* Fayette Rep. Seay sought requirement for Fayette to take Clayton students

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Fayette | News

Fayette Rep. Seay sought requirement for Fayette to take Clayton students

Fri, 03/28/2008 - 1:33pm

By: John Munford

School bill amendment was concession to Democrats

A provision that would have forced Fayette and other school systems to accept students from Clayton County was tacked on at the request of Sen. Valencia Seay, who represents northeast Fayette County and west Clayton County, according to Ga. Senate President Eric Johnson.

Johnson (R-Savannah) said the new language was added at the request of Seay (D-Riverdale) and a Marietta senator in an effort to get Democratic support for the bill.

Johnson said he is open to adding language to the bill that would expressly give local school systems complete power on whether or not they would accept students from other jurisdictions. Although Johnson said that has always been the intent of the bill, the current version of the bill is silent on the matter.

The bill would have triggered the new requirement if Clayton schools lose their accreditation status, which is expected to happen in September. Although the bill would require all state funding to be given to Fayette for each Clayton student it hosts, Fayette spends far more money to supplement the state funding level and the bill offers no help in making up that difference.

Johnson said the bill requires parents to provide their own transportation, and he said bill was designed to help steer parents from public schools to private school.

There is also a legal mechanism in place where, if necessary, the state can divert local school funds from Clayton to Fayette and other counties which host Clayton students.

Valencia Seay and SB 458

Submitted by bowser on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 9:01pm.

It would sure be convenient for GOP voucher crusader Sen. Eric Johnson and his protege' Sen. Ronnie Chance if the SB 458 fiasco was all the fault of Sen. Valencia Seay, a Democrat from you-know-where.

Trouble is, it wasn't. In fact we should thank her.

SB 458, as ORIGINALLY introduced by Johnson and five other Republicans, issued an open invitation to students of a dis-accredited system to seek to enroll in another public district, with state financial support. It said the receiving system "may" take them. Even if not a legal mandate, this opened a giant can of worms for Fayette and Henry in light of the Clayton situation.

Seay and another senator -- with Johnson's support -- amended the bill to say receiving counties "shall" take them.

But here's the rub: When the amended "shall" version was passed out of the Senate, Seay voted . . .NO! (Google sb 458 and you will find a page listing the March 5 vote.) Guess who voted YES? Johnson, Chance and a whole bunch of GOP senators. After all, this was the vehicle for their pet issue.

Why would Seay successfully amend it and then vote no? Two possibilities: She never supported the bill but figured if it passed it ought to have some teeth from the standpoint of her Clayton constituents. Or, she decided to plant a little grenade in the bill that she knew would blow it up.

If it was the latter, you have to admire her deviousness and thank her for it, because without the amendment this thing might have traveled right down the rails and dumped said can of worms in Fayette's lap.

After the uproar of the past week the House stripped the amendment, but the state-backed invitation for students in distressed systems to seek to cross county lines is still very much a part of SB 458 -- because it always was.

Hopefully it will get bottled up in the House and die.

The Answer to the Question of Clayton Schools---Racism.

Submitted by Richard Hobbs on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 10:51am.

The Answer to the Question of Clayton Schools.

Let me type this very slowly so you liberals can keep up.

Clayton Schools are run entirely by black school board members. (Save that of one racist, angry, white man.)

Most of Clayton County schools are filled with primarily minority children.

Most of their schools are performing well below the State's average test scores. Considering Georgia's National standing is at the bottom of all other states, that means Clayton County is the worst of the worst.

Now the accreditation has NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CHILDREN's performance. Nada.

BUT the accreditation is based upon the failure of the school board to act in accordance with the rules and requirements. This the sole reason that they are being cited, not the test scores.

Therefore the equation is simple.

Black Children are victims. They've done nothing wrong. (At least per the accreditation board.)

Black Administrators are being unfairly expected to act competently. (Has the accreditation board never heard of Affirmative Action where qualifications are less important than diversity?)

Therefore the problem is. . .

White racists on the national accreditation program.

Simple as that.

If we expect competency from our black officials, --or any beneficiary of affirmative action, then we are exploiting the 400 years of slavery which still effects them, generations after slavery ended.

Maybe you white racists on this board should take a diversity training class or something. Affirmative action means results don't matter, diversity is the key. Where did these educators on the National Board come from? Did George Bush appoint them, under No White Child Left Behind (...in black schools.)

Blacks, like Obama, are not held to the same standards as whites, we all know that. Sure, many blacks perform as well, if not better than whites, and Asians, and Hispanics, as individuals. But Blacks are by this very definition, are identified by their skin pigmentation, and not based upon their individuality.

