An online movement to have DeKalb County's school board replaced is gaining momentum just as the school board prepares to go before the state Board of Education to fight for their jobs.
Last month, the state's third largest school district was put on probation for a year. On January 17, school board members will have to present evidence explaining why the governor should not suspend the board with pay.
Lakeside High School sophomore Grace McKenna said that she is so frustrated with the situation that she has launched an online petition to have the school board replaced by the governor.
"I didn't think that it was fair, that we were being punished as students for the things that the school board has done," said McKenna.
The 15-year-old created the petition on Dec. 17, the same day the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools put DeKalb on probation, citing gross financial mismanagement and rampant problems in personnel and hiring procedures.
"The decline of the DeKalb County school system has absolutely nothing to do with the schools and the incredible people who work in them," said Julie McKenna, Grace's mother.
DeKalb Schools Chairman Eugene Walker promised that the board would work closely with SACS to address their concerns and avoid losing accreditation.
Grace's mother isn't convinced. Neither are the more than the nearly 800 people who have signed Grace's petition.
"I personally do not believe that the people who created the problem can fix the problem," said Julie McKenna.
Walker told FOX 5's Portia Bruner on the phone that it would be inappropriate to comment about the upcoming meeting with state officials or any other matters related to the district's probation.
Parents plan to attend the Jan. 17 meeting in droves to hear the board defend why they should stay in office.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:00 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:00:05 GMT
Authorities have canceled an Amber Alert for a 1-year-old girl after she was found safe.
Authorities have canceled an Amber Alert for a 1-year-old girl after she was found safe. They say 1-year-old Annya Buchannon was in the back of a car that was stolen just after midnight from the Playskool Daycare on Conley Road in Forest Park.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:57 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:57:46 GMT
Five people made a quick escape from a MARTA bus just before it was hit by a train Tuesday morning.
Five people made a quick escape from a MARTA bus just before it was hit by a train Tuesday morning. Fire crews say the bus stalled on the railroad tracks in downtown Decatur, and those onboard had just seconds to get out before an oncoming train hit it.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:48 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:48:00 GMT
Local families are taking a serious look at storm shelters in the aftermath of Monday's deadly tornado in Oklahoma.
Local families are taking a serious look at storm shelters in the aftermath of Monday's deadly tornado in Oklahoma. Those shelters could mean the difference between life and death when faced with one of these powerful storms.
