Cherokee school chief: Lawmakers are no friends of county’s highly rated school system
Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo (Cherokee schools)
The gloves are off in the Legislature where lawmakers are going after a school district and board they perceive as hostile to charter schools.
What’s surprising to me is that they are going after Cherokee, a system that is among the state’s high performers and where the majority of parents would probably express confidence in the schools. That does not mean all parents are happy, but Cherokee has an enviable record of achievement.
House Bill 978 would realign the Cherokee county school board and effectively remove the elected school board chair and vice chair, according to the Cherokee Tribune. Now, the school board has seven members elected county-wide and members elect their own chair and vice chair.
An angry Cherokee Superintendent Frank R. Petruzielo is firing back at lawmakers, and he is not mincing his words about what he deems their lack of support for the schools and their efforts to undermine them:
Cherokee County Legislative Delegation members, who frequently extol “local control” as a value of their political ideology, have introduced legislation (HB 978) that will significantly limit voters’ ability to elect members of the Cherokee County School Board, despite input collected by the Cherokee County School District from thousands of citizens through a survey open to the entire community and a series of public meetings indicating that the vast majority prefer the current methodology of electing all seven School Board members countywide.
This ill-advised legislation makes it clear that our State lawmakers believe they know better than Cherokee’s registered voters and the School Board what is best for this community’s public schools… despite the fact that none of these legislators have children enrolled in our schools. Parents of the 38,600 students whose children are educated within the CCSD should question why State lawmakers want to reduce the number of School Board members for whom they can vote… from seven representatives down to two!
We have heard vague reasoning that this change would make things “easier.” Easier for whom? The current methodology is absolute — every citizen can vote for every School Board member; it does not matter where a line has been drawn by the Delegation. Maybe it would make it “easier” to run for office in a small segment of the county; but that should be the last consideration.
The fact is: the Delegation knows it is difficult to unseat School Board members who are proven champions for public education through a legitimate political challenge at the ballot box; so they have chosen to usurp the power of the people and simply draw School Board members who refuse to bend to their will out of their posts.
Long gone are the days when the Delegation supported and advocated for our award-winning, high-performing schools and School District. They have stood idly by while the State has cut $118 Million of our State-earned funding over the last seven years; while teachers have been furloughed and class sizes have had to grow larger every year; and while funding for textbooks, school nurses and transportation are whittled away. Instead of supporting and helping their community’s public schools, they have actively pursued and advocated for vouchers, private school “scholarships,” for-profit charter schools and various other efforts that continue to shift funding and local control away from one of the highest-performing public school districts in the State and Nation!
Regarding the new post boundaries created by the Delegation as part of HB 978, we have serious concerns about the impact on the community and the future equity of education in CCSD. Residents “below the Sixes line” will have the ability to control the election of five of the seven seats on the School Board – returning the county to the dysfunctional North vs. South political system of its past. Additionally, two of this area’s mega neighborhoods – Towne Lake and BridgeMill – each are split between two posts, giving them the opportunity to each decide two post elections, as well as make a major impact on the chairman election. Additionally, the four southern posts and two northern posts reflect major disparity as it relates to racial and socio-economic diversity; and all of the posts are significantly varied as far as population – one post has 686 more people than the targeted one-sixth of the county’s population.
It’s clear from reviewing the new post boundaries that deliberate gerrymandering efforts were made in order to draw two incumbents up for re-election this year – Chairman Mike Chapman and Vice Chairwoman Janet Read – into posts with incumbents not up for re-election, thus precluding Chapman and Read from running for post seats on the School Board. Their residences are on the edges of boundaries, and those posts’ boundaries were drawn without respect to standard principles of reapportionment… including setting equal populations, keeping precincts and communities intact, using geographical boundaries and making efforts “to avoid the unnecessary pairing of incumbents.”
In drafting HB 978, the Delegation disregarded input from the true community survey conducted by CCSD and the map drafted by CCSD and approved by the School Board. Instead, the Delegation funded a political organization, Grassroots Conservatives of Cherokee County – already known to oppose the current governance model and impacted incumbents — to conduct an unverifiable “poll,” the results of which the Delegation touts in its press release as evidence of community support. When a majority of those in attendance at a town hall meeting called by the Delegation didn’t voice support for change, the Delegation appointed a Blue Ribbon Committee in an effort to create more “evidence” in its favor, and when the Committee didn’t vote the way it wanted… a new vote with a different result was required! All of this is a slap in the face to the School Board and community after members of the Delegation told local media they would not make any changes to the governance model unless the School Board requested it.
The future quality of education in Cherokee County is endangered by the Delegation’s actions; and it is my sincere hope that its members will rethink this politically motivated, ill-advised legislation for the sake of our community’s children.
This is my personal opinion; it is not necessarily the opinion of the Cherokee County School Board.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled board
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134 comments Add your comment
Mel
February 17th, 2012
3:39 pm
My kids are in school in Cherokee and we have been pleased. Is there room for improvement? Absolutely. However, while I’ve supported Chip Rogers in the past, he’s walking a dangerous line right now. I simply don’t think mandating at the state level helps with local control. Petruzielo doesn’t play the game and that is what gets at the Cherokee delegation. They don’t feel powerful enough. Dr. P has overstayed his welcome as far as I’m concerned, but I’d rather have someone in that position that is willing to back up what he believes than to just “go along to get along.”
Maureen Downey
February 17th, 2012
3:41 pm
@Mel, Is that the intent to drive off Dr. P? He would be in demand in many places as he has a strong reputation. Given all the new school chiefs who have not worked out, I am not sure how Cherokee would fare if he decided to leave.
Maureen
horse
February 17th, 2012
3:47 pm
Rogers’ spent more than $30K with a company in south Florida called Champion Communications, according to his campaign disclosures, who appear to have provided the phone services for the unverifiable surveys that are noted. Champion got its start in servicing porn and gambling lines a few decades ago. I suspect that Rogers knows them well.
Parent Teacher
February 17th, 2012
3:50 pm
Just another example of the legislature attempting to undermine local control and public education. Will the maddness ever end? The benchmark that should be answered when making any educational decision is, “Will this positively impact the student’s education.” The legislature continues to play politics rather than keep the student at the heart of the issue.
Atlanta Mom
February 17th, 2012
3:51 pm
What is the state legislature doing in local business? Let Cherokee County govern Cherokee County If these folks were my representatives, I’d be looking to vote them out of office.
horse
February 17th, 2012
3:52 pm
@Maureen, with respect to Mel, my take is that the intent is to drive off anyone opposed to privatization – especially corporate charter schools – in Cherokee. Rogers is ideologically aligned with the Koch-sponsored group ALEC, who are pushing the mantra of school “choice,” much as ALEC pushed “three strikes” and other laws to get prisons privatized.
Butterball
February 17th, 2012
3:53 pm
Get it on!!!!!!!!
Parent Teacher
February 17th, 2012
3:53 pm
Rogers has recently introduced legislation that would expand the power of companies like At&t, Comcast, Charter as well as other internet service providers. This bill would then reduce the authority of local governments and communities to control their own private network and instead require the local community to pay one of these organizations to service the already existing network. I think it is HB 313
Mike
February 17th, 2012
3:53 pm
This is easily an attempt by the local delegation to get rid of Dr. P. However, like you said, he has a strong reputation because he turned around this Cherokee district from the dysfunctional mess it was 10 years ago. This is a sad moment for Cherokee and local control. However, it will just inspire some spirited primary contests come July. Grassroots organizations are forming to oust all four legislators, including the powerful Chip Rogers.
Crazy!
February 17th, 2012
3:58 pm
I have three kids in the Cherokee County school district, the last two graduating this year. I have seen 15 years worth of change and Dr. P. is the BEST thing that ever happened to Cherokee County. The improvement to the school system I have personally seen is amazing! After reading this, I am glad I will be out of the circus about to be created by politicians. I grew up in the Cobb County system which used to be good and now Cherokee surpasses it. Why don’t the county voters have the sense to vote these idiots OUT OF OFFICE!!!
Fred ™
February 17th, 2012
4:00 pm
Here we go again with the Republicans bound and determined to force tax payers to pay for “their” little private schools. ‘They” the important ones need separation form “them” you know, “those people.”
Cherokee Counselor
February 17th, 2012
4:01 pm
This is just another example of Chip Rogers deciding that he knows better than every educator, parent, and community member how public schools should be run and governed in Cherokee County. I am greatly confused and disturbed that someone with four children (who have never attended public school in Cherokee County or otherwise) could have this much arrogance and utter disregard for facts. Our entire Republican delegation should be ashamed of themselves–I thought that one of the major tenents of the Republican party was small government and local control of local issues.
