Charter amendment forum Tuesday
From STAFF REPORTSeducation@newnan.com
The charter schools debate, raging for the past several months, keeps roiling: A lawsuit filed last week challenges schools that opponents believe are lobbying for the controversial constitutional amendment.
Supporters and opponents are holding meetings and news conferences to air their arguments. Op-eds and letters to the editor appear daily.
Cut through all this back-and-forth with a neutral voter forum that will air all sides of the critical issue. Join the Civic League for Regional Atlanta this Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Henry County Cooperative Extension, 75 Lake Dow Road, McDonough.
The forum will be moderated by Henry County State Court Judge Ben W. Studdard III and feature four outspoken advocates on both sides of the debate:
• Kelly McCutchen, Georgia Public Policy Foundation
• Mark Peevy, Families for a Better Public Schools
• Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks, Gwinnett County Schools
• Mark A. Willis, Georgia School Boards Association
The event is free but space is limited, so the Civic League is asking those planning to attend to contact info@civicleagueatlanta.org .
Voters will consider on Nov. 6 whether or not to amend the Georgia Constitution to allow for a state charter schools commission. That commission would approve and fund special schools outside the purview of local school boards.
