Cobb County School District
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| Cobb County School District | |
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A Community With A Passion For Learning
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| Location | |
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| Marietta, Georgia | |
| Information | |
| Superintendent | Fred Sanderson |
| Enrollment |
106,425 (March 2008) |
| Grades | Pre-K - 12 |
| Homepage | http://www.cobbk12.org |
The Cobb County School District is the county government agency which operates public schools in Cobb County, Georgia, United States. The district includes all of Cobb County except for the city of Marietta. It is the second largest school system in Georgia and among the largest in the United States, with a current enrollment of 106,425. Its student population grows by nearly 2,000 each year, and with more than 15,000 full-time employees, nearly 8,800 of whom are classroom teachers and other certified personnel, the district is the county’s largest employer. All Cobb County schools are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the district is among the first to have earned district-wide accreditation.
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[edit] Board of Education
As a body created under provisions of the Constitution of the State of Georgia, the Cobb County Board of Education has full authority to control and manage the public schools within the county, excluding any independent school system now in existence within the county.
Current members are:
- Ms. Betty Gray, Chairman
- Mr. Lindsay Tippins
- Dr. John Abraham
- Ms. Holli Cash
- Dr. John Crooks, Vice chairman of the Board
- Mr. Johnny Johnson
- Dr. Teresa Plenge
[edit] Controversies
[edit] Power to Learn laptop initiative
In 2005, the District implemented a technology initiative called Power to Learn, which would supply individual laptop computers to students for use in classroom. The initiative was to be initially funded by a portion of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds approved by Cobb voters in 2003 and earmarked for technology improvements. The first of three proposed phases of the initiative was approved by the Board of Education in April 2005, authorizing purchase of Apple laptops for all teachers, upgrades of middle school business labs, and the establishment of four high school pilot sites to test and evaluate individual student laptop use.
Former county commissioner Joseph "Butch" Thompson filed a lawsuit against the Board of Education on May 31, 2005. The lawsuit charged that Cobb voters did not specifically authorize the program in the 2003 SPLOST vote. On July 29, 2005, Superior Court Judge S. Lark Ingram mandated the Board of Education to use technology funds as specified in SPLOST II and ordered a permanent injunction to halt the Power to Learn initiative. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quoted Ingram, "The ruling had nothing to do with the merits of the program. But fair notice of such use was not given to the public when the referendum for [the sales tax] was held.'" Board chair Kathleen Johnstone announced on Aug. 1 that the laptop program "was no longer an option." The Board voted on August 25, 2005 to appeal the ruling, which was thrown out by the Georgia Supreme Court.
[edit] Superintendent Redden resigns
The Board of Education hired New York-based auditing firm Kessler International in July 2005 to investigate the bidding process for the initiative, amidst allegations that the bidding process that selected Apple Computer as supplier for the initiative violated state law. The Board received the Kessler report on August 14, 2005. The report indicated flaws in the selection process that were not in line with state procurement policies. Superintendent Gen. Joseph Redden offered a page-by-page rebuttal of the audit report to the Board on August 17, 2005. Redden announced his resignation on August 24, 2005.
[edit] Grand Jury Investigation
Upon the request of the Board of Education, Cobb District Attorney Pat Head was granted an order on October 6, 2005 to empanel a special grand jury to investigate the bidding process. On April 19, 2007, the 25-member grand jury released its report and suggested no criminal charges be filed. The report was critical of the school district's procurement processes and suggested that the district provide greater definition and clarity to its purchasing procedures. The release of the grand jury report concluded the laptop initiative saga. The school district began refreshing outdated computer systems throughout the county in early 2007, precisely as outlined in SPLOST II.
[edit] Selman v. Cobb County School District
In 2005, Cobb County School District voted to put stickers on textbooks with a message including the admonition cautioning students that, "evolution is only a theory." Plaintiffs brought suit on separation of church and state grounds, with the initial trial finding for the plaintiffs. Cobb County School District appealed and the verdict was overturned and remanded for a new trial, at which time plaintiffs and Cobb County School District settled out of court with the district agreeing to remove the stickers.
[edit] References
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