Chris Ragsdale

DETAILS: Cobb school district superintendent’s revised contract

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Cobb school superintendent contract

A revised employment contract for the Cobb County School District superintendent would allow him to leave his position with full pay if a special panel determines he’s been “harassed” or “embarrassed” by school board members.

The Cobb Board of Education voted along party lines in November to revise the contract of Chris Ragsdale, who’s been superintendent since 2015.

His contract, which pays him an annual base salary of $350,000, was renewed in February to run through Feb. 10, 2024.

Under other financial terms of his contract, Ragsdale gets 25 days of paid vacation per year and an automobile allowance of $1,200 a month. The board makes contributions to his retirement, Social Security, Medicare and a tax-sheltered annuity plan, and provides health insurance for him and his family.

The revisions, which were adopted last month by the board’s four-member Republican majority without discussion or details, added provisions related to board relations and termination clauses.

You can read through the amended contract, which East Cobb News obtained through an open records request, by clicking here.

Those changes include that Ragsdale would receive 90 days advance notice from the board if he is to be terminated without cause.

There are several references in the revised contract of how disputes between him and board members would be resolved by a specially appointed resolution panel.

For the last three years, the Cobb school board has been embroiled in a number of conflicts, including racial and diversity issues and the Cobb County School District’s COVID-19 response.

The split has been largely along partisan lines; the four Republicans have also passed policies to prohibit comments by board members at public meetings and have used parliamentary maneuvers to limit how the three Democrats openly question Ragsdale at those meetings.

The contract revisions were also made as the Cobb school district received the report of a special review by its accrediting agency that outlined a plan for improvement focusing largely on fractured board relations and governance issues.

That review was sparked in part by the three board Democrats and members of the public who complained about what they said was a lack of responsiveness from the district and board majority about a variety of issues, including some who want to rename Wheeler High School.

In the revised contract, Ragsdale could call for the resolution panel to determine if he “has been subjected to a sufficient level of inappropriate or unprofessional conduct by a Member or Members of the Board” and “interfering with his performance of his professional duties or those of District employees directly reporting to him.”

That panel also could determine if board members cast him “in a false light, embarrass him or otherwise undermine his ability to be effective in the performance of his duties.”

If a panel determines that “sufficient harassment exists,” that body could make recommendations to prevent the behavior from continuing.

However, Ragsdale “may determine whether they are sufficient,” and if they are not, the board would “treat this is a termination without cause” and pay him “the balance of all compensation” through the end of his contract.

The revised contract also outlines how the resolution panel would be chosen, composed of a hearing officer and three others with “academic expertise.”

The school board would bear the burden of proof “and must offer clear and convincing evidence” that the SUPERINTENDENT’s suspension or termination is merited for the reasons permitted by this Contract,” the contract states.

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Divided Cobb school board extends superintendent’s contract

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Cobb school superintendent honored

Cobb school superintendent Chris Ragsdale received a new contract extension Thursday night.

But the vote wasn’t unanimous as it has been in the past.

After an executive session and by a 4-3 party-line vote, the Cobb Board of Education approved the extension for Ragsdale, taking his contract into 2024.

A year ago, Ragsdale got a 7-0 vote to extend his contract and a salary increase to $350,000 a year.

On Thursday, the four votes in support of an extension were from the board’s Republican members—David Banks and David Chastain of East Cobb, Randy Scamihorn of North Cobb and Brad Wheeler of West Cobb.

The three Democratic members of the board—Charisse Davis of East Cobb and Smyrna, Jaha Howard of Smyrna and Tre’ Hutchins of South Cobb—voted against.

Board members didn’t discuss the extension before voting. Since they were elected two years ago, Davis and Howard have taken issue with Ragsdale on several issues, including equity matters and the district’s response to COVID-19.

In December, they opposed his recommendation to spend $12 million for special UV disinfecting lights hand sanitizers and other COVID-related safety equipment, saying that was a lot of money to spend from the district’s reserve funding for measures they said were proven.

Last month, Howard was blocked from asking Ragsdale about the district’s COVID response, which wasn’t on the board’s agenda despite the deaths of three teachers from the virus since Christmas.

Hutchins just began his tenure on the board, being elected in November to succeed three-term Democratic member David Morgan, who did not seek re-election.

Ragsdale, named Cobb superintendent in 2015 after serving as deputy superintendent and in other capacities, initially received a three-year contract, the maximum under state law. Since then he has received extensions without objections.

After the vote Thursday, Ragsdale thanked the board and said he looked forward to continue working “as one team.”

In a release issued by the district, board chairman Randy Scamihorn said that “as a Board, we are grateful to have a Superintendent and staff who provide steady, consistent leadership at the helm of one of the largest districts in the country. The common-sense approach to the challenges we face, along with consistently making decisions that prioritize our students and staff, makes our entire county better.”

The release cited improved test scores, improvements to teacher and staff salaries and technology initiatives to accommodate remote learning and enhance school security.