We have to find an excuse predicated upon racism, bigotry, or prejudice to explain away the mess in Clayton, and for anyone to suggest that the problem is anything other than that, . . . is blatant racism.

And yes, Valencia Seay did have yard signs up, that said, "It's Our Turn Now!". I know, because I was outraged about them, and had to see them for myself. Then I remembered, that the same rules don't apply to blacks as they do for whites.

But since Valencia is black, her signs were not racist, or bigoted, they were merely evidence of her "black experience" that whites can never fully understand.

Therefore, I suggest that we call Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton and Rev. Wright to come and march down Main Street in Jonesboro, just like they did to the Jena Six thugs, err victims of racism.

One, two, three, four, we doesn't need no accreditation score!

Five, six, seven, eight, we be failing cuz of all da white's hate.

Expel the one white member of the board, and then we need to just shut the hell up.

Now, you white racists in Fayette, go back into your homes, lock your doors, close your shades and begin your daily guilt chant. It's all our fault, it's all our fault!

Now, don't you feel better.

Dick hobbs

Submitted by shadowalker on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 12:10pm.

You are to say the least stupid, maybe pushing towards idiot

Blacks bring more racism on them selves then i (a white man) ever could. and im talking about now not the past not our fathers
now fool now

the minority now is the average no racist white man

i dont have all the loop holes you do

clayton county for most part is good hard working people
you make it a race thing

im white live in fayette and your stupid.

or an idiot

shadowalker

Can anybody

Submitted by USArmybrat on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 4:41pm.

make sense at all out of this post? I keep reading it and all I can think is, "This person would even flunk out Clayton's schools"!

No Richard

Submitted by Git Real on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 4:44pm.

Now, you white racists in Fayette, go back into your homes, lock your doors, close your shades and begin your daily guilt chant. It's all our fault, it's all our fault!

Now, don't you feel better.

No Richard. It didn't help a bit. Perhaps higher taxes might help me get rid of the guilt I have for being white and successful. Or perhaps continuing my boycott of Kenny's Koffee Klatch might just do the trick.

________

The Sissy And The Word Defined

Poor reporting by Munford

Submitted by sniffles5 on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 6:59am.

A politician accuses another politician as being responsible for language in a controversial bill.

John Munford, I know it was Friday but would it have killed you to pick up the phone and at least tried to get Sen. Seay's rebuttal to these accusations?

It's worth noting that the actual amendment on the Ga Leg. website indicates that the authors were "Senators Thompson of the 33rd, Seay of the 34th and Johnson of the 1st" (emphasis added).

Typical Republican...avoiding responsibility!

BTW, I'm enjoying this Ronnie Chance lynch mob! Do you chuckleheads really believe our legislature reads every bill and amendment presented for a vote? *shaking head*

Legitimate observations

Submitted by cogitoergofay on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 7:32am.

Legitimate observations....It appears as though the reporter is coddling a favored incumbent.

And also, how true...They truly do not read anything. They are too busy in the make up room even when a bill will clearly affect "my two daughters about to enter the Fayette public schools."

Scarp 458 and rethink it next year.

I understand how something like this

Submitted by oldbeachbear on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 3:24am.

happens. Unfortunatley it happens all too often. People are so busy working to pay the bills and caught up in the day to day efforts just to make things work for their families, that they become prey to politicans who have their own agendas, and quite often it has nothing to do with our well being, only theirs. People have to TAKE the time to pay attention to what these jerks are up to!

Now the cat is out of the bag, so do something about it. It is absolutley rediculous that an entire school system and all their county money can't fix their own schools. No one can tell me that with EFFORT they can't fix them.

Who voted "Yea" and "Nay" on SB 458

Submitted by Cyclist on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 7:35am.

Senate Vote

Sen. Seay voted against.

-------------------------------------------
Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

Now Whut Wuz You Democrats A Sayin' ?

Submitted by Git Real on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 2:24pm.

Bout this was comin' entirely from them nasty ole Republicans?

Hey Folks! I can't go. But if any of you go to Ronnie Chance's Save His Butt Rally tomorrow please ask these questions:

1. Why did you vote for the bill?

2. If you don't support it now then why didn't you read it before you betrayed us Fayette Countians?

3. Are you really that stupid?

4. How did he become so proficient in mimicking Lynn Westmoreland?

5. Can he deny or verify that in an attempt to reach out across the aisle, Republican's have been doing most of their back room bargaining with Democrats via the holes in the partitians in the Men's room at the capital.