Mel
February 17th, 2012
4:11 pm
@Maureen – the above posters sum up what I think as well. Dr. P definitely turned Cherokee around. My issue is that I feel things have become stagnant. That being said, there is opportunity for individualized education with the new county charter schools being set up. And you’re right about the dangers of bringing in a new super – at this point I’d rather have the devil I know than one I don’t!
Csoby
February 17th, 2012
4:17 pm
If it is not the Fed’s, it is the State that is mingling with local control. Schools should be local with Parents responsible and involved…that is the only way for the system to improve. and if you are a parent and not involved and think the schools are a babysitting service, then you child will follow your footsteps into a sorry life!!!
Beverly Fraud
February 17th, 2012
4:20 pm
While the charter bill CAN be seen as an attempt to give parents an option when local boards are NOT responsive, this bill SMELLS like nothing less than a political power play.
What’s next, getting SACS to come in and say Cherokee is “fatally flawed”?
ConcernedCherokee
February 17th, 2012
4:24 pm
Why even bother to have a School District under their proposed change? Each post will be out for its own rather than the good of the entire County and its students. Maybe we should have each post become its own district? Crazy idea, but it wouldn’t surprise me if our politicians decided to do that.
The legislators had made up their minds months ago. All these meetings, committees, etc were just an attempt to fool the voters to thinking they cared about public opinion. I heard Chip even brought Rep Hamilton to the Blue Ribbon meeting to say how he had changed the voting structure in Forsyth two years ago. Wonder how Chip wanted the vote to go….hmmmmm. Meanwhile already Forsyth County has a difference in the haves and have nots based on this new post only voting system. The more rural/poorer schools are not performing very well and the richer schools like the ones near Polo Fields (where Hamilton is said to live) are doing great. I know there were citizens from the northern part of the county on that Blue Ribbon Committee. Wonder how they feel now with the way the new lines were drawn putting most of the seats in the south part of the county. They sure got taken for a ride.
I live in the Bridgemill area so this change really does not harm me personally since most of the new seats are in my part of the county. Even though I am on the winning side, this is the losing side for Cherokee.
-Concerned and Long time Cherokee Mom
cherokee parent
February 17th, 2012
4:28 pm
@Beverly — SACS actually just visited Cherokee for a SACS CASI review to extend accreditation for another five years. Result? Glowing approval including commendations for the current school board governance system!
SusanL
February 17th, 2012
4:28 pm
The arrogance exhibited by our local legislative delegation defies description. I do not think that they have a clue how many parents, teachers and voters they have awakened by their blatant attempt to manipulate, control and usurp local control of education. It is obvious to everyone who really knows what is going on in Cherokee County that they do not have the best interests of the students at heart, but rather are concerned about their own power. It will be their political downfall.
concerned parent
February 17th, 2012
4:34 pm
Dr. P is the most bombastic educrat we have ever had in this district. The easiest way to rid ourselves of this horrible man is to truly empower the parents of the children and once again make the school superintindent elected by the voters instead of decided by the school board who allows the controlling Dr. p. to lead them around by by their noses.
Hammond B2
February 17th, 2012
4:35 pm
Chipper has become what we all hate a Govt life time employee looks out for himself and those that give him the cash not getting my vote again
CCA Supporter
February 17th, 2012
4:35 pm
All you supporters of Dr. P – have you Googled him? They forced him out in FL after he overstayed his welcome there. He improved our district to a point – but it’s time for change. His methods are dated, and he rules thru fear, not respect. The two members, Chapman and Reed, are two of his biggest supporters. He is still budgeting Cherokee County as if it’s still in growth mode – when in fact, our growth has slowed or stopped – and will continue this trend for the foreseeable future.
JM
February 17th, 2012
4:37 pm
law makers tend to listen to their people. many people in Cherokee are asking for more school choices. the local board won’t give it to them so they are going to the state to try to get something done. sounds like local control does not always work for everyone.
catlady
February 17th, 2012
4:38 pm
How disgusting will these “leaders” go? Cherokee. turn them out NOW! Time for Chip et al to get a REAL job! You know, one that doesn’t fleece the taxpayers.
Cherokee granny
February 17th, 2012
4:41 pm
If it was possible for any of our representatives to feel shame, then they would be unable to sleep at night. I have lived here for over 35 years. We had a good school system until the school board members decided to inject themselves into the daily operation of the school system. We got slapped with SACS probation and the citizens cleaned house. We are now faced with the same situation. Yes they want to get rid of Dr. P., he is the only educator that will stand up for public education, teachers, students and parents. None of our representatives would dare to stand up to Chipper and his minions, perhaps they are afraid of being banished to one of Chip’s slums
cherokee parent
February 17th, 2012
4:47 pm
Concerned Parent, CCA Supporter, JM… thanks for backing up the Superintendent’s case! The legislators aren’t after improving schools for our kids — for them it’s all about putting in a superintendent and school board they can control!
Cherokee granny
February 17th, 2012
4:50 pm
I would love to support a charter school that was actually innovative and inclusive, don’t blame the school board for a less than compelling charter application. Yes the funding and finances need to be transparent. Yes there needs to be something offered that in not now available for our children. Such IB, STEM, Performing Arts, the list is endless and just what is so unique with the new “state” charter school. The fact that one of the ads actually touted the school as being a “private” publicly funded school.
td
February 17th, 2012
4:52 pm
If I understand the article right then currently in Cherokee county you elect 7 members and they all run countywide. The legislature is going to make 6 district reps and have one countywide position as chairman.
It sounds like to me that the old way is the unfair way because that could mean that all 7 members could be from the most populated area of the county with all of their children in the exact same schools. The schools from smaller, more rural areas of the county would have no representation. This would be like we are going to have our 180 state representatives elected statewide and all of them live in Metro area.
What the legislature is proposing sounds like it will give more local control on the local board then less.
Georgia Voter
February 17th, 2012
4:54 pm
Enter your comments here
td
February 17th, 2012
4:55 pm
ConcernedCherokee
February 17th, 2012
4:24 pm
Why even bother to have a School District under their proposed change? Each post will be out for its own rather than the good of the entire County and its students. Maybe we should have each post become its own district? Crazy idea, but it wouldn’t surprise me if our politicians decided to do that.
The fact that almost if not every other county in the state is set up in this matter means nothing?
concerned parent
February 17th, 2012
4:57 pm
Cherokee parent obviously prefers the control to remain with un-elected educrats within and outside of our state who only serve the needs of fellow educrats/teachers. our school system is the largest single employer in the county and the employees are fearful of change and…god forbid…ACCOUNTABILITY!
Mikey D
February 17th, 2012
4:59 pm
Unfortunately, things aren’t going to change until the voters start looking beyond the (R) or (D) behind a candidate’s name and become more willing to educate themselves about the candidate’s beliefs and positions. There are many districts in Georgia where Satan himself could get elected in a landslide, simply by saying, “Hey, I’m a Republican!” In fact, Chip Rogers is pretty darn close to Satan, so….
Georgia Voter
February 17th, 2012
5:02 pm
Yet another example of Chip and his minions putting corporate interests way above the interests of the voters. These people would totally privatize education if we let them. We need to vote Chip, Charlice, Sean and mean old Calvin out of office.
Home School Drop Out
February 17th, 2012
5:03 pm
Cherokee County is Republican Run in every Political office.
So how do we have any problems?
Mary Elizabeth
February 17th, 2012
5:03 pm
“Instead of supporting and helping their community’s public schools, they (State’s lawmakers) have actively pursued and advocated for vouchers, private school “scholarships,” for-profit charter schools and various other efforts.”
============================================
And, these pursuits are remarkably aligned with a national Republican ideological agenda.
—————————————————————————-
GiveChipTheBoot
February 17th, 2012
5:04 pm
It’s time Cherokee had state representatives that want to represent the people of this county and not their own wallets. Each of these sorry excuses for a representative have enriched their own lives and stuffed their wallets. Sean Jerguson is one of the largest recipients of Obama’s stimulus money and I wish Chip Rogers would explain how he can afford two homes totaling $725,000 paid for in cash on his salary of $38K a year. He doesn’t list any other job or income on his financial disclosure.
td
February 17th, 2012
5:05 pm
What is all this about local control and the state taking local control away? I thought most of the people posting on these blogs were educators in this state. It is obvious from some of the post that the people charged with educating our children have not even learned what is in the state Constitution. It is the local delegation that has the authority to decide how local county elections are handled. All the Representatives are from Cherokee county and it is their local bill that is being introduced.
cherokee parent
February 17th, 2012
5:05 pm
@td — That’s not how it works. Currently, there are seven posts, and candidates have to live in the post where they run, but the election is countywide. All voters each gets seven votes. The proposal changes it to six posts where you run just in the post where you live and one chairman who lives anywhere in the county and runs countywide. All voters would get only two votes.
