I don't understand this and never will!!! My son has been given the choice to go to Charter and he loves it!The only thing making my school year suck is the BOE of Cherokee! What gives??? You try to stop us everyway we turn! If my child wasn't happy I would have him back at our home school! I hope the Board knows how much mental stress they are causeing for the kids and parents on this issue! My Special Ed child needs this school and all they do is try to take it away!! The thing about Charter supporters is that we are not just for our school ,we stand for all kids and teachers. I really hope the people of GA . know what we are about and can see through all the none facts!!

what is wrong with our BOE?? I know who I'm voting for come re-election time. There is NOTHING wrong with giving kids educational choices. We are ALL paying the tax dollars here, we ALL should have a say in where we choose to send our kids based on what each school can offer. I really don't understand how this is such a hard concept. Open up your minds to change people. It's coming like it or not.

"however, no deduction shall be made to any state funding which a local school system is otherwise authorized to receive pursuant to general law"
This clearly states that NO MONEY WILL LEAVE THE LOCAL SCHOOLS. Please explain how passing HB 1162 will make the public schools loose money?????

Please read the bill. Section 3 states: provided, however, no deductions shall be made to any state funding which a local school system is otherwise authorized to receive pursuant to general law as a direct result or consequence of the enrollment in a state charter school of a specific student or students who reside within the geographic boundaries of the local school system.
So as you can see state monies will not be touched either, as a matter of fact they will received the money without having to educate those children.

Thanks, Addie, for spelling it out.

Typical...people have to lie, ignore, or misrepresent the facts of a bill because they are biased against change and progress. There are many here who seem dead-set on their "my way or the highway" mentality when it comes to public schools. Let's hope their vitriol goes the same way as Read's and Chapman's candidacies - GONE.

Let's break things down, Ashley. You said:

"Hi Melissa, public schools depend on about 40-50% of their total funding from the state. While local funds don't appear to be an option with HB 1162, STATE FUNDS WILL BE AFFECTED." (caps/emphasis added)

I assume you read the same article above as the rest of us that addressed your very argument:

"While critics of the charter school amendment have said that the measure, if approved, would force local school districts to fund charter schools, language in H.R. 1162 prohibits that.

The state is authorized to expend state funds for the support and maintenance of special schools in such amount and manner as may be provided by law; provided, however, no deduction shall be made to any state funding which a local school system is otherwise authorized to receive pursuant to general law as a direct result or consequence of the enrollment in a state charter school of a specific student or students who reside within the geographic boundaries of the local school system."

Part 2...because I'm a Tolstoy wanna-be...

So, are you ignorant due to not reading the bill because of your bias, or being deliberately obtuse due to your bias, or purposefully lying/misrepresenting facts because of your bias? Which is it? Because the wording of the law states pretty clearly that no state funds allocated for public schools will be cut to send to charter schools. Now, you can argue that more austerity cuts could come down the pipeline and affect the public schools budgets, but that is a completely separate issue from this one and has no bearing regarding the discussion here.

We get it. Your family is personally affected by this issue, and you're vehemently against the change in the BOE elections and posts that are more in line with one man/one vote. And you seem to be the most vocal commenter on anything schools here on this site...and always in the center of the so-called "arguments." That, however, does not give you free reign to be intellectually dishonest and not expect to get called on it. It's not personal....it's simply bringing the truth to bear.

@Ashley. You argue that funding charter schools with state money still hurts local school districts even though the resolution says that money allocated for local school districts will not be touched. Using your logic, everything else the state does takes away funding from local school districts. So, why aren't you advocating no spending for health care, penal systems, law enforcement--as all that takes away money local school districts could have received. Already over half the state budget goes to education. Opposition to a provision to allow parental choice for public charter schools seems much more in reaction to loss of power than anything else.

Name has been changed. I don't ever read terms of use...but I do correct myself when I find I'm being ignorant and in the wrong!

Oh, and the Reply button isn't working; might want to have the webmaster look into it.

It says this was done by the request of the constituents...don't believe this for a minute! Teachers, administrators, school board members.....

