OBB

The current topic is to rezone all of the elementary schools. In about two years they'll be another study about middle and high schools. That's when it'll get really heated.

Does the FCBOE they actually think they won't get sued by by conducting private meetings on such a major issue for families?

I'll tell you right now that if my feedback as a taxpaying resident isn't heard as part of this process prior to re-zoning decisions being reached, my lawyer will be waiting on their doorstep with doughnuts and coffee. However, something tells me he'll have to take a number and get in line.

Sam Sweat has NEVER said there wouldn't be public forums. Just that the map drawing will be in closed session. However, every school in Fayette county is represented by a parent in those "closed" sessions, so take heart. This time we have a MUCH better opportunity for an unbiased map than last time with Sweat, Campbell and Jerry Whitaker working their "magic". Give me an outside consultant to drive this process any day of the week. At least we have a running shot at a decent map this time.

Having some public forums while also meeting in private is illegal also. The fact that one parent from each school is attending doesn't make it legal nor does it make it open either. It's illegal. Period.

Like I said before, IF what was reported by The Citizen is accurate, the BOE will be violating the Open Records and Meetings acts of GA. The citizens have the right to see ANY map that is created, whether that is a draft, just partial, etc. There are no exemptions in the laws of GA that allow for non-disclosure even if the work is not completed. There are no exemptions that allow for closed meetings in this scenario either. This isn't a real estate acquisition, personnel or on-going investigation.

The law is very clear on this as are court rulings relating to the law:

http://www.gfaf.org/open_meetings.html

Committees, outside contractors....no exemption.

NUK

The data that could get leaked is not data - - it's a potential map at that point. The parents representing us in this process need the opportunity to focus on building a map, not fending off speculation and rumor about progress with map-building. Let's give them that chance.

Read up on Kelley Carey - - he's not the villain here. Google him and you will find some amazing articles about how NOT to do school planning (just about everything he says NOT to do, we did last time) He is a true subject matter expert in this very difficult arena of school planning. We are fortunate that Sam Sweat had the courage to look OUTSIDE OF FAYETTE COUNTY for someone impartial who could lead this process.

Whether someone thinks that closed meetings are a better way to get a job done than open meetings doesn't matter, it's what the law dictates that does.

The "process" is doomed if it doesn't comply with the law and the participants can be held criminally liable personally for violations.

NUK

he got paid 5000 dollars a day to make the boundry because sam sweat did not want to. cw campball does sam sweat job and so does this expert while sam sweat tries to make my cousin go to sandy creek instead of fayette county high school. the new sister at starrs mill does a good job and sam sweat was failing there. show me the money!

The only real cat in town

Kelley Carey did not get $5000 a day. He got $5000 for the initial workshop. (That headline misled many people - - thanks to John Thompson's irresponsible reporting) His rate of less than $200 an hour is quite reasonable for his experience level.

Well, you see, experts are hard to blame and they don't usually live in town! Also, that way you don't have to do your job to keep your job!
It is kinda like the Sheriff and Mayors not arresting any illegals out of the fields and off the roofs and yards, since that would make their contributors mad. Let the feds do it, or even the state (Sonny).