Charter-school amendment would set off gold rush
Reading the list of out-of-state contributors to the campaign to pass Amendment 1, the state charter-schools amendment, you get the sense that an old-fashioned gold rush would begin in Georgia the moment the amendment is approved.
J.C. Huizenga, founder of Michigan-based National Heritage Academies, a for-profit charter school operator, has contributed $25,000; his company contributed a matching $25,000. Charter Schools USA, based in Florida, contributed $50,000 as well. D.A. Davidson, a financial services firm based in Great Falls, Montana that touts itself as “a recognized leader in charter school financing,” has so far given $5,000. And K12 Inc., a for-profit provider of online classes and “full-time online public schools,” has kicked in $100,000.
Those account only for contributions made through Sept. 21; the final campaign-disclosure reports may include additional big-dollar donations from companies eager to enter Georgia’s public-school marketplace.
Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong about for-profit companies operating in the education sector. However, despite the fervor of those who preach that competition solves all problems, there’s nothing inherently good about it either. None of the countries that outperform the United States in education, for example, do so through the for-profit model.
In addition, the overall shoddy performance of for-profit colleges and universities here in the United States provides stark evidence that when the profit motive conflicts with academic standards, profit takes precedence. A Senate report released this summer found that tuition at for-profit colleges averages six times that of community colleges, while the education provided is greatly inferior. Only a small fraction of students who enroll at for-profit colleges actually graduate, and those who do get degrees usually find their diplomas aren’t worth much. That explains in part why students at for-profit schools account for almost 50 percent of student-loan defaults, even though they make up just 10 percent of the nation’s student body.
And why are for-profit colleges generally inferior? In short, the $32 billion industry has found it more lucrative to compete on grounds other than education quality. According to the Senate report, the nation’s 30 largest for-profit schools spend just 17 percent of their revenue on student instruction, while spending 22.7 percent on marketing to keep fresh bodies coming in.
There’s every reason to worry that similar dynamics will play out in k-12 education. Take K12 Inc., the company that has so far contributed $100,000 to opening up the Georgia market. In Florida, where the company operates in 43 school districts, a typical K12 high school teacher may have as many as 275 online students per class, which enhances profitability if not education. Last month, Florida officials launched an investigation into charges that K12 also uses teachers uncertified for the classes they teach and that company officials asked employees to cover up that fact.
It’s also important to consider the ethical culture in which the Georgia education gold rush would take place. On Sunday, the AJC reported that the State Properties Commission — headed by Gov. Nathan Deal — decided that the best place to locate a new, $13.6 million State Poultry Laboratory was in a Hall County industrial park. In what was clearly just a happy coincidence, the park turns out to be owned in part by Deal’s close friend and campaign manager.
If an appointed commission is given the power to create state charter schools run by private enterprise, I suspect the potential for many more such happy coincidences would increase. It’s interesting, for example, that under Amendment 2, also on the November ballot, the State Properties Commission would for the first time be given constitutional authority to sign real-estate leases of up to 20 years.
There are good arguments in favor of that proposal. However, it’s also true that if one were contemplating a spate of new state-authorized charter schools, the ability to sign long-term leases with developers would be very useful in getting the necessary facilities built. Again, just a coincidence I’m sure.
– Jay Bookman
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420 comments Add your comment
curious
October 24th, 2012
9:38 am
This is just a ploy to SEGREGATE schools. Just like the old days when the black schools were underfunded and white schools had the necessary resources.
Yes, there will be minorities, but the real objective is to leave the under performers in a failed or failing school. Once that happens, the failed school will get even less support and we will be successful in creating a permanent under class.
Georgia on my mind...
October 24th, 2012
9:38 am
Yet another shameful clueless blog by Bookman. You have no clue!
______
It does not seem as if most of the people on this blog are against Charter Schools per say…they would rather the local boards have control instead of Governor Nathan Deal. Just imagine how many Charter Schools will be built in Hall County!! Amazing!!!!
Ken
October 24th, 2012
9:38 am
Went ahead and voted against this in early voting, however, all the libs need to realize that the current model is full of graft and waste as well. Look at the number of administrators each county now has- assistant superintendant this, assistant superintendant that, all making well over $100 K annually. Also, pay close, very close attention to who the schools are buying land from to build new schools. While the bids on building new schools is a sealed bid situation, most counties are buying land from the same fat cat over and over, just months after same said fat cat buys the land and makes 50-100% profit.
And while I am on this rant, until recently, teachers could take a mail order masters or doctorate degree from some podunk diploma mill and increase their salaries substantially with a post-graduate degree with absolutely no connection to their profession that benefitted the student. So, with this in mind, be very, very careful when you defend the Georgia Public Education System- as our old swamp ‘possum Pogo reminds us- we have found the enemy and it is us.
