Follow the money for anti-charter amendment campaign, too
There’s a logical explanation for the bitter opposition to the charter-schools amendment. Just ask Edward Lindsey, the Buckhead Republican who serves as House majority whip.
“This isn’t about ideology,” Lindsey says. “It’s about turf. It’s about those folks who have a vested interest, no matter how mediocre the present may be, in not changing.”
The turf in question is the power to approve charter schools — and thus how some public education funds are spent. Amendment One would empower the state to create charter schools in two instances. The first is for statewide charters; think virtual schools that teach online courses.
The other is when a local school board denies a charter application. The state could then conduct its own review and decide whether to approve and fund the school.
Who considers those powers an invasion of their own turf? Follow the money.
After its latest report, filed Tuesday, the anti-amendment group Vote SMART! had a donor base comprising 146 people and eight companies that had given a combined $104,263 (along with almost $19,000 in gifts not itemized). Who are they?
Thirty-four of them are current or former superintendents. That group gave more than $16,000.
Another 30 are other types of school-system administrators: area superintendents, assistant superintendents, directors of some kind or another. These folks contributed an additional $14,000.
Eleven members of various school boards around Georgia gave almost $4,000. Ten principals shelled out $2,576.
In all, almost 60 percent of the Vote SMART! donors and more than a third of its donations came from people who run our traditional public schools. That’s one bit of turf.
Then there are the professional organizations: the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, Georgia School Boards Association and Georgia School Superintendents Association. Fifteen employees of these groups donated more than $15,000.
Now let’s look at companies that do business with school systems. Yes, traditional public schools already outsource some work to for-profit firms; the educational management firms that do administrative work for some charter schools would hardly introduce the profit motive into our education system.
In fact, 35 people or firms who do business with traditional public schools, from attorneys and consultants to architects and contractors, have given more than $32,000 to the anti-amendment campaign.
Now, am I missing any job description in the education field? Hmmm, let’s see …
Oh, yes. Teachers. Well, make that teacher: Just one current teacher is listed as a contributor to Vote SMART! Also, one retired counselor. They gave about 500 bucks total.
If these numbers don’t rise to the levels you’ve read about for the pro-amendment side, keep in mind that they don’t include money from education PACs opposing Amendment One. The PAC for the Georgia Association of Educators, for instance, has reported very few itemized gifts this year but almost $115,000 in non-itemized ones — and nearly $350,000 in cash on hand.
From what we can see, though, almost 90 percent of the donors and $4 of every $5 donated come from the people running our schools and the firms they do business with. It’s a campaign of the educational establishment, by the educational establishment, for the educational establishment.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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147 comments Add your comment
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
October 28th, 2012
9:03 am
antinewt: I thought conservatives were always for “local” control
———————–
And the rest of us thought libtards were always for “choice”.
John
October 28th, 2012
9:12 am
There is a simple reason why teachers aren’t listed as contributors to the anti state controlled charter schools amendment. With the massive cuts in state education spending and forced furloughing of teachers in recent years, I don’t know of a teacher who has the money to contribute $101 to any political campaign.
@@
October 28th, 2012
9:22 am
“This isn’t about ideology,” Lindsey says. “It’s about turf. It’s about those folks who have a vested interest, no matter how mediocre the present may be, in not changing.”
Gravy stains?
It’s the grease that makes ‘em difficult to remove.
schnirt
antinewt
October 28th, 2012
9:49 am
Michael H Smith and Lil Barry: So all of the screaming over big govt. cramming healthcare down our throats was just because you were on the wrong end of the cramming? Got it.
Disgusted in Dekalb
October 28th, 2012
9:51 am
‘I pay taxes so I have skin in the game’. No you don’t, not really.
Perfect example of what I said. Its not the kids you’re worried about, its how your MONEY is being spent.
