In the recent weeks there have been several issues that impact our excellent Fayette County Schools in these pages. However, not enough attention has been paid to a move by our state legislature to erode local control of public education.
As I have previously noted the legislature is already not meeting its constitutional obligation to provide quality public education by failing to fully fund its own formula. This problem began before the economic downturn and has gotten worse with the economy.
To address this situation, the taxpayers of Fayette County pay one of the highest property tax millage rates. The Fayette County schools are constantly rated among the best while maintaining costs at or below Georgia state averages. As you know the decrease of state funding coupled with the increase in state and federal regulations has pressured our system and resulted in:
• Decreases in special education services
• Larger class sizes
• Less school days in 2012-2013
In the past few years, the state government in Atlanta had created a “Charter Schools Commission” that basically imposed charter schools on systems where the elected representatives had declined.
Last summer, the Georgia Supreme Court declared this board and its actions were unconstitutional as the state of Georgia was usurping local control of the public schools.
The legislature’s answer to this is not to fix or better fund our public schools but rather to amend the state constitution to allow their actions and take local funds for charter schools not supported by the local elected leaders.
Worse, the language of the amendment is vague and may permit the legislature to experiment on our excellent Fayette County public schools without local consent.
In this amendment, the state claims authority to create and fund “Special (i.e., Charter) Schools.” The wording on the ballot question refers to local communities not boards of education.
Therefore a group of people can decide to start a charter school in Fayette County, the FCBOE can say no as it is not a wise use of local funds, then these people can appeal to an unelected and unaccountable board who can then “adjust our funding” and effectively take local funds against the will of the elected leaders of Fayette County. This has already happened in nearby counties.
The issue is NOT charter schools, which are legal and thriving in Georgia, nor school choice, but rather the state government’s attempt to erode the local control of the excellent Fayette County public schools from the elected leaders of Fayette County.
This bill has already been defeated once this session, but sponsors are determined for another vote. Once enough arms are twisted and deals are made. Please contact your local representative and ask them to vote no on HB 1162.
Neil Sullivan
Peachtree City, Ga.