Mighty Righty
October 24th, 2012
9:38 am
Speaking of coincidences, it is being reported that Joe Bidens Brother has received a billion plus dollar contract to build houses in Iraq! Biden has no builder experience, is not a contractor, and apparently didn’t have to mess with something as cumbersome and nasty as competitive bidding or voter approvals. The money of course will come from China and be repaid by our children and grandchildren. But then, its just theft of taxpayer money as usual by Obama’s crony capiltalism regime.
Brosephus™
October 24th, 2012
9:39 am
The problem with you liberals is that you all think throwing money at a problem will solve it. We all know this is not true because we throw billions away on a failed education system.
And the problem with y’all conservatives is that you say stuff like that and then support this amendment which is a big government powergrab that throws money at the education problem by shifting taxpayers dollars from one source to another as opposed to truly reforming the system. You talk a good game, but your actions make you look like the liberals you describe.
Brosephus™
October 24th, 2012
9:40 am
Ken
Thank you for being a true conservative and voting against big government. I tip my hat to you.
UNCLE SAMANTHA
October 24th, 2012
9:40 am
Doggone/GA
October 24th, 2012
9:25 am
“Charter Schools is a done deal”
Of course they are…but THIS amendment is to inject the state’s power into what should be a LOCAL issue.
========================================================================
INCORRECT
it is the fact that the LOCAL leaders have failed the education system in their county……..
parents are at the mercy of the LOCAL LEADERS…… if you live in Henry or City of Atlanta……… they are not going to allow outside groups or PARENTS to show how INCOMPETENT they are…………. if a CHARTER SCHOOL with LESS MONEY outperforms the PUBLIC schools in that district….. then it shows how INCOMPETENCE of the LOCAL CONTROL………..
Mick
October 24th, 2012
9:40 am
**My understanding is “Charter Schools” are superior to public schools in all respects**
Your understanding is not at all factual. Across the board most of the time they are no better and in many cases – inferior…
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 24th, 2012
9:41 am
TAXPAYER
JCI is a terrific company and l remains a great long term investment but not in any fashion related to A123…this is a long term play for them..they have 160k employees and do 40billion in sales..an investment as miniscule as A123 is not atypical of other small investments they historically make to see if technology can be furthered…
The idea that in the case or Solyndra that a PE firm bringing them out of bankruptcy is hysterical…at least for those who don’t take their politics too seriously..
DJ Sniper
October 24th, 2012
9:42 am
Oh Jesus, did somebody come back with the whole taxpayer dollars being used for abortions? Please retire that line, because it’s getting pretty lame.
Also, the real issue here is not the charter schools themselves; it’s the amendment that would take power away from local voters and place it into the hands of a board that will have little to no oversight. That, my friends, is the real problem.
Gale
October 24th, 2012
9:42 am
Catch a clue, those of you railing on about charter vs public. The amendment does not allow/forbid charter schools. The amendment is to override local control of charter schools. Pay attention. This is why the electorate is constantly making bad decisions. They do not pay attention.
Mary Elizabeth
October 24th, 2012
9:42 am
On June 4, 2012, I posted these words on a local journalist’s blog, which concerned a university football coach’s statement that he would only hire assistant coaches if the prospective assistant coaches had ”good-looking wives”:
======================================
“Perhaps, as citizens, we should begin to consider what degree of competition versus what degree of cooperation we wish to perpetuate within society. Perhaps, it is time to question whether the more ‘muscular’ concepts of power, dominance, winning, and wealth (which football brings to colleges and universities) are the values most to be sought within our nation, as opposed to the values of collaboration, cooperation, egalitarianism, and intellectual and spiritual development. It is interesting that the valuing of looks (which is a form of personal power) seems, often, to be a priority within the arenas of life which place priority upon power, a hierarchial way of seeing.”
“Perhaps the business world operates best through the threat of competition, but I believe that most educators, and perhaps most people, if inspired, have an intrinsic desire to excel. They achieve that excellence best in a nurturing, not a threatening, environment. Treating teachers with respect and care, while also educating them to more effective ways to increase student growth, enhances both teachers’ and students’ productivity and joy in the learning process. Look at the recent cheating debacles throughout the nation for examples of what has happened when unrealistic goals have been set for teachers in highly competitive, tense environments.”
================================================
The above was posted as an entry in my personal blog. For a full reading of that post, please use the link, below:
http://maryelizabethsings.wordpress.com/2012/02/21/competition-vs-cooperation/
Doggone/GA
October 24th, 2012
9:43 am
“if a CHARTER SCHOOL with LESS MONEY outperforms the PUBLIC schools in that district….. then it shows how INCOMPETENCE of the LOCAL CONTROL………..”
And if that charter school was approved LOCALLY how in the world does that prove the “incompetence” of local control? Especially since, as of right now, it HAD TO BE APPROVED LOCALLY.
Joseph
October 24th, 2012
9:43 am
Brosephus™:
The local school boards already have the power to create charter schools if the local taxpayers want to have them.
