Candidate Profile: Stephen George For Cobb County School Board Post 2

COBB COUNTY, GA — Four candidates are running for Cobb County School Board Post 2 in the May 24 General Primary Election, in addition to others running for District 4 and 6.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as the primary draws near.

Stephen M. George is running for Cobb County School Board Post 2.

<b>Name</b>

Stephen M George Jr MPA

<b>Campaign website</b>

https://www.facebook.com/Steph...

<b>City or town of residence</b>

Unincorporated Cobb County, with a Marietta Postal Address

<b>Office sought</b>

Cobb County Board of Education, Post 2

<b>Party affiliation</b>

Republican

<b>Education</b>

Graduate of Cobb County School District, i.e. F.T. Wills High School; and double alumnus of Kennesaw State University (KSU) with B.S. in Public & Social Services w/ Formal Minor in Philosophy & Master of Public Administration (MPA) w/ Concentration in College Student Success & Enrollment Services, Certificate in Mediation & Alternative Dispute Resolution

<b>Occupation</b>

Public Administrator

<b>Family</b>

Spouse Cindy & 2 Adult Daughters, Katrina & Ariel

<b>Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?</b>

Not Applicable

<b>Age</b>

62

<b>Previous public office, appointive or elective</b>

Yes, Appointed by Cobb Board of Commissioners (BOC) to GA Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) Region 1 Advisory Council (RAC1) 3-year appointment. 2016-2019

<b>Why are you seeking this office?</b>

Using the last 4 years of BOE fiascos as a baseline for reference, it appeared to me there needed to be someone willing to stand up for the parents, children, and larger community, and be a ‘change maker’ as opposed to being a ‘right fighter’ for those within the school district! And as a member of the board I would have unique opportunity to share my provisional and life experience to benefit out community.

Similarly, I want to represent different groups from within the community and ensure that others have a voice in making educational and administrative decisions. As a board member I can be a conduit for the concerns and interests of teachers and parents, and by extension students. I will also be able to help create stronger ties between the school board and other stakeholders.

<b>Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.</b>

It is arguable, Parental Rights is the most single pressing issue facing constituents within CCSD.
Similarly, it has been a big topic across the country. As such, and in my opinion parents, should be granted full access to every resource used in the classroom, including all mental health discussions at school.

Importantly, Parents/legal guardians can currently gain access to every resource used in the CCSD classroom, by leveraging the GA Open Records Act.

Further, the only mental health conversations that should remain privileged are those with a mental health clinician, and then only within FERPA and GA Privacy Law statutory guidelinees.

Importantly, to ensure parents are aware of their rights, and to better enable them to hold myself, and by extension the BOE accountable, if elected I commit to holding regular 'parental outreach & engagement' events. Specifically, I and other substantive subject matter experts will conduct trainings in how to leverage the GA Open Records, the GA Open Meetings, and the GA Administrative Procedures Acts.

<b>What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?</b>

Most notably, I'm a veteran. And, I was primary caretaker to the Official State of Georgia Great-Great Grandmother, my grandmother, God Bless Her Sweet Soul, for 15 years as she valiantly fought Age-Related Dementia/Alzheimer's. So, I can assure you I know what love, loyalty, duty, and commitment to service is. To be sure, my entire life has been one of service. In fact, I have a history of ...often quietly and behind the scenes ... making positive proactive systemic changes here in Cobb County, for a while now.

I am also a Graduate of Cobb County School District, i.e. F.T. Wills High School; a double alumnus of Kennesaw State University (KSU) with B.S. in Public & Social Services w/ Formal Minor in Philosophy & Master of Public Administration (MPA) w/ Concentration in College Student Success & Enrollment Services, Certificate in Mediation & Alternative Dispute Resolution. So, I have very deep roots within Cobb and CCSD.

Perhaps most importantly, I've been described as a very liberal conservative ...OR ...a very conservative liberal. The truth being, I'm truly in the middle, politically speaking. Aside from that, I'm not asking for money ...just votes.

<b>If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?</b>

Not Applicable

<b>What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?</b>

First, I believe the main job(s) of a school board official are to influence the district budget, set policy, and effectively advocate for quality public education for current and future students. And above all, I will work with others—parents, teachers, district staff, and local legislature, to achieve a nurturing, effective, and successful learning environment for all.

Second, the appropriate implementation of an Individual Educational Plans (IEP’s) should be more effectively leveraged to institutionally structure a tiered behavioral plan, with tiered consequences that avoid traditional exclusionary discipline. As such, I would advocate this educational issue be placed as an ongoing agenda item for the Institutional Support Team (IST) to explore from a systemic frame of reference.

Third, I would advocate for the end ‘zero tolerance’ disciplinary policies. Many feel the need to create equitable and supportive education settings for all students may, arguably, necessitate an end to zero-tolerance policies, as they can be quite subjective in nature, thereby possibly allowing the implicit biases of teachers and/or administrators to manifest in more frequent and more severe punishments for students of color than for white students.

As such, modifying district policy to end excessive, exclusionary discipline by reversing broad application of zero tolerance policies, specifically the use of suspensions and expulsions with chronically absent students is one way the district can immediately and proactively address this educational issue.

