2004

DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM COMPENSATION STUDY

Reanee Ellis, Ph.D.

r>.

January

26, 2012

Mr. Walter Woods DeKalb County School System

1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083 ~

..

Dear Mr. Woods: I wish to begin this communication by telling you that I think that you and other members of the new job. I know

senior leadership team in the DeKalb County School System (DCSS) are doing an outstanding that your task is difficult but I truly believe that you are on the right track.

I want to preface my comments with that sincere expression because I hope that you will not view the comments that follow as those of a disgruntled comment former employee. Admittedly, I am disappointed with a that you recently made to a WSB-2 news reporter and Classification in response to an inquiry about the 2004 not in opposition to Change.

DCSS Compensation

(Comp & Class) Study but I a91 certainly

anything I have heard about Dr. Cheryl Atkinson's gO-Day Action TheOltof I am specifically referring to your response to a reporter

who asked' you why the school district

expended funds to conduct another assessment of positions when a Comp & Class study had previously been conducted by Ernst and Young. As you are probably aware, I served as the project manager for that study. Although I did not ask to serve in that capacity, I eventually embraced the additional assignment

for several reasons:

1. It provided an opportunity
administrator; 2.

for me to further develop my talent as a human

capital management (B) if

I believed that there was a need to: (A) review and update all of the position descriptions, generate' positions descriptions
. .

where none existed for current positions; and (C) determine and/or competitive.

the salaries associated with the positions were market appropriate 3. I believed that there was redundancy

in positions and felt that an objective assessment from a

creditable vendor could assist the district in resolving this. I worked on this project in addition to my normal duties until the then-Superintendent & Class study my primary assignment so that we could complete , Young teams did complete the project and ALL of the deliverables provided to the then-Superintendent and the then-Associate made the Comp

the project. The DCSS and Ernst and as outlined in the RFP were met and for Human

Superintendent

Resources.

,
i,

,I

."...;.
'-:

So to hear you respond to a reporter not be usable at this time andit

this morning with, " ...a study that

was

completed

in 2004 Would greatly

was not produced

to the level it needed to be back then"

'-

'disturbed

me. in 2004 would likely be invalid at this time.

I do agree that a Comp and Class Study that was completed Ideally, such studies should be completed

at least every five years. I DO NOT agree that the study was

not delivered
deliverables

at a level that outlined

was needed

at the time.

As previously

stated

herein,

ALL

of the

in the relevant RFP were met.

It is widely known that Iserved as the project manager for the Comp & Class Study that you referenced in your comment. ethics. It is also widely known that I was not a member of the "Family and Friends" program integrity and on the implementation of Comp & and greatly prided myself on not being a part of that group and on having impeccable I have and continue to provide ethics training and training So I hope that you can understand Class Studies.

why I was taken aback when I heard your comments

this morning and feel compelled to provide this response. You should also be advised that earlier this year, I provided Officer in your school district, with documentation not have what you desire, I have retained Dr. Jamie Wilson, Chief Human Resources

from the Comp & Class Study upon his request. I am

more than happy to provide you with anything you might need that I still have in my possession. contact information Manager for the Comp & Class Study. I am also willing to share that information As previously stated, I hope that you and Dr. Atkinson with you.

If I do

for the Ernst & Young Senior Project

will not view this as a criticism

of you, Dr. , my

Atkinson or the fine work I believe your team is attempting. widely respected professional "good name"

Igenuinely hope that you will be successful. hard to develop and maintain as a leader in our state Human

However, I hope that you understand that I have worked extremely and my reputation

Resources organization.

I do not wish to have my good name or reputation

maligned in any way.

Thank you for taking the time to read this communication. please do not hesitate to contact me by using the information Dr. Reanee Ivey Ellis

If I can ever be of any assistance to you, below:

Cordially,

s: !.

Reanee Ellis, Ph.D. cc: Dr. Cheryl Atkinson, Superintendent, DeKalb County School System

10/30/13

Grnail - Open Records Request

Open Records Request

Rafferty, Alice <Alice. Rafferty@trsga.com> To: "RestoreDeKalb@gmail.com" <RestoreDeKalb@gmail.com> October 28, 2013 Mon, Oct 28, 2013 at 11:20 AM

Dear Ms. Davis,

This is in response to your open records request dated October 23, 2013 and received in our office on October 24, 2013. Specifically, you are requesting, " all files, records, and other documents in your possessions that refer or relate to the information concerning the request for the people who retired with two job positions and with retirements over $100,000 from the DeKalb County School System."

Georgia law [O.C.G.A. 47-1-14(b)(4)] exempts from public disclosure retirement system records containing business, financial and personal information .. Therefore, we cannot provide you with the financial information you have requested. Additionally, TRS records do not contain data on multiple job positions.

I am also attaching a copy of your open records request received in our office on October 1, 2013, along with our response which was faxed to you on October 4, 2013.

I trust this is responsive to your request. Please contact me if I can provide additional information or clarification.

Sincerely,

Alice R. Rafferty Executive Assistant Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (ph) 404-352-6500; (fax) 404-352-6539

alice. rafferty@trsga.com www.trsga.com

https:l!mail.google.comlmail/?ui=2&ik=ff2c1762b9&l.1ew=pt&search=inbox&th=141ffa72em37c6

1/3

i.

Memorandum
To: Jeffrey L. Ezell, Executive Director and Teachers Retirement System of Georgia Restore DeKalb, Diann Green, Tonia Morris and all appropriate parties

cc:
From:
Date:

Viola Davis
9127/2013 Open Records Request for the People who retired with two job positions and with retirement . over $100,000 from the DeKalb County School System.