Yes they do but they have the misconception that these schools will take money away from them. Which if you inform yourself know this is not true.
This amendment is for big government because, instead of leaving school decisions on the local level, the state will be able to make decisions too. I choose to vote against big government.
The amendment is intended for families to have a choice where they want their kids to go to school. A huge bureaucracy in the local school systems that many times are controlled by Democrats that allow no parental involvement. Or give parents a choice to have a Charter School system controlled by parents themselves.
curious
October 24th, 2012
9:44 am
If Charter schools can be approved by the State, what happens if the local BOE doesn’t want to fund them?
Brosephus™
October 24th, 2012
9:44 am
DJ Sniper & Gale
They’re not going to listen to common sense. They’re going to be good little lemmings and follow the herd.
Doggone/GA
October 24th, 2012
9:44 am
“This is why the electorate is constantly making bad decisions. They do not pay attention”
Have you actually read the amendment as it will be printed on the ballot? It is worded to make SURE the electorate makes a “bad decision”
Ken
October 24th, 2012
9:45 am
Where is parental involvement ? Ask a teacher. Almost non existant.
Georgia on my mind...
October 24th, 2012
9:45 am
If Charter schools can be approved by the State, what happens if the local BOE doesn’t want to fund them?
______
It means that State Law supercedes local law!!
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 24th, 2012
9:46 am
Over the past 40 years or more, the state and federal strategy to improve schools is the throw money at the problem…all presidents have to have an educations agenda and none work, despite how much of our dough they spend…we are all rubes to continue to think the the GOP and DEMS continued use of ridiculous monikers and over spending will fix anything..
IMO, with exception to schools in poverty stricken areas who have much more complicated issues and need more help, generally speaking, a kid can get whatever level of education he/she wants with the right incentives by parents and teachers…
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 24th, 2012
9:47 am
KEN
The best measure of school results with few exceptions is the PTA participation….the lower the participation, the lower the school performs by any measure..
curious
October 24th, 2012
9:48 am
Georgia on my mind…
“It means that State Law supercedes local law!!”
Will the State set the millage rate to fund the school?
Ronald Reagan Parkway
October 24th, 2012
9:48 am
George W. Bush created “No Child Left Behind” with intentions on improving the U.S. educational system. How did that work out?
Brosephus™
October 24th, 2012
9:48 am
The amendment is intended for families to have a choice where they want their kids to go to school.
Bullsh*t!!!! Parents already have that choice. I have a Pre-K 4 year old, and my wife and I have already began to look into schools. You can sell that stuff to ignorant people, but I know there are already choices people can make. Some choices are free, and some cost money. I’ve paid into the school system here for 8 years without a kid setting foot inside a classroom. That money helps the school system maintain a level that makes it better for my property values and community worth. This amendment does nothing but give the state the opportunity to override local decisions that can already be made. You keep harping about your precious charter school in SW Georgia. Why do we need state control when you already show the current laws work?
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 24th, 2012
9:48 am
BRO,
Arent’ we all either sheep, dogs or pigs?
Georgia on my mind...
October 24th, 2012
9:49 am
Will the State set the millage rate to fund the school?
_____
That is above my educational level. The local Tax Commissioner should have the answer to that one!
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 24th, 2012
9:50 am
RONALDREAGAN,
Show me an obligatory presidential plan that has rendered results…that have materially increased results for our kid…??
This is not a typical DEM v GOP..one or the other issue.
Jay
October 24th, 2012
9:51 am
Curious, the state would then pick up the entire tab. No local money would be spent.
However, there’s every reason to expect that the hundreds of millions of dollars appropriated by the state for state-run charters would come out of the total education budget, reducing state funding for traditional public schools and for locally approved charters as well.
Brosephus™
October 24th, 2012
9:51 am
Stevie Ray
Erwin's cat
October 24th, 2012
9:53 am
Hilarious…A thread bout GA charter schools and on page 1 are posts about the evil Koch Bros and another about Romney profiting from GA charter schools….lol
Gale
October 24th, 2012
9:53 am
Ah yes, DogGone, I am aware of the tricks of wording on ballots. I learned this lesson many years ago when the local gov reworded a school tax issue to sound like voting NO, meant the tax was increased. When the truth came out, the gov was in court to override the result. The locals had voted down that same increase for six years running because they wanted changes to the way the school board operated before giving them more money.
What we have here, is more of the same. And if people are so sure the local school board is incompetent, they should vote them out. This is an elected office. I do not want the state appointing people to make these decisions for the local government. If the parents wants a change in the school system, that is the place to start working.
Moderate Line
October 24th, 2012
9:55 am
Doggone/GA
October 24th, 2012
9:32 am
“Here are the main arguments against charter schools”
You haven’t voted yes for Charter schools…you have voted yes to give the state the power to overriede local school board decisions and to inject a charter school into a school system that rejected it.
