I am a parent of two children who attend school in South DeKalb County. I have always paid my PTA dues, blindly believing that it was part of being an engaged parent.
Last year I had the difficult choice of deciding where to send my daughter for middle school. I liked the local middle school magnet program, but was hesitant to send her there because of school-wide discipline issues. I worried even more because at 11 years old, my daughter (who is a gymnast) is very physically fit, but also fully developed and subject to inappropriate comments from older boys. Our home middle school and high school have even more discipline problems. The high school has the lowest graduation rate in the county.
To add to my worries, I also had a 5 year-old son ready to start kindergarten. How could I keep him from entering a system destined to fail him as well? After a summer filled with worry, I saw a story on television about two new charter schools: for Girls and Ivy Preparatory Academy for Boys. I did some additional research and was so impressed by the school that I enrolled both my children and immediately paid my PTA membership fees as well.
The first year of PTA at Ivy Prep began well, but in January of 2012, I began to question the mission of the PTA. A friend up in North Fulton received an email message from his PTA, urging him to vote against HR 1162, a resolution that would allow the state to authorize charter schools denied by local school boards. He was furious and complained to his school PTA. Our PTA President received the same email from Georgia PTA and wrote to them: “HR1162 is actually supported by some of your members. I am the president of the PTSA at Ivy Prep Academy and we are rallying for this resolution to pass. We are members of Georgia PTA and have paid dues. Please stop sending messages to “oppose” a bill that would actually assist your members.” Of course, we did not receive a response.
As the year went on, we began to see more and more “official statements” from Georgia PTA. Many Ivy Prep parents began pushing to change our PTA to a PTO. At this point, we have three “sister schools.” One has a PTO and two have PTAs. When our school opened the year with a PTA, I refused to join. Since then, our PTA group has asked the Georgia PTA to rescind our membership, but they have refused.
Public school education reform is a key issue in America. It doesn’t matter whether we are Democrats or Republicans. We want our children to have the best education possible. When our children are attending an area school that is not serving their needs, we want other viable options. That’s right, we want choice! This year, the Georgia General Assembly worked tirelessly to pass HR 1162 and HB 797. HR 1162 gives the state the authority to approve (not run!) qualified charter schools that are denied by local school boards. HB 797 controls the funding that will go to these schools and mandates that no local funds will be diverted to these schools. Both measures passed with bi-partisan support.
In a recent change of policy, National PTA not only reaffirmed that that charter schools offer meaningful choices for parents and families, they also , not just local school districts. Yet Georgia PTA refused to adopt their position. They act like recalcitrant children, refusing to follow their parent organization’s guidelines. , as reported by Patch writer Rodney Thrash.
The “facts” the Georgia PTA presents are not just misleading, but false. If Georgia PTA refuses to align itself with National PTA, then the . The National PTA web site states that it is the largest volunteer child advocacy association in the nation and it provides parents and families with a powerful voice to speak on behalf of every child. To me that means "Every Child, One Voice," not "Every Child, One Choice."
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9. "The management company gets paid a fee...can be fired...is employed much like the superintendent and the central office staff". It is hirely unlikely that the management company will be fired in CCA's case since the board was hand-picked by the management company. Further, it is unlikely that Charter Schools USA will be fired as it controls the real estate. It is also false to compare a management company to the Superintendent and central office since the management company not only pays its people but also keeps a sizable portion of the fee as PROFITS. The superintendent and central office receive compensation only. There is no separate profit motive.
11. Funding - you argue that local state and local funding should follow the student and that if local funding does not follow the student to charters, that the traditional schools benefit. That is certainly one way to local at the situation, but there is another valid way of analyzing the situation. It can be argued that the school system knows that a certain percentage of students will be home schooled, attend private, church or charter schools and then reduces the school tax rate. As such, everyone in the county receives a tax break for each student not attending a traditional school. 12. On funding, it is likewise a valid argument to claim that since the state is now funding charters supplemental amounts (to supplement for local money & capital expenditures), that the state will either cut its share of funding per student or implement a tax increase in order to have enough funds to cover the additional costs. There's only one pool of money.