A constitutional admendment to allow the state to approve charter schools at the "request of local communities"? If the local community, comprised of the local school board elected by the majority of local citizens and accountable to all local citizens says "NO" to a charter school, who exactly is "requesting" the charter school? Answer...a minority of citizens.

"We all should have a say in where we...send our kids". You have always had that choice. You're now simply looking for a new, unproven choice at taxpayer's expense.

"No money will leave the local schools". Money has already left the local schools due to inadequate funding as required by law. The state is already short of cash and if they fund charters, the money has to come from somewhere. The state will simply redefine have much local schools are "authorized to receive". In addition, the salaries and management fees paid to CSUSA will leave the state FOREVER. Not so with CCSD.

Charter schools are "progress". How many studies does it take to show that charters perform on par with traditional education?

"We all pay taxes" and should be able to say where the education dollars are spent. You do pay taxes, but where else are you demanding the opportunity to direct where specific tax dollars are spent?

People...we have taxes and need taxes to provide services and benefits for the common good. If you CHOOSE not to use the services and benefits, that's your choice and your right.

I think that stating local funds will be used for charter schools and that state funds will be taken away from county schools is a misrepresentation. Specifically since the bill addresses these very issues. I also think that allowing the parent to choose the school that best fits their child is the best form of local control. And as Ashley pointed out the schools have had budget cuts before CCA was open. Nothing financially has been lost as a result of this school. As I see it the school is making money on a child that is no longer there. So there is less children in the county school and they are still receiving the local taxes. I also find it a gross misrepresentation to say that there is a "lack" of support for the public education system by those advocating school choice. I advocate school choice and I largely support public education. As CCA is a public school. I think that all children learn differently and that parents should have the choice of sending them to the public school they deem the best for the child. I know my child better then anyone. For anyone to attempt to tell me that I have to settle on the school that someone else feels is "good enough" for my child is a slap in my face. My Child = My Choice

Here is a question that has been nagging me. If all the children who are home-schooled, privet schooled, charter schooled, out placed for medical/emotional/behavioral reasons, all came back to the public school, how would the public schools be able to handle the influx and properly educate all those children? Currently they are educating the current population with funds allocated for the aforementioned students yet are not physically educating them. With the current budget and funds, we still have over crowding in the classrooms, teachers receiving less than what they deserve in pay, minimal to no paras/TA's, and the district is still crying, "We don't have enough money to educate these children." So if we take away choice, the public school has to then educate all these children. How are they going to successfully educate every child when they are now struggling and getting monies for children that do not attend the district schools?

Even when it is spelled out in black and white those who oppose "choice" will continue to find something wrong with it even if it has no effect on them at all.

The anti charter people have been talking for a year now about how CCA will have an effect financially on the other public schools. Now we have it in writing from the legistlature that State Charters will not take State or local funds away from the public schools and they are still not happy. What is the issue now?

Read and Chapman signed their pink slips with their behavior over the last year. When Mike Chapman told citizens of Cherokee County if they did not like it they could move his policital career took a huge hit that he has not been able to recover from.

We as a county, as a state need to move into the 21st century.

A constitutional admendment to allow the state to approve charter schools at the "request of local communities"? If the local community, comprised of the local school board elected by the majority of local citizens and accountable to all local citizens says "NO" to a charter school, who exactly is "requesting" the charter school? Answer...a minority of citizens.

"We all should have a say in where we...send our kids". You have always had that choice. You're now simply looking for a new, unproven choice at taxpayer's expense.

"No money will leave the local schools". Money has already left the local schools due to inadequate funding as required by law. The state is already short of cash and if they fund charters, the money has to come from somewhere. The state will simply redefine have much local schools are "authorized to receive". In addition, the salaries and management fees paid to CSUSA will leave the state FOREVER. Not so with CCSD.

Charter schools are "progress". How many studies does it take to show that charters perform on par with traditional education?

"We all pay taxes" and should be able to say where the education dollars are spent. You do pay taxes, but where else are you demanding the opportunity to direct where specific tax dollars are spent?

People...we have taxes and need taxes to provide services and benefits for the common good. If you CHOOSE not to use the services and benefits, that's your choice and your right.

