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School officials fear November vote could drain more education funds

Wednesday, August 22. 2012

For Jackson County School System superintendent John Green, a vote on a constitutional amendment allowing the state to create charter schools isn’t just about those schools — but if citizens want locally or state-controlled schools.

“It’s a movement of localized control of our public schools to a state-level control of our public schools,” said Green.

Voters in Georgia will decide during the general election on Nov. 6 on an amendment to the state’s constitution to allow state officials to create public charter schools. Those schools would be able to receive state education funds.

Proponents of the amendment say if it passes, it would allow parents to choose to educate their children in charter schools that they say are higher performing than traditional public schools.

However, those opposed to the amendment — mostly those with ties to public education — say it would take away dwindling state money for education and give it to an agency that doesn’t answer to local taxpayers.

For the full story, see the Aug. 22 issue of The Jackson Herald.

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#1 Hm on 08/24/12 at 08:54 AM [Reply]

With the introduction of more charter schools, maybe the BOE will get their act together and quite renovating needlessly, and filling the board office needlessly... and put the funds back into the education of our children.

Currently there are works to rid the school system of paraprofessionals who are of more worth to the education of the children in the county than a new Board Office position. Principles and Assistant Principles of top notch schools are being promoted to board office positions of little worth.

Green needs to be focused on what he's already destroying with the current dwindling funds, rather than worrying about what is to come.

#2 rally on 08/24/12 at 01:47 PM [Reply]

I second you HM. People that are teachers also need to realize that their salary comes from the local government. The Federal government does not pay Teachers' Salaries. Let me repeat that the Federal government does not pay Teachers salaries. It is the funds from the state and local sales taxes that fund it so when Obama goes out mentioning that the federal government pays you teachers. That is a flat out lie and needs to be called as such.

#2.1 anon on 08/24/12 at 01:51 PM [Reply]

wrong

#2.1.1 "WRONG?" on 08/24/12 at 02:11 PM [Reply]

Please state how instead of just posting "WRONG". That makes you look like a complete troll.

#2.2 Just saying on 08/24/12 at 08:36 PM [Reply]

Rally,
Jackson County Schools do receive funding from the Feds. It is called Title I and some of that money does pay for teacher salaries.

#2.2.1 Really???? on 08/24/12 at 10:01 PM [Reply]

Title 1 I will clean your clock with this....does not go to teachers. Your dead wrong on that. Title 1 funds go to schools that did not meet AYP...or annual yearly progress in turn that is given to pay teachers for extra tutoring in the afternoons if the school so chooses now. The funds before summer was out was given to services providers.....to provide those hours. This money is not a full salary....and now that title 1 money goes in the school hands do you really think they will use this to better students education. Um no....they will misuse it and pay administrators with it. If you want a reality check just go to dekalb, Clayton, and Henry and ask them where that money is right now. Uh duh um whuh we don't know????? So again I say title 1 does not pay for teachers nor does the federal govern. Know your facts or show me some accountability that you see where this money has gone. Where is that paper trail? Every teacher that I know in that area...says their is no money for teachers? No your not just sayin....your Lyin.

#2.2.1.1 Title 1 on 08/24/12 at 10:11 PM [Reply]

Title I is not for schools that didn't make AYP. It has to do with low-income student population. There are also rules on how to use the Title 1 money so no, it doesn't go to administrators.

#2.2.1.2 Flibittyfloofloo on 08/24/12 at 10:29 PM [Reply]

The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.
Winston Churchill

#3 Stumped on 08/24/12 at 08:22 PM [Reply]

Principles or principals? Quite or quit?

#4 unclesam on 08/26/12 at 03:21 PM [Reply]

Nobody wants to hear about JCSS money problems. A complete re-key of JCCHS campus, complete new phone system for the entire school system, teachers sitting in classrooms with nothing to do, but since they coach I guess you have to put them somewhere, more professional development for select teachers, new facilities at JCCHS, 6 furlough days-more than surrounding counties,and of course more people at the BOE. No taxpayer wants to continue to see their hard earned tax dollars wasted and that is all the JCSS knows how to do. They spend, spend, spend.==actually, waste, waste, waste.

#4.1 anyoneknow on 08/26/12 at 04:05 PM [Reply]

Don't forget unusually high pay for some at the board office. Will the bands be able to afford to perform at all the away games this year?

