Political Theater or Policy Leadership? You Decide
In yet another glaring example of political theater, Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid held what she allegedly claimed was an “emergency” meeting to discuss apartment zoning, a crisis that’s been brewing for years under her watch. Ms. Cupid quickly demanded a meeting at her offices with the Cobb School Board and city officials, providing just five days’ notice.
A review of the zoning agenda makes it obvious, even to the casual observer, that a final vote on a zoning issue can take months or longer, hardly meeting the definition of a zoning emergency, according to some.
Ragsdale’s Response: Schools Come First
The Cobb County School District (CCSD) Superintendent quickly responded to her letter demanding a meeting, noting that the final day of the 2024–25 school year, with high school graduations and other obligations, would make participation in such a short-notice meeting impossible. However, the Superintendent emphasized this should not be interpreted as a lack of interest in discussing the impact of student transiency on Cobb County Schools and the broader community.
Despite the email exchanges, shared with Cobb Voice and other media outlets, clearly explaining why the CCSD could not participate in a hastily called meeting, Chairwoman Cupid pushed forward anyway. She appeared to comply with the Open Meeting law (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1) by allegedly claiming the meeting was an emergency. Cobb Voice was provided with an official copy of the meeting agenda and notification. When asked if the emergency had been recorded, a spokesperson from the County Commission confirmed that the meeting had not been recorded either.
Cupid’s “Emergency” Meeting Falls Flat
Only two of the three Democratic school board members, Becky Sayler and Leroy Hutchins, attended the meeting, along with various city officials and a few staff members. It was unclear what Sayler and Hutchins contributed to the meeting beyond their presence and support for fellow Democrats.
While Cupid and her allies appeared to take a victory lap for simply holding the meeting, critical stakeholders were notably absent, including CCSD Chairman David Chastain, who was busy certifying diplomas and shaking the hands of hundreds of graduating high school students beginning the next chapter of their lives.
Ignored Warnings and Overcrowded Classrooms
The Cobb Board of Education and Superintendent Ragsdale have been sounding the alarm for years about how rapid, unchecked apartment growth will overwhelm Cobb’s schools by significantly increasing the transient student population. Ragsdale recently warned that more than 20,000 multifamily units have been approved in the last two decades, with little consideration for the impact on schools or the stability of the broader community.
Cobb Deserves Real Leadership, Not Stagecraft
While some local leaders cynically commented that Lisa Cupid might enjoy a good theatrical performance, they suggested she catch a showing of Grease at the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre, running through June 22, 2025, instead of scripting her own version of Seinfeld with Cobb’s future at stake.
Stay tuned for an in-depth story addressing student transiency and Cobb County in The Cobb Voice this weekend.