You have voted FOR state power and AGAINST local power.
++++
I could car less about such rhetoric. I voted for individual power. I voted to give ordinary people the power to trump local power by going through the state. My current county is redistricting schools. The threat of a charter school is the only thing that makes them even listen to the citizens who will be affected since the citizens being affected are a small number and can not affect elections for school board.
JDW
October 24th, 2012
9:56 am
@Child Please…all you have to do is look at the budget for a school system they break it out for you. In Fulton more than 67% of revenue goes directly to instruction. That percentage is slightly higher than 2008.
http://portal.fultonschools.org/departments/Financial_Services/Budget_Services/Documents/FY13%20Budget%20Markup%20%20Presentation.pdf
Mary Elizabeth
October 24th, 2012
9:57 am
My thanks to the poster on this blog, who originally shared the below article. I cannot recall that poster’s moniker. What is now happening in Florida, can easily happen in Georgia, if voters are not wise. Vote NO to Amendment 1.
——————————————————————–
“For-profit education companies are becoming serious players in lobbying the Florida Legislature. In the current election cycle, charter school companies, school management firms, online learning outfits and for-profit colleges have lavished more than $1.8 million to statehouse candidates, electioneering organizations and political parties, according to a Miami Herald review of Florida campaign finance data. Most of the money went to Republicans, whose support of charter schools, vouchers, online education and private colleges has put public education dollars in private-sector pockets.
Some observers say the big dollars foreshadow the next chapter in a fierce fight in Tallahasse: the privatization of public education.”
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/22/3061509/with-political-money-charter-schools.html#storylink=cpy
Georgia
October 24th, 2012
10:00 am
This ammendment is a done deal. People will vote for it thinking they are voting against it. We’ve been over all of this ad nauseum. There’s no way to stop that kind of business opportunity. The wordsmiths who write the description on the voting sheet thingie are total geniuses and no matter how you end up voting, it’ll be the opposite of what you thunk it were.
ANd that’s just a natural born fact, Jack.
Don't Tread
October 24th, 2012
10:00 am
I see we’re back to the evils of profit…
oh, and let’s throw in the evils of “freedom of choice” while we’re at it.
Paul
October 24th, 2012
10:00 am
Another case of a simple solution, wrapped up in ‘free market’ and ‘competition’ vs ‘inept government bureaucracy’ having instant appeal. Dig just a little beneath the surface and one finds a whole host of problems. Thing is, many people hear that great-sounding answer and the excitement part of their brain shuts down everything else. Why look any farther? The answer’s there for all to see!
So the money to fund the schools will come from the current education fund, lowering funds available for traditional schools, leading to increased problems and more calls for charter schools to fix the problems that traditional schools can’t fix.
They’ve built themselves a nice continuous funding mechanism there, Jay.
Moderate Line
October 24th, 2012
10:00 am
Jay
October 24th, 2012
9:51 am
Curious, the state would then pick up the entire tab. No local money would be spent.
However, there’s every reason to expect that the hundreds of millions of dollars appropriated by the state for state-run charters would come out of the total education budget, reducing state funding for traditional public schools and for locally approved charters as well.
+++++
But you failed to mention that it would also increase the local funds available to educate kids in the local schools because the charter schools would not get such money. In poor districts that seems to be a good deal.
Another argument for charter schools.
This assume the state provides no funding to local schools which is not going to happen.
Doggone/GA
October 24th, 2012
10:00 am
“I voted for individual power”
So your idea of “individual power” is to vote to give a big government even MORE power than they already have? I always knew the conned were projecting their own faults onto the “libs”…thanks for proving it so clearly.
Mary Elizabeth
October 24th, 2012
10:01 am
There already exists a means for parents to supersede the decision of their local Boards of Education which might deny their application for a charter school. That means is through making application to the state Department of Education. Amendment 1 is unnecessary. There is no need for a Commission for Charter Schools, a separate agency, which is more politically based than educationally based, in my opinion.
Vote NO to Amendment 1.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 24th, 2012
10:02 am
BRO,
I submit that we have an inordinately large number of sheep…per Roger Waters…”mindlessly passing the time in the grasslands awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy….you better watch out there may be dogs about..” “while watching…for pigs on a wing…love that album
Moderate Line
October 24th, 2012
10:02 am
Don’t Tread
October 24th, 2012
10:00 am
I see we’re back to the evils of profit… oh, and let’s throw in the evils of “freedom of choice” while we’re at it.
+++
The left like choice when it comes to abortion and birth control but are against when it comes to school.
Being a cynic it must be because their argument changes depending on whose vote they are tyring to get.
TaxPayer
October 24th, 2012
10:03 am
Stevie Ray,
If JCI buys up A123’s automotive business, then the government investment in A123 would remain with a US domiciled company. What are you claiming in your reply.