@concerned parent — Your comment, which appears directed at me, makes no sense. I prefer the current system where I get to vote for all seven board members instead of the proposal where I would get to vote for only two. More votes = more accountability.
Joe Rural
February 17th, 2012
5:06 pm
@ td — I think you misread or misunderstood the article. The current way, with 7 board members, has each member living in their own district. The representation is spread throughout the county and not all in one area of the county or in the same school. In this new method, each of the six members will only have to answer to the voters in their district. Only the chairperson, who can live anywhere in the county, will run county wide. Look at Dekalb, Cobb and Clayton. This is how their school board members are elected. Now do you think it is still such a good idea?
Watching
February 17th, 2012
5:09 pm
All of us here in Cherokee know that this is the Republican delegation exacting revenge on the members of the school board that voted against CCA. I am a life-long Republican and I am appalled by the heavy-handed tactics of this Cherokee delegation. It is time for the majority of us in Cherokee that support our public schools to make our voices heard and vote out these special-interest legislators. There is always room for improvement in any school or school district but I have not seen any of these legislators truly try to find ways to improve the existing school system-it’s all about the charters and the vouchers.
GiveChipTheBoot
February 17th, 2012
5:13 pm
TD before our useless state representatives turned into dictators we had 7 districts for our school board members and each member was required to live in their district. They all ran at-large giving every voter in the county the ability to vote for a candidate in each district. It was a great system because all members were accountable to every child, parent, school and citizen in the county. Our school board members worked together as a team for all schools in the county which is why we have one of the top school districts in the state. Counties that vote for only a post member and chairman end up with certain districts that have good schools and other area’s that don’t. People moving to Cherokee didn’t have to look for the good school district to purchase a house because they are all good.
td
February 17th, 2012
5:16 pm
Joe Rural
February 17th, 2012
5:06 pm
I lived in Cobb county (Smyrna) for 42 years and was never allowed to vote for a school board member or a county commissioner that lived in a different district. I now live in Paulding county and they elect board members the same way. I know Fulton does the same thing and I am not sure about Dekalb.
According to Cherokee Parent, you each get to vote for members in every district (7 votes). This is the same thing that Roy Barnes attempted to do by creating a mega US house district with multiple members in the 2000 census redistricting and a Federal judge declared it unconstitutional.
concerned parent
February 17th, 2012
5:17 pm
Regretfully, we don’t have the local control that we think. The district is bound to obey the national acreditation bureaucracy (sacs). Even a failure by an elected school board member to obey their rules can result in losing acreditation which means our children’s education won’t be recognized by similarly acredited colleges thus preventing their enrollment. usually just the threat is enough to gain control of the board as the parents will be made to tremble with fear that their children won’t receive a higher education.
Jerry Eads
February 17th, 2012
5:21 pm
You missed the most important point, Frank. You and your board care about the district’s kids. It sounds like your students’ welfare is the LAST thing on the minds of your delegation. Sorry, that’s an overstatement. Student welfare doesn’t appear to be even in their consciousness.
td
February 17th, 2012
5:21 pm
GiveChipTheBoot
February 17th, 2012
5:13 pm
Again, the way your system is currently arranged is the same thing Roy Barnes attempted to do with a US house district with multiple members and a Federal Judge ruled it as unconstitutional.
I am a die hard conservative and do not really like Chip Rogers but this method of multiple votes for multiple representatives is so wrong on so many levels and it surely dose not give “local control” over the local BOE.
Steve
February 17th, 2012
5:27 pm
What a joke. This superintendent makes $225,000 a year and he moans about budget cuts and furloughs? Take a cut in pay you fat educrat and then you can moan a little.
Mel
February 17th, 2012
5:28 pm
@Granny – the STEM, IB and performing arts charters are in the works. In fact, some will be available in the county at the elementary level this next fall.
ChipsterTheCrookster
February 17th, 2012
5:30 pm
Chip Rogers is pure evil. Here in Cherokee County he is referred to as Teflon because no matter what he does – nothing sticks. Could it be that he has finally crossed a line of no return with the people of our county? I certainly hope so.
GiveChipTheBoot
February 17th, 2012
5:42 pm
TD If you are happy with how your county conducted their local elections – bravo for you. Our system worked well – our test scores and award winning school district is proof of that. Maybe Cobb County and other counties with troubled schools should look at what worked in Cherokee and change their election process. If not I guess you will continue to have poor performing schools in some of your districts. Our system is a proven system that gives all children the best educational opportunities.
Teacher
February 17th, 2012
5:46 pm
People may not remember, but ccsd was on probation and in danger of losing accreditation before Dr. P got here. When Chip Rogers puts his kids in public school or actually teaches, then I may listen to what he has to say. Why are we still pushing charter schools, when just this week there was a report that charter schools are not living up to the hype? Someone needs to stop making this a Republican vs Democrats or Towne Lake/BridgeMill vs the rest of the county someone PLEASE make it about what is best for the children of Cherokee County.
Chip Rogers, Sean Jeurgson, Rob
Usher ….gentlemen, I’d starting updating your resumes.
Anne Kimberly
February 17th, 2012
5:47 pm
Another Cherokee parent chiming in to say that I’m very satisified with Cherokee County schools and very eager to vote out the lawmakers who seem to be motivated by self-interests instead of the interests of our children and their education. Our system has achieved great success under the current leadership and board structure – why do lawmakers see the need to interfere when the current system is not only working, it’s thriving.
GiveChipTheBoot
February 17th, 2012
5:49 pm
Steve maybe you should be more concerned with how our state representatives are enriching themselves from the huge money they receive from ALEC corporate members each time they vote for legislation that brings down our public school districts. The goal is to bring our schools down so that we will all embrace the notion of privatization of our public schools. They do not care about the children it’s all about the money to be made!
CherokeeTaxpayer
February 17th, 2012
5:50 pm
As a Cherokee taxpayer with no kids in school I think that Dr. P has done reasonably well improving the quality of the schools, but has little regard for the taxpayers and has spent too much money. Basically he is starting to overstay his welcome. I am certain he can do well for another district somewhere else.
All that said, Dr. P. is absolutely right about two things:
1) There is no way in the world we should spent any taxpayer money on any private schools (charter or whatever you want to call them). If parents want to send their kids to private school then they should pay for it themselves, above and beyond whatever they pay – like every property owner does even if they have no kids – to support the public schools.
2) The local legislative delegation is playing with fire when they try to gerrymander the school board districts. Every citizen should be able to vote for every board member (and that goes for the county commission as well). Local control depends upon accountability to the voters, something that Chip and his gang ought to be thinking about about themselves.
OnlytheLonely
February 17th, 2012
5:50 pm
Chip’s gonna get his soon. Word is, that fancy FBI group in Atlantta is investigating him as we speak.
td
February 17th, 2012
5:51 pm
GiveChipTheBoot
February 17th, 2012
5:42 pm
Let us please have a moment of reality here. You test scores are up because you have more two parent households, more involved parents and are at a higher medium income then the most counties. It has nothing to so with how you elect your board members in the county. This will not change when you are voting the way the rest of the state votes in next years election.
td
February 17th, 2012
5:57 pm
CherokeeTaxpayer
February 17th, 2012
5:50 pm
Should you also be able to vote for every Georgia house member and Senator? Should you be allowed to vote for the John Lewis, although he lives in Atlanta or for Jack Kingston in Savannah? What you are saying is the same thing.
reality
February 17th, 2012
5:57 pm
td– Cherokee County’s percentage of kids on free-reduced lunch has doubled in the last 10 years, while test scores have increased. That’s the reality. Try again.
td
February 17th, 2012
6:03 pm
reality
February 17th, 2012
5:57 pm
It is really in the past 5 years and it is the same in every school district in Georgia. It is called a recession and that the USDA has changed the rules to allow more people to qualify.
Maureen Downey
February 17th, 2012
6:13 pm
@td, It has risen, but not doubled: From Augusta Chronicle:
Behemoth
February 17th, 2012
6:14 pm
Seems like Dr. P. is a little worried about his $250,000 salary. His are the words of a scared, little man.
td
February 17th, 2012
6:17 pm
Maureen Downey
February 17th, 2012
6:13 pm
Has it doubled in Cherokee county in the past 10 years?
