Sadly, the same system Frank worships completely failed 4 Cherokee County schools last year. The Charter Academy had passing scores in its first year of operations with ZERO funding from the CCSD and no busing transportation. With not one dime of Cherokee County property taxpayer $$$, the charter academy was able to do what 4 public schools in CCDS weren't able to do the year before: Pass the CRCT.

This same system of mediocrity that Frank, Read, Cromer, and Beach worship turns its back on 27% of high school kids who fail to earn their diploma. They embrace mediocrity at the expense of a real education for our children. They'll say anything to keep the taxpayer spigots turned wide-open. Read Frank's own words above: "It ain't broke.". Tell that to those 27 failed seniors, Frank.

Fact is...the same system Frank espouses has GA ranked in the bottom of the nation. Over half of GA graduates must take remedial classes in college. Frank would have you believe - miraculously - that none of these kids could possibly come from Cherokee County, home of the 73% graduation rate. It'd be laughable, except that real children are failing and being left behind by Frank and his ilk.

Instead,Frank and his cronies look at those 27 HS dropouts & the half-Billion-$$ budget and say "More! More! More!". And they completely abhor anyone who dares to disagree or who points out the statistical, real failings of this broken system.

Frank, if you do a head-to-head comparison of each score between CCSD and CCA for grades 3-7 (since CCA didn't have 8th grade students last year) there were some categories in which CCSD scored higher, and some categories in which CCA scored higher. When you tally up the number of "winning" scores for each, they tie.

Richard...As I'm sure you're aware, you cannot simply average the CCSD scores for a grade level and use that as a comparison against the CCA scores. Mathematically, you can't average an average and get meaningful numbers.

In addition, statistically it is flawed to compare all of CCSD to CCA as their student populations and demographics are different. Instead, it is probably more prudent to compare the results of the surrounding schools and their respective populations as most of the students attending CCA are probably from the Sixes Road/Holly Springs areas.

That said, there are probably areas where CCA did outperform CCSD as a whole and in respect to CCSD representative populations. However, the most meaningful and most definitive information, would be a comparison of CCA student scores compared to their prior year CCSD scores. In essense, for all CCA students that were CCSD students in 2010-2011, a comparison of their prior year vs current year scores:

2011 vs 2012
CCSD 3rd vs CCA 4th
CCSD 4th vs CCA 5th
CCSD 5th vs CCA 6th
CCSD 5th vs CCA 7th

It would be great if CCA would/could provide this information.

Richard, CCSD did not fail to meet or exceed the state average in ANY category, unlike CCA failed to do in 5th and 7th grade math. To have their charter renewed by the State, CCA had to meet or exceed the CCSD average in every subject, and in every grade level. They did not. These were their own goals. Also, the district average compares a student body of 31% free/reduced lunch, with much higher numbers of special needs and English as a second language kids, agaisnt a charter school with 16% free or rediuced lunch qualifiers, lower numbers of special needs and a total of ONE student who was limited In English. CCA had great reading and science scores, but the math scores (a determining factor for promotion in 5th grade) are a problem.

Frank, you raise a good point. If we really want to compare apples to applies, we would need to see statistics on the percentage of students (in both CCSD and CCA) who made learning gains as evidenced by the change in their scale scores, not just what percentage of students passed or not. For example, a student might have failed the math test by 20 points last year, and failed again this year... but only by one point this time. That demonstrates a learning gain even if they haven't caught up to the point where they are considered "on grade level." So far, that type of data hasn't been released by the state (if it will be at all).

"For profit" is a bad argument.

In public schools, the only people NOT making a profit are the dedicated PTA parents. Every other person involved...from teachers down to the companies that supply books, computers, buses, lunch food, gasoline, power, etc...every other single entity is being paid and thus making a profit. Where'd you buy your kids' school supplies? That company just made a profit off education.

If the public schools are as awesome as Frank claims, they wouldn't crumble from financial pressure, since parents would still send their kids (and voucher $$$) there. The absolutely only reason Vouchers would kill public schools is if the public school did a poor job of educating the kids...or cheated on test scores like APS. Why SHOULDN'T parents have a choice to send their kid elsewhere in that scenario? Why is competition viewed so negatively here? Besides the fear of losing to said competition?

Bottom line is public school fans hate competition and love unending tax increases to fund what is clearly a failing system. Bring on the competition!

