I am so excited to see someone with so much passion run for this position. Fresh ideas and committment to the children of Cherokee County. I wish I lived in her district so I could vote for her! She will give a fresh positive outlook to a board who has been so negative lately. I support this candidate!!

Go kelly!! You know you have large support!!

It is astounding to me the level that some people will go to to stop parents from choosing the education they want for their children. I remember something my mother said to me growing up as a child - mind your own business. It seems fitting here. It is sad to see how some people feel that they know what education is better for my child then I do. I think that school choice is necessary. I also find it laughable that individuals will slander and attack people on a personal level when they disagree with a persons views. I for one am looking forward to hearing what Kelly Marlow has to say and her plan for education. After all that is what the elections are about. Listening to the candidates plans and ideas and then voting based on the issues. While I completely disagree with your tactics and opinions Ashley - I do believe in your right to choose traditional public schools if you feel that is what your child needs, why not give me the same option? I also agree with many of Kelly Marlow's statements. 48th is not good enough. And shame on any one who believes it is. We need a wake up call. CCSD keeps patting itself on the back for "great" education....but how is being the best of the worst great? If you can explain how this state and county does not need a drastic change in education then I will listen. But the statistics do not lie.

Considering I've heard straight from the horse’s mouth that Ms. Marlow's children will "never again attend a Cherokee County school", makes me question her motives. I understand being passionate about a cause, but to settle a vendetta at the cost of thousands of children is wrong!

I believe that this debate originally began because the school board denied charter school choice based solely on nothing other then their dislike for any school that is not completely under their control. I agree you should support public schools in Cherokee County. But the fact that you are not questioning anything that CCSD does is not realistic. Are you saying that the BOE is perfect? And again you mentioned how Cherokee County schools are the best in the state - and again I say the best of the worst is nothing to brag about. The school board has on numerous occasions made decisions that are not in the best interest of the county or school. They talk about overcrowding and blame school choice for financial cost issues. Yet the public schools are still getting the tax money to teach those children with their absence. So they are making money on a child not there. Seems to me that is a good deal for CCSD. And if we are so financially problematic why buy every principle in the county an I Pad at the end of last year? In my house hold we do not skip maintenance on our home or miss a utility bill so we can buy a luxurious item like an I pad or flat screen t.v. Perhaps these very issues are why CCSD is "suffering" financially. The list of financial mistakes and obvious selfish agendas is long. Why are you ignoring those issues.

If you truly were concerned about this counties educational standing and issues, you would be trying to correct the problems not look for scape goats. This is not to say that there are not things being done well, but there are obvious problems. And it is time that we stop ignoring them and get some people in the BOE that will make those changes. "The greatest obstacle to those who hope to reform American education is complacency" - Diane Ravitch

I think perhaps she is against her children in the schools as they are now. I know most of us have said through out our parent years that "if I could afford private school I would enroll my kids in a heart beat". OR something to that effect. I felt that way because I believe that it is a better educational option. With change and people on the BOE that are not complacent or afraid to stand alone perhaps we can get to a point where the education our county and state provides would have parents say "even if I could afford private school I would not leave my kids public school". That would be a wonderful place to get to. I just do not believe we can get there with the people on the board now or the methods that are being used. We need drastic change. We need people who are concerned with providing the best possible education possible for all children. Regardless of whether or not you feel Kelly Marlow is the best person for the job there is one fact I believe full heartedly. She is a mother and truly wants her children to have the opportunity to receive the best possible education available. I believe in that aspect her intentions are pure. I also believe that being on the board is a difficult job but that somewhere along the line the priorities have been forgotten. Fresh ideas, new blood and innovative methods have to be constantly implemented. I think Kelly has that drive. I hope you would hear her out.

@Mikael...Get off your supposed "high-horse" about people not using their full names! Where have you ever gone after "Real Deal" for using an alias. Why do you demand others offer full-disclosure even going so far as to ask what school and grade Ashley's child attends? You're creepy!

Ashley and others pointed out that they've caught you posting under two names--how honest of you! Lastly, I searched switchboard.com and the Cherokee County tax website...There is no record of a Mikael Kient in Cherokee County. So who are you? Where do you children attend school? What's your address? We need FULL DISCLOSURE.

@Ashley...You have my full support and appreciate all the research that you do.

@Kara...At no point has any said you can't educate your children the way you want to educate them. You have always had the CHOICE to send them to public schools, private schools, church schools, online schools, or home schools. The only issue that I, and others like myself, have is sending public school dollars (whether state or local) to for-profit management companies with little to no oversight by duly elected officials of the local community.

I'm getting tired of people like you using pitifully wrong statistics in an attempt to bolster their case! Cherokee County schools aren't 48th in the nation. Cherokee County schools are better than almost every school district in the state AND among the TOP IN NATION! These ARE FACTS! Don't misrepresent them as they show your bias.

The facts also show that Charter schools aren't inherently better than traditional schools. You've already drank the Kool-Aid!

@Kara..."Most of us have said...if I could afford private school I would enroll my kids in a heart beat"? Maybe you and your friends have said that, but I have said exactly the opposite..."Even though I can afford private school I want my children to attend public school!" Why? Because CCSD has good schools, there aren't that many truly great private schools, and many parents/children of private schools are elitists.

A school's performance - whether public, charter, private, or church - is typically dependent upon the socio-economic demographics of the community within which it draws students. There are certainly exceptions to that rule but they are just that exceptions! CCSD is not perfect and no one has claimed it is. Charter Schools USA is not perfect - check their facts. Private schools aren't perfect - check the facts.

What I and others are saying is that we have a good system that we should support and work to make even better. We don't need out-of-state, for-profit management companies that form shell companies/organizations, fund politicians, and run advertising campaigns in order to improve our schools -- Cherokee County and GA. When we open the floodgates and invite for-profit schools in, big-business and politicians win! Parents lose control and children will lose.

@Mikael...There are "a great many" people who believe the "sky is falling", "the world is flat", "Obama is a Muslim", "Sadam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction", "the wealthy are over-taxed", and "all public schools are bad"...but they're wrong! It just shows where their intelligence ends and their bias begins.

Your opinion has been dully noted once again.

By the way, please respond to my full disclosure request since your so bent on others to disclose:

Mikael quote - "For those who post here without ID yourself fully, one has to be suspect that you do so with intent of propagating misinformation or malice. Many of the proponents and opponents, who post here anonymously, do so without credibility. Your opinions are noted, but to continue this diatribe without credibility is pointless." Take the lead!

