside Drive, Acworth. Proceeds will benefit the Cobb Veterans Memorial Park. This event is free for all veterans and $10 for non-veterans. The park will feature a 142-foot “Star Tower” monument and honor walls listing names of veterans from each of the country’s military branches. It will also have a plaza for events, two reflection pools and a service hub providing information to veterans and their families. Construction is expected to be completed in 2024.
This event is free for all veterans and $10 for non-veterans.
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An East Cobb resident who’s running for a seat on the Cobb Board of Education next year said Friday that the Cobb County School District could have employed “a policy for progressive punishment” to discipline a teacher for violating the state divisive concepts in education law instead of firing her.
Laura Judge, a Democrat who’s seeking the Post 5 seat held by current Republican vice chairman David Banks, said that she was “upset that a teacher was dismissed for introducing a book promoting understanding and inclusivity. Right now there is a student in a classroom who wants to be understood. I care about that child and every other child in our school system.”
She was appealing her firing in June for reading a book to her fifth-grade gifted class called “My Shadow Is Purple,” which discusses gender fluidity.
The Cobb school district said that’s not allowed under a 2022 law that prohibits public school teachers from discussing a number of topics, including claims that racism is “systematically” racist, that a group of people is inherently “oppressive” and some issues about sex and gender identity.
The district formally accused Rinderle of insubordination, willful neglect of duties and “other good and sufficient cause,” although a tribunal appointed by Ragsdale this week recommended that Rinderle be reinstated.
The school board discussed the matter in executive session and then voted without comment in a Thursday night public meeting.
Banks, a member of the Republican majority, hasn’t said whether he’ll be seeking a fifth term. He’s one of three GOP board members whose terms expire in 2024.
Judge, a parent in the Walton High School cluster, said in response to a request for comment from East Cobb News about the Rinderle decision that “in our district, we should value the diversity of thought and expression, recognizing that each family and individual comes from a unique background with personal experiences that shape their perspectives.
“While I fully respect and understand that every piece of educational material might not resonate with every member of our community, ensuring that all students feel seen and represented in their learning environment is essential. We must strike a balance between upholding our shared community values and ensuring that every student feels valued and understood.
“While many folks have differing viewpoints on whether or not they would like this book to be read around their children, there is a policy for progressive punishment that the district did not use.
“As they are in their position to hire and/or fire employees and at the tribunal stated the teacher was not ‘coachable,’ I must ask: ‘Where are the points in time when she was written up, suspended, or trained to correct such action?’ “
“It’s because of this, I am concerned about the extreme step to fire an educator and the costs to the taxpayers of this district to defend such an action. Board member constituents are more than just those in one party or who fund a campaign. They are current and former students, parents, administrators, staff, and teachers. Please let’s continue to be the best place to teach, lead, and learn for everyone. Let’s continue to try and work together to achieve the best educational environment for all our children.”
The only other announced candidate for the Post 5 seat, which covers the Walton, Wheeler and Pope clusters, is Republican John Cristadoro. East Cobb News has left a message with him seeking comment.
Judge’s comments are similar to the reaction from other Democrats. State Sen. Jason Esteves, whose District 6 includes part of East Cobb and who is a former chairman of the Atlanta Board of Education, said the firing of Rinderle was a “terrible decision that has implications beyond this case. There was no insubordination, and teachers shouldn’t work in fear.”
Former Democratic legislator and gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams said that “inclusion is not controversial – it’s essential. Reading is fundamental (and magical). Cobb school board members took an oath to guide children & four broke their promise. And shame on the politicos who gave them the power to do so.”
But in response to her social media posting, the Cobb Republican Party said in a brief post on X (formerly Twitter) that “Yes @staceyabrams It IS fundamental and shouldn’t be used to groom CHILDREN. Let children be children – not targets of your woke agenda!”
The message also tagged Rinderle’s X handle.
The Cobb County Republican Assembly, whose members spoke in favor of parental rights at school board public comment periods Thursday, posted that it was “grateful” to the school board for voting to “protect children from transgenderism!”
Audrey Neu, a member of the assembly, the Cobb GOP’s education liaison and Cristadoro’s campaign manager, said that “Our board members showed tremendous courage tonight. Both the state law and county policy are clear on this issue. Parental rights must be upheld and respected by the teachers and staff. I’m thankful we have a Superintendent and Board willing to stand up and protect the children of Cobb County.”
The 1776 Project PAC, which works to elect school board members opposed to teaching critical race theory and other cultural and social justice issues, said that all Rinderle “had to do to keep her job was not talk about gender ideology with 10-year-olds.”
Rinderle, who was a teacher in Cobb for 10 years, could still appeal her termination to the Georgia Board of Education.
She was represented by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which said in a statement Friday that “let it be known that this is not the end for this case.
“We knew this was a predetermined outcome dictated by Chris Ragsdale and the Cobb County Board of Education majority,” SPLC senior attorney Mike Tafelski said. “They continue to prioritize discrimination, bigotry and retaliation in Cobb County Schools. And we will continue to hold them accountable for their unlawful conduct. This is not the end of this case. This is the beginning.”
