Money and “mercenaries” in Coweta County Schools

Last weekend I went to a local high school play (Five Stars, Bravo!). Before the play younger children performed a scene from “Seussical” coming to the Legacy Theater in Tyrone.

After watching the most recent Coweta County School Board Meeting, I realized how much covering school issues, board activity and general school politics really reminded me of Dr. Seuss. One line jumped out to me from the days on reading these books to my son.

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss

This week there was an awesome presentation by the Blake Bass Middle School student media team. Then the fun started, public comment. There were several speakers who spoke in favor of the board’s decision to opt out and supported the board’s alternate proposal. When the first speaker chose to quote a speech by Randi Weingarten, President of the national teacher’s union (UFT), I knew we were in for a ride, but did not expect what happened next.

Coweta County Board member Amy Dees, (1:36 mark) spoke out about “activists” and “mercenaries” who disagree with her and the speakers that night. I am presuming these speakers spoke previously, as only one speaker presented a different view (attached) and I did not think it was so bad, but we all have perspectives.

Now first I checked my notes and of all the speakers I contacted and spoke to at the previous HB 581 hearings, all were Coweta residents and taxpayers, therefore by definition not mercenaries. Unfortunately, labeling people you disagree with has become “normal politics”.

In a private discussion with Board Member Dees, she cited previous comments and invective by the taxpayers who oppose her views. Its unfortunate any time personal attacks are made, but when they are responded to, everyone gets dirty. That is why I have always preferred facts, facts, facts and let the voters decide.

While the decision to opt out has passed, the embers from those fires still burn brightly and illuminate the attempts to influence the legislature on both sides. But reviewing some of the journey will help us see how we got here.

First, during the HB 581 hearings, several comments were made about the salary of Superintendent Evan Horton. One speaker even showed that he made more than JD Vance who is Vice President of the United States. A comparison of the numbers from www.openGA.gov suggests that is true-ish. The numbers included in OpenGa often can include expenses, 403(b) matches and other payments.

However, using the same OpenGa information, we can see the $301,558 paid to Dr. Horton in 2024 was less expensive on a cost per student basis than Fayette, Carroll or Heard counties, but more than the average of the comparison group of comparable size and nearby systems. What is interesting is that Coweta is paying twenty percent more for Superintendent than in 2019. The average increase in the comparison set was 9%. Coweta student growth rate over that time is 0.5% while the comparison set grew at 0.7%.

One taxpayer who spoke at one of the HB 581 hearing claimed that the Coweta Schools spent over $20,000 per student. This statement is false enough that the superintendent specifically mentioned it as “disinformation” in his final summation in meeting four on February 11.

I ran into this person at a later point and shared that Georgia Department of Education data shows. That Coweta schools spent $13,196 per student FTE in 2024, which is more than $1,000 below the state average and approximately $1,000 lower per student than Fayette. The taxpayer explained when you divide total revenue by total students, he got a different amount due to ESPLOST (capital fund) money collected.

However, “misinformation” can come from even the most knowledgeable sources. During the HB 581 hearings Dr. Evan Horton, reported that the tax digest was seventy percent “residential”.  However, viewing all the apartment buildings around Ashley Park and along I-85 on both sides between exits 47 and 44, I doubted that all seventy percent was eligible for homestead exemption under HB 581. A homestead exemption is only available for owner occupied dwellings.

According to the Coweta Tax Office, 32,507 parcels out of 64,460 total parcels in Coweta County or 50.4% are eligible for homestead exemption. The amount of valuation may skew the percentage slightly either way, but it is apparent the point is less than correct.

At some point, we need to set aside the emotions and politics of personal destruction on both sides. The fact is the Coweta schools are good and there are a lot of wonderful things going on. The fact is the Coweta schools are financially strong in part due to the efforts of the board and administration. The fact is people are financially stretched and voted overwhelmingly for meaningful tax relief. Now, let’s get things done.

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