Ms. McCutchen, I have studied the stated goals of your foundation and support them; however, your letter to the editor of The Citizen is quite curious, given these goals. I have some comments and questions concerning your points and conclusions.

If it is true that “State funding always follows students who transfer to a public school in a school system other than their own,” why then do we need a voucher system? Why do we need a SB458? This contradiction is inexplicable; are our representatives simply practicing double-speak?

Quoting your letter, “Traditionally, the difference between the state funding and the receiving system’s costs are made up by local funds from the student’s home school system and/or tuition paid for by the student’s family. This amount is often negotiated in a contract between the two school systems.

“Therefore, the Fayette County Board of Education is guaranteed the right to refuse admission of an out-of-district student and it is free to require funding (in addition to state funding) that in its judgment is fair.”

The fact that the Board of Education is guaranteed the right to refuse doesn’t mean that they will do it.

The statement that this practice is “traditional” doesn’t provide much comfort to county taxpayers. As you well know, Senator Chance has already sponsored and passed legislation to include special needs students through a “scholarship.”

Given your position that state funds always follow students, why do we need a “scholarship act”? What heartless School Board would turn down a request for special needs students?

Since your organization supports limited government, would you support a bill that would let county citizens choose if they want their taxes increased for this purpose? To in fact allow the citizens to limit the power of the school board in this specific instance?

Quoting again, “If Fayette County were negatively impacted financially, it would be because of poor financial judgment and not due to state law.” So, this point has some merit; however, why should the taxpayers look on in disbelief when a school board acts incompetently? Isn’t this what got us into this situation in the first place?

Again, we should allow citizens to decide if they want to accept children from a non-accredited system if that could potentially increase their taxes.

The school board has the authorization by the citizens to increase citizen taxes for the purpose of educating the county’s children through property tax.

Prior to the Clayton County debacle, I don’t think there would be one property owner of this county that believed that the school board could obligate them to pay on cent for children from a failed school system. Not one.

I strongly believe that without referendum, the citizens are deprived of due process and property.

Your assertion that “Scaremongering that would deprive this state’s children of an adequate education is unfair, shortsighted and irresponsible”: The only thing that deprives our state’s children of an adequate education is a failed public school system, disinterested parents, voters, and incompetent school boards.

Finally, I cannot resist the urge to give you my thoughts on a voucher system. It only works if the state gets out of the education business. If you want a workable voucher system, then privatize the public school system of the state of Georgia.

Give the people their money back and let them decide how they will educate their children. That, my friends, is limited government.

With deepest regards for your charter I remain,

James Wingo

Peachtree City, Ga.

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