Many of you already know that one of my charities is helping the kids at Avondale High School. There was a meeting held last night to address many some of the issues there. I sent this email to the following people to follow up...
BARBARA_M_COLMAN@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us - New head of construction for DeKalb County
CC to:
Alumni
Bobby Burgess
Flem Mitchell
Billy Bourn
Gary Roberson
John Plageman
Board Members
SARAH_COPELIN-WOOD@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
ceo@co.dekalb.ga.us
JAY_CUNNINGHAM@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
JIM_REDOVIAN@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
EUGENE_P_WALKER@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
ZEPORA_W_ROBERTS@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
don_mcchesney@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
h_paul_womack@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
PAM_SPEAKS@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
ALICE_A_THOMPSON@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
ROBERT_MOSELEY@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
Ramona_Tyson@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
JANET_EBERHARDT@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
state.superintendent@doe.k12.ga.us
Virgil_S_Bryan@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
Ricardo_Upshaw@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
James_L_Ziegler@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
Diadra_N_Malone@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
TASHARAH_M_WILSON@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us - Principal at Avondale
SUSAN_M_MCCAULEY@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
MICHAEL_O_CARSON@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us - Head Football Coach at Avondale
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Good Morning, Ms. Colman (and everyone else on this email),
I want to personally thank you and some of the board members for taking the time to speak with us and for the update on the construction for the kids. As you can see, there is a lot of anger and passion both about what has been done to these children and also getting these kids what they need and making sure that their dignity is respected.
I was disappointed, however, that a lady in the front row was ignored throughout the duration of the meeting and that the gentleman running the meeting chose to close the meeting out with people's concerns left unvoiced, saying "we agreed to end at 7:30" when what was really said by several in the audience was they wanted to make sure everyone had their opportunity to have their comments and questions addressed. There was no "agreement." It silenced concerned voices. It demonstrated to me that ending a meeting by a certain time was more important than complete and thorough communication.
That being said, I like a lot of what I heard last night. I think it's great to get the folks from Avondale and DSA speaking and working toward solutions that help all the kids. I also am glad to hear the commitment to provide Avondale athletics with what they need. I never realized until this year (when I saw it for myself) how much impact a team's competitiveness could have on a student body in morale and increased academic participation.
I am looking forward to helping in the process. These music students, ROTC students (who represented themselves very well last night) and these young athletes deserve to have equal footing to the other schools. That story of how the ROTC kids couldn't participate in the multi-school event because they didn't have a place for uniforms is very sad...
While the new band room is a step in the right direction, it's not what those kids need. A lot of money could have been used elsewhere with cooperation between Avondale and DSA... even if the board had to facilitate that cooperation.
When I was a first grader at Montgomery Elementary, Dr. Lewis taught me that everyone deserves an equal chance to try. He taught me that everyone is important. He also encouraged everyone to try... regardless of what they thought they could or could not do (he also taught me the hard side of life with a lot of lap-running!).
We may have to "run some laps" or make decisions that people don't like... but we have to provide for the kids - and I don't mean by what some book says... we need to use our own discernment as well.
I have a correction from last night. I misappropriated a quote to Brad Barnes. Mr. Barnes is not the man who said "it sounds like the rich kids moved in and told the poor black kids to get out of the way." That was somebody else, so I apologize for that error.
The photos that were taken (and an upcoming video) are available to anyone who wants them. For those of you who have not seen the photos for yourselves, I invite you to view them on my Facebook page. Look up Dave Green or go to www.facebook.com/websitedave (you'll probably have to request that I add you as a friend, and I will do so). Or if you prefer, I can email them to you or to anyone else who requests them.
Thank you for your time. I look forward to the solution.
Dave Green
Class of 1988 - Avondale High School
Website Dave, Inc.
Common Sense Web Design and Website Maintenance
1360 Powers Ferry Road #A-227
Marietta, GA 30067
404-422-2056
www.websitedave.com