I do not speak for anyone but myself, and what i say about anyone's anonymity is just that.. Credibility. I don’t believe for one moment that you would have to fear any reciprocity for your stance against choice in education from a proponent of choice. I do know that you need to fear reciprocity from PTA and NEA advocacy groups. Many teachers have been told they will lose their jobs if the amendment passes. Which is false, but none the less they believe it and fear it. So I can understand your need for anonymity to protect your husband s job from a vindictive system like CCSD. I can see that many teachers who support choice would choose the same anonymity.

I am embarrassed by the behavior of grown ups on this message board. When someone disagrees with another, they are maliciously attacked. If you don't agree with her stance on issues, don't vote for her. But this blatant attempt to discredit her character, when she has made 1% of the comments on education over the last 6 months is overdone.. We can agree to disagree on many issues. In fact, I don't agree 100% with anyone. I just try and find someone who gets as close as I can get.

I support the teachers, whole heartedly, but I don't particularly support the school boards who prove time and time again that they don't manage the money as efficiently as possible. Let's remove charter schools from this point for a minute. Since I was a child, teachers were fighting to get more money in the classrooms. Government bureaucracy has always inhibited the most efficient use of money and prevent maximum amount of money to make it to the classrooms. I do have a problem with the priorities set by the school board in some instances. IPads for principals being one of them. Principals should get IPADS only when we are assured that our students have the best textbooks, technology etc available to them. We should cut the budget at the administrative end before we remove teachers and para pros. Why in the world should an elementary school need two PR reps worth a 70,000 salary? I would rather spend that money on actual teachers, or provide an incentive bonus program for the teachers that out perform others. As far as the ranking of CCSD compared to the rest of the country. So we are in the middle instead of the bottom like our state records are. Why should average be good enough? Why stop looking for change and improvements unless we are consistently at the top of the heap? Ashley, as your husband is an educator, is he 100% content with the way things are run, his salary, the conditions in the classroom?

Also, you say that Charter Schools ruined Florida education system. That is not true at all. Florida as a whole moved there ranking from 46th in the country to the top 15..by making many innovative changes over the last 10 years, incorporating online institutions and charter schools were one way of getting there. By the way, they spend less money to educate students than we do. Why not look at other states and counties and see what they are doing right?

I think all of this fighting between CCSD and CCA is way to personal between the parents. We all just want what is best for every one's kids. I mean seriously, name a family CCA specificlly is hurting in Cherokee County........however it is helping a lot of families. We had a falling through the cracks student last year. He struggled to keep up and got lots of negative criticism which really brought his self esteem down. This year the attitude at CCA has been so uplifting and refreshing which in return has turned him into this overly positive child with loads of self esteem. And for the first time ever got Honor Roll. I am thankful for any amount of time we get at CCA, 2 years or more. Which ever way it goes we feel blessed our kids get these two years at CCA. It has been a great experience for my family. I am sorry it seems so many parents have hard feelings towards the majority of CCA families just because of hear say or one personally encounter. It seems ridiculious to judge all of us so harshly, all every one wants is what's best for our children.

Happy Easter

Frank Jones, I have am confused as to your hostility towards me. I at no point personally attacked, disrespected or was rude to anyone on this post. perhaps my feelings on the State of Ga's education is a direct result of receiving and education from another state in my childhood and experiencing what proper teaching is. And you are right, Ga is not 48th, it is now 46th.
Since it is obvious that a discussion on peoples views can not occur on this thread without personal attacks, slander and inappropriate behavior I will have to resign from further comment. I will leave with 2 things, “The arrogance of success is to think that what we did yesterday is good enough for tomorrow.” and also regardless of what your views are I wish everyone the best during this holiday season. Conversations and healthy debates are what makes this country wonderful, I hold no ill will towards any one.

@Advocate4Choice...You seem to have missed my point about names and full disclosure. Mikael has been dismissing anyone who doesn't disclose their first and last names and accusing them of "propagating misinformation or malice". In this thread he solicited Christine to divulge her last name --- for what purpose? In another post, Mikael inquired where Ashley's child attended school -- for what purpose? He started the personal information disclosure requests. If you read my posts, you would have seen that I was only attempting to point out that HE IS NOT HONEST ABOUT WHO HE IS. It's called hypocrisy.

This is absolutely ludicrous!!! I applaud you Christine for getting out of CCA before it absolutely destroyed your relationships in the community and with your old school!!! Kelly M. is the reason we are not planning to attend CCA next year along with the fact that CCA is just here to make money!!! And use every red cent that us parents make!!! CCA has a bad enough rap in the community without having someone like Kelly M. running for a school board position!!! Why in God's name would you take our school down even further????? CCA had a reputation to protect and now this????? I am so embarrassed for our school and for all of you little followers of Kelly!!!! Get a backbone, be a leader instead of a follower!!!!! CCA is in trouble and we all know it!!!! Thanks for ruining my child's chances of being treated fairly when they return to their old school next year!!!! Crazy!!!!!

@Kara...I have no hostility towards you and I fail to see hostility in my posts to you. However, if I offended you, please accept my apologies.

Over the next few months, there will be discussions -- some heated -- about the BOE elections, charter schools, the Cherokee deligation, and for-profit management companies. In order to have reasoned discussions, logic and true/applicable facts must be presented by all parties. One fact that that pro-charter crowd often presents is that GEORGIA is at the bottom. While true, that has no place in the discussion about CHEROKEE COUNTY! Cherokee County is nowhere close to the bottom in Georgia or in the US. Another fact is that charter schools (as a whole) don't peform better than traditional schools (as a whole).

Unfortunately, we're all wasting our time fighting each other instead of working together to improve our schools. CCSD is a good school system, not perfect but very good. No large organization is perfect, not even CSUSA. If we all worked together, we could have an unmatched school system. Remember the saying "United we stand, Divided we fall".

Everyone: I know Cherokee County residents are passionate about this issue. While your comments are welcome, civility is imperative. Let us not resort to personal attacks in this thread. This is a story about a potential Board of Education candidate. Let's move the discussion forward. What questions do you have for Kelly Marlow? What should be the priorities of the next BOE? Do you know of others who are considering a run for the Post 1 seat? What are the big education-related issues in Post 1?