#5 Ken on 08/27/12 at 07:52 PM [Reply]

Tom Crawford has a great article in this week's Jackson Herald (Aug 22) on pages 4A and 5A entitled "Here are some facts about Georgia's Charter Schools." I would encourage anyone interested in this topic to read that opinion. The big question here is local control or state control. If you want a state APPOINTED board to pick and choose where charter schools are created, and who runs them while using funds taken from existing traditional public schools, then vote for it. If you want your locally ELECTED Board of Education to make the call, then oppose the amendment. I personally want my vote to count anytime I cast it.

#6 John Birch on 08/28/12 at 06:32 AM [Reply]

If the government employed school teachers and administrators are doing the best they can do, what would be the reason to fear competition? In fact, if they know in their hearts that they are the best, why wouldn't they start a private school and not live off the taxpayers back?

All of this local vs state control hog wash is just that hogwash. What does the local school board really control when it comes to actual education of children? My understanding, and I am no expert, is we have a Federal Education group, a State Education group and Local Education groups. So it seems we are already top heavy in Government Education folks, why don't we put education back in the most local hands, the parents and their wallets. Government education has been a failure, America rose to greatness when education was the responsibility of the parents paying for what they got.

#7 Ken on 08/28/12 at 06:35 PM [Reply]

Sounds like Mr. Birch has made his mind up. For anyone who hasn't...get the facts, not the hog wash...

-Tom Crawford's Aug 22 opinion in Jackson Hearld

-http://www.votesmartgeorgia.com/facts

-http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/External-Affairs-and-Policy/communications/Pages/PressReleaseDetails.aspx?PressView=default&pid=54
(Republican BOE Superintendent John Barge's Press release opposing the amendment)

#7.1 john birch on 08/28/12 at 07:35 PM [Reply]

Propaganda.

Ken your income must come from the toil of working citizens. Your capabilities must be so limited that you rely on the politician to steal from the working man to fund your lifestyle.

What is the reason you and your ilk do not choose to leave the welfare state and stand on your merits?

#7.1.1 anon on 08/29/12 at 05:26 AM [Reply]

Don't drive on our roads, don't use our internet. Go build your own roads and internet and then come back and tell us how your capabilities are unlimited.

Hypocrites. Just like the guy at the Republican convention who was complaining he wasn't getting enough government contracts for roads signs. He built his business too.

#7.1.1.1 John Biech on 08/29/12 at 07:50 AM [Reply]

I think the term "our" is appropriate or did I miss the change of ownership?

When this country was founded there was no government work programs to build roads and bridges to nowhere. If a railroad needed to go somewhere the RR company bought the land and built it. If a community wanted it's children educated they recruited a teacher and the parents paid them.

Of course this was back when Americans were earning their place. It is sad that we have had generations of vote buying schemes that have warped the minds of many. We to remember our heritage of hard work, independence, pursuit of happiness and abundant opportunity for those that choose to pursue them.

#8 Concerned on 08/29/12 at 08:00 AM [Reply]

One
thing wrong in Jackson County is we do not need 3 seperate school systems with 3 sets of overheads for superintendants ,school boards,etc. Such a waste of tax payer dollars and we are fed up!! Too many top end postions where you have assistants to the assistant. I have never seen many school systems run efficiently.It reminds me of a small businessman that did a poor job of running his business but was still sucessful before of his exorbent prices. Well the taxpayers pockets are empty and we can't stand amymore, so tighten up and get lean and mean.

#9 Ken on 08/29/12 at 06:53 PM [Reply]

Again, please refer to posting #7 for resources to help make your mind up on this one. There is not a tax cut on the table with this amendment, nor is it a voucher type option. The state will determine where charter schools are created and who runs them, using funds taken from traditional public schools systems. This means Jefferson City, Commerce City, and Jackson County districts will lose funding in order to fund a charter school anywhere in Georgia....and our elected board(s) of education will have absolutely no say in the matter. Another concern would be if a charter school were to be approved and it did not live up to expectations...the state would be the entity to decide either leave it open or close it...not the local school boards that we the people have elected. Republican State DOE Superintendent John Barge opposes this admentment...whereas our governor, Nathan Deal (Tea Splost and I85 Peach Lane advocate) is in favor of it.

#9.1 Ken on 08/30/12 at 06:23 AM [Reply]

Correction...I meant T-SPLOST. My bad.

#10 Chris Bailey on 09/02/12 at 06:43 AM [Reply]

The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'
Ronald Reagan

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