Current situation - Georgia constitution has locked the number of school systems whereby no new ones can be created. Changing this requires a Georgia Constitutional amendment and "Only amendments which are of general and uniform applicability throughout the state shall be proposed, passed, or submitted to the people." An amendment can be proposed starting in either chamber of the assembly, i.e., the House of Representatives or the Senate. A proposed amendment must be approved by 2/3rds of the membership of each chamber before going to the state's voters for approval. Once passed Statewide to allow cities to break away to form separate school systems, the City of Dunwoody would have to have a plan and a referendum actually break away. If current school taxes were to be used for general operations, would additional start up costs be needed and to what level? I am told DeKalb wouldn't have to transfer the schools over to us for free, instead Dunwoody could buy them at the appraised value
if DeKalb was willing to sell or we could build our own schools.
As much as I like the idea of a Dunwoody School System and would be willing to work toward that goal, I think my wife and I will continue to devote much of our time in making sure that we are involved in the day to day education of our children. Even if a Dunwoody system were in place, parental involvement both individually and collectively is what is needed to have a successful educational system for all children involved.
How about attacking from the flank and create a private Dunwoody School/schools available to those who live in Dunwoody only. Fees could be shared by citizens and city.
ReplyDeleteThe history of prohibiting no new school systems is much like the similar prohibition on forming new cities. The school prohibition got enshrined in our constitution, which just made a bad idea a bit more difficult to change. But it is clear these prohibitions were bad ideas. Just as city formation is now allowed so should local school formation be allowed. The time to act is upon us. Parents and citizens across our state demand change and relief from old concepts that have failed. Local control must be attained for public schools. The days of huge, bureaucratic failed systems must end. As taxpayers we refuse to keep paying for incompetence, waste, cheating, legal fees, litigation, defense costs of corrupt officials, nepotism, and all the other wasteful actions of these failed systems. It is time for a new plan and new efforts to help our public schools and our children.
ReplyDeleteAJC - Maureen Downey
ReplyDeleteShould Dunwoody have its own schools? Should cities be allowed to break from county systems?
Interesting comments.
http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2012/12/18/should-dunwoody-have-its-own-schools-should-cities-be-allowed-to-break-from-county-systems/