State to help Clayton County schools

State lawmakers are responding to the chance a Georgia school system could lose its accreditation for the first time in state history. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has give Clayton County until September 1st to improve its school system. Students in Clayton County schools would lose pre-kindergarten funds, HOPE scholarships, college hopes.

Today Governor Sonny Perdue announced several initiatives to help Clayton County Public Schools maintain its schools’ accreditation. Two liaisons from the state Board of Education will serve as advisors to the county. Governor Perdue has also called for state agency assistance in the three separate audits recommended by SACS so that the system can maintain accreditation. Governor Perdue has also asked for legislation to be drafted that will automatically trigger a referendum to remove a school board if the system it governs loses accreditation.


The head of the Clayton County School board, Erica Davis issued the following statement.

"I appreciate the Governor’s offer to assist our school system in its efforts to maintain its accreditation. I know that our students, parents, school system staff and members of our community have made requests for his intervention and I, for one, am grateful for it. With the experience and expertise of Mr. Bryant and Mr. Bostic as liaisons, along with the state agency assistance to conduct audits of our system so that corrective measures can be taken, I am assured that we will be able to do what must be done to protect the educational futures of our children. I also wholeheartedly support the Governor’s legislation for a referendum to remove a school board if its’ accreditation is lost. While our SACS report indicates that not all of our board members failed to comply with school board policy and SACS standards, the reality is that with any board, the actions of some affect the public trust of the entire board. No governmental entity can
effectively and successfully operate without the support of its citizens. Once public trust is comprised and children become the casualty, the best and only answer is to start anew. "
Ericka Davis, Chairwoman
Clayton County Board of Education

Clayton County schools face second accreditation challenge

Charges of misconduct have triggered an ethics probe of the Clayton County School Bboard, by a school accreditation group. The investigation includes allegations of misspent money, intimidation of teachers, and unethical behavior.

School board vice chair Rod Johnson filed the complaint with the non-profit Southern Association of Colleges and Schools ("SACS"). He alleges at least three of members of the board overstepped their authority.

"We can suggest things anytime we feel like we want to suggest things, but to take actual steps and actions, which they have done, they went to meetings and called meetings, they went beyond their duties and descriptions, in terms of a board member."

This is the second time the Clayton County School Board has been investigated. In 2003, the school board was penalized for interfering with day-to-day operations of district schools.

Nearly 52 thousand students attend public school in Clayton County. Without a stamp of approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, those students aren't eligible for HOPE scholarships.

The school district has until December 12th to turn over meeting minutes, bid proposals and other documents to SACS to determine the truth of Johnson's allegations.

A spokesperson for the schools denied our request for an interview. However, a statement on the group's website says it will cooperate fully with the investigation.

Secretary of State opens Clayton County school board probe

Georgia’s Secretary of State’s Office is opening an investigation of the embattled Clayton County School Board. Some members are under fire for possible violations of Board policy, which is threatening the school system’s accreditation.

Secretary of State Karen Handel says investigators want to see if the county’s school board complied with local election laws, and specifically whether Board members reside in their districts as required by law.

The request for investigation was made by Governor Sonny Perdue. Handel says to have her office launch an investigation of this type certainly is rare.

"It certainly is unique under my time. I certainly have and share the concerns for the parents and the students in Clayton County. This is clearly an extraordinarily difficult and disturbing situation, and we want to be partners in helping to be supportive in getting this to some good conclusion".

Handel’s Inspector General is handling the probe. She expects a report on the matter within 30 days.

Tighter security at Clayton County schools' offices

Tougher security measures have been put in place for entrance into the Clayton County Schools’ administrative buildings. Starting today, visitors must walk through a metal detector going into the building, then be searched with a hand-held device. This change in security policy comes in the wake of school board members who have been subject to verbal assault from parents, students and teachers in the midst of the county’s accreditation problems. A recent recommendation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools says the school system’s accreditation be revoked in September. Reasons given include infighting among school board members and violation of board policies and procedures. A Clayton County schools spokesperson says the extra security at its administrative complex is not a response to the controversy, but an ongoing effort to improve security.