Maureen Downey
February 17th, 2012
6:17 pm
More from the AJC:
Peggy
February 17th, 2012
6:24 pm
Remember when Mr Laurens didn’t get get his way last year and publicly said that the members that didn’t vote his way were not Republicans, never came to Republican meetings and he would deal with them. The people spoke then but ,Mr Laurens , Mr Jeurgson and Mr Rogers are still going to keep pushing this issue until they get their way. Check who is supporting their campaign.
Centrist
February 17th, 2012
6:24 pm
One sided piece without any viewpoints from the legislators.
While both legislators and school board members are voted in by the electorate, it is the legislature which sets school board alignments/ districts – not the other way around. Nothing has changed – the voters will pick their school board representatives. If school board members don’t like it – they can run for the legislature.
reality
February 17th, 2012
6:25 pm
According to Department of Education data reports (available online), the free/reduced percentage for Cherokee County was 14.8% in 2000, was 30.05% in 2010. It’s 30.64 this year.
Maureen Downey
February 17th, 2012
6:25 pm
td,
In Cherokee, free and reduced lunch eligibility went from 14.8 percent in 2000 to 27.9 in 2009. Don’t have 2010 and 2011, but I am sure it increased in those two years. (See poster below me who was faster and more current than me.)
Maureen
Researcher
February 17th, 2012
6:36 pm
Google Dr. P see what he has done to Broward County Fla and Texas! Just Saying!
Concerned parent
February 17th, 2012
6:37 pm
I think it is time for parents and teachers to stand up to the Cherokee delegation and VOTE them out of office! This a clear attempt at payback because of the Charter School being voted down. Where is the outrage?! It needs to be squarely on Chip Rogers and his minions!
Bender
February 17th, 2012
6:38 pm
Yeah, this guy has voted for Republicans in every primary election in the past decade. So, you reap what you sow.
If you cared about these issues, why’d you vote these jokers in for the past ten years?
reality
February 17th, 2012
6:40 pm
Interesting note, the same data reports show the free/reduced rate for the charter school in cherokee county is 16.48%.
Centrist
February 17th, 2012
6:44 pm
Concerned parent posted “I think it is time for parents and teachers to stand up to the Cherokee delegation and VOTE them out of office!”
Yup, that’s how it works. But I think you (and many others here) will be disappointed come next November when the legislative delegation from Cherokee remains largely the same and the school board gets reshuffled. The voters will get their voices heard above this liberal blog and newspaper.
Watching
February 17th, 2012
6:44 pm
There is a town hall meeting Saturday at 11:30 am at the Hickory Flat Public Library for anyone interested in hearing what our delegation has to say for themselves. I believe it will be Senator Rogers and Calvin Hill.
Centrist
February 17th, 2012
6:55 pm
Watching posted “There is a town hall meeting Saturday at 11:30 am at the Hickory Flat Public Library for anyone interested in hearing what our delegation has to say for themselves.”
Evidently that is the ONLY way you will hear their side. If the AJC covers it, look to hear from their detractors and be left with the impression they are not popular – then AJC true believers will be shocked when they are re-elected.
Behemoth
February 17th, 2012
7:17 pm
Dr. P. has proudly admitted to being insensitive to the will of the citizens of Cherokee County.
Dr. P. regards his post in Cherokee County as his own personal business, not the business of the citizens of Cherokee County.
Dr. P. knows that this legislation will create an environment that fosters citizen involvement and citizen authority over the School Board.
Dr. P. knows that this legislation will mean the loss of his job.
concerned parent
February 17th, 2012
7:46 pm
We all just need to face the fact that being one of the best school sytems in a state that is the worst in the country is nothing to brag about. Maybe we just have less to fix than the majority of the other systems in a state of national embarrasments. Drastic change is still needed.
A. DeAngelo
February 17th, 2012
8:06 pm
Georgia ranks 45th based on SAT scores
(source: http://gaeducation.blogspot.com/2008/08/2008-sat-results-released-georgia-ranks.html)
Georgia ranks 41st based on Morgan Quinto Smartest State (2006-2007)
(source: http://www.morganquitno.com/edrank.htm)
Georgia ranks 47th based on Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate for Public High School Students
(source: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/2007/section3/table.asp?tableID=701)
So what’s so great about being the fly at the top of the dung heap — still stinks! Just sayin’.
Concerned Parent
February 17th, 2012
8:14 pm
What is happening here in Cherokee County is exactly what happened in Clayton County. New Board members with a personal agenda to oust everyone. The new board members destroyed the Clayton County system and I see the very same thing starting to happen here. We must stand up and stop this. Most all parents will tell you how pleased they are with our system. The teachers are very grateful to work in this system. Let’s face the truth. I am going to say what most people have been afraid to say. Most of the complaints you hear concerning our schools and Dr P. are from disgruntled parents whose children have had some type of academic or behavior issue in school. They think that moving their child to the Charter School will solve their problems but the problems will simply follow them or they think they are too good to attend our schools. Apples don’t fall far from the tree!
td
February 17th, 2012
8:26 pm
First I need to say that I am one of the few conservatives that does not believe in charter schools. I believe that all charter schools do is to pull out the best and brightest students and the hardest working most dedicated parents. With little voice and few peer role models then education as a whole will drop. If these supporters want private schools for there children then they need to pay for it and send their children to private schools.
With the above said. The county delegation is doing what the are Constitutionally required to do and if I know politicians they are supported by the majority of their constituents. It sounds like to me that this Superintendent has been playing with fire for a long time and a true educator should know better then to play to much in the political arena.
Gabrielle
February 17th, 2012
8:38 pm
Let’s be realistic: #1. The lifespan of any Superintendent is short-lived and change is good. #2. Cherokee County schools are no better than any other system in GA. except that parent involvement is massive as are expectations from parents, unfortunately, unlike other communities. #3. Truth be told, Cherokee’s strategies are quite antiquated, but since negative school discipline and attendance issues are limited, they are called a high-level system. Do you really believe that this Superintendent are any better than other schools or is it the demographics and the socioeconomic backgrounds of Cherokee’s residents? When you have a system that is highly diverse, low socioeconomic situations, families that struggle to find work, non-documented students, students with limited English language acquisition, then talk to me.
Think about it.
cheri curtis
February 17th, 2012
8:47 pm
My children attended school in Cherokee from k through 12. I long rmember the days when the scholl board did not listen to the parents. I worked long and hard to collect signatures on a recall petition when the district faced lose of accreditation. We now have a system that can be improved on but is far better then what it was when I moved to Cherokee County in 1991. If every parent would take a part of their child’s education, then this county could be the “BEST”.
DT
February 17th, 2012
8:49 pm
@Steve….When teachers face furlough days EVERYONE in the CCSD employment faces furloughs!! That includes bus drivers, lunchroom staff, custodians, teachers and county office personnel including the superintendent!! Compare his salary against other county superintendents with the same standard of achievement and we have a bargain! He HAS turned this county around from the disaster it was 13 years ago….I know. I witnessed and experienced it.
Proud Cherokee Parent
February 17th, 2012
8:58 pm
If these goons truly believe that the parents of over 38 THOUSAND students will ignore this obvious slap in the face to our public school system in Cherokee, I sincerely hope that they all have a ‘Plan B’ for when they are voted out of office. In a way, this bill is a good thing. We are long overdue a shake up and a WAKE UP as CCSD parents that these reps DO NOT have our kids’ best interests at heart. If I hear one more work about charters, vouchers, and private school ’scholarships’, I am going to puke.
Adios, gentleman!
Proud Cherokee Parent
February 17th, 2012
9:00 pm
If these goobs truly believe that the parents of over 38 THOUSAND students will ignore this obvious slap in the face to our public school system in Cherokee, I sincerely hope that they all have a ‘Plan B’ for when they are voted out of office. In a way, this bill is a good thing. We are long overdue a shake up and a WAKE UP as CCSD parents that these reps DO NOT have our kids’ best interests at heart. If I hear one more work about charters, vouchers, and private school ’scholarships’, I am going to barf.
Adios, gentleman!
Cherokee parent -- the original
February 17th, 2012
9:02 pm
You know the minions are really mad when they start co-opting screen names and accusing people who disagree with them of being liberals. Just because I’m an informed parent who loathes this kind of bullying by legislators doesn’t mean I’m in any way liberal… I’ve voted for several of these legislators repeatedly, but never will I do so again. It’s clear that these nasty posters don’t actually know Dr. P but rather are political hacks jealous of his power. Maybe they’re even among the group paid by these legislators to blog for them?
OnlytheLonely
February 17th, 2012
9:05 pm
@td, I’m afraid you’re wrong about the Cherokee delegation being Constitutionally required to change the way citizens vote for their school board. The only requirement is to redistrict.
