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Volume 18 Number 7
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JUly 1, 2012
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Activists blast DeKalb planning director over derogatory ‘monkeys’ remark
DeKalb CEO says counseling, apology are sufficient By Joshua Smith
D
eKalb County activists say they will continue pressing for the firing of interim planning director, Gary Cornell, over a derogatory remark Cornell made DeKalb CEO about the Colony Burrell Ellis of Stone Mountain Apartment Homes, comprised of predominately black residents. Cornell said in an e-mail to Chris Morris, DeKalb’s director of community development: “These properties are like a barrel full of monkeys.” The remark has sparked an outcry and a barrage of criticism against DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis, who said he is trying to put the matter to rest. “We’re not going to let it go. It was
Photo by Joshua Smith/OCG News
Interim Planning Director Gary Cornell is questioned by media outside a June 26 Board of Commissioners’ meeting in Decatur.
a derogatory remark he (Cornell) made against blacks. We will continue to seek some form of action to get rid of that jerk,” said DeKalb NAACP president John Evans. Ellis said that Cornell had been counseled and had apologized. “Mr. Cornell has apologized to his co-workers, the community and to me, and I have accepted his apology and believe that no further action is required at this time,” Ellis said in a prepared
Sugunda Jackson is leaving Flat Rock Elementary to teach math, science and English in Abu Dhabi.
statement. Cornell told reporters he didn’t intend for his remark to be offensive. “I apologize if what I said was offensive,” Cornell said. Gerald Rose, founder and CEO of the New Order National Human Rights Organization, blasted both, Cornell and Ellis. Rose showed up to the government building to protest and demand a meeting with Cornell and Ellis. He said he was told to fill out a
Nichole McIntosh is leaving Flat Rock Elementary for Hong Kong, where she will teach English.
piece of paper to set up a meeting. “I have never been to any county where I had to fill out a piece of paper to have access to the person in charge of the county,” Rose said. “We’re going to keep pushing on this. The CEO hired him and he has the power to fire him,” said Rose. “We are fed up with apologies. We are tired of people like Don Imus calling black women nappyheaded hoes. Referring to black people as monkeys is no different. We don’t want any more apologies.” Edmond Richardson called Ellis’ response “unbelievable.” “To refer to a group of people as a barrel of monkeys is just unacceptable and Mr. Cornell needs to be relieved of his duties in DeKalb County government,” said Richardson, who has taken a leave of absence as chief of staff for DeKalb Commissioner Lee May to run for the District 6 Commission seat held by Kathie Gannon. “I don’t know of any monkeys living in DeKalb County other than at the CDC (Centers for Disease Control).” Cornell was at the center of controversy even before the March 12 derogatory e-mail became public. Ellis had nominated him for planning director and then withdrew the See Cornell, page 6
Shameka Parker is leaving Toney Elementary to teach English and math in Abu Dhabi.
DeKalb teachers make beeline for classrooms overseas By Valerie J. Morgan
When Sugunda Jackson, Shameka Parker and Nichole McIntosh head to their classrooms to teach this fall, they will be a world away from the kids they once called their students. Faced with budget cutbacks and INSIDE
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reductions in teacher pay, the threesome are among several teachers who are leaving the DeKalb County School System to teach overseas in pursuit of more money, better benefits and better opportunities. David Schutten, president of the Organization of DeKalb Educators (ODE), says teachers are leaving the school system “in droves.” “Morale is really low right now. There are about 800 teachers who didn’t sign contracts for the upcoming school year,” Schutten said. He said DeKalb has about7,000 certified employees. Schutten said he expects the school system’s legal costs to rise with so many teachers dealing with contract issues. “Some of them had signed contracts
and now their jobs are being cut,” said Schuten. “They’re entitled to hearings.” Jackson said the school system’s cutbacks, especially with regard to teacher salaries, is taking its toll. “People are talking about seeing the Repo Man driving around school campuses taking people’s cars,” said Jackson. Jackson, who has been an educator for 10 ½ years, said she has never seen things this bleak. She is leaving Flat Rock Elementary in Lithonia, for the Middle East. She has a twoyear contract to teach math, science and English to primary students in Abu Dhabi. She’s leaving behind her 15-year-old son, who will live with his grandmother in Florida.
“It’s a big move for me, but I’m ready for it. It will be an adventure and give me the chance to earn more to pay my bills,” said Jackson, who will nearly double her take-home pay with her move to the Middle East. Jackson and the other two teachers who were recruited by Teach Away, an agency that sends teachers abroad, will be provided housing, free medical benefits and the opportunity to travel home twice a year as part of their contracts. Parker, a 5th grade teacher at Toney Elementary School, also has accepted a
See Teachers, page 6