Clayton school board faces residents' ire

Georgia's only school system at risk for losing accreditation faced outrage from local residents last night. About 2,500 angry Clayton County residents demanded its 9 member school board step down.

Just south of Atlanta inside the county's performing arts center, the school board sat before a booing crowd of Clayton residents.

Allegation of unethical behavior and other issues could force an accrediting agency to strip the county of its good standing. That's why Clayton resident Sharon Owens wants action now. "Now I say to the families of Clayton County,” said Owens, “I want 25,000 people marching at the office. Get to their office immediately and march on their office until they leave."

The board last night kicked out one member for breaking a state law. It says school board members must live in the county they represent. Another board member agreed to resign.

The state is investigating Clayton while helping the county make nine major changes. The deadline for keeping accreditation is September 1st.

Clayton Cty Hires Adviser to Protect Bond Rating

Clayton County, trying to prevent a downgrade in its bond rating that would cost taxpayers millions of dollars, has hired a financial adviser. The county’s financial advisor will negotiate with Moody's Investor Services in an attempt to convince the rating company that the county's finances are strong. Moody's threatened to downgrade Clayton County's credit rating amid concerns about the county's record keeping, fund balance and spending.

(Associated Press)

Chair of Clayton school board to resign

The chairwoman of the embattled Clayton County school board announced last night she is stepping-down from her post. The resignation is effective a week from tomorrow. The announcement from a tearful Ericka Davis came as Clayton County Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell called for all members of the school board to resign. This follows news that a Clayton County grand jury is looking into whether the school board committed crimes that put the school district’s accreditation at risk. In February, a report from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools said the board is "fatally flawed" and had issues including unethical conduct and bad curriculum.

County chair calls for new school board

As Clayton County schools face losing accreditation, the Chairman of the County Commission is calling on all county school board members to resign. Eldrin Bell made the call at a meeting last night, just moments after school board Chair Ericka Davis announced she would step down. A scathing Southern Association of Colleges and Schools report released in February called the board "fatally flawed" and "dysfunctional." It outlined issues including unethical and disruptive behavior by board members, low morale among staff members and a shoddy curriculum. A Clayton County grand jury is investigating whether the school board committed any crimes that put the district's accreditation at risk.

Embattled school board member resigns

A Clayton County school board member facing removal from his post resigned today. The Reverend Rod Johnson says he resigned because the school board did not provide him an attorney and because he did not want to testify against former school board chairman Eddie White, who stepped down in April. Clayton County school board members have been under scrutiny after a report cited board dysfunction as a reason for the school district's failure and potential accreditation loss. Clayton County stands to become the first school system in Georgia to lose accreditation.

There's a new sheriff in town in Clayton County

The new sheriff of Clayton County has kept his campaign promise to clean up the department on his first day in office by firing 14 deputies. Sheriff Kem Kimbrough said the previous sheriff hired "outcasts, thugs and rejects." Kimbrough has also instituted a new code of conduct. The fired deputies responded saying they were targeted because of their connection to outgoing Sheriff Victor Hill. On Hill’s first day in office, 34 deputies were fired and snipers posted on the courthouse roof as the officers were escorted out of the building. Clayton County spent more than $7 million dollars to settle lawsuits arising from the action.

(Associated Press)

School voucher bill passes Senate; aimed at failing schools

Senate President Pro-Tem Eric Johnson
Photo Courtesy: GA Senate Press Office

A bill that offers scholarships to students in failing schools was approved by the Senate after a hearing that lasted nearly 90 minutes.

The measure is aimed at school districts like Clayton County, which are in danger of losing accreditation. It would also offer scholarship to students in schools designated for seven years as a Needs Improvement School. The vote was 32 to 21.

It would take the state portion of school funding away from failing school districts and allow parents to use that money to transfer their child to another public or private school, if that receiving school has room. That comes to about 41-hundred dollars per child in Clayton County.