The arguements here still do not address the kids. All these ideological comments and slams against libs and cons do nothing for the kids. Its not a party issue, its an education for our kids issue. But most of the people on this board are too arrogant to put aside their poltical leanings to think about the future of our country which is our children, not Obama or Romney or libs or cons.
LostINGA
October 28th, 2012
10:20 am
If this amendment passes, don’t be surprised if local property taxes go up to make up for the reduced funds from the state. The state would have to increase overall funding to ensure the local schools maintain the current funding levels. The governor has asked for a 3% education cut when his TSPOST amendment failed, so additional funding is probably not going to happen.
carlosgvv
October 28th, 2012
10:49 am
“don’t be suprised if local property taxes go up”
In DeKalb County, any old reason will do to raise property taxes.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 28th, 2012
11:49 am
Disgusted in Dekalb
The whole argument is about the kids. I don’t get your arguments. Either you think the Charters are good for the kids that go there or bad for the kids left behind. I am sure there are Reps and Dems on each side.
I think the current system is an ongoing fiasco, and any reasonable attempt to reform it should be given every chance and encouragement. Save the kids you can, or let them all continue to suffer with the status quo. I have no kids at stake, mine are grown, both with Masters degrees, but their secondary education in quote “good schools” was non challenging and much less than desirable. Every parent and student should have some freedom of choice in how they are educated. As the Army says “be all you can be”, which is hard when the government is mandating when, where, how, and what you learn.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
October 28th, 2012
12:42 pm
This amendment is all about “choice” and “access” so I expect all libtards to be in support.
Middle Grades Math Teacher
October 28th, 2012
12:49 pm
Why is it a bad thing that public school teachers and administrators are putting their personal time and resources toward the VOTE NO campaign? During the Obamacare debates, didn’t you value the opinions of health care professionals? So why would this be different? If you want to accuse me of protecting “my turf,” then let me define “my turf” for you — it is the education of the 95% of Georgia students who are in public schools. Defending my turf? Guilty as charged, and proudly so.
Many have pointed out that there are flaws in public education. Of course there are. But all of the efforts at “reform” in the past few years have been coming from the top down. And I put reform in quotes because ALEC has been one of the top players in this game. But they aren’t interested in reform. They are interested in profit.
Are you truly interested in reform? Then we need to begin with the “bottom up.” By that I mean, get the teachers involved. Give us the true power to do what is needed for kids. Keep in mind, however, that teachers AREN’T the bottom. We are the FRONT LINES.
Also consider this: Public schools are a reflection of society. If there are ills in the schools (and there are,) there are also the same problems and issues out there in the world. Our students bring their issues to our classrooms, and work within our power to give them everything we have. But at 3:00, they walk out of our doors, back to their lives, and what we’ve been able to do in the 7 or so hours that we have them can be powerfully negated (or powerfully reinforced) by what happens in the other 17 hours that they are not with us.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
October 28th, 2012
12:59 pm
If students are a reflection of today’s society, that’s not a good thing. Lazy, entitled, quick to be offended, endlessly greedy for other peoples’ property…not a recipe for success. A majority of “Americans” have forgotten what it is to BE an American.
The only way to fix that is for the makers to outnumber the takers on election day.
Vote American.
clanmack
October 28th, 2012
1:01 pm
Kyle, citing the Gates Foundation’s giving directly to APS, or any other school system is not in the same universe as giving money for a political campaign in another constituency. And if the Gates Foundation gives to a “similar referendum” out in Washington State, where they are founded and headquartered, is comparing an apple to a kumquat. Get your head out of wherever it is that is clouding your critical thinking skills.
Voting against this Amendment, is hardly voting to keep the status quo ante. It is simpley a vote against the amendment. Just as the TSPLOST vote was not a vote against any other regional, specific transportation plan. You need to use your head.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
October 28th, 2012
1:54 pm
“Flaws” in public education,math teacher?
More like an unmitigated disaster .
Why anyone would work to protect this mess is beyond me.