Nostradamus
February 17th, 2012
9:09 pm
This will all mean very little come 2012 when Janet Read is sworn in as Board Chairman, a PTA mom wins the new post and Dr. P smiles as he is only a couple of months into his new three-year contract. These “grassroots conservatives” have awakened the silent majority and it will be hilarious to watch this backfire on them. Dare I say, Senator Chapman?
Maureen Downey
February 17th, 2012
9:09 pm
@Cherokee parent, I took down the poster’s comments. Sorry about that.
Maureen
Proud Cherokee Parent
February 17th, 2012
9:14 pm
@Nostradamus, AMEN! This was just the stir up that the silent majority needed. And trust me… we are STIRRED UP.
Nostradamus
February 17th, 2012
9:14 pm
That should have read 2013! Even Nostradamus makes a mistake every now and then!
Centrist
February 17th, 2012
9:17 pm
Once again, Proud Cherokee Parent – the “goobs/reps” who get you want voted out and bid adios is more likely to be school board members than the current legislative reps who have a history of being quite popular by their election margins. It is not the legislative districts being proposed to be redone, but the school board members.
CherokeeTaxpayer
February 17th, 2012
9:19 pm
TD: I think we agree on most major points that Dr. P has outstayed his welcome and that parents who want to send their kids to private schools should pay for it themselves. The only point of disagreement is how we go about making changes.
I favor electing school board members who will carry out the will of the majority of citizens in the county. You seem to favor gerrymandering and rigging the system to meet our goals.
Your argument about everyone voting for John Lewis or Jack Kingston is a very pitiful straw man. The conventions of elections by congressional district and elections by school district are well established and should not be changed willy-nilly for the sake of winning the argument of the day.
Centrist
February 17th, 2012
10:02 pm
td – You are dead on about the new voting plan.
Kindergarten CCSD Mom
February 17th, 2012
10:55 pm
The best thing we can all do is to let our opinions be known to our elected ‘voices’ on this issue – Hill, Jerguson, Rogers and Byrd. I have personally emailed them in regards to my absolute opposition and disappointment in their political shenanigans and putting their personal agendas ahead of our public school students here in Cherokee. I implore you to do the same!
Additionally, I urge you to attend one of the many Town Hall Meetings coming up tomorrow (2) and next week. These are advertised on Chip Rogers’ FaceBook page:
Two tomorrow:
11:30 Hickory Flat Public Lib
1:00 pm Rose Creek Public Lib
More to come the following week:
Thursday, February 25, 2010 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Hickory Flat Library
2740 E Cherokee Dr
Canton, GA 30115-9250
(770) 345-7565
Saturday, February 27, 2010 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Mt. View Library
3320 Sandy Plains Road
Marietta, GA 30066-4743
(770) 509-2725
Saturday, February 27, 2010 from 10:30 to 11:30 am
Woodstock Library
7735 Main Street
Woodstock, GA 30188-1691
(770) 928-9945
Saturday, February 27, 2010 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Rosecreek Library
4476 Towne Lake Parkway
Woodstock, GA 30189-8133
(770) 591-1491
Enough is enough and the elephant in the room needs to be addressed. I want to know why Charters and dismantling our school board outweigh fighting for the $118 million that CCSD has earned – but not received – from the state….?? And why our county is paying above the 20% maximum in ‘fair share’ mils by several percentage points….?? We need to elect people who TRULY represent our children – not those who won’t even send their children to our schools!! I know who I won’t be voting for next time.
Mark
February 17th, 2012
11:36 pm
You Cherokee voters should wise up. Chip Rogers is corrupt to the core. He bugs out on his debt. He bashes public schools. He does whatever Grover says is okay. And clearly, this dirt bag is looking for his next highest office.
td
February 17th, 2012
11:47 pm
CherokeeTaxpayer
February 17th, 2012
9:19 pm
My point about the current voting system in Cherokee county and the analogy of it being the same as voting for US house members all over the state is very legitimate. When Roy Barnes attempted this same thing by creating a super district with multiple house members in 2001 was ruled unconstitutional by a Federal court. In addition the county is probably in violation of the voting rights act. If there is an area in the county where minorities could make up a majority for a independent district then the current system violates the voting rights act.
Truth in 2012
February 18th, 2012
12:24 am
Way to go Dr. P. Fight the establishment. Fight the political machine. I hope your parents support you.
Concerned Cherokee Citizen
February 18th, 2012
6:04 am
Certainly, I disagree with the fact that our school board and superintendent are making sound financial decisions for the taxpayers of Cherokee County. Too many buildings, which are structurally sound, could be renovated/repurposed rather than imploded. In addition, we are busing students great distances from their local residential areas. (One of many examples here: Students who live in the Canton Market Place area are being transported daily to Avery Elementary, Creekside Middle, and Creekview High.) How can anyone, who is concerned about the financial staus of our system, justify this when Hasty Elementary is one minute away, Cherokee High is less than five minutes away, and Teasley Middle is less than ten minutes away? There are numerous other areas where the taxpayer’s money is not being utilized in a sound manner, and this is widely recognized throughout our county. That being said, however, I do feel that we must take a stand against current legislation which seems very anti-public schools. The path leading to voucher education would, in my opinion, destroy our public schools as we know them.
cherokee granny
February 18th, 2012
7:45 am
Yes it is true that Dr. P. is abrasive and pompous but it’s the results that matter. For those that do remember school board policy demanded we notify the school board two weeks in advance in order to speak on any issue, we had to detail what it was that we wanted to speak on and it had to be approved prior to our being listed as an agenda topic. This managed control was eliminated when Dr. P. became superintendent. This policy among others was something he could change without board approval. This is one example of how citizen input was encouraged and boy did it work!
Having lived here as long as I have we have tended to have a one party system. 35 years ago the Democrat party had a stranglehold on the elected positions and I longed for the day when we would have a choice, well we now have the Republicans and they behave no differently. The decent, good Republicans have headed for the hills and cower at the “Chipper” and his self righteous crusade.
Many years ago a statistican named Gerald Bracy wrote a book on how there were groups ready to dismantle the public education system. This has been in the works for quite some time. Of course their ultimate goal is profit. Which makes me wonder how much these guys will directly benefit
Chaos
February 18th, 2012
7:56 am
It is interesting to me, as someone not from Cherokee Co., that so many of the comments center on Chip Rogers. I don’t care if you vote for him or not, but this is as House Bill that is co-sponsored by Reps Hamilton, Jerguson, Byrd, and Hill. Is Senator Rogers so powerful that he can get his Reps to do his dirty work over in the House? If that is the case, you guys need a full new delegation in both chambers that is more responsive to, and interested in, the local issues that they are supposedly representing.
I think the proposed system would be better if the Board members qualified by district, but ran county-wide. That system would ensure that all people in Cherokee are represented on the school board. But let’s be real, there is no decision that is made by a school board that only affects a certain district within the system. Almost all, if not all, decisions will affect the entire system. Hence, all voters should have a shot at voting for, or against, board members while being represented by someone from the district.
Your rallying cry should be to change the legislation in committee.
crankee_yankee
February 18th, 2012
7:57 am
The Republican mantra of “local control” can be defined as the locus of control resting with whomever is wanting to make the rules, the local community be damned. The sooner people wake up to that, the better off we will all be.
mark
February 18th, 2012
8:02 am
I thought the Repubs were for local control? I thought they were for local Rights? I guess Chip is nothing but a wolf in republican corporate clothing. He wants to give our tax dollars to out of state companies. No wonder Ga is last in many categories, high unemployment, low wages, low education, high poverty rate and many more. Vote the Repubs out! or continue this downward spirl.
As a liberal, educated, yankee, i find this whole education issue humorous. As a parent and teacher if find it disgusting. I have two more years until I am vested in TRS. I will then seek a job in the privated sector. I can not deal with the Repubs control of education. Go teach them your mythology in church, not in a science class room. Go teach them Santorum’s and Rodgers view of the world and continue the sterotype of the south for years to come.
carlosgvv
February 18th, 2012
8:14 am
The Republican Party in Georgia is totally committed to serving the interests of the far-right born-again Christian community. They percieve this group as being the ones who will elect and re-elect them to office. So, they are pushing as hard as possible for charter schools and planning to turn these schools, one way or another, into Christian Academys. Of course, they won’t do this openly but you may be sure students attending these schools will get a generous dose of pure conservative Christianity is all their subjects.
Truth in 2012
February 18th, 2012
8:23 am
Carlosgvv, it is said that this state overwhelmingly votes republican although their interests are not the focus of those elected officials. It appears that they want an uneducated citizentry so they can continue to run on culture war issues that have not well thought out by the average constituent and that feeds emotionalism and extremism. Maybe this is one of the reasons education is not a priority in this state among Republican leaders…it helps them to retain power at the expense and progress of the many. This situation is a classice example of their hypocrisy. The state needs to move to BLUE. Unfortunately, we are so unlearned, we don’t know it or believe it. This is the way they want it. And many of them call themselves Christian.