Brosephus™
October 24th, 2012
10:03 am
Doggone
If I didn’t know it, I’d swear you were a shrink.
Brosephus™
October 24th, 2012
10:04 am
Stevie Ray
Doggone/GA
October 24th, 2012
10:05 am
“The left like choice when it comes to abortion and birth control but are against when it comes to school”
Who said anything about being against choice in schools? Choice is already there. There are private schoools, there are home schooling options, there are even GASP charter schools. I haven’t seen anyone call for doing away with those choices. It is the mechanism of instituting “choice” that is the issue, not choice itself.
TaxPayer
October 24th, 2012
10:06 am
Actually I have no objections to folks profiting from trying to educate Republicans. It’s a challenge and anyone willing to undertake it deserves an ample reward.
Doggone/GA
October 24th, 2012
10:06 am
“If I didn’t know it, I’d swear you were a shrink”
Nah, just another product of those “failing” public schools!
Mary Elizabeth
October 24th, 2012
10:07 am
I am not against all charter schools. We must be prudent in how charter schools are implemented so that the education of ALL children is considered, not just the education of the few.
Those who seem to be so fervently intent on supplanting traditional public schools with charter schools seem to have a rigid ideological agenda, imo. Moreover, they do not appear to be educators, themselves, yet they arrogantly feel they have all the answers for public education, not based on direct experience.
Brosephus™
October 24th, 2012
10:07 am
TaxPayer
October 24th, 2012
10:09 am
Where did Richard Mourdock graduate from? And with what degree?
loyd george
October 24th, 2012
10:10 am
Of course here in the “empire” we all went to “public schools”… $$ influencing decisions ,all in a days work….of course your “public” schools are quite disappointing with all the money your tax payers throw at them….mabye a little competion would help, hmmmm. But we in the labour party agree with you ,good man, privitazation/competition is not THE way………
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 24th, 2012
10:10 am
The left like choice when it comes to abortion and birth control but are against when it comes to school.
Again with the puerile either/or binary mindset.
This isn’t about whether or not anyone is for or against “choice”.
Anyone can already “choose” whether or not to send their children to a charter or private school.
Geez….
TaxPayer
October 24th, 2012
10:12 am
I’m also in favor of private privies.
stands for decibels
October 24th, 2012
10:12 am
Parents already have that choice. I have a Pre-K 4 year old, and my wife and I have already began to look into schools.
Don’t know about Bros’ county situation, but where I live, you not only (obviously) have a choice of public vs. private schools, but you can apply for and generally get a transfer out of your districted public school, to another public school. Of course transportation is on your dime, and if you can’t work things out with like minded locals who want to carpool, it can be a bear for the parents.
But those options are (generally, far as I know, still) there, and they are rarely discussed ’round these parts or elsewhere.
Erwin's cat
October 24th, 2012
10:12 am
ME…yet they arrogantly feel they have all the answers for public education, not based on direct experience.
I’d say being educated in public schools is experience enough to determine it’s adequacy…how arrogant huh?
extrainfo
October 24th, 2012
10:14 am
From what I can tell from the comments that there are a lot of people who have no idea how charter schools function. A charter school is operated under the same standards as a public, everyone has the right to attend the school, it is handled on a blind lottery. My kids have attended charter school K thru 8 and the plan for them is to attend charter high school. It is not a private school, their school is very diverse economically as well as racially. The scores are higher in charter school than the public school districts that we live in. The high school, only 4 years old already is showing scores higher than the best high schools in our area. It is amazing that a school can actually make money or break even, compared to the public schools that lose money and whine and cry about wanting more and more to balance their budgets. Give the charter system a chance, your education system will be better off for it.
Doggone/GA
October 24th, 2012
10:14 am
“I’d say being educated in public schools is experience enough to determine it’s adequacy”
Only of the schools you attended. You know nothing of the hundreds of others you didn’t attend.
ATL Tiger
October 24th, 2012
10:15 am
No surprise that the AJC nor Jay Bookman would have an article about the biggest foreign policy cover up in a generation.
Doggone/GA
October 24th, 2012
10:15 am
“Give the charter system a chance, your education system will be better off for it”
We already HAVE a charter “system”…this amendment is not about that, it’s about who has the POWER to approve charter schools.
TaxPayer
October 24th, 2012
10:15 am
Indiana GOP U.S. Senate candidate Richard Mourdock declared Tuesday night he opposes aborting pregnancies conceived in rape because “it is something that God intended to happen.”
If find it difficult to differentiate between such a belief and those publicized by the Taliban.
Ben Shockley
October 24th, 2012
10:16 am
13 days till the election. Gotta throw this charter school crap out there to deflect attention from $1.5 trillion deficits, sustained record-high unemployment figures, $4 gasoline, embassy murders, terror attacks, fast & furious, etc…..