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Along partisan lines, the Cobb Board of Education voted on Thursday to uphold Superintendent Chris Ragsdale’s decision to fire an elementary school teacher for violating Georgia’s “divisive concepts” in education law.
By a 4-3 vote, the Republican majority approved a motion by GOP member David Chastain to reject a tribunal’s recommendation against terminating Katie Rinderle of Due West Elementary School, and support Ragsdale’s recommendation “effective immediately.”
The brief discussion did not identify Rinderle by name, but did reference the decision of the three-member tribunal, which earlier this week issued a report following a public hearing.
The school board took action at a Thursday night meeting following an executive session, and after hearing comments from the public.
The board’s three Democrats voted against the termination; one of them, Post 2 member Becky Sayler, made a substitute motion to table the vote for further discussion.
Her motion failed 3-4 along the same partisan lines.
Rinderle could appeal the decision to the Georgia Board of Education. Her supporters have begun a fundraising effort that has raised more than $10,000 of a targeted $50,000.
Rinderle was represented by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which issued a statement from her:
“I am disappointed in the district’s decision to terminate me for reading an inclusive and affirming book – one that is representative of diverse student identities,” she said. “The district is sending a harmful message that not all students are worthy of affirmation in being their unapologetic and authentic selves. This decision, based on intentionally vague policies, will result in more teachers self-censoring in fear of not knowing where the invisible line will be drawn. Censorship perpetuates harm and students deserve better.”
In a release issued right after the board meeting, the Cobb County School District didn’t reference Rinderle by name but said only that “the District is pleased that this difficult issue has concluded; we are very serious about keeping our classrooms focused on teaching, learning, and opportunities for success for students. The Board’s decision is reflective of that mission.”
Rinderle was appealing her termination in June for reading a book to her students about gender identity called “My Shadow Is Purple.”
Cobb school administrators determined that violated a a 2022 state law that prohibits public school teachers from discussing a number of topics, including claims that racism is “systematically” racist, that a group of people is inherently “oppressive” and some issues about sex and gender identity.
The district formally accused Rinderle of insubordination, willful neglect of duties and “other good and sufficient cause.”
The tribunal of retired teachers concluded that there wasn’t enough evidence to find her guilty of insubordination.
She’s believed to be the first teacher fired in Georgia under the divisive concepts law, and argued in her appeal that she wasn’t provided proper guidance on how to teach about issues relating to gender identity.
The tribunal determined that among the lessons stemming from her reading of the book was the introduction of they/them preferred pronouns.
The panel also said that Rinderle “was knowingly untruthful when she denied understanding that the topic of gender identity or gender fluidity was a sensitive or controversial topic in this community” and that she “exhibited poor judgment when she failed to recognize the book and her lesson on ‘My Shadow is Purple’ addressed the topic of gender identity.”
Citizens, parents and educators spoke on either side of the matter at a board work session and before the vote, but were not allowed to discuss the particulars of Rinderle’s appeal, since it was a personnel matter.
Instead, many of them talked about parental rights, inclusion issues and what to be able to teach in a classroom.
East Cobb resident Micheal Garza, who introduced himself with he/him pronouns, said that inclusion is “being kind to everyone” and that’s something he and his wife instill in their daughter every day.
He said that “history will remember this time, when the civil rights of students were under attack by a small minority, and what side you were on in that fight to protect them.”
Kim Carlton, a retired Cobb special education teacher, said her decision to retire last year was sparked in part by how “things changed” about what and how she could teach when the new law went into effect.
Even what constitutes controversial material wasn’t clearly defined, she said.
“I could not find out exactly what that meant. At that point, I realized I could not teach . . . I was not respected or valued.”
But others argued that cultural issues should not be the emphasis in a classroom, and thanked Ragsdale for reinforcing parental rights and family values.
Teachers should not be trained in gender ideology, said Bill Marchione, but “reading, writing and and arithmetic. They shouldn’t deviate.”
Rick Burgess, whose three daughters graduated from Cobb schools, told board members that “your constituents are the students and their parents. Teachers do a wonderful job, but they are not your constituents.”
He asked board members to examine “their heart of hearts and determine what is the best decision for the students, not the teachers, the students.”
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!
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!
The Cobb County International Festival will be held 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday, August 26, at Jim R. Miller Park & Event Center in Marietta. This event celebrates the cultural diversity of our community. It will feature a wide variety of local and international music and art, performances, traditional food vendors, crafts, children’s activities, a consulate corner, and much more.
Countries from across the globe will be represented at this indoor/outdoor family-friendly celebration of cultures. Event admission and parking are free.
As a district commissioner, Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid formed the International Festival in 2019. She recently invited a group from metro Atlanta consulates to Cobb to discuss their support for the event.
“With Cobb being an inclusive county, I wanted to make sure we were doing our part to recognize and celebrate those who make Cobb County their home,” Cupid told the group. “I’m grateful we can do more to connect with those in our diverse communities, not just in a festival but in an ongoing manner.”