Importantly, and in summation, my personal belief system suggests ‘zero tolerance’ policies are akin to ‘mass punishment’ …they are both poor management tools.

Fourth, another big issue in Post 2 schools is transient students, meaning the student changes schools frequently. Many of these students come into the Cobb school district not on grade level. And I do think CCSB plays a role in finding a solution to this. One-on-one direct help may be the most substantive strategy to employ over the next year. It may even opt for in-person tutoring versus online, or it may offer both formats to better serve students’ individual needs. Importantly, this tutoring could come from current or former teachers, but also paraprofessionals, teachers’ aids, and volunteers to support the demand.

Fifth, and continuing with Social Emotional Learning (SEL) or Health surveys, Do I believe parents should be allowed to opt their children out of these surveys ...? NO! Actually, the requirement should be that parents ‘Opt In’ to SEL and/or Health Surveys. Having said that, the school district’s website states: “Social and emotional learning is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.”

Continuing, according to the district’s website,” Social-emotional learning isn’t just a feel-good activity. It’s not psychotherapy or an attempt to parent kids. Nor is it a substitute for core academic subjects such as math, science, or literacy. Instead, SEL concepts provide an extra dimension to education, focusing on improving cooperation, communication, and decision making. In a world where emotional intelligence is critical for lifelong happiness, successful careers, and healthier relationships, SEL gives students a framework for developing these skills.” IF THIS IS AN ACCURATE REFLECTION OF SEL, I SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM.

Sixth, I adamantly oppose allowing children, under 18 years of age, to speak at the BOE Meetings! The proper venue and protocol for student input is between the student, teachers, and school administrators, at the PTSA meetings. Simply stated, the BOE meetings are for the voters, residents of the school district, and tax paying public to have access to their elected representatives, not for special interest groups to leverage the children to achieve their political goals.
Aside from that, similar to the home …the adults should be running the schools, not the children.

Seventh, with regard to the senior tax exemption, let me be clear in that the Cobb BOE has no authority to rescind the senior tax exemption. With that in mind, it is my position seniors have paid their fair share and many are living on a limited ‘fixed’ income. As such, I support the senior exemption.

Eighth, it's important to remember, the final Cognia report found no evidence to revoke the school district's accreditation, although it did cite a ‘fractured board’. As such, Cognia, arguably, if not so gracefully, removed itself from what should all along have been private internal Board member dialogue.

Specifically, Cognia and the accreditation process was, again arguably, hijacked, and weaponized by certain members of the board for political theatre. In so doing, it is my belief, those board members acted in violation of their fiduciary responsibility, rising to the level of malfeasance in office. What Cognia should have strived to do, from the outset, was to avoid getting caught up in, the psychodynamics of the interpersonal relationships of the Board members.

Ninth, what surprises me most about the Cognia findings is it didn’t delve into the underlying issue, which is the Democratic members’ perception of limitations in what they can place on meeting agendas. Importantly, the board meetings are run in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order. According to that parliamentary procedure a simple majority is needed to have an agenda item placed. For the Cobb BOE that simple majority is 4 out of 7. So, they’re really complaining about the gold standard of parliamentary procedure.

And tenth, in framing the question of Critical Race Theory and its place in the schools, it would be helpful if both sides honestly characterized the issues, to have an informed debate. Because, if anyone wants to critique current district policies and programs, or suggest they promote “inherently divisive” or “inherently racist” concepts we can have an honest debate. Who knows, perhaps the left will win some of those arguments. But when they mischaracterize their positions, nothing can come of it.

More specifically, as for the need for CRT legislation, all I know for sure is, on Dec. 3rd, 2021, the school district’s Custodian of Records indicated it would take 28 years at 5 hours per business day to complete an Open Records Request on CRT and several other CRT related data fields … ?

More striking, that same Open Records Request created 3,037,998 results found, with an estimated hours for conversion, review and redaction of 50,633 hours at a cost of $1,411,155.60 … ? And yes, I have a copy of the Open Records Request.

So, do we need a ban on CRT in the schools … ? That’s a very hard, yet fair question, deserving of an answer. And apparently it’s Yes!

<b>What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?</b>

In my current job position as State Opioid Response Specialist; previously I was the Region 1 Community Crisis Counselor covering 31 North Georgia Counties, including Cobb; I literally change people's lives every day I go to work.

Likewise, throughout the depth of the pandemic I, as the region's sole community crisis counselor, proactively filled in the most substantive gaps of the mental health system throughout North Georgia i.e. transitioning individuals with Serious Persistent Mental Illnesses (SPMI's) out of jails and into hospitals and/or other treatment centers. How awesome is that as an accomplishment!

<b>What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?</b>

Fiscal Conservatism is paramount! Elected Officials should spend tax dollars like they’re spending their children’s inheritance …conservatively.

<b>Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?</b>

Perhaps most importantly, I've been described as a very liberal conservative ...OR ...a very conservative liberal. The truth being, I'm truly in the middle, politically speaking. So, please read what I've shared …and if you like what you hear …vote Stephen George MPA for Cobb County School District's Board of Education Post 2 seat, and allow me to be your voice on the school board!