Petruzielo, School Board Rebuff Common Core Committee Request

A request from Cherokee School Board member Kelly Marlow to form a citizen's committee to assess Common Core standards did not garner any support.

A request from Cherokee County School Board member Kelly Marlow for board members to form a committee to examine the Common Core standards received a cool reception, and led to a discussion on whether citizens should revisit the initiative that's already in the midst of implementation. The school board on Thursday heard a request from Marlow, who asked if each board member could appoint two members to a committee that would research Common Core and submit a full report to the school board on the initiative. Marlow said her proposal stems from her receiving numerous questions and concerns from residents in the Cherokee County community about Common Core. The issue, she stated, seems to be a "hot topic." The Cherokee County Republican Party …

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Michael Geist Defends Reputation

The Cherokee County Board of Education member said he needed to respond to accusations made last month by Board Chair Mike Chapman.

Michael Geist Defends Reputation

The Cherokee County Board of Education member said he needed to respond to accusations made last month by Board Chair Mike Chapman.

Despite not wanting to make waves during Cherokee County Board of Education Chairman Mike Chapman's last meeting, fellow board member Michael Geist said on Thursday night that he had to defend his reputation from comments Chapman made at the board's meeting in November. Geist said that Chapman accused Geist of trying to sway opinons and bully people at a meeting held regarding Cherokee Charter Academy.  "I made it clear at the start of this meeting that I was attending as nothing more than a CCA parent," Geist said. However, two days letter, a letter was sent to the Cherokee County School District stating that Geist had said he was attending as mediator and asked for the names of CCSD employees in attendance, allegations that Geist denies…

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BOE Chair Mike Chapman Attacks Fellow Board Member

The county's longest serving school board member criticized fellow member Michael Geist for allegedly violating board policy during the board's meeting on Thursday.

BOE Chair Mike Chapman Attacks Fellow Board Member

The county's longest serving school board member criticizes fellow member Michael Geist for allegedly violating board policy.

Not the one to shy away from controversy, Cherokee School Board Chairman Mike Chapman criticized fellow board member and charter school supporter Michael Geist for what he referred to as Geist's violation of school board policies. Chapman, who decided not to seek re-election after he was reapportioned out of his current post by the Georgia legislature, said it was "imperative" to point out Geist's actions, which Chapman said "disturbs me greatly." "Mr. Geist, as I move off the board I feel it imperative that I and fellow board members confront you on your actions as a member of this board," he said. "I raise this issue strictly with the desire to prevent our system from moving back into the past which could very well put our accreditation …

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