Obviously, I support public schools and believe that public schools should be administrered by a locally-elected and accountable school board. I support charters and altenative schools as long as they are set-up, managed, or approved by the local school board which retains ultimate oversight. I do not support the commercialization of public schools and the underhanded political moves by the state legislature. I wish that you and the other Pro-Profit parents would work within the existing system to help improve schools for all students, instead of insisting on a separate system that will incur greater costs (short- and long-term) than the current system. It's a shame that so much effort is being spent dividing us as opposed to uniting us.
And he posts under his name, which signals that he stands behind his comments. Konop has sparked debate in Cherokee County over questions on the funding of a charter school there and who gets stuck with the bill. Konop raised these issues with the Cherokee County School Board at a recent meeting. Here is a followup letter he sent board member Michael Geist: Dear Mr. Geist, According to a recent newspaper article, it seems you are still very confused about why you’re getting so much negative feedback about the lack of fiscal controls in the charter school amendment that you support. I will once again clarify the issues by explaining how the Cherokee Charter Academy (CCA) was funded and how the current charter school amendment fails protect tax payers. • CCA’s owner/operators (a private company) were given over $1million of taxpayer money as start-up capital........ Read More http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2012/09/10/does-charter-school-funding-leave-taxpayers-holding-the-bag/
I was at the BOE meeting where Mr. Konop attacked Mr. Geist by name from the public microphone. Board policy states that the public is to address the board as a whole and not address the individual members when given the mic. Mr. Geist endured Mr. Konop's pointed words with dignity. The real shame is that the BOE Chairman chose to let Mr. Konop continue and only spoke up to clarify that most of the board was in agreement with Mr. Konop instead of preserving the decorum necessary for public comment. I think Mr. Chapman owes Mr. Geist an apology.
This is the sort of Local Board that Frank & Mrs. Hooper wishes we'd all just "work within the existing system" to enact change. A Board that ""isn't a board anymore. It's actually nine political leaders who have their own alliances and allegiances." "They pursue their own interests, in spite of what the system needs. It's their interests that are in charge of what happens,", according to the SACS President Mark Elgart. These are the exact sorts of people running most county BOEs and are poster-child reasons why charters are needed and why the current model of Local Board Cronyism that Frank Jones supports must be overhauled. But since that won't be happening anytime soon (too many Billions $$$ at stake!!), 1162 must pass to provide alternatives to the complete, total joke that is the GA public educational system. http://www.11alive.com/rss/article/257206/3/SACS-to-investigate-DeKalb-County-Schools
Based upon the link you provided, SACS has received "allegations of school board mismanagement". At this time, it's just allegations. Until SACS visits the school system, completes their review, and reports their findings, you should not convict and execute the board. If SACS does find problems, I have no issue with the state implementing changes as reasonably necessary. One of the things that amazes me with your posts is your belief that all public school board members and all school administrators are in it for "the money" and for "their own interests"...as if the for-profit charter school management companies aren't in it for the money or for their own interests. Gee Whiz! Let's use a little logic for a moment. Whose more likely to be interested in the welfair of the children? A) A for-profit company trying to maximize profits while residing outside of state (i.e. not vested in the local community) or B) Citizens residing in the local community who have not ulterior profit motive? Ding, Ding, Ding...We have a winner "B"!
You left out C) A parent with a choice.
Indeed, let's use a "little logic". Who's more interested in the "welfair" (<-- nice public ed. spelling there!) of children, Frank? Those who LOSE THEIR JOBS if they don't educate the children? Or the local superintendents & admins who simply stick their greedy hands out for More Funding & 'step raises' when they repeatedly fail to educate 1 of 3 GA HS kids or their schools fail to meet CRCT standards? There is no accountability whatsoever in GA public education. Locally, Petruzielo cares not about educating kids and why should he - he gets his fatcat gov't salary of $300K & monthly vehicle stipend REGARDLESS. Conversely, those in private & charter schools LOSE THEIR JOBS if their schools perform at the level many GA schools do. Logically, it's damn obvious who's more concerned: The people with the most to lose if they fail. It's called "accountability", Frank. You liberal worshipers of Government have no idea of the definition of the word. Nor do you give a crap about educating children - only More Funding. Or is this me just "twisting your words" again?
