* Citizen uprising defeats ‘school choice’ bill for Clayton

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News | Peachtree City | Tyrone

Citizen uprising defeats ‘school choice’ bill for Clayton

Fri, 03/28/2008 - 3:29pm

By: John Munford

Chance says he was misled about initial amendment to bill

A Senate bill that would have required Fayette County's public school system to accept Clayton County students should Clayton schools lose their accredited status was dramatically changed at a committee hearing Wednesday afternoon.

Rep. Matt Ramsey (R-Peachtree City) said the requirement has been dropped and the amendment has been accepted by the author of the bill, Sen. Eric Johnson (R-Savannah). Ramsey said he was deluged with more than 1,500 emails which were printed out and used to show fellow legislators how upset Fayette residents were with the bill.

State Sen. Ronnie Chance (R-Tyrone) said when he voted on the bill, it contained no requirement for other school systems to accept Clayton students. That requirement was tacked on after the bill was voted on when the amendment passed by “unanimous consent” Chance said.

Chance said he had been led to believe that the amendment gave schools latitude to turn away Clayton students. In fact, the amendment did the opposite and gave other school systems no such wiggle room.

“Once we found that out, we did the only thing we could which was have the bill amended in the House committee,” Chance said.

The problematic amendment was authored by the bill’s chief sponsor, Eric Johnson (R-Savannah), Valencia Seay (D-Riverdale), who represents part of north Fayette County and Steve Thompson (D-Marietta).

Ramsey said the challenge now is to "be vigilant and make sure it doesn't get amended" by members of the House before the bill is passed by that chamber.

The latest version of the bill would leave it up to the individual school system to determine whether or not to accept Clayton students should that school system lose its accreditation as expected Sept. 1.

"It was something that was kind of slapped in on the Senate's side, but we have addressed it," Ramsey said of the previous version of the bill which would have required Fayette and other school districts to accept Clayton County students if Clayton loses its accreditation.

That requirement likely would have handcuffed Fayette County funding-wise and necessitated cutting programs that are currently funded in large part by local tax revenues, according to an interview earlier this week with Fayette School Superintendent John DeCotis. Under that theory, local property taxpayers would be paying for the education of students who don’t live in Fayette County.

The requirement of accepting Clayton students also could have put Fayette schools in a real crunch if all of a sudden hundreds or thousands of unexpected students showed up to be enrolled here.

Though the requirement indicated students could be turned away if space wasn't available in the new school system, it didn't say how space requirements would be assessed.

The state Board of Education does keep figures on how many estimated students a given school can accommodate.

The newly-amended bill (SB 458) was approved by the House's Science and Technology Committee and will proceed further in the legislative process with a coming vote expected in days.

Gov. Sonny Perdue has previously appointed two members of the state Board of Education to advise Clayton County’s school board on maintaining the system’s accreditation.

Also, Sen. Chance has introduced legislation on Perdue’s behalf that would call for a referendum to be put on the ballot when a school district loses its accreditation. That referendum would allow voters to remove all members of the school board from office and have them replaced by appointees from the state Board of Education.

Then, as each term of the local school board expires, the voters of that district would be allowed to elect a new member according to normal voting procedures.

Chance said that bill would empower residents to remove board members when necessary to avoid problems such as Clayton is experiencing now with accreditation.

The ultimate hope, Chance said, is that Clayton doesn’t lose its accreditation, especially since only two schools in the nation have ever lost such accreditation.

So this SB was voting on.....

Submitted by Cyclist on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 7:26am.

and approved and then changed and then sent to the house? I'm I missing something. Puzzled

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

NO TO SB 458: NOT NOW IN

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

NO TO SB 458: NOT NOW IN ANY FORM

Double Talk makes my head spin!

Submitted by PTC Dawg on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 7:15pm.

Someone educate me...Can a bill that the Senate voted on be amended as they pass it to the House? I thought amendments had to be done prior to vote. And, what does Ronnie mean by 'passed by “unanimous consent”'? The bill vote was not unanimous.
If SB 458 still contains any language regarding a county's acceptance of students - "shall" or "may" - then it needs to be voted down in the House by any Representative that truly has the best interests of his/her district at heart!
WHO: Senator Ronnie Chance, Representative Matt Ramsey, Representative Vigil Fludd, and other local elected officials.
WHEN: Saturday March 29th, at 9:30 a.m.
WHERE: Fayette County Commission Chambers, 140 Stonewall Avenue West,
Fayetteville, Georgia 30214
I'm hoping the on-top-of-things "Citizen" staff will continue their excellent coverage of SB 458,be in attendance at this last minute meeting and post a report for those of us who cannot change family commitments at the drop of a hat.

MEETING ON SB458

Submitted by Buckwheat Rules on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 8:33am.

