Memorandum
To: Representative Rahn Mayo
CC: DeKalb County Board of Education, DeKalb Delegation, Get the Cell Out Atlanta, and all appropriate parties
From: Viola Davis with Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter
Date: 9/22/2012
Re: Georgia Charter Commission (HR1162): Local Representation Neutered & Tax Equality Denied
Georgia Charter Commission (HR1162): Local Representation Neutered & Tax Equality Denied
Georgia Charter Commission: Where’s the $430 Million to Finance the State Agency?
Georgia Superintendent Dr. John Barge ( R )
On August 14, 2012, State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge (R ) released a statement about the constitutional amendment (HR1162) on charter schools due to be voted on November 6th and he stated the following:
“I fully support the continued creation of high quality charter schools for Georgia’s students, but after careful consideration of what is best for all of Georgia’s students, I have decided to take a position in opposition to the constitutional amendment that will be on the November 6 ballot.
Until all of our public school students are in school for a full 180-day school year, until essential services like student transportation and student support can return to effective levels, and until teachers regain jobs with full pay for a full school year, we should not redirect one more dollar away from Georgia’s local school districts – much less an additional $430 million in state funds, which is what it would cost to add seven new state charter schools per year over the next five years (the annual average of the Charter Commission that would be revived if the amendment passes).
I cannot support the creation of a new and costly state bureaucracy that takes away local control of schools and unnecessarily duplicates the good work already being done by local districts, the Georgia Department of Education, and the state Board of Education. What’s more, this constitutional amendment would direct taxpayer dollars into the pockets of out-of-state, for-profit charter school companies whose schools perform no better than traditional public schools and locally approved charter schools (and worse, in some cases).”
If the Republican State Superintendent John Barge has decided to take a position in opposition to the Constitutional amendment (HR1162), why are our elected officials claiming that no money will be redirected from our local school systems. There are a large number of school systems demanding additional state funding for their local school system (such as DeKalb County); yet, the state has not provided additional funding. The state of Georgia has extra money to finance an additional commission to oversee the charter schools? Where is the money and who will pay the bill?
The voters will decide whether the state or the local school boards will have the ultimate authority to approve charter schools on November 6th. The serious question boiled down to local control vs. state control. Why? The Georgia Charter Commission members will be appointed by Governor Nathan Deal (R ). If the referendum passes, the Georgia Charter Commission will make the final decision on charter schools instead of the local school boards or State Board of Education.
Why should DeKalb County parents and taxpayers care?
DeKalb County has a long history of being a donor county. Over $100 million dollars were removed from our school district since 2006 under the Quality Basic Education (QBE) formula (better known as local 5-mill share) and redistributed to school districts throughout the state. Despite serious budget shortfalls, teachers with pay cuts and furlough days, as well as school teachers and personnel working without a pay raise for over five years, the state wants the taxpayers and voters to believe they can locate over $430 million dollars to fully fund the Georgia Charter Commission without causing any harm to the funding sources of local school systems. Once again, where’s the money to fund the $430 million dollar price tag for the Georgia Charter Commission?
Year Local 5-Mill Share (QBE) State Revenue Received
2011 129.0 323.3
2010 117.4 352.7
2009 120.1 357.0
2008 112.4 387.9
2007 107.4 383.8
2006 101.9 326.6
What are our elected officials saying about HR1162?
State Representative Rahn Mayo held an informative discussion at the Community Achievement Center on August 21st on the issue of charter schools. Several questions were asked concerning the funding of the Georgia Charter Commission (HR1162). However, no answer was given to explain where the $430 million dollars would come from to finance the re-established agency (if referendum passes Nov. 6). We must also remember that if $430 million dollars is located, how will we address the funding shortage local school districts are presently having with the QBE formula?
There was not one DeKalb County Board of Education member on the panel; however, there were two members to attend the meeting – Jay Cunningham and Donna Elder. Representative Mayo had a member from the Henry County Board of Education on the panel and a long supporter of charter schools, Representative Alisha Morgan. Representative Morgan reassured everyone that no money from local school systems will be used to finance the Georgia Charter Commission. Once again we asked, “Where will the $430 million come from?”
We also asked about the $100+ million already removed from DeKalb County School System. Would the money for the charter schools come from funding under the QBE formula or another funding source? We have yet to receive an answer. However, we have included a link to Rep. Mayo statement on charter schools in support of HR 1162: http://youtu.be/-2yOVltgU6c and Rep. Morgan statement: http://youtu.be/JMfe9DBLFXw
Rep Rahn Mayo
Rep. Rahn Mayo answer to the Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter Memo:
Ms. Davis,
Thank you for your continued focus on government spending and issues of equity. The money for State funded charter schools will come from the general fund. State authorized public charter schools will be offered to the same student populations as traditional schools, many of which have failed our children for decades regardless of funding levels. Many public charter schools have waiting lists which would suggest there is more demand than supply of quality public school options. It is my belief that most parents are more concerned with the quality, culture and results of their child’s school, rather than which level of government authorized the school. Again, the money to fund state authorized charter schools will come from the state budget, general fund. I agree that funding is important and cuts have hindered our school systems, and I will continue to fight for QBE equity on behalf of DeKalb County. However, when we have schools with $3000 per pupil spending outperforming schools with $10,000 per pupil spending, my conclusion is that a lack of money is not the only reason we are failing to meet the educational needs of our children.
Sincerely,
Rahn Mayo
How did the DeKalb County Delegation vote on HR 1162?
Rep Pat Gardner voted no – pat.gardner@house.ga.gov
Rep Simone Bell voted no – simone.bell@house.ga.gov
Rep Keisha Waites did not vote – Keisha.waites@house.ga.gov
Rep Tom Taylor voted yes – tom.taylor@house.ga.gov,
Rep Mike Jacobs voted yes – mike.jacobs@house.ga.gov,
Rep Elena Parent voted yes – elena@elenaparent.com,
Rep Scott Holcomb voted yes – scott@repscottholcomb.com,
Rep Mary Margaret Oliver voted yes – marymargaret.oliver@house.ga.gov,
Rep Stacey Abrams voted no – stacey.abrams@house.ga.gov,
Rep Stephanie Benfield voted no – stephanie.benfield@house.ga.gov,
Rep Karla Drenner voted yes – karla.drenner@house.ga.gov,
Rep Michele Henson voted no – michele.henson@house.ga.gov,
Rep Billy Mitchell voted yes – billy.mitchell@house.ga.gov,
Rep Earnest Williams voted no – earnest.williams@house.ga.gov,
Rep Howard Mosby voted no – howard.mosby@house.ga.gov,
Rep Rahn Mayo voted yes – Rahn.mayo@house.ga.gov,
Rep Pam Stephenson voted no – pam.stephenson@house.ga.gov,
Rep Dee Dawkins-Haigler- did not vote – dee.dawkins-haigler@house.ga.gov,
Rep Dar’shun Kendrick voted no – dkendrick@kendrickforgeorgia.com,
Rep Curt Thompson voted yes – curt.thompson@senate.ga.gov,
Senator Emanuel Jones voted no – emanuel.jones@senate.ga.gov,
Senator Fran Millar voted yes – fran.millar@senate.ga.gov,
Senator Steve Henson voted no – steve.henson@senate.ga.gov,
Senator Jason Carter voted no – jason.carter@senate.ga.gov,
Senator Ronald Ramsey voted no – ronald.ramsey@senate.ga.gov,
Senator Gloria Butler voted no – gloria.butler@senate.ga.gov