Mary Elizabeth
October 24th, 2012
10:16 am
I urge readers of this blog to take a few minutes to listen to the teenage students in the video below – which they produced – explain succinctly why you should vote NO to Amendment 1 in NOvember.
http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2012/10/18/student-produced-video-questions-push-for-charter-schools-amendment
Erwin's cat
October 24th, 2012
10:16 am
extrainfo – Give the charter system a chance, your education system will be better off for it.
There already are avenues for charter schools in GA…This amendment is a power grab and nothing else
Doggone/GA
October 24th, 2012
10:17 am
“If find it difficult to differentiate between such a belief and those publicized by the Taliban”
but if a woman chooses to terminate a pregnancy that’s NOT God’s will too? After all, he endowed us with the ability to choose.
curious
October 24th, 2012
10:17 am
Somebody look at Lake Oconee Academy in Greene County, the demographics of its student body, and the attendance zones established for first choice.
Dirty Dawg
October 24th, 2012
10:17 am
Frankly I was prepared to vote no on the charter school amendment and yes on the ‘long-term lease’ one…but, once again I’m reminded that every time they propose something that sounds too good to be true, it ain’t. Basically it’s just another ‘deal’ so one or more of a politician’s cronies can make money off the rest of us.
Erwin's cat
October 24th, 2012
10:18 am
Doggone @ 10:15 beat me to it
Brosephus™
October 24th, 2012
10:18 am
From what I can tell from the comments that there are a lot of people who have no idea how charter schools function.
People understand how charters work. People also know that charters work in the current system. The argument against this amendment is because of the fact that it’s nothing but a big government takeover of education. If this amendment were truly necessary, your kids wouldn’t have already been in charter schools OR have the option of attending a charter high school now.
stands for decibels
October 24th, 2012
10:18 am
I’m a little surprised that nobody has brought up the somewhat applicable precedent set by Michigan, wherein they were granted the ability to do “emergency management” of cities/towns deemed too
Negroidfiscally inept to manage themselves.This will get a lot uglier than anyone is willing to acknowledge, methinks, if it is passed.
(and by the way, for any schmuck who’s gonna get all butthurt over me playing TEH RACE CARD, sorry, but no whiter-than-white a guy than the rather conservative Gwinnett schools superintendent Alvin Wilbanks has already said this is a slide toward “separate but equal.” So y’all can go bite my neighbor’s dog if you don’t like it.)
/drive-by
Brosephus™
October 24th, 2012
10:19 am
EC @ :
Great minds???
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 24th, 2012
10:19 am
TAXPAYER
Good question but typically if this is an asset sale as opposed to stock sale, the buyer has no continuing obligation for liabilites remaining on sellers remaining books…if it were a stock sale (as in lock, stock and barrel) the buyer assumes all outstanding liabilities and assets…
Given this is an asset sale, it is unlikely JCI will have any obligation of honor any borrowing commitments …so either way, taxpayers are getting stiffed for a 200 million or so…it seems like the chinese deal is dead…they were going to invest 400million and take control…in that event, to the extent we loaned them money instead of grant, they would assume liability for loan..
Not sure on the details of this deal which are all in purchase agreements but that’s how it works on 95% of deals…
Mary Elizabeth
October 24th, 2012
10:21 am
There is good reason that the Georgia Association of Educators is advocating AGAINST Amendment 1. See the below, which has been excerpted from the GAE magazine, “KNOW.”
————————————————————————
FACT: The public needs to realize that almost 60% of the state commission charter schools (not charter schools approved locally) had contracts with EMOs (for-profit education management organizations) vs. only 12% of all other startup charter schools in Georgia, which means a portion of the $86 million in state funds these schools receive go to out-of-state companies.”
“FACT: The state (of Georgia) has already cut $4.4 billion from schools since 2008.”
“What it (Amendment 1) means to our public schools. Shorter school calendars. Ballooning class sizes. Lost jobs. More furlough days. Fewer programs and resources for Georgia students. Amendment 1 siphons money and resources from already underfunded traditional public schools and existing public charter schools. That money then goes into the coffers of state commission-approved charter schools often run by out-of-state, for-profit charter school management companies.”
“Did you KNOW? According to the Georgia Supreme Court, the state clearly overstepped when it created the state commission to approve charter schools. That commission approved charter school applications until the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that UNCONSTITUTIONAL this past year. The power to authorize charter schools belongs (exclusively ) to local school boards as stated in our
Constitution.”
“FACT: There is already a policy in place for reviewing charter school applications by local school boards + there’s already an appeals process in place, too.”
“Our students – the future of our state – deserve more than Amendment 1 can promise. While the preamble that appears above the amendment language on the ballot promises to improve student achievement and parental involvement, we know that it might do that – but only for the very few. ALL children across Georgia deserve the equal opportunity to learn in engaging, innovative, creative, and safe classrooms and schools. We build those classrooms and schools by investing in public education – not strip-mining it for big profit.”