There is a concerted effort in Georgia to revamp education in favor of private and for-profit charter schools. Several years ago, the state allowed Student Scholarship Organizations to collect $50 million annually from individuals and businesses to fund "scholarships" at private schools; there is no program oversight! The state has been giving tax cuts to businesses while cutting funding to schools. The state wants to amend the constitution to allow non-elected appointees to approve charters and take oversight/control from local BOEs. Our local Republican party and the Cherokee delegation were angered by 4 board members' refusal to approve CCA. To retaliate, they changed the way the BOE is elected and drew districts to put two of those board members into districts with incumbents -- forcing their exits. Next, Danny Dukes, a board member for the Georgia Charter Educational Foundation (a front company for Charter Schools USA) announces that he's considering a run for an open BOE seat; one must ask where is his allegiance and how much GCEF pays him. Next, Kelly Marlow who is outspoken in favor of charter schools and sends her children to CCA announces that she's running for a BOE seat.

Chip Rogers and friends are trying to pack our BOE with pro-charter/anti-CCSD members in order to allow more for-profit charter schools. All this effort for a system that is performing very well...high test scores & graduation rates. This smells of BAD POLITICS!

A system that drove thousands of parents out of it the first moment another Choice was presented to them.

Why is it so wrong for a person who favors Choice to run for the School Board??? I respect that you disagree but you seem to think that even HAVING an opinion that differs from yours is wrong.

Ashley, the local BOE voted choice down so the legislators have given choice a chance. The local BOE also has a problem with mismanagement of money. The BOE made it all about the money. We just want a chance for our children. I would have rather seen the money for the Ipads they bought be put towards no teacher furloughs for CCSD or pay the salary of a para pro, support the music dept, or computers for the students. Dr P, needs to take a pay cut if he really makes as much as he does. Our teachers are paid bunny poo and he makes that much. He should be ashamed. I would be when I had to tell teachers that they had to take furlough days, buy their own class supplies, increase the amount they have to pay for their insurance. That said, it is the only occupation that gets as many days off as they do, with pay. I would love to have all those days off. I would make less if I had to devide my salary into 12 months but I didn't work all of them.

Thank you Rodney. I appreciate your post and your attempt to calm people down. I believe in the option for citizens to run for office and for everyone to have a fair chance. Let us get this thread back in the motion in should be. Kelly Marlow, here is a question for you.....If elected what are your plans to help the financial state of this counties education? Do you see any change in the budget use? And if so what? Secondly, if elected what would be your first order of business as BOE member?

Just a couple of points about some of the comments above:

First, class sizes are not the BOE's fault. You can thank our friends under the Gold Dome and their yearly austerity cuts for that gift.

Second, teaching to the CRCT is also not the BOE's fault. You can thank our former President and his misguided NCLB for that. Believe me, teachers would much rather be able to be creative in the classroom and actually be able to teach rather than fear for their jobs over their students' performance on one test. Everyone wanted teacher accountability- and this is where we ended up.

Third, while I don't know this for a fact, I'm going to bet that the administrators' iPads were 1) bought with money earmarked (likely by the state) for technology, so it couldn't be used for any other purpose; 2) the iPads are going to be used to implement the new evaluation format from the RTTT grant. I believe I have read or heard about their use in this area. I may be mistaken, however.

So, here is a question for Ms. Marlow, and please be specific: how would you address the $26.6 million shortfall in next year's CCSD budget? Exactly what new ideas do you have to revitalize education in EVERY CCSD school?

Frankly, I admire someone who knowingly has issues with CCSD and runs for the board in hopes of improving the system! After all, the majority of kids from CCA will end up back in CCSD after 8th grade, right?

kim, she is a woman to admire,but we hope to keep adding grades. we want a high school as well.

I've been watching the comments here and I must say I don't know about Kelly Marlow running for school board. I sat in front of her during two separate meetings and she kept talking the whole time! She was rude, disrespectful and had negative comments to say about everyone who stood to speak or our school board members. I turned around to glare at her twice but she didn't get the hint. What I wanted to say was "Take a breath lady! You're not a white noise machine!" I didn't know who she was until I was complaining to friends after the second meeting that I couldn't hear a word being said due to the constant ramblings from the woman behind me. Then they said.. "Oooh, that was Kelly Marlow sittling behind you." I'm sorry, but I based on my two experiences with her, I don't think I'll listen to her platform. I've already heard all her negative remarks on everything and everybody! What a RUDE woman!

ha kat she got ur attention though didnt she. u will forever know her name.

I only brought up my encounters with Kelly Marlow after many on this board, including Rodney Thrash, were encouraging others to tone down the negativity directed at Kelly Marlow. But I think it is very relavent in this case because she has been so negative and rude to others. I too believe that her running for the school board is about a vendetta; she didn't have a single kind word to say about anyone speaking against the charter school. I really wonder how she honestly expects to be a serious candidate when she doesn't have the common decency to stop talking and just LISTEN to others. I don't know her but based on my two encounters with her, I don't even want to listen to her views. Anyone that behaves that way doesn't get my vote no matter what their positions are.

Ashley, why didn't you post everything. Why did you only copy and paste her comments and not the full context that it was said in. You are just slanting everything to what you want everyone to see. I could copy and paste off of everything you have said on here and display that to the world as well and slant you in a very very horrible way, but I am not going to do that because I have a consious and wouldn't do that unlike others, YOU. So say what you will we all know you are just an ignorant jealous woman who wishes that she were in the same league as Mrs Marlow. i assure you, you would never measure up to her and you know this. The person who spews out lies and unverifid myths about what happened with Mrs Marlow with the PTA or whatever should hold their tongue. The only way they can speak is if they were in every meeting with Mrs Marlow when anything was discussed and not just spewing negatives and half truths they receive from one horses mouth to another. Anything that is said about Mrs Marlow or anyone else needs to be proven and not just hearsay o/w you are just spreading malicious lies and 1/2 truths.

And yes @Maly. I do remember her name. But why on earth do you make that out as something to be proud of? I would be so embarrassed for the woman if she were my friend. But yes, I do remember her.

Ms. Marlow...I have questions for you regarding your run for School Board Member.

Your Campaign:
1. Will you accept campaign money only from local citizens of your district?
2. Will you reject any contributions from the Georgia Charter Education Foundation & its members, Charter Schools USA, and Charter Schools USA owners/employees?
3. Will you request that GCEF and CSUSA not run any advertising campaigns for your benefit?
4. Do you agree and Will you tell everyone in Cherokee County that while GA ranks 46th-48th in the nation, that our CCSD schools exceed the national average and are in the top 35% in the nation?
5. Do you agree and Will you tell everyone in Cherokee County that 97% of our students already pass the CRCT?