@Steely Dan Totally the truth...When one of our charter teachers isn't up to par, they are gone that week or month...not allowed to continue to fail children year after year!
I'm sure some public schools do an adequate job of providing an education. Heck, a stopped clock is right twice a day. But I've learned over the years that some of us simply have higher standards of education than others. For us, 'adequate' isn't enough. For example, some fans of GA public schools think that a 66% statewide graduation rate is worthy of praise and is adequate. Others like me see major room for improvement. For unknown reasons, we're scorned by many GA public school supporters for desiring excellence, rather than mediocrity. For $7 taxpayer Billion annually, we should all demand better. I'm glad that your daughter's school met your standards. My school district hasn't come close to meeting mine.
I know that "More money! More taxes" is the mantra of the liberal but at some point, adults need to admit that an idea is a failure and come up with something new. That time is now. Passing 1162 is a step in the right direction. Continuing to throw money at the same supers & admins already failing our children and expecting different results without accountability is complete, total insanity.
What choice have they 'always had'? Or am I just 'twisting your words' again? And your example left out: D) Local superintendents with signed contracts and 6-figure salaries that are not affected by a lack of student performance. Even in your example, the logical answer is 'A', as no for-profit company lasts long if it loses its "customers" (here, those are the children they'd be failing to educate, which would result in their 'business' (private/charter school) being closed. For-profit companies don't have the luxury of begging for more tax dollars....unless it's Government Motors begging your hero president Obama for more of my money!)
Also...there are tens of millions of Americans who haven't had a JOB, much less a raise, in 4 years either. Times are tough - we are all dealing with tightened budgets and the resulting fallout of the Recession. I'd think that publicly-funded charters would have to accept special-needs children, else face lawsuits. Where are these lawsuits, if your allegation is correct? I agree with you 100% on overpaid superintendents and athletic coaches. I'd much rather people like you on the front lines of education get my tax $$$ than some superintendent using it to fill up his gas-guzzling SUV via monthly car allowance. The people actually Teaching & funding for their classrooms should be First priority. Those Administering or Supervising should be paid last, if at all. Instead, it's the other way around, which is why we have furloughs. What I don't understand is why so many of the teachers I speak to support this system, rather than one that funds their needs 100% first. Do teachers really need Admins and Supers in order to do their job?
No teacher's performance is improved by increasing the pay of a superintendent or admin. No student's ability to learn is improved by increasing the pay of a superintendent or admin. As usual, your ideology is a total failure when the cold shower of reality is turned on to it. But since it involves "Spend! Spend! Spend!", it's predictably the only idea you can come up with. You've clearly got no idea what it takes to succeed in the private sector if you believe that More Management is the Key to Success. Every honest private sector worker in this thread is laughing at you. But 'More Management' is the same as 'More Government' to you. Some of us don't need the managerial babysitting you clearly require for success, Frank. I'm betting no teacher does.
Last I checked, GA teachers don't have a voice because they 'bypass unions' too. That's a credit to GA teachers. Keep unions out of GA!! PS: Inner city public schools are some of the most racially-isolated schools on planet Earth. Visit LA or NYC and see for yourself.
Chapman’s Choice – if you don’t like it you can move Hobson’s Choice – the choice of taking either that which is offered or nothing; the absence of a real alternative. Sophie’s Choice - a choice between two persons or things that will result in the death or destruction of the person or thing not chosen. Frank Jones' Choice - a chilling combination of Hobson’s and Sophie’s choices where the student/teacher/parent/taxpayer should just accept their fate and mediocrity is ok.
I've got a penny stock that only pays 4 out of 10 times. Few investors would go for that when odds favor more current, effective, and promising investment methods. A good charter school removes the shackles from a good teacher, a good traditional school has a good teacher fighting everyday against a system inflexible to all children's needs.
I am tired of those very well to do people saying "my school is good, so you don't need one".