TW
February 18th, 2012
8:41 am
The only support from government Cherokee schools has received over the last decade came in the two year Obama stimulus the rednecks up there continue to bash.
Chip Rogers doesn’t even pretend to give a crap about the public schools, yet the parents up there gleefully continue to jam their kids up his butt.
Were it not for that ‘Kenyan socialist’ in the White House,, there’d be soup lines in Cherokee.
The rightwing war on education is winning in Cherokee.
Best bet – move to Cobb or Alpharetta.
Ed
February 18th, 2012
8:51 am
My children attend public school in Cherokee county and overall the public school teachers and principals in Cherokee county do a great job. I have to disagree with Dr. P on this one. It makes sense for me to be able to vote for my local school board representative and the County Chairperson. Who should I contact if I have an issue with my local school? All 7 members? Based on the small stipend that these School Board members receive, it seems logical for the members to serve a specific area of Cherokee County. As a parent, I have a hard time believing things that Dr. P says anymore. In 2007, he said Cherokee County would have a charter school within a year. Well, the board had 5 times to vote to give parents another option and all five times they rejected it. This year he claimed the star up of a local Charter School would cause 50 teachers to be fired and additional furlough days. Another example of him saying one thing and reality being different.
Cherokee parent -- the original
February 18th, 2012
9:03 am
@Ed — To compensate for the loss of $3.1 million in state funds expected due to the opening of Cherokee Charter Academy, Dr. P recommended in the summer — before CCA even opened, but when the School Board had to approve its budget — that they make a choice as to where that money would be cut. The choices to add up to that amount were: layoffs, more furlough days (in addition to the four unpaid days off all employees including Dr. P already have), a property tax increase or further dipping into reserves (which the state at the same time was mandating school boards increase). Dr. P told the board he didn’t think layoffs or furlough days were acceptable, but he laid all the options out for the board to choose. The board ended up choosing using reserves. I was at all the meetinga and I’ve read the budget, but it’s clear you did not.
CherokeeMomof3
February 18th, 2012
9:34 am
I live in Cherokee and I’m the Mom of 3 current CCSD students. This is 100% an effort by Chip Rogers and the grass roots organization named Cherokee Parents for Choice to rid the county of board members that would not locally approve the charter school last year. They want their “public” private school and they’ll go to any means to get it. Here’s the link to the Cherokee Parents for Choice blog. http://cp4choice.blogspot.com
Tony
February 18th, 2012
9:35 am
There is no doubt that our legislators have run amok and are trying to force an unneeded change upon the Cherokee school district. Their intent is definitely to undermine the effectiveness of the current school system leadership so that they will be able to ramrod their own versions of school choice through the system.
Cherokee County Schools have some of the best schools in the state. I’m completely baffled as to why a state leader would want to destroy the good work the board of education has done there. The schools consistently produce excellent achievement results and their organizational tools are high quality.
I hope the people of Cherokee and everywhere in our state will wake up and recognize the mean-spirited efforts of legislators like Mr. Rogers.
pansophy
February 18th, 2012
9:37 am
Ignorance is bliss; the status quo is running scared. And of course they will seek other public service seats because doing anything else would be work.
Education is power. Give that to the children.
Public schools get their financing from local, state, and federal government funds. In most cases, they must admit all students who live within the borders of their district.
Charter schools and magnet schools are two relatively new kinds of public schools.
Charter schools began appearing in the early 90s. They are autonomous, “alternative” public schools started by parents, teachers, community organizations, and for-profit companies. These schools receive “some tax dollars” but the sponsoring group must also come up with private funding. Charter schools must adhere to the basic curricular requirements of the state but are free from many of the regulations that apply to conventional schools and the day-to-day scrutiny of school boards and government authorities. Yet can be shut down for not performing to standards unlike public school counter parts. What is the problem here? True competition is a driving force in improvement any where a monopoly exists.
( CCA is currently funded by the state of Georgia using federal bridge money. CCA is not receiving in money allocated to CCSD Schools for their operation this time. )
CCSD is receiving all state and federal money allocated for their schools based on their populations and property taxes revenues. Property taxes revenues have fallen due tho the housing market, that is not the fault of CCA. However Mismanagement by Dr P is a huge likely hood.
CCA provided much needed employment in the county.
IF you have a rebuttal talk numbers, not just an I Win button, you most certainly are not Charlie Sheen.
Larry Singleton
February 18th, 2012
9:39 am
As I posted on my Facebook page … Frank loves to speak his mind … now I would like to see a response from our legislative delegation as to why they are seeking changes … just sayin … just listening
cantweet2012
February 18th, 2012
9:57 am
Show up for the meetings at the Hickory Flat Library at 11:30 Saturday folks and be heard. The politicians live off of the apathy of the public in these matters.
MoneyMan
February 18th, 2012
10:12 am
Is it legal for Rogers to funnel campaign contributions from his warchest to Grassroots Conservatives of Cherokee for this purpose?
Blue Dog
February 18th, 2012
10:27 am
Now people who thought that they opted for a politics of conservatism Republican-style around the State rather than conservatism Democratic-style are seeing the birds come home to roost in the most uncomfortable ways. Power players like Rogers are inordinately influenced by religious Dominionists lobbying at the legislature to weaken public education and redirect resources to private- like education, thus the State-driven Charter school movement, and since the Republicans control the reins of state government some of them like Rogers and Jan Jones dream of getting this done. It is subtly racist and certainly undemocratic. It will cause great harm to Georgia if they succeed before it is corrected down the road. If the Cherokee County schools are functioning at a high level comparatively it is clear that the legislators overstep their bounds and mandate to force such changes. The State has essentially dropped its right to claim leadership in Georgia’s public schools since Sonny Perdue became governor and the legislature commenced years of underfunding. Their policies are bad for children and public schools in Georgia. Their power hunger now seems arrogant. They pay more attention to a few nuts whose ideas would be to essentially weaken and destroy Georgia’s public schools.
Disgusted mom
February 18th, 2012
11:11 am
Maybe now people are finally seeing the light when it comes to Chip and his gang of thugs. He is bullying his way through gerrymandering and veiled threats to control the school board. Board members were told that if they voted for the charter school, he would leave them alone at election time. Contrary to his wishes, board members did the right thing in not approving the “private” charter school petition, and two very good board members lost their seat to Chip’s new puppets. And since he couldn’t remove Janet and Mike from their position by getting someone in his camp elected, he is now gerrymandering to see them removed. Even the hand selected groupies making up the Blue Ribbon Committee got it right when they voted to keep the board members elected district-wide, only to receive a message that they must have misunderstood what they were voting for and were directed to take another vote!! Hello? Undue influence?
Chip’s track record of introducing legislation to support anything BUT public education is appalling.
I understand today Chip is holding a town hall meeting about charter schools. Wish Chip, Charlise, Calvin, Sean and that Mark would champion public education as hard as they champion all the alternatives. Slowing eroding the public school system and then claiming it needs fixed by introducing vouchers, charters, and special tax breaks for “private school scholarships” is so wrong.
Now they want to pattern our school board after school systems that are disfunctional – Clayton, DeKalb, Cobb. If you’ve never seen these boards in action, you are missing a grand show of divisiveness, territorial battles, and private agendas. No one looks after the district as a whole and what is best for ALL the children. Is that what we want? We have a system that worked well – it’s not broken. So adjust the boundaries according to the census numbers, and let all the people vote for the board members that will represent all the children.
This is a move backward, not forward. And I remember when the actions of board members with personal agendas and an elected superintendent put this school system on probation. Here we go again. Remember to thank Chip and his legislative peers for the push in the wrong direction just to get back at Dr. P for now bowing to Chip’s every wish.
Chip put his children in private schools because he doesn’t believe public school teachers share the same morals as him. I’m thankful that our public school teachers don’t – they actually far exceed his value system and I thank them for that.
Slip
February 18th, 2012
11:28 am
Unrepresentative legislation.
Madison
February 18th, 2012
11:30 am
Pure power play. Rogers should go.
JPM
February 18th, 2012
12:13 pm
Let’s start with facts and not rhetoric.
- The CCSD is successful if the only measure is providing an education. Dr. P and the board should be recognized for doing an excellent job educating the children. The tax payers should also be recognized for opening up their accounts to pay the price to get where we are.
- The existing debt of the system is approximately $350 million in principal & another $170 million in interest per the public info provided by the CCSD.