R&L, You may have missed the follow up audit on the Fulton Science Academy that completely exonerated FSA of financial mismanagement. And defaulting on the construction loans was a RESULT of the charter denial, not a cause. The full audit is here: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BxZxLMtJNvVTbWp5N0t4c01tSTQ

@Roswell Parent...The link you provided was to a report by the GlassRatner group that took issue with the IAG report. Two things should be pointed out: 1) GlassRatner is NOT a CPA firm and was hired by and for the benefit of Fulton Science Academy with the sole intent to discredit the IAG report. 2) IAG is a CPA firm that specializes in forensic matters.

I mention that GlassRatner is not a CPA firm and IAG is a CPA firm because that is a huge difference between the two firms. As a CPA firm, the firm is required to be independent and to present the facts and circumstances as they find them. CPA firms are required to remain independent, objective and obtain sufficient information upon which to create their reports. CPA firms are held to a high standard of independence and if they fail to maintain those standards, the firm (and its partners) can be sued by all parties who were users of their reports. Further, as a CPA firm, the firm and its partners can lose their right to practice by either the state board or AICPA.

What about GlassRatner? They're not a CPA firm and as such, they aren't accountable to anyone except their client...Fulton Science Academy.

Is their a difference? Heck Yes!

Can you provide anything statistical to back up your "in the nation" claim, Frank?

Fact: Only a moron views a 73% graduation rate as a "Top score". When I was in school, a 73 was a C-.

'All the money is dedicated to betterment of children'?? Including the $$ spent on chauffering Dr. P? Isn't buying him a large, expensive SUV enough? How does that better a kid's education?

I doubt a fatcat gov't official like Dr. P could ever hack a private sector job & being accountable to shareholders. No company in America operates as you described though. Yet another of your numerous, bogus straw-man arguments.

Fact: 2009-10, beginning of Recession: CCSD budget: 316,000,000.
Fact: 2012-13, Recession ongoing..everyone else cutting back: CCSD budget: 516,000,000.
Fact: Frank says "It's not enough! Bend over some more, taxpayer!!!"

I don't want For-Profit to take over - I want them to compete with public schooling. I want parents of kids in failing schools to have other options. I wish I would've had such an option back when my son was in elem. school.

Why are you so afraid, Frank? Why are you so deathly frightened of a little competition?

Steely...Per the Cherokee Tribune's article (http://cherokeetribune.com/bookmark/18193005) the overall 4 year graduation rate was 74.85% and that number was dragged down by the Polaris evening school program in which it takes longer for students to graduate. If you look at the numbers, Creekview was 87%, Etowah 83%, Sequoyah 80%, Woodstock 81% and Cherokee 72%. Your 73% is in error and the results of 4 of the 5 schools are B's. In addition, in comparison to the state (67%), we're doing much much better.

Afraid of Competition? Hardly! I'm not a school official, I'm not a teacher and I don't provide goods or services to schools. I'm simply a concerned parent who want all of the allocated money to be used for the children and I hate to see Government-Private partnerships where the government gets taken for a ride.

For instance, as I've reported earlier, Charter Schools USA management fees are extremely excessive such that if CCSD's were as high, you'd have Dr. P's head on a pole (review CSUSA IRS 990 forms).

So go ahead and get CSUSA in our system, and we'll all be bending over.

Frank, again I ask can you provide any thing to back up your claim that CCSD is one of the 'tops in the nation'?

thanks for caring about the education of your kids, Frank. We disagree ideologically on almost everything and mine's almost out of the CCSD system but I feel the same way about his education as you do yours. Frankly (no pun intended!), we'd be in better shape if there were more parents like us who cared. I see too many parents who are satisfied with mediocre grades and test taking and who just want the schools to raise their kids for them. I am for the charter schools because I wish I would've had these options for my boy years back and I sympathize with the thousands of parents in my shoes right now with youngsters in elem. schools.

Steely,

I you recall, a month ago US News and World Reports looked and ranked 22,000 high schools from across our country. Based upon their analysis, they ranked Sequoyah High School at #1,372 which is in the top 6% in the country. Further Newsweek ranked Sequoyah as the 993rd best high school in the country.

So basically, two respected organizations that aren't affiliated with Georgia have ranked two of our five high schools in the top 10% in the nation. Not to shabby,

Here's the proof:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/05/20/our-report-card-on-the-1-000-that-make-the-grade.html

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/georgia/districts/cherokee-county/woodstock-high-school-5775

Page 4 from your link:
General Fund (Operating Account)
Total Expense by Function
FY 2009-10 Budget
$314,995,740

Your linked page 7 shows a beg. balance of $113M and an ending balance of $143M. Clearly, that was MORE than enough $$$. So if they've cut $100M since then, it should still be more than enough. We're in a recession - they need to make it work rather than hitting up the broke taxpayer for more,more,more.