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‘Historic’ Cobb school budget proposal calls for 8-12.6 percent pay raises

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All Cobb County School District employees will get raises ranging between 8 and 12.6 percent in the fiscal year 2020 budget presented to school board members and the public on Wednesday.

Cobb school budget
Cobb school superintendent Chris Ragsdale

Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said it’s the biggest raise in at least 25 years and may be the biggest ever for Georgia’s second-largest school district, with 112,000 students.

“We have truly maximized the dollars so we can do this,” he told board members at a Wednesday afternoon work session. The board was expected to tentatively approve the $1.17 billion budget propopsal, with final approval expected May 16.

The raises are across-the-board, and apply to all non-temporary employees, from teachers to administrators, and include custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, substitute teachers, social workers and counselors.

Ragsdale said the size and scope of the raises were enabled by the Georgia legislature’s approval of $3,000 pay raises for teachers.

The Cobb budget includes “step” increases for eligible employees and adds school nurses to the “step” ranks for the first time. Teacher allotments will increase by 90, and district public safety employees also will get a “competitive salary adjustment” in the budget, which maintains a property tax rate of 18.9 mills.

According to Brad Johnson, the district’s chief financial officer, the raises will account for $74 million in expenses. The additional teacher allotments, adjustments for public safety, school nurse “step” increases, a change in how bus drivers are compensated and 7.5 new custodial positions will cost another $9.6 million.

A total of $81 million in increased revenues, including $43 million in state Quality Basic Education funding as well as $30 million in additional property taxes due to an estimated 5.5 percent growth in the Cobb tax digest, has been worked into the budget proposal.

The proposed budget also calls for spending $18.3 million in reserves.

“I’m very pleased with the raise and the respect and consideration it shows for all employees,” said Connie Jackson of the Cobb County Association of Educators, which represents teachers and non-administrative employees. “I’m super ecstatic we got step raises for nurses. We can offer them an incentive to stay.”

Ragsdale said those teachers on the higher end of the proposed raises will be newer teachers, in large part to incentivize retention.

Deputy superintendent John Adams said Cobb has the highest retention rate of the six biggest school districts in Georgia and has the lowest rate of teachers leaving for other districts.

But Cobb is behind other districts in metro Atlanta in starting teacher pay, which is around $43,000 a year.

Last year most Cobb school employees received a 2.6-percent raise and a 1.1 percent bonus. The former became available only after the state ended education austerity cuts.

There will be no bonuses in this Cobb budget, Ragsdale said, because he wanted the additional pay for employees, especially teachers, to add to their retirement system calculations.

“There are a lot of teachers watching this meeting now who are a lot happier than they were this morning,” said school board member David Banks of East Cobb.

The full budget details will be posted soon on the CCSD’s budget page. Another public hearing will take place at 6:30 p.m. on May 16, right before the board is scheduled to vote on final budget adoption.

The new budget will take effect on July 1, when the district’s fiscal year begins.

 

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Proposed Cobb school budget of $1.3 billion to be detailed Wednesday

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Cobb school superintendent Chris Ragsdale will publicly present his proposed fiscal year 2020 budget of $1.3 billion to the board of education Wednesday.Chris Ragsdale, Cobb school superintendent

The board has a work session scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Cobb County School District main office at 514 Glover Street in Marietta.

The board also will take up more budget discussions at its monthly meeting that starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The first of several public forums on the budget will take place right before that, at 6:30 p.m.

Here’s a summary of the meeting agenda that includes the budget item on the last page.

Tentative approval of the budget is required now for the district to advertise it and hold additional public hearings required by law. Final approval is slated for May 16; the district’s fiscal year runs July 1-June 30.

The full budget proposal is expected to detail Ragsdale’s previously stated priorities of employee pay raises and increased teacher allotments.

Georgia teachers will be getting a $3,000 raise from the state, but Ragsdale didn’t offer specifics last month because the district was waiting for legislative funding and the county tax digest to be finalized.

For the FY 2019 budget of $1.2 billion most district employees got a 2.6 percent raise to go with 1.1-percent bonuses after the state ended austerity cuts.

At the board’s Wednesday night meeting, several East Cobb athletes will be recognized, including Kell state wrestling champion Andrew Parlato and Walton state swimming relay champions Elizabeth Isakson, Anna Heisterberg, Abby Belinski and Jasmin Hoffman.

Lynn Hamblett of Murdock Elementary School will be recognized as the recipient of a lifetime services award from the Georgia Association of Gifted Children, and STEM and STEAM certifications will be presented to McCleskey and Simpson middle schools, respectively.

The board also is expected to take action on several high-level personnel openings. One was created following the resignation of Jeffrey Castle, the principal at Timber Ridge Elementary School the last three years.

 

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Cobb school superintendent honored by Georgia PTA group

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Cobb school superintendent honored

Submitted information and photo:

On Thursday, April 18, the 9th District PTA surprised the Cobb County School District and Superintendent Chris Ragsdale with a “Lifetime Achievement Award.”