Senate President Pro-Tem Eric Johnson authored the school voucher measure. He says it’s about helping the state's most disadvantaged families.

"At some point, we have to say the system has failed and it’s not about the system. It's about the child. This is not about rich kids. Rich kids are already in private schools and have already moved into good school districts. This is really about helping the lower and middle class, and the last thing they need is to be trapped into a school that's chronically failing."

Education advocates oppose the measure because they say it undermines the state's public school system.

Brian Thomas is with the Georgia Association of Educators.

"We strongly oppose the voucher bill. We've spoken with Senator Johnson. We've tried to find the common ground on that bill. The piece that we have the most serious heartburn about is the private school piece. Public monies are intended for public school children. We believe that vouchers interrupt that and we do not support that."

Earlier this week, more than 25-hundred residents of Clayton County attended a school district meeting. Two school board members lost their seat at that meeting, including one who says he'll appeal his removal to a Superior Court.

Clayton County Still Fighting for Accreditation

2,300 Clayton County seniors are set to graduate in May. Meanwhile, the school district is still fighting to win back its accreditation.

The Clayton County school district was the first to lose its certification with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools last year. This district is one of the largest in the state.

Since then a new school board has been put in place. Policies have been revamped and they are searching for a new superintendent.

The accreditation agency blames the district’s problems on a “fatally flawed” school board. They have been accused of bickering and harassing school employees.

All nine board members either resigned or were ousted last year.

(AP)

Truck stop drug bust in Clayton County

Clayton County authorities arrested two men in a truck stop drug bust Thursday in Forest Park-—the bust netted 100 kilograms of cocaine. The drugs have a street value of 3.1 million dollars. The suspects are being held without bond at the Clayton County jail.

Governor signs bills for Clayton students

Two state-appointed liaisons to the Clayton County Board of Education have told Governor Sonny Perdue that the board is so dysfunctional the county is certain to lose accreditation in September. Students would lose access to the state-funded HOPE scholarship and jeopardizes their college applications. Today the Governor signed two bills designed to help Clayton County students. One would keep HOPE scholarship funds available to high school graduates. The second establishes an ethics commission in the county to investigate and oversee the board.

Local tax measures approved

A number of local tax measures were approved by voters yesterday.

Clayton County voted for a penny sales tax increase to help pay for new county facilities, including a juvenile justice center, police stations and libraries.

In Gwinnett County, voters approved a $750 million bond referendum to build more schools.

Metro Atlanta voters favored extending an existing sales tax to fund repairs to the city’s sewer system.

Forsyth County, voters approved a one percent sales tax for road improvements and property tax increase for more county parks.

Colquitt, Madison, Jones and Polk Counties all approved local sales tax measures for school funding and other projects.

Newton County voters granted senior citizens an additional exemption from school property taxes.

A Lumpkin County referendum to allow liquor-by-the-drink sales passed, while an effort to allow Sunday alcohol sales in Jackson County was rebuffed.

Georgia primary includes some local measure voting

Georgia's presidential primary voting on Tuesday included voters in some counties casting ballots for local measures. A sampling:

- A referendum to allow liquor-by-the-drink sales in Lumpkin County passed Tuesday.
- In Jackson County, efforts to allow Sunday alcohol sales were rebuffed.
- Newton County voters granted senior citizens exemption from school property taxes.
- Voters in Colquitt, Madison, Jones, and Polk counties all approved local sales tax measures for schools and other projects.

In other measures passed:

- Clayton County voted for a sales tax increase to help pay for new county facilities.
- Gwinnett County approved a bond referendum to build more schools.
- Voters in Atlanta said yes to extending an existing sales tax to fund repairs to the city's sewer system.
- Forsyth County approved a sales tax for road improvements and property tax increase for more county parks.

Op Ed on Education: Sen. Johnson (R-Savannah)

Hold on children. Help is on the way!