Resolution: Reject Desperate Chairman and Vice Chairwoman. This is the sign of a desperate handful of people, grasping at desperate straws. Better fill up your gas guzzlers and head downtown to convince the millions of voters with children in APS to vote against 1162. This issue is bigger than just Cherokee County!

@ Ashley…really? “Why does it always turn into a dramatic personal attack on these threads?” IMHO - I think you are one of the worst offenders. Typically I wouldn’t waste my time engaging you, but let’s take a quick look at how you responded to my one word comment on an article back on February 29th. You don’t know me or what I do for a living…but it took you all of 10 minutes to personally attack me. You’ve got a pretty face, but damn you sure represent yourself as a quintessential Mean Girl.

hope
11:25 am on Wednesday, February 29, 2012
awesome!

Ashley
11:36 am on Wednesday, February 29, 2012
You have no idea what you're talking about. I can assure you that SACS has a much better handle on education than you or anyone else looking for revenge on the current board for voting down CCA…………………….

Charter supporters are very caring people. We dislike all the drama! Our FOCUS is the children. I still don't understand why people are upset? CCSB keeps our money for our kids and don't teach them. To me it's a win win deal for everyone. CCA kids have there school ,CCSB keeps our kids money. From what I understand the schools still need money with out CCA kids being there? So how would it help to bring CCA kids back when there is still need for money for kids that are at Cherokee Schools? I just don't see the agrument here.

If the fight is about money,which it seems it is! Parents need to band together like CCA has and try to get what is needed. I have learned alot being at CCA and this is what it takes to try to make a change. Other schools could learn alot from CCA. We have helped put into motion some law changes that needed choice! Cherokee parents need to do the same to get what is needed for there kids and stop the blaming CCA for it. Cherokee has had this problem for years not because CCA opened . I feel like we are just a target for the blame,which we are not at fault.

A little off topic, but what's up with not allowing posts to this thread from being published? Unbiased?

I'm sure someone is going to correct me, but I don't believe the county gets funds for children who are not "physically" present in a school. The FTE count is based on enrolled students in the school, not the number of children who live in the county. So homeschool and private school children are not counted in that number. I'm not sure about children who are placed in alternative environments due to special needs. Those students, I believe, have extra state (and possibly federal) funds due to those needs which I would guess go towards that specialized setting. And again, if they are not enrolled in a county funded school, they aren't counted for funding.

Now everyone can pile on about how I don't understand the funding and shouldn't be posting here and am only concerned with the "status quo" and keeping the school board in power, etc...

1) Since when has CCSD provided a "first-class" education? By law they are not even required to do so. 2) Why does the resolution even mention QBE that is not fully funded, furloughs, overcrowding, etc when these issues have nothing to do with the charter school issue? CCSD must fear charter schools will do better which will in turn make them look bad, and then force them to do better. Where will they get the money to do better? After all, they are already $551M in debt because of their bonds & SPLOST.

One place you won't find me is Fakebook. The pretty face comment was just a figure of speech. Stalking? Priceless.

WOW! I am a public school teacher all for choice. But, CCA is not offering anything different that CCSD already offers. With CCSD offering new STEM Academies, I think why Charter? CCSD has always been 1 step ahead of the state in standards and technology. As for funding. The state owes each school system in GA $. The state has decided to withhold the money and use it elsewhere. If the state would pay the counties the money that was due, Funding really wouldn't be an issue. But, unfortunately, each county gets paid money per student in the schools. If your child goes to a charter school, the public school DOES NOT get that money. It goes with your child to the charter school. This is where I think some of the confusion lies.

*now with .....typo sorry

Yes, it is understood that the state money follows the child and this does translate into a loss of funds for the public school. If a child leaves a class in CCSD the teacher must still be paid, the heat/air still has to run, etc. The transfer of a few kids from each grade level in schools across the county to CCA does not result in any kind of cost savings to CCSD. The only way this would be cost neutral for the county is if enough children from one school transferred, thereby allowing CCSD to let teachers go, or shutter the school entirely.

This person seem to have many of their facts straight, if only others would concede their are wrong and stop the propaganda.
http://chronicle.augusta.com/opinion/editorials/2012-04-21/saving-our-children