If Elected:
1. Will you pursue the firing/replacement of Dr. P?
2. Will you actively pursue and support the conversion of Cherokee Charter Academy to a county approved charter school to access local funds?
3. Will you support the development of other for-profit charter schools in Cherokee County?
4. Your children currently attend CCA. Will you re-enroll them into their assigned traditional school?
5. There has been obvious local and Gold Dome political involvement in BOE affairs.
a) Will you take orders from the Cherokee Delegation/local Republican party?
b) Will you keep an open mind and listen to all of your constituents?

(cont)

What Improvements/Ideas Will You Bring to the BOE?
1. What are the 5 most important education step/teaching method changes that the BOE can implement to improve education in Cherokee County? (Don't say "choice" or "charter" as those aren't educational steps/methods, they're delivery changes.)
2. What are the 5 largest cost saving strategies you can implement to make CCSD more efficient? How much will they save?
3. Which of the CCA educational programs will you actively advocate to be implemented in CCSD? How much will those programs cost and/or save?
4. What is your plan to eliminate teacher furloughs?

Your opinions & beliefs:
1. Do you believe that state-level control and meddling is appropriate for local education decisions?
2. Follow-up to #10...Why is Gold Dome meddling better than Washington medddling?
3. Which form of control do you believe should exist in public education - local control by a locally-elected BOE, state control by a politically appointed committee, or out-of-state control by for-profit managers?
4. Do you believe that private-, church-, charter- and home-schooled students should be allowed to participate in all public school functions including clubs and sports team eventhough they don't attend the traditional public school?
5. Do you believe that religion has a place in public education?
6. Do you believe that sex education should be taught in public education?

(cont)

7. Do you believe that the President's photo should be on display in all public schools and classrooms?
8. Do you believe that teachers are over-paid, under-paid, or paid just right?
9. Do you believe that school nurses are necessary?
10. Which impacts a childs educational development more - the BOE, the Principal, the Teacher, the School, the Parents, or their Socio-Economic position? Please rank by relative importance.
11. What is fair compensation for the following school positions: Superintendent, Principal, 20-year Teacher, 10-year Teacher, 5-year Teacher, starting Teacher?
12. What are the top 5 countries in terms of education? What are the differences in their education strategies? Which country's strategies should we implement in CCSD and why? Which of these countries use for-profit charter schools?

Thanks in advance for your prompt replies.

Excellent questions, Frank. I would add that these should also be addressed to and answered by Mr. Dukes, who is running for the BOE chairman's seat. The same conflicts exist, in my opinion, in his candidacy.

Frank, excellent questions that I doubt she'll answer in this forum. Have you considered posting them on her official campaign facebook page? http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-Marlow/235766366522001

Rodney, can you present them to her with a request to respond?

Frank, I do appreciate you asking questions regarding the issues of education. These are the comments and concerns that should be addressed in these comments. Asking candidates their views and solutions it what we need to be doing. Not just to Ms. Marlow but all representatives and candidates. THEN each person can vote for the candidate they feel will best serve their children and the county. While I am a supporter of school choice, I am also a believer in electing the person who I feel will try and make real change with real solutions. Personal attacks and feelings aside, that it what this election should be based on. I hate the bickering and slander. And when a candidate does that it personally pushes me in the opposite direction. I applaud Kelly and others for not being dragged into a grudge match.

Everyone: Thanks for your questions. I have forwarded them to Kelly Marlow. Hope to bring you a Q&A with Marlow when she has a chance to respond to some of the questions. Remember: Let's keep the discourse civil.

Canton-Sixes Patch readers: We just received this response from Kelly Marlow.

Mr. Thrash,

I very much appreciate your efforts and thank you for your offer. I plan to answer any and all relevant questions, as promised, in due time and as the election season draws closer. In the meantime, I would very much like to table my answers so that they can be offered at the same time to all Cherokee County School Board candidates. It seem only fair to offer all candidates, and even current school board members an equal chance to respond and comment on these and so many other important questions.

I will make this statement regarding my run, “My intention and my passion is for the children of this community. My record speaks for itself. I have volunteered tirelessly for all of the schools my children have attended. I also worked as a pre-k instructor and a substitute teacher. I support local children’s charities through my work with the BSSL and Turnaround Ministries. I coach travel youth basketball and work on a daily basis with children from across the county. For me, it’s very simple-the children come first.”

Sincerely,

Kelly Marlow

It seems as though she doesn't want to answer the questions or doesn't know how to answer them. I didn't think they were that difficult, especially for someone who is running for office.

I must admit, I am disappointed that Ms Marlow insisted that all school board candidates be asked the same questions. On the surface, that seems like a reasonable request but Ms. Marlow is not your typical candidate. She has spent the last 18 months burning every bridge between her and her charter school and the path of scorched earth left in her wake is long and wide. Surely Ms. Marlow realizes that she will be under much higher scrutiny and that the threshhold is much higher for her. If she expects that she will be treated the same as other candidates, I just don't think that's going to happen. She will have to defend her past actions and statements on the road to convince voters that she truly does have the best interest of ALL children in her heart and that this is not a personal vendetta. I know it's not fair but that's just politics. To use a pet phrase of Ms. Marlow.... She is going to have to convince all of us to drink HER kool-aid. Just my thoughts on her response....

I actually read every post here and after doing so I wanted to comment on the following: The last experience I had with the PTA was the Rally held by Cherokee PANTS at Hickory Flat Elementary, on school property, on a day school was not open. I was told by the District PTA President Debbie Rabjohn that the PTA (Hickory Flat President, Karen) presented a request to Dr. P at the Round table/luncheon (between the CCSD & PTA) to distribute a flyer announcing the Rally via the school principals. This flyer contained this link http://www.cherokeepants.org/ to Cherokee PANTS home page which states:
-When the State approved the opening of the Cherokee Charter Academy (CCA) in August, they provided over $10 million to the CCA and the rest of the state-funded charter schools, despite the Georgia Supreme Court ruling it unconstitutional, which resulted in an additional loss of approximately $3.1 million to our district.
-Our district had to absorb this additional shortage through larger class sizes, displaced teachers, and further reductions in elective classes for our children.
I was told if you run the numbers using the CCSD budget that the $3 million shortage equals .64 CENT of every $100 dollars the CCSD spent this year. Considering this .64 CENT to be accurate, even if it were $1 of every $100 spent, how in the world could the CCSD NOT find the money to cover this shortage alone? Yet, it is always CCA's fault? That is close-minded logic. (continued...)