Re:

Open Records Request for the People who retired with two job positions and with retirements over $100,000 from the DeKaib County School System
Pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Law (O.C.G.A 50-18~ 70 et seq.) (the Law) and/or Freedom of Information Act, you are here by requested to make available for review and copying all files, records, and other documents in your possessions that refer or relate to the information concerning the request for the people who retired with two job positions and with retirements over $100,000 from the De,Kalb County School System. If this request is denied in whole or in part, we ask that you cite in writing the specific statutory exemption upon Which you have relied, as required by law. We also ask that you release all separate portions of otherwise exempt material. Please waive any costs associated with this request, or first inform us about such costs as required by Georgia law. As you know, the Law requires a response by you within three business days of your receipt of this letter and provides sanctions for non-compliance. I look forward to hearing from you. We can be reached at 770-256-0034 or via email atRestoreDeKalb@gmai!.com. We normally request our Open Records Request be answered through the email; however, we were informed that this agency has no email, Please send the reply to our Open Records Request to fax number 404-297-5840 and inform us via telephone at 770-2560034.

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Viola Davis Community Missionary

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TRS REC 10/01/13 06: 15 All

Message Confirmation Report

OCT-04- 2013 09: 27 AMFRI

WorkCentre M20i Series Machine ID Serial Number Fax Number RYU363016 .

Name/Number Page start Time Elapsed Time Mode Results

G40~2975840

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2 OCT-04-2013 09:26AMFRI 00'18" STD ECM

Teachers Retirement ~Systemof __ Georgia

wwwtrsga.com. ph (404) 352-6500. Two Northsiae 75. Suite 100. Atlanta, GA 30316

FAX
Date: 10/04/13 Total Number of Pages
(1nc;J cover):

To:
Company Name: Fax Number:

Viola Davis Restore DeKalb

404-297-5840

Re: Open Records Request

"The information transmHled is intended only for the person or entity to which tt is addressed and may COM8in ~nfi<fenlial. t>fOOIletary. and/or I)I1vlleged ~terlal. If YOureceived \his Information In error. please notify tI1e sender immediately and discard lhe information."

III

Teachers Retirement System of Georgia

Jeffrey L. Ezell
Executive Director

Providing a future you can depend on

October 1, 2013 VIA FAX (404) 297-5840 Ms. Viola Davis Community Missionary Restore DeKalb Dear Ms. Davis, This letter is in response to your open records request received in our office on October 1, 2013. Specifically, you are requesting, " a" files, records, and other documents in your possessions that refer or relate to the information concerning the request for the people who retired with two job positions and with retirements over $100,000 from the DeKalb County School System." Georgia law [O.C.G.A. 47-1-14(b)(4)] exempts from public disclosure retirement system records containing business, financial and personal information. Therefore, we cannot provide you with the financial information you have requested. Additionally, TRS records do not contain data on multiple job positions. I trust this is responsive to your request. clarification. Sincerely, Please contact me if I can provide additional information or

~~.~
Executive Assistant /arr

Two Northside 75, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30318

Ph: 404-352-6523

Fax: 404-352-6539

www.trsga.com

I
2
~

Memonmdrnn
To: CC:
From:

Jeffrey L. Ezell, Executive Director and Teachers Retirement System of Georgia Restore DeKalb, Diann Green, Tonia Morris and all appropriate parties Viola Davis 10/23/2013 Open Records Request for the People who retired with two job positions and with retirement over $100,000 from the DeKalb County School System - Second Request.

Date: Re:

Open Records Request for the People who retired with two job positions and with retirements over $100,000 from the DeKalb County School System - Second Request .
Open Records Law (O.C.G.A 50-18-70 et seq.) (the Law) and/or Freedom of Act, you are here by requested to make available for review and copying all files, nioids>and other documents in your possessions that refer or relate to the infonnation concerning . tli(p,i~ 10r the people who retired with two job positions and with retirements over $100,000 ~~J~~;~Kalb County School System.

P6ts~t'to the Georgia

Inf~6n

is denied in whole or in part, we ask that you cite in writing the specific statutory upon which you have relied, as required by law. We also ask that you release all separate pO#i(;DS of otherwise exempt material Please waive any costs associated with this request, or first inform us about such costs as required by Georgia law.

'It'rl:quest

e.x'e#tpijon

As you know, the Law requires a response by you within three business days of your receipt of this letter and provides sanctions for non-compliance. I look forward to hearing from you. We can be reached at 770-256-0034 or via email atRestoreDeKalb@gmail.com. We normally request our Open Records Request be answered through the email; however, we were informed that this agency has no emaiI. Please send the reply to our Open Records Request to tax number 404-297-5840 and inform us via telephone at 770-256-0034.

~ .~

Viola Davis Community Missionary

DeKaib County
Scnool
District

DeKalb County Schools Board Policy GAG- Exhibit I : Staff Conflict of Interest
All District employees are required to disclose, on an annual basis, whether they are a relative of any other current District employee, including the Superintendent or current member of the Board of Education. Additionally, employees are required to disclose, in writing, to the District if they are employed by a vendor approved to do business with the District. Failure to disclose this information may result in disciplinary action, up to and including, termination.

VENDOR DISCLOSURE INFORMATION FORM

I verify that I am employed with a vendor approved to do business with the DeKalb County School District. Vendor Name Vendor Tax Identification Position Held with Vendor Number of Hours Worked Per Week with Vendor Number _ _ _ _

Employee Signature Employee Identification Number _

Date

Forward this form to the Division of Human Resources, Employee Records Department. Please keep a copy for yourself.