- The last high school in the county cost us $55 million to provide a maximum capacity of 1400 students. A replacement middle school with a $40 million dollar price is currently under way. There are three new schools not started on the agenda. Growth and added students have decreased over the levels experienced the last decade. The expansion of new school costs is based on the rate of growth planned a decade ago [see CCSD website for the plan shown on the left side of the page to read the expansion program].
- The BOE raised property taxes last summer just after school ended. A few months ago the board, including Dr. P and the PTA’s started pushing re-newing E-SPLOST for another ~ $150 million using the tactic of telling the electorate passing E-SPLOST would prevent raising property taxes again. We renewed E-SPLOST last November. On January 19th Dr. P discussed in the BOE meeting the need once again to raise property tax; this time to the maximum allowed by State law.
- Direct questions to the board resulted in the board stating they did not know how high taxes would have to be raised to maintain the current level of achievement. The statement is in writing with all members of the board on distribution.
- One of the reasons’ given by the BOE to oppose the change is to prevent one section of the county having dominion over another [refer to comments made by CCSD employees in the Dec. 7th town hall meeting & BOE members in the local papers]. In fact, several members of the board live within 2 miles from each other in the Town Lake area with Dr. P living approx. 3 miles north.
- The poll Dr. P refers to was handed out in 4 school meetings with the poll not meeting any recognized polling standards such as OMB or APPO&R. Also, when I asked questions about the poll the CCSD could not rule out that school children also answered the poll. The poll discussed by Mr. Steiner in his cover letter and DR. P in the report is not an honest poll and has no validity. The poll slammed in the discussion was conducted using recognized standards. The results of the poll Dr. P and others have issues with reflect the split numbers I heard in the December 7th town hall meeting on the subject.
- The board is elected at large in the county. The board elects “its” chair and co-chair in secret ballot without public input or attendance. At large voting accomplishes allowing special interest such as Tea Party, the Baptist, or the CCSD as examples to determine who is elected to the board. Representative democracy where we elect our representatives direct prevent special interest from negating my right to representative government. At large voting also dilutes the power of the minority vote, when I brought the subject up members of the CCSD representing one of the pro-no change groups told me we did not need to worry about dilution of minority voting. HB 978 elects the voters to elect the chair, and their representative.
Those are the facts.
Mac33
February 18th, 2012
12:35 pm
It seems to me that this process of debate over should there be State or local control in education, or how many school board seats there should be in a district, I beleive that what has been lost is the history for the concept of public education in America. The reason for public education was the only way for children to go to school in our agrarian society was to go to privately funded schools, so only a minority of the children in America were able to go to school. Public education was devised so that every child in America could go to school to improve their lives they were living working in the fields, the factories or in the mines. I’m all about choice, it’s probably the greatest freedom we have as American citizens. However, if a parent chooses not to participate in the school district / community school in which they live, that’s fine. But do not take money out of the public system and send it to private / charter schools.
Finally, if citizens are concerned about how their school board members are promoting their own agenda and would like to see more control, then the school system needs to shrink. Instead of having a massive county wide school system with 50 to 100 schools in them, create individual school systems that are smaller like other states have. High academic performing states. One high school, one / two middle schools and 3 -4 elementary schools. Talk about “Grassroots”! That is grassroots education, the way public education was created in this counry, for the reasons of good quality education promoting strong – unified communities, not dividing them.
Mr. Moore
February 18th, 2012
12:58 pm
Petruzielo is a arrogant scuzzbag, and the school board is paying for his arrogance. There was a time he was needed, that time has past. I think the school board needs to make a decision, terminate Petruzielo immediately, or suffer the wrath of consequences. My main concern was when there was a open records request regarding the last charter school vote. They quoted an OUTLANDISH amount of money to comply with the open records request. The school board needs to lose this liability. Yes school system appears running well, but at some point, high achievement has a cost, and the school board has to decide is having negative support from the public and other political leaders worth the “price of admission”. I will be honest, I cannot stand Chip Rogers, but at this point you deal with the most troublesome and take them out. It’s time to look for a new superintendent and the time was yesterday.
Grandparent and Retired Teacher
February 18th, 2012
3:05 pm
As a parent and retired teacher in Cherokee County I don’t understand the fear by other teachers. As teachers, we know that children have different learning styles. The education that best benefits the student is what is important. I also don’t like the gang feeling when teachers threaten that “we” determine who is elected. I am disappointed with the personal attacks. I don’t know a single teacher who would allow this disrespect in their classroom. I saw student who fell in the “gray” area or “between the cracks” and were just lost in Public Education, although as teachers we did our best with our system. I was never afraid that parent would rush to take their children out of my classroom. It never happened. When my child was in school, I was distressed to discover he had gotten a bad teacher. We knew who they were, but they continued to stay year after year. If parents had choice the good teachers would be fine and the teachers who aren’t doing their job could be replaced. If you don’t like the service you get at a store, restaurant, or office, you have the ability to go somewhere else. Only in public education is a child stuck with a fit that isn’t good for the student and the teacher. I understand my opinion is not popular as a retired teacher, and I don’t usually express it, but this was a good opportunity.
Hillbilly D
February 18th, 2012
3:40 pm
I think the proposed system would be better if the Board members qualified by district, but ran county-wide.
That’s the way county commission elections work in some counties and it has an inherent flaw. A candidate from District whatever can conceivably be elected to represent their district, without receiving a majority of votes in the district that they represent. So, the rest of the county can take away the choice of the voters of that district. That’s how it works in my county and it’s just a matter of time until that scenerio plays out, where the rest of the county elects a district representative that that district doesn’t want.
I don’t live in Cherokee County, though, so it’s up to y’all to do as you please.
catlady
February 18th, 2012
4:18 pm
But you gotta ask–to whom ARE the legislators friends? Certainly not any school system, parents, or students. Their actions in starving public education give that away!
School Bus Driver
February 18th, 2012
4:44 pm
catlady
February 17th, 2012
4:38 pm
How disgusting will these “leaders” go? Cherokee. turn them out NOW! Time for Chip et al to get a REAL job! You know, one that doesn’t fleece the taxpayers.
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(with my tongue in my cheek)
Catlady, don’t you realize that Chip can NOT get a “real job”? We taxpayers have a responsibility to continue his $38K state salary for him to privately educate his four kids (since his financial disclosures list no other income). Prior news stories have proven that Chip and his partner Tom (gee, another politician of questionable “real” job skills) only have *mis*management skills as evidenced by their failed Dalton motel deal and their argument that the *bank* was at fault (not Chip) because the bank *knew* the two partners were *not* qualified nor able to pay back a million-plus-dollar loan. With *mis*management skills like that, is it any wonder Chip and Tom are on the public dole rather than working “real” jobs? Indeed, it does raise serious questions about how Chip paid cash for two homes with a combined valued of $700,000-plus on his $38K state job (as stated by a previous poster on this blog). No, we Cherokee taxpayers need to keep Chip in office if for no other reason than to financially support the mentally-challenged of the State of Georgia.
Patrick Thompson
February 18th, 2012
5:41 pm
Rogers, since he’s moved to the far, far eastern border of Cherokee Co next to Roswell and Alpharetta, will be leaving Cherokee representation behind for his new patrons. However, the damage he leaves behind to local public education is a testament to lobby dollars and party dogma over representing citizens.Term limits and fall elections are a great solution.
val's mom
February 18th, 2012
6:55 pm
I’ve written to both Chip and Charlice to voice my opinion on state mandated charter schools and the redistricting of my local school board members. Needless to say, we weren’t on the same side. I received condescending responses from both. When they come up for re-election, I will be voting for Bob the Turkey.
Paddy O
February 19th, 2012
12:22 am
this is the profound albatross of the current edition of “conservative republicans” in the state house. They have NO RESPECT for local gov’t. Some big spender comes up to gripe, and like genuine liberals, they knee jerk react. Local control under the GA Senate is consistently under attack. Chip Rogers, Earl Erhart are the usual bushwackers.
