Board of Education Cuts Meeting Time

Talk is no longer cheap- The state Board of Education is condensing its monthly meeting from two days to one day.

The 13 board members are paid a $105 per diem rate plus any hotel expenses. A Georgia Department of Education spokesman says the cut will save up to $2,500 a month.

The Department of Education is expected to lose millions in state funding this year. They are one of many state departments and agencies hurt by the $2.6 billion budget loss.

(AP)

State schools chief draws ire for TV appearance

Georgia schools Superintendent Kathy Cox is drawing fire for her upcoming appearance on Friday's season premiere of Fox's "Are you Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" One state lawmaker upset over the state’s low test scores and planned budget cuts for schools, will run ads during the show which criticizes Cox’s appearance. Democratic state representative Rob Teilhet (Smyrna) says his ads – which will run in the Atlanta market -- will call for smaller class sizes and beefed up pre-K programs.

Gifted middle schoolers get more credit

Gifted eighth-graders taking high school math can now count their work toward graduation. The state Board of Education has approved the waivers. The waivers benefit high-achieving students in 21 school systems.