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Perdue, Cox to host ‘Community Conversation’ across state Thursday night

By J. FRANK LYNCH
jflynch@theCitizenNews.com

Sandy Creek High School will be one of the host sites Thursday night for a statewide “Community Conversation” involving Governor Sonny Perdue and State Superintendent Kathy Cox.

The live teleconference originating from the studios of Georgia Public Broadcasting in Midtown will be beamed to public schools across the state, where participants will be able to interact in a discussion on how to define educational excellence in Georgia schools.

The special forum is the first official undertaking of the governor’s Education Finance Task Force, chaired by Dean Alford of the state Board of Education.

That commission has been asked by Perdue to come up with alternative proposals for funding Georgia schools at the local level, where many rural counties have stagnant or declining property tax bases.

The event is tomorrow from 6:45 to 9 p.m. Doors will open at Sandy Creek High and 21 other sites across Georgia on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 6:15.

A few seats may remain for the in-person broadcast at GPB studios at 260 14th St. in Atlanta. Call 800-222-6006 for reservations.

The discussion may also be accessed online at www.ie2.org, and afterward Internet participants will be able to communicate via chats and email.

Also, following the broadcast on GPB, a mailing address will be provided so persons across the state can offer detailed suggestions. All input will be used as the task force works to determine the future of financing education in Georgia.

“Every citizen has the opportunity to participate in this landmark discussion of what educational excellence means to Georgians,” said Cox.

The task force is developing a new financing mechanism know as IE2, which stands for “Investing in Educational Excellence.” The name recognizes education as an investment in an important resource, children, but also suggests a return on that investment, in student achievement.

“To settle for anything other than excellence is to become satisfied with ‘basic’ and to never reach the goal of leading the nation in improving student achievement,” said Cox.

For more information on the Governor’s Education Finance Task Force, and a complete list of members and subcommittees, visit www.IE2.org.