6. Why are the Republican Lobbyist Money Tree Shaking Officials blurring the differences between themselves and the Dem's they replaced. It appears to be business as usual at the capital.
________

The Sissy And The Word Defined

Hi Git

Submitted by Tug13 on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 2:57pm.

I emailed Ronnie Chance the other day. I asked the questions 1 & 2. He hasn't responded.

Please Post

Submitted by PTC Dawg on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 4:53pm.

Tug13, on the off chance you get a reply, or for that matter if anyone who attended the pep rally got an answer, please post. Thanks!

Hey Tug

Submitted by Git Real on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 6:04pm.

Ronny chance has no depth what-so-ever. This guy is a mentally shallow as they come. But, the one thing he has going for himself politically is that he has 'The Look'. Very much like Obama and Westmoreland. Ronnie the professional lobbyist / campaign manager is clueless as to how the real world works. He proved himself useless as a campaign manager in many a race. However, I think he was a pretty good lobbyist. Walking around, shaking hands, butt kissing, telling everyone he met just what they wanted to hear, pretending like he gives a rip like..... in the true form of Westmoreland. Now as for Seabaugh??? Puzzled How that troll ever got re-elected I'll never know. After he betrayed us all on conservative issues and then posed as the developers girly man, I can't figure out why the voters haven't caught on to this clown. At least I can claim John Yates as my rep. Too bad I can't vote against Pretty Boy Ronny and hi troll friend Mitch the Traitor Seabaugh. And then there is Seay and Elmer Fludd......

Now as to why Ronnie didn't answer your questions number 1 & 2? He hadn't received his talking points yet from his lobbyist friends and Eric. Give him a break though.... the poor guy is clueless. But he looks good in photographs standing with local Chamber Clowns and other miscellaneous useless groups. But go to Ronnie's meeting tomorrow and hear what great hero he and Ramsey both are.

Anyways..... forget about them. How ya doin'? Smiling

________

The Sissy And The Word Defined

Git, I disagree

Submitted by Tug13 on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 8:24pm.

Ronnie is not a "pretty boy." Smiling I can't be there tomorrow. I hope others can go and will ask lots of questions!

I'm doing good, hope you and your family are too. Smiling

It's OUR Turn NOW!

Submitted by Richard Hobbs on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 2:33pm.

Valencia Seay is the one, if I recall, whose yard signs, proudly had this racists slogan.

IT's OUR TURN NOW!

Well, Valencia, you've had your TURN in Clayton, and you screwed it up, now you want to make it OUR responsibility.

Typical Democratic Liberalism. We want the power to screw things up, but not the responsibility of when we fail, which is most of the time.

Please tell me Valencia Seay didn't

Submitted by oldbeachbear on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 8:24am.

have signs out saying 'Its our turn now' please tell me no. That is the very attitude that is ripping everyone down racial lines.

Old Bear, I wish . . .

Submitted by walker3 on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 11:17am.

I could. I definitely remember those offensive signs all over the north part of Fayette during her campaign a few years ago. The signs had her photo so there was no doubt about who's turn it was.

More Dysfunction in Clayton County

Submitted by thebeaver on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 8:07am.

Clayton sheriff bans police from interviewing inmates

This idiot Sheriff puts his ego ahead of the safety of the residents that he is sworn and paid to protect.

-----------------------------------------------------
Barack Obama is the personification of a wolf in sheep's clothing.

The Perverse Worship of a man

Dysfunctional Clayton

Submitted by muddle on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 9:12am.

Hill should be charged with obstruction of justice.

I've posted this link before, but people really ought to read the actual SACS report on the Clayton schools. Their summary is that the effectiveness of that school system is fatally flawed.

But the details of the 20 page report are just unbelievable. The charges go beyond merely stupid incompetence. There was a great deal of corruption involved as well, as board members allowed personal interests to stand in the way of their responsibilities.

Clayton had been placed on probation as a result of the 2002-03 audit, and apparently cleared up the concerns soon afterwards. But the problems appear to be perennial.

Clayton Incompetence and Corruption

What a nightmare.

How often does a county school system lose accreditation?

Note that the SACS team interviewed parents and discovered a high level of frustration among them as the school board was unresponsive to their concerns.

So far (last I heard) three board members have resigned.

muddle

Submitted by sageadvice on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 9:45am.

Why is everything blamed on the "board?"
Doesn't Clayton County have a Superintendent and a whole passel of Principals?
Who is responsible to see that the paper work is done for accreditation?