As a tax payer in Cherokee County I was appalled that Dr. P would allow PTA to make copies (using whose paper and ink?) and ask paid CCSD employees to distribute the flyers to students to take home to their parents. Then again, Dr. P DID READ & APPROVE the flyer before it went to students so Dr. P was fully aware that this was another feather in his hat and a chance to "knock" CCA. Even if it was through the great PTA! I phoned the local PTA President Amy Yarber for her thoughts on this decision by PTA to take this step and she was furious that I would even question the PTA and their actions. Go figure. I have future plans for PTA on this subject. @Ashley: I can understand your concern in terms of your husband's job security. I also know that CCSD has constantly lied to and mislead its employees on how CCA caused this terrible funding shortage in the CCSD budget. It simply is not true and CCA is being used as the scape goat by Dr. P for mismanagement of funds that has been snowballing for years. My mother always had some great advice, "Don't believe everything you hear". Dr. P leads by fear and intimidation. Why did CCSD vote down CCA? Their reason was that CCSD did not need "special schools" yet, look what CCSD immediately initiated... "special schools". Plus if CCSD cannot make ends meet without furlough days, teacher cuts etc. then CCSD teachers should be at CCSD BOE meetings asking why the need for special schools which as Dr. P announced in the local paper (continued...)

, will require EXTRA transportation for students. How will this save money for CCSD? IT WILL NOT! My thoughts are that CCSD teachers will not ask why because they are afraid of losing their job and I can understand that. So go with the status quo and keep quiet, teachers would not want to "upset" Dr. P. CCSD may test well and have higher than average test results however, who wouldn't when lesson plan is strictly to teach them the test material? How can you worry about Kelly & Danny being non-biased BOE members but have no objections to the very biased (certain few) BOE members who are incumbents and are supposed to represent ALL students in the county? My daughter was short an English class to graduate with her Senior class. When we learned this we asked her Counselor Mr. Bennett who was at EHS at the time if there was anything he could offer her for a credit. He told my daughter that the deadline for grades had passed and he would not offer the online course (to be paid by me) to her in order to "walk" with her friends and fellow classmates. Hard pill to swallow but she understood. The following Monday she noticed a classmate who had also failed the same class sitting at Senior Breakfast and he asked why she did not attend. She told him she failed the class and Mr. Bennett told her there was nothing he could offer her. This classmate told my daughter Mr. Bennett offered him an online class to be taken over the weekend and grade submitted by Monday and he would (continued..)

Graduate. He did graduate along with MANY others that were offered this BYU online class by Mr. Bennett. However, because my daughter was not a straight A, wealthy, role model student of his, and even though she was the FIRST student who asked for help, she somehow was "overlooked". Mr. Bennett, Principal Dunovant and I had a conference call and Mr. Bennett lied while on the telephone and told Principal Dunovant that neither I nor my daughter ever asked for extra work for a credit so she could graduate. The entire English department at this school was outraged by this event, complaints started coming in and my understanding is that there was a county-wide meeting to discuss this and what the procedure would be in the future. My point is who was looking out for my child? No one except for me and it still had NO affect on the outcome for my daughter. Something with the current way our CCSD is being ran has to change. Fresh minds, fresh ideas, BOE members who are not afraid to stand up for our students and what they need. Someone who will not bow down to Dr. P just because he is Dr. P. I am thankful my daughter continued on and earned her credit and did graduate. (continued...)

Lastly, why would there be concern over (charter schools scattered over the state) money trust issues and monitoring by the State when in fact, CCSD was given the option and denied the Charter school? CCSD can't monitor something they don't want/have. It is a dead issue. @Christine Rea: I prefer a BOE member who has a seat with NO ties to the Board! @Parentof1: How is CCA in trouble? My child is in a district that is a Title I school with heavy ESOL who had not met AYP in a long while... he was not happy this year, for second grade was placed in a classroom with a teacher who was moved from third grade and she was very unhappy about this, it reflected in her classroom. I think it is far too early to make any voting decisions. There are many questions yet to be answered by all candidates, including incumbents. The very best thing all voters can do is research for yourself and chose who you think meets your student's best interests. Educate yourself and don't just listen to your neighbor's thoughts on who they think should win the election. Make an informed choice. One your child would be proud of. Finally, if you will compare coverage between the Patch websites, the tone of the coverage on CCA varies greatly and in my observation, the Canton Patch has been the most outspoken/critical of CCA. Anyone care to discuss why? Have a good evening.

@Stacey...38,000 students, 4,500 employees...sometime mistakes are made and someone isn't happy. Unfortunately it happens! I regret that you left unhappy. My wife and I have been unhappy at times with our schools, however, we have worked within the system to get the issues resolved to our satisfaction.

As a parent, you must be prepared to fight for your child...if the guidance counselor shoots you down, go to the principal. If no success, go to Dr. P or the board. In your situation, I would have!

As to your concern that the PTA used paper, toner and school personnel to distribute flyers, maybe so. However, I do believe that the PTA provide hundreds of thousands to the schools each year, more than offsetting any cost they would have incurred. The PTA is a joint partnership with the schools to improve education...and you have a problem with that? Would you have a problem with the CCA PTA using school personnel to distribute information?

If the flyer was a crowd-gathering non-biased rally tool I may not have had such an issue with it's approval for distribution again, it was another way of bashing any idea other than CCSD and what they have to offer. I did fight for my child and received NO HELP. Of the 38,000+ students their attitude was "it's only ONE senior out of how many?" My child was discriminated against. Period. That was many years ago. I did not leave unhappy. I think my childs former Principal is an excellent Principal. I can not help that his elementary shool in our district has become what it has over the last 12 years. I simply made a CHOICE that was offered to the parents of this county and I am thankful that I did. My problem with the PTA is not the joint partnership to improve education it is that they use their platform for biased information benefiting the school district while distributing misinformation about charter schools when not everyone (me) agrees with their actions. I would have an issue with CCA PTA (if there was one) distributing materials that are so close-minded. We are not robots and should not take orders and run with something just because the information comes from the CCDS. People do make mistakes. I just think it is in everyone's best interest to be an educated (no pun intended) voter.

@ Ashley- I did not receive the rest of your message. Michael Kient, can you please post the link to the Letter PTA sent out to parents? I will check in later, Thank you

Personally I know that I have said some negative things about the BOE and the public school system, as my experience with these institutions and people has not been a pleasant one. I will say that I am not against traditional public schools but the structure they are operating in at the moment. With the way education is at this time I would not want my child back in their CCSD school. Which is what I have taken Ms. Marlows comments to mean. If the school system operated differently I believe that would no longer be her intent. My son was misplaced at his school. He was suppose to be in ASP. The message was never relayed to him and he went home on the bus (we were not there). Luckily a friend saw him and took him and contacted me. I contacted the school as they had not called me. I was upset, the principle was "outraged that she had to be called out of a meeting to speak with me" and actually said that they had many children and if only a small percentage through out the year were misplaced temporarily the school was doing well. She did not offer an apology and was rude and sarcastic. This is completely unacceptable and the BOE never returned my call. As a result we looked into other schools. As far as I am concerned mistakes may happen, but refusing to take accountability and looking for a solution to make sure this does not happen again is unacceptable.