Continue to let Mo, Larry, and Curly (Chance, Ramsey, and Fludd)know what you think of them trying to "back door" us on SB458. I won't quit until I see this legislation torn up in front of my eyes. Amazing how one piece of legislation, if passed, can put our entire county down the septic tank.

The backpeddling from Chance leads me to believe he's had his last around here .... "chance" that is. It may be time he takes his political snake oil truck and head on down the highway. I don't take kindly to some sneaky snake trying to wiggle their way out of explaining how this happened in the first place.

Meeting

Submitted by kjam on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 8:42am.

You do know it's this morning, going on NOW and not tonight at 9:30.
Unless there is another meeting that is being held. Just wanted to make sure you knew correct time in case you were planning to attend.

Lester never pedalled this fast....backwards!!

Submitted by TomCat on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 5:14pm.

Lester Maddox would be proud of how fast Sen. Ronnie Chance can "backpedal" in a futile attempt to CYA. Wonder how many other votes Sen. Chance has been "misled" on this session? Hope voters remember this and ask the right questions come campaign time. Suggested new slogan, "No Chance - Chance."

"The Cat is loose...."

A Big Amen To You Brother T Cat!

Submitted by Git Real on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 6:57pm.

Chance said he had been led to believe

Further evidence that this hack did not read this bill and study the issue out. Pretty Boy Chance merely tilted his head toward his commanding puppeteer and voted as instructed. In his defense, and if he were being honest, Chance would invoke the defense of "I was merely following orders".

And that goes for Ramsey and Traitor Seabaugh too. I'll bet money that John Yates didn't fall for this crap. And I can guarantee you this...... DAN LAKLY WOULD HAVE NEVER SUPPORTED A CRAP BILL LIKE THIS!

Dan, you are very much and sadly missed.

“Once we found that out, we did the only thing we could which was have the bill amended in the House committee,” Chance said.

Let me short-cut you guys and interpret this for you. What Pretty Boy Westmoreland... I mean Chance means is that once he realized how stupid and inane he was for letting other folks pull his strings and telling him how to vote, along with him seeing his political future flash before his very eyes, Ronnie made a brilliant move and flip flopped like a carp thrown on the bank because it didn't deserve to live with all the other good fishes in the pond.

See what happens when you fools compromise with the left? Could this possibly sink in a bit for the good of our community and state? Sheesh.... no wonder folks think Republicans leaders are a waste of good oxygen these days.

The requirement of accepting Clayton students also could have put Fayette schools in a real crunch if all of a sudden hundreds or thousands of unexpected students showed up to be enrolled here.

Oh that would have been okay. You know.... we're all rich and have lots extra money to spend on other counties failed systems. And while your at it why not penalize me some more and ask that I pay the health premiums for these same folks that vote in the kind of leadership that Clayton County has and deserves.

Also, Sen. Chance has introduced legislation on Perdue’s behalf

Now when you're at Ronnie's pep rally tomorrow, don't forget to notice how he will take credit for this bill. He's gonna stand up real tall with his chest puffed out pretending like he brainstormed this whole idea with his sock puppeteer.

The ultimate hope, Chance said, is that Clayton doesn’t lose its accreditation, especially since only two schools in the nation have ever lost such accreditation.

Oh that was real rich. To hell with the kids, let's just worry about our states accreditation standings. All this BS and instead of taking over the school system and rehabilitating it from the top down, we're gonna possibly spread it's failed results around the country side while pretending 'that' is the compassionate thing to do. I say let's call out our National Guard troops to secure and clear out the premises and get some folks in there who give a rip about these kids rather than clowns like Seay, Fludd and the school board members who chief concerns are getting their pictures on yard signs and billboards. And yup.... that includes you Victor Hill.

We're doomed as a nation.......

________

The Sissy And The Word Defined

Oh, Git...

Submitted by RT Tugger on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 7:39am.

once again, you've said it so well! I'm off to see how our loser senator will try to wiggle out of this one.

Everyone is Brave when we have fake blogger names

Submitted by be.real.mc.Navjohoe on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 7:19pm.

Git real maybe you should run for office

Brave? - And Oh How I Miss Dan Lakly

Submitted by Git Real on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 7:27pm.

Git run for office?

One day. Right now I couldn't and wouldn't want to afford the pay cut. Until that time I refuse to be subsidized by lobbyist and the gumament. I'll wait until the kiddies are grown and I can afford to devote all my energies into being a Dan Lakly as opposed to being a Ronny Matt Seabaugh.

Now, which parts of my analysis do I have wrong? My goodness how you guys go nuts when you get exposed and get your gazookas nailed to the wall. Question... Which one of the hacks got you to sign on in a heated rush to challenge my bravery and my anonymity? Or are you one the hacks yourself.

Good day ye who uses his real name.