The surprise award recognized the Cobb County School District Superintendent for his long tenure of service and the important contributions he’s made to education. The 9th District recognized the broad impact Superintendent Ragsdale has made on over 500,000 students in the Atlanta-metro area since first being named interim Superintendent in 2014.

The surprise announcement was made during the District 9 Spring Conference, where PTA representatives from across the District and surrounding districts had gathered to honor Superintendent Ragsdale and to elect new officers. The 9th District PTA represents the schools in Cobb, Paulding, Douglas, Polk, Carroll, and Haralson counties.

Superintendent Ragsdale’s long career of public service began in the Technology department of Paulding County Schools where he served for over 18 years in various leadership roles. He has served first as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Superintendent in the Cobb County School District for the last decade and is one of the longest tenured superintendents in the metropolitan area.

Under his leadership, the District has reached record highs in graduation rates and various accountability measures, achieved and maintained a AAA credit rating, and has consistently recruited and retained the very best teachers in the state. The steady focus of the Superintendent since taking office has been, and continues to be, one team, with one goal, student success.

 

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Cobb school superintendent gets extension and pay raise

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Cobb school superintendent Chris Ragsdale got a contract extension Wednesday night and a pay boost.Chris Ragsdale, Cobb school superintendent

The Cobb Board of Education announced its decision after an executive session. Ragsdale’s new contract was extended for one year over his existing deal, to the end of March 2022.

He will receive an annual salary of $350,000, according to a district spokeswoman. Ragsdale, who was named superintendent in 2015 at a salary of $275,000, has a current salary of $327,000.

Ragsdale had served previously in a number of executive capacities with the Cobb County School District, including deputy superintendent.

The contract vote passed unanimously, 7-0.

The board also accepted the resignation of assistant superintendent Robert Downs, a former Pope High School principal, effective Feb. 22. He has been appointed Buford school superintendent.

Deputy superintendent John Adams also announced after the executive session that the school board had agreed to purchase 1.7 acres of land adjacent to the school district’s headquarters on Glover Street in Marietta.

The land is at 484 Glover Street, and includes more than 45,000 square feet of existing office and warehouse space. A formal vote on the purchase is expected next month.

The Cobb school district has been looking to consolidate its headquarters, and has been leasing office space nearby. Last year Cobb schools paid $4.2 million for adjoining land on Fairground Street that was the location of The Marietta Daily Journal for more than 50 years.

The MDJ has moved to Waddell Street, near the Marietta Square.

 

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Cobb schools safety preparations to include unannounced ‘code red’ drills

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Chris Ragsdale, Cobb schools superintendent
Chris Ragsdale, Cobb schools superintendent

The day after a mass shooting at a south Florida high school left at least 17 people dead, Cobb County School District superintendent Chris Ragsdale said the district would be re-evaluating safety protocols and continue plans to better prepare staff and students to respond to emergency situations.

At a Cobb Board of Education work session Thursday, Ragsdale updated board members on those efforts, including what he said would be unannounced code red drills to boost preparedness. He said those drills would be “absolutely uncomfortable” for people at the schools that are selected.

Those drills would serve as preparation for the most severe level of emergencies, including active shooter situations.

“Our student and staff safety is our top priority,” Ragsdale said during the lengthy discussion, which was not initially on the board’s agenda. The topic was added after he received e-mails from parents and students in wake of the Florida tragedy, the third-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.

Yesterday a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County walked into the building and began shooting with an AR-15 rifle.

The suspect, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, was taken into custody, and at least 14 other people are hospitalized. Some of the dead include teachers and coaches who shielded students from the gunfire.

Ragsdale said all of Cobb’s 112 schools are required to have at least one code red drill per semester. Principals underwent further training in safety protocols in January.

Ragsdale also said all classroom doors in school buildings are marked from the outside for first responders, and current Cobb Ed-SPLOST V funding has been earmarked to continue efforts to improve access control measures at elementary and middle schools.

“The message to our parents, students, staff, and community is that we are not just saying that safety is our top priority, we mean it,” Ragsdale said.

He later acknowledged that “there’s no way to put parents completely at ease.”

During the presentation, which included questions from board members, Ragsdale showed a video detailing an enhanced security alert system called AlertPoint, which is being demonstrated at two schools this year, including Bells Ferry Elementary School.

That system allows teachers and staff to trigger an alert for emergencies, similar to fire alarms.

Ragsdale said high schools pose the most challenging safety issues because they have multiple points of entry. Several Cobb high schools have “buzz in” requirements, already in place in elementary and middle schools but he did not identify those high schools.

After schools have code red drills, the district’s public safety department conducts an evaluation to provide feedback. Another new “suspicious persons” measure would have plain-clothes staffers from the Cobb schools police department enter a school and see how far they can go before being noticed.

Ragsdale said Cobb schools “are doing more” than any other school district in the state to improve safety.

While it’s “impossible” to completely prevent someone from coming in a school with an attack in mind, he said that “what we have to be able to answer is: Do we have in place all the options that we can possibly have to ensure the safety and security of our staff and students?”

 

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