————————————————————————
Source for the above quotes: KNOW Magazine from GAE, Volume 11, Issue 1
Ben Shockley
October 24th, 2012
10:21 am
“If find it difficult to differentiate between such a belief and those publicized by the Taliban.”
Mr. Mourdock’s statements are ridiculous. Having said that, opposition to abortion is about saving life, as opposed to the Taliban’s practice of stoning women, denying them access to education, arranged marriages, shooting them for advocating education, etc.
The fact that you can’t “differentiate” really speaks to intellectual bankruptcy on your part.
Have a blessed day though.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 24th, 2012
10:22 am
No surprise that the AJC nor Jay Bookman would have an article about the biggest foreign policy cover up in a generation.
Go to blogspot.com.
Create your own blog.
Choose the topics you wish to discuss.
No surprise that you haven’t done this already.
Rightwing Troll
October 24th, 2012
10:22 am
“It is amazing how this state can let this happen. Is there not an F.B.I. investigation into Nathan Deal’s skills at skirting outside the law?”
There was… he resigned to avoid further investigation, went bankrupt, and conned the conned wingnut rubes of GA into giving him another job…
It’s simply amazing… wingnuts shouldn’t be allowed to vote… or at the very least if they voted for W more than once OR voted for Deal, they shouldn’t be allowed to vote for 10 years…
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 24th, 2012
10:22 am
I’m thinking if Charter Schools were only allowed in the bottom 50% performing school districts and not in others would be an interesting proposal…the students currently getting the shaft will continue to get same or larger shaft with amendment…just say no..
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
October 24th, 2012
10:22 am
Jay has a phobia about Charter Schools.
Ben Shockley
October 24th, 2012
10:22 am
“The argument against this amendment is because of the fact that it’s nothing but a big government takeover of education. ”
LMAO. I guess you’re opposed to all big government takeovers, like health care, GM, Chrysler, etc.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
October 24th, 2012
10:23 am
“Emails detail unfolding Benghazi attack on September 11th…
6:07 PM 9/11/12: ‘Ansar al-Sharia Claims Responsibility’… ”
HE KNEW ………. HE LIED.
Rightwing Troll
October 24th, 2012
10:23 am
“No surprise that the AJC nor Jay Bookman would have an article about the biggest foreign policy cover up in a generation.”
Ooo oo oo.. (raising hand violently…)… Is it “bigger than Watergate”???!??…;)
St Simons - (ab)original Georgian
October 24th, 2012
10:23 am
You’ve tried everything to run us off from our home, Georgia.
Infected blankets,
massacre/genocide
stealing land
and we’re still here. You couldn’t run us off.
A few like me & mrsstsimons, even beat you at your own game.
but, you bunch of rednecks
if you pass this crap,
we’re gone – to the banana republic of Florida.
Gen Sherman was right. God will have forsaken this place.
Enough stupid is- well, enough.
I’m sorry, but its time to be blunt.
Ben Shockley
October 24th, 2012
10:23 am
“Jay has a phobia about Charter Schools.”
Jay has a phobia about whatever the DNC tells him to have a phobia about.
East Cobb RINO, Inc. (LLC)
October 24th, 2012
10:24 am
I worked at one of those for-profit colleges for a brief time. It was a disgusting place. They were having SACS issues at the time I was there and seeing things from the inside, I was shocked they managed to somehow stay accredited. You have no idea about what for-profit education is until you see it from the inside.
They BOTH suck
October 24th, 2012
10:25 am
“The fact that you can’t “differentiate” really speaks to intellectual bankruptcy on your part.”
That fact that you seem to be speaking about two distinct issues as if they are the same thing, demonstrates your usual disingenuous bs or your own “intellectual bankruptcy”
Ben: You decide.
Fly-On-The-Wall
October 24th, 2012
10:25 am
What’s sad is that this is all about money and not education.
TaxPayer
October 24th, 2012
10:25 am
If Republicans want to pay a for-profit school to teach them faith-based math and science, who are we to stand in their way even if they need to be transported to said schools via a Mitt Romney designed airliner. Roll down the windows and enjoy the ride.
Brosephus™
October 24th, 2012
10:26 am
I guess you’re opposed to all big government takeovers, like health care, GM, Chrysler, etc.
I advocate freedom bro. I laugh my ass off at y’all pseudo conservatives who talk the talk but cheer on big government like it’s going out of style. I also LMAO at people who bluster on the internet but can’t read more than three lines in a link when they ask for proof of something and can’t provide proof on their own to back up their assertions.
Rightwing Troll
October 24th, 2012
10:26 am
So this Libya Watergate makes no less than 8 Watergates for Obama…
Obama’s Immigration Policy Change
“I remember hearing Watergate spelled the end of the imperial presidency. ‘That’s what Watergate did. No more of these presidents thinking they’re bigger than the Constitution, bigger than the law!’ Well, what’s more imperial than President Kardashian declaring an untold number of illegals legal?” Rush Limbaugh, 6/15/12
Joe Sestak “Bribe”
“The White House is facing a major scandal – one that threatens to bring down President Obama. It could be his Watergate.” Jeffrey Kuhner, The Washington Times, 5/27/10
“Obama’s Watergate?” RedState.com, 5/27/10
For more on the Sestak “bribe” falsehood, visit here and here.