Ashley, all bickering aside. I will give you my story about CCSD and I believe that you would also be a very ticked off mother!
My child was born very early 28 and 6. She weighted 3lbs 1oz. Her lowest weight was 2lbs 11oz. She had breathing, eating, lung and immune issues. She was in the NICU for 9 1/2 long weeks and stopped breathing on numerous occasions while I watched! Not pleasant for any parent! She has fought long and hard to be where she is now.

She was diagnosed with sensory integration disorder at age 2. She goes to Occupatial thearpy, Mental health therapy and is now on medications. She has also been diagnosed with ADHD as well in the first grade. This is her back ground....
She started K and I gave the school a letter from her therapist on information about her and how to go about teaching her and things that can and can not be done with her due to her Medical conditions. I wasted the paper and my time when I did this..... I went to school on weekly basis.. how is my child doing? Oh... your child is fine and is progressing great. Mothers intuition told me something was off. I kept going and asking.... I was told by her teacher... I just do not see her as sensory.. well her tune changed after the christmas break.. wow, i see it now! Punishment system wide is move a clip you lose recess time. Therapist pointedly said in note.. this is the worst thing you can do for her. cont....

cont... when she gets in trouble do not have her sit out of recess. You can refuse her playing time but give her a bag and put a book or 2 in it and have her walk the fence. Oh.. we will do this.. guess what.. she ended up sitting. I spoke with them several times about this. We can 't change the punishment it is sytem wide, not even if you have a note from a medical provider. Note also said do not put her in the middle of a group, ie line etc... yep you guess it. She was always in the middle. Went to a music show at night to watch.. guess what! She was in the middle.. so she was in trouble all of the time.. She either seeking stimulation or was over stimulated and avoiding it.. ie touching, bouncing off other children. I was still told everything was alright with her she was progressing nicely... No, we do not start testing until later grades. So, then first grade comes around. The star test says she is reading at the beginning of K level, way behind, but everything was great and she was progressing great! I found out the Physch was in the school on a certain day of the week and was told that this was not true. Testing on students can be started in K all we have to do is ask! WTH! I will send an email to your childs teacher now and we can begin the process, thank you! 2 weeks later, haven't heard anything.I bombarded the teacher to get her moving. I get, we have started the process. cont...

I was then told your child is able to receive extra help through the school due to her delays. She started getting pulled out of class and getting extra help with her reading and she was staying after school as well for her extra help. When I asked for her records at the beginning of this school year.. Yep, they never tested her. There just happened to be an extra teacher in the class to give extra help. Shocker! Want to know who her table mate was for awhile until we finally got it changed, an extremely autistic child. Wow, lets put a distractor and loud noise maker and touchie feely person right next to the distracted person,who has issues with touch, and loud noise as well. Wonder who the bright person was for this one! Another kick in the butt as well. Found out at the end of first grade year that the school we were in had one of the ONLY sensory integration rooms in the school! WTH! Guess what as well, the note from the medical person her occupational therapist. Well it seems they threw it away and admitted to doing this. The point I am making is mine is not the only story like this with CCSD. Kids like my child are a burden to the system and the parents are made to feel like a burden as well. You have to fight for everything and apparently you have to be at the school on a daily basis and not a weekly basis as I was!

They do not want to offer up anything or any information. I wish I knew why you have to fight and fight and fight for everything. Needless to say I was very ticked off and do not want my child to feel this way again. My child was pulled from her seat and put behind the teachers desk for tests because she was seated next to this other child.. She was pointed out as differnt and humiliated due to this! When all that needed to be done was change table mates. We moved to CCA this year. My child now loves to go to school! She even made honor roll this time! The teachers and admin ask me! what can we do to help your child? What do you see from home that we can work on to help your child succeed in school! Here is what we see and here is what WE plan to do for your child. WOW! no fight! WOW, they listen and impliment! WOW, they care! WOW, my child LOVES school! WOW, she is now going to school with brown, tan, white and other cultures of children! She was scared of brown children and people before this year! She is reciting MLK and Jackie Robinson! Her teachers send home notes and you can tell they love my child and love to teach her and all of our children. You can feel and see the passion in the letters and sentences! WOW, my child is no longer ashamed to be a little different! Mrs Marlow, just wants this for all of our children and for their families. You are a mother, I believe you would feel the same in my shoes!

While with CCSD I had to take a lot of time off of work to be able to be there to watch them and make sure my child was alright. i am a single parent, I can afford to take time like that. Why do I have to be there every moment of every day to make sure they do their job. This year.. I haven't had to take ANY time off of work to be a shadow to oversee and make sure she is alright. They are doing what needs to be done! I do not have to fight for what she needs with the school at CCA. Whereas I had to fight for everything but apparently it wasn't enough! In CCSD if you do not find a parent in upper grade to help you through the system for your grade you are SOL. You have to figure it out on your own... WHY! All it took for me at CCA? I called the thearapist and she wrote me another note for my child and I gave it to her current teacher. WOW, that was easy! You know what.. the teacher still has the note and a copy has been placed in her file, where it should have been in the first place. You know what, she is never made to sit out at recess like that again. CCA is flexable and working with the therapist! My child is happy and healthy at CCA and loves School! Beautiful words to a mother who almost lost her child on a couple of occasions! I love my teacher, mom. I love my school, mom. I have friends, mom. They don't notice that I am different, mom. I don't want to miss school, mom!
Walk in our footsteps then critize why we want choice!

Thank You Kelly Marlow for your willingness to fight the fight that no one else is willing to fight for all of our children. She sees children like mine falling through the cracks and wants to help and wants to hopefully make am change in CCSD. I don't know maybe she has ideas that will help children and families like mine not have to fight for what we need anymore. I would like to give her a change to try, God knows she is my hero for helping to make the change for choice that saved my child from who knows what. She hated school, she might have been one of the 30% to dropout due to this with CCSD. Mrs Marlow, doesn't know my story or my childs story, she just knows there is a problem and wants ALL the children to receive a great education and not fall through the cracks. I hear there are a huge number of students etc...and some are just going to fall through the cracks and this is alright because there are so many. I can't believe I was seeing this. This is the problem, it is UNEXCEPTIBLE for ANY child to fall through the cracks! What if it was your child? Better yet, put it this way.. doctors see a lot of patients a day and thousands a year, so what if they kill one or two of them, that is considered exceptable losses due to them seeing as many people as they do. Not the same you say? Yes it is the same. My child falls through the cracks, now hates school, then drops out due to cracks, her future not good! all due to a crack that was alright! Not exceptable!