Fifty three thousand children in a single County in Georgia are on the verge of having their future threatened by the inappropriate actions of their Board of Education. If the Clayton County Schools lose their accreditation, there will be no Pre-K funds or HOPE Scholarships available for the children. Transcripts will be invalid. College applications will be thrown in the trash. This is a disaster.

The State Constitution mandates that schools are under the jurisdiction of locally elected school boards. That prevents the Governor or the state Department of Education from moving in - even temporarily - with new management. So, unless the Board members resign and new elections take place and they dramatically change their ways, the children are penalized. It's unfair.

The Legislature is considering a lifeline for the parents of these children. SB 458 would require that the state funding for each child be offered to the parents as a scholarship that can be used to transfer the child to any public or private school that will accept the student. We estimate that the scholarship will be worth about $4,150 in Clayton County. That will cover a significant portion of private school tuition.

There has been some unrest recently about forcing neighboring schools to accept students with these scholarships. SB 458 has gone through significant changes in its legislative path. A last-minute floor amendment on the Senate did include a clause that would seem to require schools to accept these students subject to space- which is of course defined by the local school system. However, through cooperation with the House, that language has been changed. Receiving schools (public and private) will continue to have the option to accept or decline these students- regardless of the reason. This concept was in the original version of the bill, and it will remain in the final edition.

Clayton's children aren't the only ones being placed at risk by poorly run school administrators. There are 19 schools in Georgia that have been on the Needs Improvement" list for 7 or 8 years in a row. It is time to admit that the children in the schools need help and the time for excuses has run out. SB 458 would also require scholarships be offered to these children as well.

Some say this violates the principle of local control. But, if the local elected officials have clearly failed in their duties, real local control should shift to the parents. This is their money. These are their children. And they should have the right to choose the best educational environment for your child - particularly when the system has clearly failed.

If the Titanic were sinking and there weren't enough lifeboats, we would put the children in them first. Save the children first and then worry about who hit the iceberg!

Clayton Co. school board cancels meeting over elections

Lacking a quorum, the Clayton County school board has canceled its Monday meeting and delayed all business another two weeks.

Acting board chairwoman Alieka Anderson says the delay until Sept. 22 means the three-member board can add new members.

Two candidates are competing for the District 6 seat in a Sept. 16 special election. The winner will be sworn in before the Sept. 22 meeting along with Jessie Goree, who is unopposed in November for District 3.

The 50,000-student district has lost its accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

The board is supposed to have nine members.

Gov. Sonny Perdue removed four board members last month after a state administrative judge found they violated the state code of ethics and Open Meetings Act.

Four other members resigned and one was removed for not living in the county.

(The Associated Press)

Click here for more GPB News coverage about the Clayton County school district's loss of accreditation.

Clayton county pays millions to fired deputies

Clayton County has paid about $6.5 million dollars to deputies who lost their jobs when Sheriff Victor Hill took office in 2005.

The deputies sued the county.

They accused Hill of wrongful treatment.

The day after the firings, a superior court judge sided with the employees.

He ruled that they were dismissed without cause.

They returned to work two weeks later.

Chatham Co. steps up anti-mosquito efforts

Chatham County is stepping up aerial spraying for mosquitoes because of an unusually high number of mosquitoes found carrying the West Nile virus.

Thirty mosquito samples have now tested positive for West Nile virus in Chatham County. That's the highest number since 2003.

The mosquito that carries West Nile viris is especially active starting this time of year. Recent rains only compound the problem.

The Chatham County Public Health Department's Doctor Michael Adams says, officials are advising residents to consider themselves at risk.

"The risk is throughout Chatham County," Dr. Adams says. "We should take personal protective measures if we plan on venturing outside."

That means, long clothing and insect repellant with Deet.

Statewide, there have been 20 confirmed cases of West Nile virus, none of them from Chatham County. An 80-year-old Clayton County woman died this month from complications associated with the virus.

Mosquito control is now spraying neighborhoods six days a week by plane, helicopter and truck.