Truth is
October 28th, 2012
1:55 pm
Kyle, I received pro charter amendment mail from “Families for Better Public Schools”, chairman Edward Lindsay. What is your opinion on his involvement with this group? Also, don’t you think if he was so dedicated to improving public schools, he would have worked harder to fund them so the students could attend 180 days?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
October 28th, 2012
1:57 pm
On, and once again, detractors, this is only an appeals board
Use your heads.
Middle Grades Math Teacher
October 28th, 2012
2:01 pm
Tiberius, no it’s not. Read the supporting legislation, HB 797. You can’t take this at face value. Read both the amendment and 797 in its entirety.
If you consider what public education has been able to do with the resources it’s been given, the wide range of demographics it has to work with, I’d hardly call it a disaster. Public education has accomplished lots of great things. There are MANY success stories out there. But again, we can’t do it alone.
saywhat?
October 28th, 2012
4:30 pm
Because of their own intellectual deficits, dave R , lil boring and the rest try to blame the schools. Honestly guys, you just weren’t very bright to begin with, and one can only do so much with inferior raw materials.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 28th, 2012
5:07 pm
saywhat?
Honestly guys, you just weren’t very bright to begin with, and one can only do so much with inferior raw materials.
Got this reversed as usual.
So, the ones who want to sit around and do what the government tells them, when the government tells them to do it, take what the government gives them, asks the government to do for them, learns at the knee of the government, and whines for more taxes and regulations to help the government control their lives, are the bright ones?
It is the free thinkers, who do not trust government and know that they are best able to handle their needs and wants and want government out of their lives, that are the brightest.
Uncle Billy
October 28th, 2012
5:24 pm
Big money wants public funds to create private schools. What is new about that? Private, for profit, education companies want the State of Georgia to override local control of schools. Nothing new about that either. Does Kyle Wingfield believe that public schools should exist?
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
October 28th, 2012
6:02 pm
Charters aren’t “private schools”, Uncle Billy. Get the basic facts right, and perhaps your posts won’t be dismissed out of hand like that last one.
@@
October 28th, 2012
6:41 pm
Off-topic but too on point to Miss It.
schnirt
But given the way Obama’s once-enormous edge among female voters has shrunk in many polls, tomorrow’s feminists may look back on his campaign’s pitch to women and see a different theme emerge: a weirdly paternalistic form of social liberalism, in which women are forever single girls and the president is their father, lover, fiancé and paladin all rolled into one. (Our future dissertation author may note with bemusement, for instance, that Dunham’s ad mirrors a similar advertisement cut for … Vladimir Putin.)
ew
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/opinion/sunday/douthat-President-Obama-in-Shining-Armor.html?_r=0
cc
October 28th, 2012
7:07 pm
Yes, we should definitely stick with exactly what we’re doing now. It is quite obvious that the government indoctrination centers are doing an excellent job of educating our children and grandchildren. Why change course when we’re behind?
“The following rankings come from various lists, but they all tell the same story. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), our 15-year-olds rank 17th in the world in science and 25th in math. We rank 12th among developed countries in college graduation (down from No. 1 for decades). We come in 79th in elementary-school enrollment.”
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2056723,00.html#ixzz2AdTxTI2P
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
October 28th, 2012
7:15 pm
Well, at least we know Kenya’s education system isn’t better than ours.
Have you seen some of the bozo’s they produced?
cc
October 28th, 2012
7:28 pm
I Report:
“Well, at least we know Kenya’s education system isn’t better than ours. Have you seen some of the bozo’s they produced?”
Actually, that serves to further Kyle’s point! One of their “bozos” convinced over half the voting citizens of this country to elect him president, and those citizens were products of the government indoctrination centers!
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
October 28th, 2012
7:36 pm
cc – Yeah but obozo has single handedly undone all those years of brainwashing.