I am not intending to downplay the importance of these issues that some parents have had in CCSD schools. These types of things happen in all schools, not that makes it right, it's just a fact of life. Stupid things,misunderstandings, miscommunication- all of these things happen at every other place where human beings interact. However, the BOE - no matter who was on it- has no role in fixing these types of problems. In fact, our county was on SACS probation about 15 years ago precisely because BOE members were interfering in the daily operation of schools. This is not their role. There is a chain of command and you have to follow it. Yes, it's time consuming. Yes, it should be handled much sooner, much better, and by the folks closest to the problem. If I ran the universe, that's exactly what would happen. People would take responsibility for their actions- from kids to parents to teachers to the President and everyone in between. What is not fair is to assume that the entire system is out to get you or your child, that every teacher is lousy and doesn't care about the kids, that every administrator is lazy. Are there bad teachers? Yep. Are there bad principals? Yep. Does that mean the entire system and everyone in it is bad? NO! Think back to your own childhood- did you have some lousy teachers? I know I did. Did I have some great ones? Absolutely. Did the bad ones ruin my life? No. Did the great ones inspire me? YOU BET!

Stop painting everyone in the system with the same brush. It's not fair to those who bust their butts day in and day out only to be called lazy, mean, only in it for the summers off, and all the other things that are said about educators.

IMHO, I find the a significant portion of the previous discourse uncivil and inappropriate. Personal attacks, thinly-veiled threats and loaded questions only serve to distract from real and honest discussion of the issues facing the voters of Cherokee County.

We need to find effective ways to correct a system that has become incestuous and bloated, which only serves itself instead of the children and vast majority of the real people it claims to represent (teachers, bus drivers and school support staff). The current voting behavior of the majority of the BOE is just a reflection and constant reminder of that dysfunction. Additionally, we need to put control of the CCSD back in the hands of those elected to serve that function, not be a rubber stamp for someone with no accountability to the voters, who acts with total arrogance and impunity.

If Kelly Marlow is willing to step into the ring to help be part of that solution and take this personal abuse, God bless her!

@Chris...For a moment, please look at your comment, "we need to put control of the CCSD bank in the hands of those elected to serve that function". The BOE was already in control of those elected serve. The only problem is that they just happened to vote in a way opposite of your wishes and those of the Cherokee Delegation and local Republican party.

The Cherokee Delegation's solution was to revamp the election process and place two incumbents who are up for election in districts of other board members. The sole purpose of this is an attempt to stack the BOE with like-minded, subservient individuals who will vote at the discretion of the delegation, local republican party, and a vocal minority of pro-charter parents.

@Maly...I understand your frustration and am glad that your child has had a better year. I agree with Ashley and Holly J that there are good & bad teachers, good & bad principals and that you as a parent must be your child's advocate to ensure the school does everything its required by law to do. If you've not heard the terms Section 504 Plan, Individual Education Plan, and Individual Medical Plan, I suggest you Google them. Once these plans are in place, the school must follow them or else!

thank u frank for that information. Holly I will blame who. needs to be! the fact that 4 teachers let her an i down is shocking! we do not hv ths problem at cca. our teachers hv to prove they r good and their students show it! if they r bad teachers, bye bye teacher! we dont keep them.i cant stay at the school 24-7. i do not hv to at cca! my daughter needed. a change, why cant she go to ur school at avery? she cant so was stuck there until 7th grade

Hello Ashley, I apologize for the delay in responding. Yesterday was my daughters 8th birthday and so I was a busy mommy...LOL. Let me address your questions:
I did finally leave my child's CCSD school as a result of an after school issue. However that was merely the straw that broke the camels back. I have struggled with numerous problems at the school prior to that incident. It seemed as though no one took my voice seriously. The school already had an established PTA that the admin was comfortable with. Unfortunately as much as I tried to be involved and voice concerns over education, school financing, etc....the "clic" was not willing to take new ideas. This was very disheartening. I do not like to be told I am not needed in regards to my children's education. My children are both advanced in learning (which I am very thankful for). They rarely need help in subjects, however this had become an issue in CCSD. As a result of boredom my son was doodling in class and my daughter had conduct issues. She would talk and get out of her seat. When a child understands a lesson and is ready to move on and are held back it becomes a problem. They were not being challenged, they were not allowed to move forward and jump ahead. The entire class was forced into the same lesson plan until all students understood it. To me this was not allowing my child to reach their full potential therefore hindering their abilities. (continue)

I left numerous messages for teachers and was lucky if I received a return call. I asked for extra work and was told no. I want my children to go to school and receive a great education and be challenged to better their minds, not to be held back and to be bored. My voice and my children's voice should mean something to the teachers, admin and everyone involved in the educational process. Unfortunately at the CCSD school they attended it was not the case. It was only important to teach the students the minimum they needed to learn in order to do well on testing and get to the next grade. At the school they attended there was no "go the extra mile". I am not saying that all schools are that way, but that was my experience at their school and I had no choice in sending them any where else until Charter opened. For my children it was not a good fit at their district school as the education was at that time. I think these are things that need to be addressed. Schools should provide the education the individual child needs, all kids are different.
I want to thank you Ashley for your comments and for the opportunity for each of us to debate the issues civilly. I love this kind of conversation! :)

Kara, I completely understand your frustration at the lack of challenge for your kids. As a former teacher, I assure it goes both ways. There were many, many times I wanted to challenge those who were ready as well as help those who really needed it, but in a class of 28 to 30 kids, that is just not possible. It's great that CCA can keep class sizes small so that kids can have that attention. How nice it would be if ALL the schools could have that option. But traditional public schools cannot limit their enrollment. And with less money from the state and lowered property values, they can't afford enough teachers to keep the classes small.
Also, I am a big believer in ability grouping. One of the biggest fallacies that schools operate under is the idea that mixing abilities will help bring up the lower achieving kids. I have yet to see that happen. AIM programs are not enough to challenge high achieving kids. And when a teacher has to make sure that as many of the kids "get it" as possible so that "no child is left behind", then, yes, the bright kids are bored.

http://portal.cherokee.k12.ga.us/departments/financial/Executive%20Summary/Executive%20Summary%20-%20Tentative%20Budget%202011-12.pdf

For those of you brave enough to wade through charts and numbers, here is the CCSD budget for 2011-12. To save you a little time:

** of a $416+ million dollar budget, $214+ million -over 67%- is dedicated to instruction. That would be primarily teachers' salaries and likely some other classroom-related expenses. The county is required by law to spend at least 65%of the budget on instruction.