Fast And Furious
“This is not only a major scandal; it is a high crime that potentially reaches all the way to the White House, implicating senior officials. It is President Obama’s Watergate.” Jeffrey Kuhner, Washington Times, 12/15/11
“Fast And Furious Scandal: A Watergate For Obama?” Investor’s Business Daily, 7/13/11
For more on Fast and Furious, visit here.
Obama’s Birth Certificate
“Why does the press protect him? Is this another Watergate?” Donald Trump, 5/30/12
“But as we learned in Watergate, sometimes the cover-up is worse than the crime itself. I now believe Obama and other government officials in Washington and Hawaii have been engaged in just such a cover-up – one that could make Watergate pale by comparison.” Joseph Farah, WorldNetDaily, 5/8/11
Solyndra
“Solyndra Scandal Looks More and More Like Obama’s Watergate.” Breitbart.com’s Big Government, 9/16/11
For more on Solyndra, visit here.
Arrest Of Former Obama Campaign State Staffer
“Much like Watergate, which began with a seemingly simple (if puzzling) burglary and ultimately unraveled the Nixon administration, it is impossible to say how far the trail of criminality will go if the Edwards case is pursued aggressively. Will that happen? I don’t know; stay tuned.” Powerline’s John Hinderaker, 1/21/12
Media Matters
“Is Media Matters Obama’s Watergate?”Jeffrey Lord, The American Spectator, 2/21/12
Ben Shockley
October 24th, 2012
10:26 am
“You have no idea about what for-profit education is until you see it from the inside.”
Straw man
Charter schools are NOT all for-profit. If you’re scared of for-profit schools, don’t send your kid to one.
Brosephus™
October 24th, 2012
10:26 am
They BOTH
You’re talking about Ben. You have to grade on a curve.
Moderate Line
October 24th, 2012
10:26 am
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 24th, 2012
10:10 am
The left like choice when it comes to abortion and birth control but are against when it comes to school.
Again with the puerile either/or binary mindset.
This isn’t about whether or not anyone is for or against “choice”.
Anyone can already “choose” whether or not to send their children to a charter or private school.
Geez….
+++++
I can not send my kids to charter school because there are none in my area. The right would claim that outlawing abortion is not about choice either.
From my perspective it is all about choice and really nothing else.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 24th, 2012
10:27 am
KAMCHAK
Was poster talking about Bengahazi?
If so, this does not compare to several others….say IranContra for example…imagine how many true cover ups exist that we will never have knowledge of….
It’s unlikely any cover-up exists…this is pure incompetence in communication that may be election connected…..the question is why hasn’t there at least been a press conference by WH to give status and address all the discrepancies that exist..the Wesley Clark shoutdown was a bunch of BS
Ben Shockley
October 24th, 2012
10:27 am
Taxpayer ridicules faith, then votes for Obama, who claims to be a Christian and has publicly stated that he has accepted Jesus Christ as his savior.
Ben laughs….
Ben Shockley
October 24th, 2012
10:28 am
“You’re talking about Ben. You have to grade on a curve. ”
Another ad hominem attack from Brofeces. Anybody surprised?
Rightwing Troll
October 24th, 2012
10:31 am
“Jay has a phobia about Charter Schools.”
More like a phobia about central control…
Funny thing about all this kerfuffel is that it’s a wingnut cause, started because of wingnuts… It was the Cherokee county school board who kicked all this off by revoking a charter thus wingnuts angered wingnuts, so naturally the aggrieved wingnuts turned to the nanny-wingnut state for remedy… Now anyone opposing central control is reciting “DNC talking points”..
How do you wingnuts keep up with all your duplicity? Is it really that easy to slip in and out of “truths” as you see fit? I believe there’s a psychological condition that can be attributed to your behaviour… if you believe in science that is…
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
October 24th, 2012
10:31 am
BENGHAZIGATE !
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 24th, 2012
10:31 am
…..the question is why hasn’t there at least been a press conference by WH to give status and address all the discrepancies that exist..the Wesley Clark shoutdown was a bunch of BS
My question is why haven’t you or ATL Tiger:
Gone to blogspot.com?
Created your own blog?
Chosen whatever topic you wish to discuss?
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
October 24th, 2012
10:31 am
Were Obama and Romney asked about charter schools ?
TaxPayer
October 24th, 2012
10:32 am
Stevie Ray,
The technology developed by A123 with federal tax dollars would remain with a US domiciled company if it is purchased by JCI. That was the concern raised by several Republican congressmen.