The Real Deal Education Advocate in Cherokee
February 19th, 2012
1:04 am
It’s really very simple – the arrogance and cronyism is with Janet Read and Mike Chapman, along with Dr. P, not the legislators. NEWSFLASH – last time I checked, the school board is supposed to be a representative board of THE PEOPLE, not a puppet board run by the Superintendant, which is unfortunately what has occured for the last two decades. If Janet Read and Mike Chapman have done a good job representing the people and the best interests of Cherokee County children and citizens, then no matter what Post they would fall under, they would be re-elected. However, the reality is, they know they have not done a good job and have not been elected by the people but rather by the Special Interest Groups and CCSD Employees, all made possible by the old way of doing elections (where CCSD employees could vote for all candidates countywide) and the Dr. P political machine could be preserved. However, the “machine politics” are coming to an end, albeit with Read, Chapman, and Dr. P kicking and screaming. The demographics of Cherokee County have changed to where a majority of the county is non-native, more affluent and values education more dearly and want to see progressity and options beyond what Dr. P and his cronies have been able and willing to provide. Our legislators have recognized this and it is the people of Cherokee County (like me) who have spoken directly to the legislators strongly recommending the system be changed for the right reasons…The old election model was an “incumbent protection plan”. Beating the Dr. P crony incumbents and getting a people focused majority has been difficult because to challenge an incumbent, candidates have had to build an organization that could defeat a county wide campaign. The Dr. P crony incumbents like Read and Chapman have always been able to count on the special interest groups to work for them – the vast numbers of the PTA Leadership (a Dr. P Activist Group) and their mindless members and terrified district teachers and employees that live in every corner of the county. If you think I am crazy, just think back to the charter school vote at Cherokee H.S. Of the 800 people who were there 70% were turned out by “the system” to protect “the system”. We have made headway by having three solid School Board members who are not puppets and who are truly focused on representing the children and citizens of CC – Geist, Usher and Cochran. With a new policy on elections, we now hope to fully move the School Board to a professional board fully representative of the people and free from the totalitarian puppet state it has been held in by Dr. P for the last decade. Amen to our truly conservative legislators who have had the guts to stand up to the elitist left wing of Cherokee County – Dr. P and the RINO Four Members of the School Board!!! And to Mike Chapman, as payback from your June Comments, I prodly say, “IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT, YOU CAN MOVE !!!
What goes around, comes around! Thank you Senator Rogers for leading the way TO TRUE LOCAL CONTROL – PARENTAL SCHOOL CHOICE !!!
Parent of 5
February 19th, 2012
9:37 am
I have five children who attended cherokee county schools. The three that are 17, 18 and 20 had a great education. The two that are 8 and 10 did not at Bascomb which is suppose to be the best. If you have a child that is ahead or behind they are forgotten. It’s not Dr. P educating the kids it’s the parents. Has anyone of you including the board gone to the charter school and sit in on a class or talked to those students? The answer is NO because it’s not about the kids it’s about the board having their control! Dr. P give up your private driver, give up your salary just give up. Teachers have not been given more furlough days this year nor has any money been taken from the county. I have personally have known Janet for many years and am disappointed they she has refused to respond to my concerns with down fall of Cherokee County quality of education. If you are a parent of an older child I’m sure you are happy with their education. If you are a parent of a younger child and believe your child is getting a great education you have been snowed. I wish you knew what actually goes on within the county board. The threats by Dr. P to his employees. It’s just sad. I ask they stop lying and think about these children!
The Real Deal Education Advocate
February 19th, 2012
10:16 am
@JPM and Parent of 5 – Thank you for speaking up and talking about the real facts in Cherokee County. This blog is filled as you can see with nothing but a bunch of liberal, left-wing, system supporting bureaucrats from both inside and outside Cherokee County who are part of the establishment and are cut from the same cloth as Dr. P and his Anti-School Choice cronies. As you probably noted, everyone on this blog has focused on the system and the politics in their comments. The three of us have focused on the reality of the situation and the fact this fight is about Parents and Children, not Power and Control. The Parents of Cherokee County realize that it is about needing both a strong public school system and other public options that BEST SERVE ALL KIDS. The reason why the Parents and Citizens of Cherokee want Dr. P and his cronies out is because he does not have the skillset to move Cherokee County Schools in the direction they need to go. Back in the 1990’s he was the perfect man for the job – a good public school bureaucrat to come in and fix public education and make successful for a majority of children. He did that. However, what Dr. P fails to acknowledge is that for one he was able to do that under a booming economy with much tax revenue and he created a system that is high spend that cannot be sustainable. The other thing that people outside Cherokee don’t understand is that he has been unwilling to move Cherokee County in a direction that best serves all children and offers wider options such as a High School Magnet Programs in Advanced Academics, STEM, and the Arts, and a Charter Option that focused on alternative delivery and high parental involvement, ALONG WITH A STRONG TRADITIONAL SYSTEM. I too have 5 children all of which are have gone through CC Schools. They have thrived because they were in a good neighborhood school but after 5th grade I moved them to private school where they could received the advanced education they need to remain challenged and they were in an environment that is mature, adult like, and were they do not have to worry about getting trampled in the hallways or beat up. Cherokee County High Schools are severely overcrowed and the students there have to deal with alot of unnecessary safety and other issues not related to the classroom environment that detracts from the quality of their education. If Cherokee County had developed the progressive options earlier in the decade, they would not be in the quandary they are currently in. The demographics of Cherokee County has changed, the county is more upper middle class affluent and those folks want more out of education and options for their children that are available in Cobb, Gwinnett, etc. Dr. P doesn’t want to do it that way and this is why it is time for him to go so the District can get a Super in her who knows how to do this and work with the Parents and the Community to take Cherokee’s Schools to the Next Level that they are ready to be taken to. Dr. P and his “RINO 4″ School Board Cronies are holding this all hostage. I am pretty confident Dr. P time is very short. The School Board make up will change very soon, Read and Chapman will be gone with this next election and then there will be a School Choice Majority who will return the Board to the “People” and ensure Dr. P’s contract is not renewed. We will then start and collaborative efforto take Cherokee’s education to a world class level by support all children through a variety of options and the status quo that is currently strangling our chlidren will be eliminated.
The Real Deal Education Advocate
February 19th, 2012
10:29 am
@Maureen – regarding your comments re: Dr. P, see my comments above. If you think Dr. P is held in high regard, have at em. Maybe you guys in Decatur can let him come in and run your schools. He is a big time public school only power and money hungry bureaucrat. Since you guys down in Decatur seem to love throwing high amounts of your tax money at your schools without concern of it being spent effectively and in serving all children, he seems like a good candidate to be your next Super. Dr. P continually bashes anyone and everyone he can when he does not get the millions of dollars he demands, as if we are just supposed to fork it over without challenging its use. He built an empire in the Tax Revenue Heydays and now that the economy has gone south, he has Cherokee in trouble because of his excessive spending that the current tax base cannot support given the economy. Implementing progressive educational options like STEM, Magnet Programs, etc. he has failed miserably, with a capital “M.” When he crosses the county line on the way to retirement or his next Super Job, Cherokee County Parents and Children will breath a sigh of relief because they will be better off immediately.
Blue Dog
February 19th, 2012
10:00 pm
It amazes that those who place their children in private schools still want to tell everyone who remain truly supportive of public education how to do it. And the routine is to yell and scream and throw around the word “left”, “elite”. It smacks of a profound misunderstanding of public education and fails to address the arguments of the State forcing a State-controlled charter program alongside local leadership in public education whoever the leaders are from time to time.
C Jae of EAV
February 20th, 2012
11:50 am
We are perched on a slippery slope, when for the 2nd year in a row we have state legislators proposing bills to limit the size of local boards and/or hand to the governor the power to sanction/remove local BOE members based on somewhat subjective factors of evaluation.
These types of bills are of greater threat to local control than the heated debate over charter school authorization/funding. Look at the havoc created by last year’s bill to do something simular in DeKalb. Let the local community determine what board size is best or if we’re to pass any bill at the state level let it be uniform to effect the entire state.
an interested observer
February 21st, 2012
7:33 am
Cherokee Counselor–well said. The republicans have campaigned on less government and more choices for parents. All fine and good, but it seems that their quest to “improve” public schools has only meant syphoning off enough money to set up protected charter schools which seem quick fixes to the ever growing problems that politicians caused in public schools 20 years ago. If they want to see changes let them set up a blue ribbon commission of educators, business leaders, and parents to find ways to fundamentally change the old assembly line model of education to a more effective way that does not require educators just teaching the tests. The new standards for public education will help by allowing teachers to teach deeper into the material with inter-related information and media, but testing of it will not truly measure what students know. Republicans need to lead instead of just mandate and unfund.
Normally Pleasant
February 21st, 2012
3:46 pm
I guess it’s time to start investing time and money to remove certain representatives from office who are determined to push their charter school agenda. My children could have gone to private school, and there were times when I struggled with what is not a perfect situation in our public schools. But we cannot undermine the public school endeavor. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. I don’t care what you argue. This is never a movement for the fair, civic-minded individuals. It’s for folks that say, “Let’s take care of ours. Sorry about yours.”
church schools unite!
February 22nd, 2012
3:39 pm
Isn’t it obvious to everyone reading this blog that “The Real Deal Education advocate” postings are by Chip Rogers?