** The next largest percentage of the budget - 7.3% or $23 milllion- is maintenance.

** The "bloated" bureaucracy in the central office accounts for 1.1% - $3.5 million.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/10/2741430/florida-releases-report-on-charter.html
Hmmm

@Holly...Thanks for the link to the budget. I laugh when I hear CCSD "bloated budget" and CSUSA efficiency!

If you add up all of the services for CCSD - central support, general admin, business services and other support - the total is $9.0 million for 38,000 students. If you look at the CCA proposed budget and the management fee to CSUSA for 850 students, it was $710,000 or $835 per student. CSUSA has 29,000 students and at $835, that's $24 million dollars...$15 million more than CCSD spends and CCSD has MORE students!

Frank, your analysis is right on the national trend- charter schools everywhere spend more on administrative costs than on instruction.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/10/charter-schools-spend-mor_n_1415995.html
Cherokee Charter has HALF the county average of free/reduced lunch students (16% versus 31%). If the CCA test scores exceed the county average, will CCA supporters say it's because their families are more affluent (which is what many of them say about the county school district's top scores) or will they claim it's the school that made the difference? Can't have it both ways!

NO you may say that and frank may say that but I dont believe for a minute that your financial situation is going to dictate a child ability to learn or not.
Another anonymous supporter of status quo.. rant away please. Credibility vs anonymity .. your choice.

@FRANK
So you are a believer in to each according to his needs, from each according to their ability? Seem s like your whole argument is that everyone should be in the same miserable boat, getting the same miserable education as everyone else. As long as it is staus quo your happy. Everyone should be educated the exactly the same way. Damn the results?

@Mikael...you don't seem to grasp my argument and are attributing your bias to my positions. A child's financial situation if no indicator of his/her intelligence or ability to learn. A child's financial position and his/her parent's educational background does impact his/her learning. If the parents don't grasp the subject matter, they can't help the child learn. If the parents can't afford life experiences, it affects the child's knowledge. Lastly, in many cases, a family's financial position is indicative of their educational background.

I completely disagree with financial status being a factor in a child's ability to learn. I was raised in a financially struggling house hold. It had no bearing on my ability to grasp the subject matter in school. What did? Teachers who were willing to go the extra mile to help me grasp the material. Parents who were willing to get me the help I needed if they themselves did not grasp the material. They fought for me in school and my right to learn the material. As a result of their voice, my dedication and the willingness of my teachers I did very well. God forbid if my parents lost the right to their voice. That is what I am here for, the right to my voice and the use of it to better my children's education. Period.

There are volumes of academic research on the effect of poverty on a child's ability to learn/succeed in school. A child will struggle to grasp subject matter if they are hungry, slept in a car the night before because they are homeless, or had no heat in the middle of winter.

From American Psychological Association -- http://www.apa.org/pi/families/poverty.aspx#

Poverty and academic achievement
"Poverty has a particularly adverse effect on the academic outcomes of children, especially during early childhood.
Chronic stress associated with living in poverty has been shown to adversely affect children’s concentration and memory which may impact their ability to learn.
The National Center for Education Statistics reports that in 2008, the dropout rate of students living in low-income families was about four and one-half times greater than the rate of children from higher-income families (8.7 percent versus 2.0 percent).
Inadequate education contributes to the cycle of poverty by making it more difficult for low-income children to lift themselves and future generations out of poverty."

BTW I am NOT related to Kara Martin : )

I have a question:
For all the CCA parents/supporters who often talk about having their child's best interest at heart, how one size doesn't fit all kids in school, why is it when a parent steps forward from CCA and says it didn't fit her child or wasn't all she wanted, she is a turn coat, a hypocrite, a fair weathered friend, a flip flopper etc.
over the months of this debate I have seen plenty of CCA parents bad mouth CCSD, teachers, Dr. P, etc they are within their right, but when someone who has personal experience with CCA does the same they are a "turn coat" or a "flip flopper"?
I can't speak for Christine, but obviously she tried out CCA (a never before known school) and found it wasn't what she was lead to believe it was and opted out. How can you flip flop if you never have had the opportunity to try something?
Why is it a parent who leaves CCA and is honest about why is a turn coat, hypocrite or has a vendetta but a parent who leaves CCSD for CCA is a good parent who wants different for the child?
If not all molds fit every child is it so horrible CCA if you have a parent who tried to school share with those of us who haven't been there, her personal opinion? Is it only ok if it is a positive outlook on CCA? Why can't a parent have a bad opinion of CCA and it just be your CCA mold didn't fit her child?
Why are you attacking a mom who made a choice for her kid in such a way?

Concerned Mom, I agree with your statement. I have never personally attacked anyone regarding the decisions they make for their child. For me I have said in posts addressing both parties that the personal attacks, nastiness and accusations need to stop and we need to debate the Issue. My stance on educational choice includes Christine. I am grateful she had the opportunity to try CCA and decide that the public school was the better option for her child(ren). That is TRUE CHOICE> being able to decide which school option serves your needs best. The sad thing is that the public school was not serving her child's needs so she looked into CCA. To her beliefs CCA also was not a good fit for her child. Imagine if she had a third option, perhaps her child would be in a school that was able to provide all she needed. Unfortunately this will not occur if the Charter Amendment does not pass. She will not even have the option, this is what I fight for. All schools are different. Not all public and certainly CCA will not fit certain kids, but perhaps if there was other Charters, school vouchers available more, etc.....Imagine the possibility of EVERY child finding the school that can best teach that child. This state and country would flourish and our next generation would be confident, educated and prepared.

@Kara, I appreciate that you have asked for leniency from your fellow CCA parents regarding personal attacks and accusations, and I applaud you for realizing that on-topic debate is what’s important. I must make a correction to your statement regarding my public school. Fortunately for me, my public school was serving me and my children’s needs perfectly. The reason we considered CCA was because of options like a foreign language in all grade levels, a personalized learning plan, and longer school days for more instruction. I felt that exploring those additional opportunities that CCA was going offer was the least I could do for my children.