Now that is monumental stupidity.
jd
October 28th, 2012
7:52 pm
Kyle — the children of those against amendment 1 attend public schools — which is more than you can say for the pro-amendment forces. So, who has our children’s true interests at heart?
cc
October 28th, 2012
7:58 pm
I Report:
No argument on that point!
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
October 28th, 2012
7:59 pm
the children of those against amendment 1 attend public schools
———————-
We know several public school teachers, and a majority send their kids to private schools.
cc
October 28th, 2012
8:00 pm
jd:
“the children of those against amendment 1 attend public schools”
I’m sure the teachers at the government indoctrination centers had no influence on those young minds with regard to this issue, right?
cc
October 28th, 2012
8:02 pm
Lil’ Barry:
I also know several government center teachers who do the same thing, and that is an excellent point that you’ve made.
cc
October 28th, 2012
9:08 pm
I’m weary and tomorrow is another day. Good night, fellow conservatives . . .
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
October 28th, 2012
9:29 pm
Anybody else catch how layaway is now back big time thanks to no one having any money in this obozo economy?
Last time I remember layaway being such a big option – dhimmi karter’s days in office.
@@
October 28th, 2012
9:44 pm
Are they or aren’t they???
Chrysler issued a statement early Thursday flatly denying it has any plans to move Jeep output to China from the United States.
“Let’s set the record straight: Jeep has no intention of shifting production of its Jeep models out of North America to China. It’s simply reviewing the opportunities to return Jeep output to China for the world’s largest auto market.
Reads like a contradictory statement to me.
Mary Elizabeth
October 28th, 2012
11:46 pm
The issue is whether the public is going to vote for turning traditional public education, that has served ALL of the students in this state through public taxes, into a money-making enterprise that may very well leave the state’s children segregated in schools by those whose parents have resources and those whose parents do not.
I saw the ugliness of segregation as a teenager and I do not want to see that inequality ever happen again in Georgia. And I am not speaking of race, but of class status and of the varied resources of different parents. We must neither use our schools for profit purposes for private personal gain, nor must we use our schools to resegregate society into those who “have” vs. those who “have not.” That is not how I see America. That is not the America I wanted to see lived out during my Jim Crow teenage years in Georgia, and that is still not the America I want to see lived out in Georgia during my senior citizen years.
We must improve traditional public education, starting at the ground level, to be able to serve ALL of Georgia’s children equally well, educationally. We can do that through involvement – at the ground level up – starting with involvment by groups of interested parents in their local school board’s activities. Instead of creating separation, create excellence from within by committed involvement. And, if your local school board does not listen to your needs, then organize and vote THEM out of office. YOU stay and make your traditional school systems better. Don’t run away and create a newfound “panacea” of charter schools that will only serve the few at the expense of the many, while rewarding the profiteers.
Vote NO in NOvember to Amendment 1.
Phil Lunney
October 29th, 2012
4:58 am
Kyle, the normal one-sided approach. Follow the money? Please, where is the following of the money from those in favor of the Amendment. I realize the bloggers above provided some of that information but that should have been in your commentary. What? It doesn’t fit your ideology, exactly.
How about some real journalism from Kyle?
Also, where will the money come from if this is approved? You see, that the districts now have the responsibility for monitoring these schools, they will need to create a state run apparatus to monitor these Charters. Show us the money and don’t take it from current funding.
cc
October 29th, 2012
6:42 am
“And I am not speaking of race, but of class status and of the varied resources of different parents.”
Parents with the financial means and living where private schools are available long ago abandoned the abysmal failures known as government schools. You must be “speaking of race”. In fact, you go on to write, “That is not the America I wanted to see lived out during my Jim Crow teenage years in Georgia”.
Congratulations! You have turned an issue of education into an issue of race.
UNCLE SAMANTHA
October 29th, 2012
9:30 am
Mary Elizabeth
October 28th, 2012
11:46 pm
The issue is whether the public is going to vote for turning traditional public education, that has served ALL of the students in this state through public taxes, into a money-making enterprise that may very well leave the state’s children segregated in schools by those whose parents have resources and those whose parents do not.
