Marlow: Cherokee School Board Can't "Effectively Govern" System

Cherokee County School Board Member Kelly Marlow is accusing her colleagues of being unable to "effectively" govern the Cherokee County School District.

In a document obtained by Patch, Marlow last Tuesday penned a letter to Mike Bryans, director of AdvancED's Georgia office, calling for a "formal investigation into the conduct of our board and of our professional staff." 

AdvancED is the company that oversees the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement, or SACS CASI. 

Marlow in the letter states the "unprofessional relationship between our board, the taxpaying citizens and the professional staff is of serious concern."

It's "unfortunate," she added that, the Cherokee County School District, the Georgia School Boards Association and the Georgia School Superintendents Association allude to Senate Bill 84, "in addition to the constant threat of a SACS investigation to render the members of our Board of Education completely useless."

SB 84 overhauled school board ethics and governance policies in light of the Clayton County Board of Education scandals that led to the school district having its accreditation revoked by SACS CASI. 

Marlow's complaints include allegations against Board Chair Janet Read, whom she said is "incapable of performing her duties" during meetings and routinely violates board policies and state laws.

She also said Read allows the public and school district staff to "mislead, intimidate and threaten sitting board members," allows district staff to "routinely publicly and privately refuse to provide material and relevant information requested by elected board members and "maintains a close personal relationship with a professional staff member who has publicly admitted to manipulating the local newspaper outlet to serve the personal agenda of the superintendent."

Marlow also accused Barbara Jacoby, the school district's spokesperson, of interfering with the editorial and hiring processes at the Cherokee Tribune, the county's legal organ.  

Read on Tuesday noted she's not "concerned about the opportunity to speak" with AdvancED officials.

"I believe it will be very evident to AdvanceED that very few things about our system have changed since they renewed our district accreditation in 2011 and commended our leadership team," she added.

The board chair said she's served the students and public over the last 15 years in various capacities, including her service on PTA leadership roles and in her third term on the school board. 

"During that time my integrity, motives and priorities have never wavered and have never been in question," she added. "I will continue to remain steadfast, sincere and dedicated to consistency in my number one priority -- making decisions that best benefit the public school students of Cherokee County." 

Marlow also criticizes the board for extending the contract of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo, who she said "is allowed by the board chair to routinely and publicly insult taxpayers, students, elected state and local officials in an accusatory and inflammatory manner."

Petruzielo blasted Marlow's accusations, noting district staff has "answered every question that Ms. Marlow has submitted."

“These allegations are fraught with inaccuracies and innuendo," Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo said. "The School District staff is eager to respond to any requests from AdvancEd officials in this regard."

Tell us: what do you think of Marlow's call for AdvancED to investigate the Cherokee County Board of Education?