Kids can channel their Olympic spirit in the all-encompassing International Festival Kids Zone. There, they can try their hand at axe throwing, soccer, and American football and even compete for medals in the figure-8 obstacle race course. There will also be crafts and story time. Don’t miss the International Fest Passport Adventures activity – world travelers will fill a passport book with stamps and receive a prize!
Stop in to try unique foods and visit vendors from the farthest reaches, including (but not limited to) Barbados, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Korea, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Togo, Turkey, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
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Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News
Town Center Community has announced nominations are open for the 2023 Townie Awards. The annual ceremony recognizes community members, leaders and businesses for contributions to Town Center Community, one of the most accessible and prosperous areas in metro Atlanta.
“From transformational projects and innovation to economic prosperity and growth, we have so much to celebrate,” said Tracy Styf, executive director of the Town Center CID. “Our success depends on the people who make Town Center a community, and these awards are our chance to say thank you.”
Award categories include:
Community Champion
This category recognizes an individual or organization who has made significant contributions to Town Center and the community at large. Through evident commitment to the betterment of the community in all they do, it acknowledges efforts to make Town Center Community a vibrant place for the future.
Commercial Champion
Awarded to a commercial property owner and/or business located within Town Center CID’s district, this category celebrates community involvement to create a thriving Town Center. Whether through investment, relocation or community engagement, it recognizes work that advances Town Center CID’s vision of connecting commerce, retail, restaurants, parks, trails and residential communities.
Town Center Champion
This category honors an individual or organization who is a Town Center Community ambassador, contributing to the legacy of creating a vision for a more prosperous future that will impact generations to come.
“These awards are about partnership which is even reflected in the award’s design,” said Jennifer Hogan, director of community for the Town Center CID. “It was through our partnership with KSU and the Master Craftsmen Program that we were able to procure a beautiful, customized design that speaks directly to Town Center Community’s vision to integrate infrastructure with natural elements and spaces.”
Nominations are open until Oct. 13, and winners will be announced at the State of the District event on Oct. 24, 2023. Award submissions can be completed online by visiting towncentercid.com/surveys-events.
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!
A Cobb Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that Cobb Commissioner Keli Gambrill doesn’t have standing in lawsuits she filed to contest the county’s invocation of home rule over redistricting.
Judge Ann Harris said that Gambrill, a Republican who represents District 1 in Northwest Cobb, failed to show specific harm done to her when the commission’s three Democrats last fall voted to implement commission maps they preferred over those adopted last year by the Georgia legislature.
In court filings, Gambrill—who said she was acting as a private citizen in the lawsuits—said the uncertainty over the maps may affect if she’s re-elected and where she would be voting.
But Harris noted that Gambrill was re-elected last year after being unopposed and that her district lines changed little.
“At best, the concerns raised by Gambrill are generalized and according to her, shared by all citizens,” Harris wrote. “They are not particular to Gambrill, and therefore, they are not sufficient to show an injury in fact to Gambrill. Several of her claims arise from her official capacity and are not relevant to this suit. As a result, Plaintiff Gambrill has no standing to proceed on these claims and her case ends here.”
Harris said the other plaintiffs, Catherine and David Floam, can remain, since they are residents of District 3 in East Cobb that is at the heart of the map dispute.
Maps approved by the Cobb commission’s Democrats would keep Jerica Richardson of East Cobb in the District 2 (in pink) that she currently represents.
They had been in District 1 and voted there in 2022, but the Democratic maps that are being recognized by the county placed them in District 3.
The Democratic maps dramatically altered the two districts in East Cobb. Jerica Richardson of District 2 was drawn out of her home by the legislative maps, which put most of East Cobb in District 3, represented by Republican JoAnn Birrell.
Birrell was re-elected under the legislative maps last year but did not get involved in the lawsuits. She attended a July 7 hearing in Harris’ chamber on the issue of standing.
Attorney General Chris Carr, while issuing an opinion this spring that the Cobb Democratic maps are not legal, said his office cannot get involved until there is a legal action.
The county filed for home rule to keep Richardson, a first-term Democrat, in office. Her term ends in 2024, and she has repeatedly claimed that drawing her out of her district during her term has been unprecedented in Georgia.
She started a non-profit education organization, For Which It Stance, to advocate for local government control on a number of issues.
Gambrill and Birrell have said their Democratic colleagues’ action is unconstitutional because only the legislature can conduct reapportionment.
Cobb commission maps passed by the Georgia legislature would include most of East Cobb in District 3 (gold).
Gambrill also filed a suit to have the Democratic maps ruled unconstitutional and replaced with those adopted by the legislature. She initially filed the lawsuits in March with former Cobb Commission Chairman candidate Larry Savage of East Cobb, who later withdrew.
She spent her own money to hire Ray Smith, an Atlanta attorney, who argued on her and the Floams’ behalf at the July hearing before Harris.
On Tuesday, Smith was indicted by the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, along with former President Donald Trump and 17 others accused of trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.
Both of the redistricting lawsuits are before Harris, who has scheduled a Nov. 20 hearing on the county’s motion for judgment.
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!