Steely Dan...you're wrong again on your numbers.

The budgeted expenditures for 2009-2010 can be found on page 14 of the report under the column "Total All Funds". The 2009-2010 total expenditures was proposed to be $471,638,170. The 2012-2013 proposed "Total All Funds" expenditures is $422,906,878, a reduction of $48.7 million.

You reported the 2009-2010 budgeted expenditures from the General Fund which was $314,995,740. The 2012-2013 figures for that fund is $290,445,750, a reduction of $24.5 million.

See the following:

2009-2010 (page 14)
http://portal.cherokee.k12.ga.us/departments/pr/OGP/BUDGET%20AND%20FINANCIAL%20DOCUMENTS/Executive%20Summary%20-%20Tentative%20Budget%202009-10.pdf

2012-2013 (page 12):
http://portal.cherokee.k12.ga.us/departments/pr/OGP/BUDGET%20AND%20FINANCIAL%20DOCUMENTS/Executive%20Summary%20-%20Tentative%20Budget%202012-13.pdf

Frank, I'm not wrong again - the #s I quoted are absolutely on page 4. I didn't see the need to include Building Fund $$, since that's SPLOST funded, not property-tax/federal/state funds. the charter schools test scores just proved that trans $$ aren't needed either (they didn't get a dime of CCSD money in 2011-12) but I suppose you need that too.

thanks though - you're right - CCSD is actually spending more than I thought...and STILL cant find enough $$$ to keep teachers from being furloughed.

what an insult to our hard-working teachers. They get furloughed while Dr P gets his own personal chauffer.
Can anyone tell me why us taxpayers need to be financing a chauffer for our superintendent? From the looks of his pic on the Patch, the man could benefit from an occasional walk! While making him drive himself wouldn't solve all problems, it'd at least show that our super. is serious about keeping teachers in the classroom.

not holding my breath though.

Steely...Even when presented with the facts and links to the source documents, you still cannot admit that you are wrong. You are wrong!

But maybe, you're the product of the Georgia schools that you love to hate. Maybe you were in the bottom 20% of the worst 20% of the Georgia schools and don't understand that 2009-2010's $315 million is more than 2012-2013's $290 million. You see, my numbers were comparing Apples-to-Apples (in this case - Operating Fund to Operating Fund) which is fundamental to any analysis. But maybe you didn't learn that in school.

CCSD is, and has been, spending less than in previous years. To do this, they've had to furlough teachers and increase class sizes and eliminate teaching positions. Schools aren't like typical for-profit enterprises. In business, when the economy tanks, demand decreases and personnel counts/costs decrease. In public education, when the economy tanks, demand can actually increase as private school and home school children may re-enter public education. So there is higher demand, but less funds and that is exactly what we've experienced.

The insult to teachers is that while the Assembly has been reducing education dollars, they've been allowing unregulated SSOs to send $150 million to private schools, increased vouchers for private schools, reduced business taxes and not supported the teachers.

Please cite which measure places Georgia in the bottom 20%? Using SAT scores for that is a flawed analysis (says the SAT company).. If you use AP test achievement, georgia is 13th. Even ALEC ranks Georgia 27th for education, and we know they don't care much for public schools! While school districts do use private for profit vendors, those vendors dont hire and fire teachers, they dont draft the budget, and they dont decide what programs to add. A school board should handle those functions. Also, public school contracts are put out for bid. The charter school management contract was never put out for competitive bid, it was handed to Charter Schools USA, no questions asked. And no one elects anyone on the charter school board if you dont like it. so yes, the same standards would be nice. Transparency and accountability for EVERYONE.

On the college model comparison, Colleges and universities do not deal with a mandated attendance population- people CHOOSE to continue their education, usually the best and brightest of us at that. HOPE is not a voucher- it does not usurp tax money. If you don't want to fund HOPE, don't buy a lottery ticket.

Read this propaganda carefully, Joe. CCA is comparing its RETAKE scores against the school district's first-attempt scores. Otherwise, they only exceed the CCSD average half the time, and not in 5th grade reading or math.

SD- there are retakes in the CRCT. Lyn Carden sent a press release to media outlets yesterday, which Rodney included in the letters section here, that talks about CCA scores that are significantly higher than the original scores posted by the State. These are their scores AFTER students who initially failed the math or reading sections of the test have been given a "do-over" (a chart that accompanies the press release acknowledges these were retake scores). So yes, it is propaganda to mislead the media and public by comparing different sets of scores and pretending they are something they are not. There is not a single untruth in what I posted, check the DOE spreadsheets yourself (and Patch has posted them), or call Ms. Carden.