=======================================================================
take the M E out of your diatribe………………. the educational system in GA ranks consistently at the BOTTOM in the nation……………. parents and teachers wanting to form charter schools to GO AROUND the INCOMPETENCE of the local administrators are thwarted………… its the LOCAL ADMINISTRATORS that are to blame for the low ranking of GA because of this local control………… if you really want local control then GIVE CONTROL TO TEACHERS AND PARENTS LOCALLY who want to create schools that excel and pull their kids away from the failing ones…………. They are the ones this amendment is for.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
October 29th, 2012
9:42 am
Cons, buy your anti-depressants this week!
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 29th, 2012
10:52 am
“buy your anti-depressants this week!”
Why?
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/331828/two-polls-have-chicago-terrified-josh-jordan
sam
October 29th, 2012
11:06 am
really a weak piece here Kyle. how awful that these teachers and administrators would be so devious to actually try and protect what they work so hard for. for you to make it seem that they are all about money is pathetic. lets say for instance the AJC was struggling and someone had a plan to better write your column (i’m sure there’s plenty) would you sit by and allow it to happen? if this were about the struggling students we’d take them (and only them) and put them in charter schools. only thing you forget to mention in the column is the socialist agenda. a sunday column this is not
Mary Elizabeth
October 29th, 2012
11:20 am
“GIVE CONTROL TO TEACHERS AND PARENTS LOCALLY who want to create schools that excel and pull their kids away from the failing ones…………. They are the ones this amendment is for.”
=====================================
Your statement, above, proves my point as to what Amendment 1 is really about. Amendment 1 is designed to benefit the few, at the expense of the many (while rewarding profiteers).
Vote NO in NOvember to Amendment 1.
Ray
October 29th, 2012
11:48 am
From the AJC on Saturday: over $1.3 MILLION donated to the pro-amendment campaign in the Most recent reporting period, and SEVENTY TO SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THAT, OR CLOSE TO $1 MILLION COMING FROM A FEW OUT OF STATE DONORS. By comaprison, during the same time frame, $18,000 raised by the anti-amendment forces, all within the state.
GET A CLUE PEOPLE, THE FORCES BEHIND THIS AMENDMENT ARE BIG MONEY OUT OF STATE INTERESTS. Are these big out-of-state donors really concerned about the education of Georgia’s children, or is this more about ideology and private intersts cashing in at the public trough?
lou
October 30th, 2012
11:28 am
Is this journalism or is Kyle just a mouthpiece for the conservative republicans?
So, vote for corporate run schools built by buddies of politicians?
Charter Schools in Georgia and the Families who Need Them |
November 1st, 2012
10:54 am
[...] power bases that are opposing the Charter School Amendment. Georgia Representative Edward Lindsey recently commented in the AJC on the financial backing of such opposition [...]
Charter Schools in Georgia and the Families who Need Them « Moms for School Choice
November 1st, 2012
11:00 am
[...] power bases that are opposing the Charter School Amendment. Georgia Representative Edward Lindsey recently commented in the AJC on the financial backing of such opposition [...]
Award for Ivy Prep shows just how wrong Lowery and others crying ‘resegregation’ are | Kyle Wingfield
November 1st, 2012
11:19 am
[...] Charter Schools Commission’s being declared unconstitutional, and about 20 percent of all the money donated to the anti-amendment campaign has come from administrators in the Gwinnett system [...]
mark
November 1st, 2012
4:07 pm
My kids are enrolled in one of the richest zip codes in the state. Therefore, by kids are getting a great education. I teach in a county that is top in the state, both in pay and student achievement.
Go ahead GA vote, yes, what do I care. I have 12 years left, until my kids graduate and I am out of here!!! Unless, my wife comes to the realization that this state is so messed up sooner and lets us leave sooner.