Clairmont Heights Civic Association

From the PTSA of Arabia Mountain High School (president@arabiaptsa.org, 770.875.0213): Lithonia, GA - Just in time for the upcoming July 31st election, the PTSA of Arabia Mountain High School (AMHS) has invited all 12 DeKalb County Board of Education Candidates to participate in a DeKalb County School Board Candidate Forum on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 6:45 p.m. in the Auditorim at AMHS.  Because AMHS is a School Choice and Magnet School, the students that attend AMHS come from every district in DeKalb County. Given the recent replacement of the Superintendent and other key staff with the DeKalb Board of Education, as well as the recent public debate over major budget cuts, this year's School Board election is of vital importance to the various communities throughout every segment of DeKalb County.  So far, 9 of 12 candidates have confirmed.

The format of the Candidate Forum will be as follows:

Each candidate will make a one-minute opening statement;

Voters will submit their questions for the candidates prior to the meeting. Only 8-12 questions will be asked depending on the number of candidates that confirm. The more confirmations, the fewer questions. Candidates will have 1 minute to answer.

Candidates will have the opportunity to make a two-minute closing statement.

The Candidate Forum will end at 8:30 p.m.

AMHS is located at 6610 Browns Mill Road, Lithonia, GA 30038.

The PTSA of AMHS aticipates that 500 voting DeKalb County citizens will attend the Candidate Forum.

The following DeKalb County Board of Education Candidates have been invited to participate in the Candidate Forum at Arabia Mountain High School on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 6:45pm.  Those with a star (*) have confirmed their participation:

District 2
Don McChesney (I)*
Marshall Orson*

District 4
Tom Gilbert (no contact information yet)
Jim Kinney*
Jim McMahan
Paul Womack (I) (his emails bounce back)

District 6
Dr. Melvin Johnson*
Denise McGill*
Terrilyn Rivers-Cannon*
Latasha Walker*

District 8
Michelle Jenkins-Clark*
Dr. Pam Speaks (I)*