Thursday, November 8, 2012
Wilbanks' statement on Charter School Amendment cites 'efforts by some to ... dismantle public education.'
This article originated on Suwanee Patch. Peachtree Corners Patch also contributed to this article. Gwinnett Schools Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks has issued a statement expressing disappointment that Georgia voters passed the Charter Schools Amendment on Tuesday (November 6). The state's voters, by a strong majority, approved Amendment One, which allows for state officials to approve publicly funded charter schools, without the permission of local school boards. Wilbanks' statement said the amendment "is not in the best interest of students and public education in this state." ----- How do you feel about the Charter Schools Amendment passing? Do you feel the Gwinnett system should remain the sole authority for charter schools in this …
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Charter school amendment appears headed for win.
UPATE 5:50 pm If you are in line to vote at 7 pm, you will get to vote even though the polls close then. Tens of thousands of Fulton County voters have already cast ballots today. Turnout is especially high for today’s General Election, as it is in most Presidential election years. It's too early to know how this year compares to 2008. In the evening after traditional work hours, peak turnout is anticipated, and tens of thousands of additional voters could exercise their right to vote. Fulton County elections officials released a statement advising that voters who are in line at 7 pm will be allowed to vote under Georgia law. As provided by Georgia law, voters who are over age 75 or who have a disability are eligible to ask to move ahead …
Monday, November 5, 2012
Tuesday's ballot includes a Georgia constitutional amendment to re-establish a state commission to approve charter schools. Your job is to decide if that's a good idea.
There aren't a lot of statewide issues on the ballot Nov. 6, but one has the potential to affect school districts, parents and children throughout Georgia. It's Amendment 1, and the ballot will say it "Provides for improving student achievement and parental involvement through more public charter school options." The question voters will answer yes or no to is, "Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?" So what does a 'yes' vote mean? If the amendment passes, the state will create a commission that can approve charter schools in local communities, even if local school boards oppose them. Supporters of the amendment believe this is …
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Filed in Atlanta, the lawsuit claims the language is misleading.
Opponents of Amendment 1, which provides for a Charter Schools Commission, have long criticized the language of the ballot itself as misleading. As an earlier Athens Patch story says, Senate Democrats criticized the latest move by proponents of a November charter schools ballot amendment today, calling a new ballot preamble "biased, inaccurate and electioneering at its worst." "As it was written in March, the charter schools question on the November ballot was misleading. The addition of a preamble to the ballot question heightens the inaccuracy," said Senate Democratic Leader Steve Henson of Tucker. "The preamble language adds to the bias and subjectivity of what citizens will be voting on. The language intends to mislead voters in an …
Friday, September 21, 2012
State Representatives Dar'shun Kendrick and Pam Dickerson will discuss the upcoming Charter School Amendment House Resolution 1162 which will be on the November 6th ballot
State Representatives Dar'shun Kendrick and Pam Dickerson will be hosting a Charter School Amendment Roundtable to discuss the upcoming Charter School Amendment House Resolution 1162 which will be on the November 6th ballot. The event will be held Tuesday, October 23rd from 6:30-8:30 PM at Hope & Life Church (3594 Centerville Highway, Snellville, GA 30039). "This is an informational session intended to give a prospective on both sides of this very important issue." states Rep. Kendrick. "Obviously I have my own reasons for voting against HR 1162, and its accompanying bill House Bill 797, but it's important to give everyone the information they need to make an informed decision." Rep. Dickerson echoes Rep. Kendrick's sentiments. "I feel it …
Monday, September 10, 2012
This letter to the editor was sent by a Georgia charter school parent who criticizes Georgia PTA's refusal to support the upcoming charter schools amendment.
(Editor's note: this letter to the editor was sent by Rae Anne Harkness.) I am a parent of two children who attend school in south DeKalb County. I have always paid my PTA dues, blindly believing that it was part of being an engaged parent. Last year I had the difficult choice of deciding where to send my daughter for middle school. I liked the local middle school magnet program, but was hesitant to send her there because of school-wide discipline issues. I worried even more because at 11 years old my daughter (who is a gymnast) is very physically fit, but also fully developed and subject to inappropriate comments from older boys. Our home middle school and high school have even more discipline problems. The high school has the lowest …
don Gabacho
3:48 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
"don Gabacho, thank you for your observation. I agree that dealing with abusers of law is important. But dealing with abusers is often not very effective when the abusers are the ones in power and control."----E Pluribus Unum That's the eternal price of liberty. All it should tell anyone is to be that much more diligent in recognizing and protecting that which indeed constitutes us and not what … more ›