Are we missing the point here anyway?
Maybe this sort of school system is what the citizens want--after all if everything was enforced correctly to be accredited, wouldn't two-thirds of the student fail?

Attendance figures alone, if done properly, would cause a severe problem! They obviously grade on a scale--that is the highest grade is an "A" and then next highest is a "B"---even if the highest grade was a true 50%!

These people can't read, or write well, or balance a check book--if they had one! Or if their parents had one.

We never did accomplish integration properly, or the problem wouldn't exist by now. By properly, I mean tutor those in need until they could pass.

school

Submitted by shadowalker on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 12:17pm.

For a very short time two of our kids went to clayton county schools
and it was night mare teachers did not care, the principal was a clown and could not get out of her on way and was uncaring
we put rent a house just to get them back in fay untill our house was finished building

shadowalker

They do have a Superintendent and a passel of Principals...

Submitted by johngeorgejames on Sun, 03/30/2008 - 7:33pm.

Who are now all black... except for a few white hangers on who are just waiting for retirement. The good white people were run off (Dan Colwell, etc. etc.) because Clayton County (code word for black radicals who think they know it all and don't want any whities telling them what to do) wanted THEIR TURN!! Sorry that the school children have to suffer, but their parents voted this board in and now they have to live with it. Whities did run to oppose some of the current board, but WERE NOT ELECTED. The whities had good educations, and their platforms consisted of doing what is best for the students and following the rules.. THEY WERE NOT ELECTED!!
I have direct knowledge - taught in C.C. until my recent retirement- and knew 2 of the whitie candidates.
Like my mama used to say, "They made their bed...."

whitie

Submitted by shadowalker on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 12:22pm.

I really do not think it could have been said any better.

we own several properties in clayton that are controled by home owner asst. while (whitie) was runing it , bills were paid and
up keep was maintained,

guess what it became there turn and now all the properties are a dump
and nothing i can do

im so tired of hereing how we owe the black man
get a job and be human
shadowalker

You tell em shadowalker

Submitted by JeffC on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 2:20pm.

You are a great spokesman for your side. Don't let them intimidate you.

I'm confused though that you own the property and can't do anything about it? Why are you letting them take their turn anyway?

Clayton BOE

Submitted by muddle on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 10:38am.

I think that, if you read the SACS report, it is fairly self-evident why the blame is placed mostly on the board. I'm not double-checking here as I write, but my faulty short-term memory (i.e. yesterday) has it that the superintendent's office is still in transition, as the current office holder is "interim." I believe this was one of the SACS complaints.

It is also very clear from the report that the stereotype of Clayton parents as "lethargic" is not true. Parents were generally unhappy with what has been happening in the Clayton schools.

It is tragic, really.

Most of us come at this with the chief concern over its effects upon our own schools. But it is children who are being short-changed. And we cannot lose sight of the fact that their futures as adults may be profoundly affected by the lack-lustre quaity of the education that Clayton has offered them.

Finally A Justifiable Use For Abortion

Submitted by Git Real on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 4:33pm.

Instead of targeting innocent unborn chilren, what say we send those abortion doctors to clean house at the Clayton County Board of Edumacation. Let's rescue those kids on their own turf. Smiling

________

The Sissy And The Word Defined

Git

Submitted by hutch866 on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 4:41pm.

It's so funny every time the Clayton school board says they are all about the kids and then refuse to resign. The SACS people have already said the the temporary Superintendent they want to hire is not the person for the job buy they're going to hire one of them anyway.

I yam what I yam....Popeye

Hutch

Submitted by Git Real on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 4:50pm.

That whole clown scenario is a classic example of what you get from voting for a candidate based soley on the color of their skin or that they advertised that color on the campaign signs and billboards via pics of their ignorant mugs.

________

The Sissy And The Word Defined

Voting based soley on the color of their skin...

Submitted by johngeorgejames on Sun, 03/30/2008 - 7:37pm.

Amen, brother! They got what they wanted - they deserve what they get.
Will they learn from this lesson? Probably not.

muddle

Submitted by sageadvice on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 9:43am.

Why is everything blamed on the "board?"
Doesn't Clayton County have a Superintendent and a whole passel of Principals?
Who is responsible to see that the paper work is done for accreditation?

These people can't read, or write well, or balance a check book--if they had one! Or if their parents had one.

We never did accomplish integration properly, or the problem wouldn't exist by now. By properly, I mean tutor those in need until they could pass.

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Fayette Rep. Seay sought requirement for Fayette to take Clayton students

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