During the last 12 years, Georgia state government has gutted the pubic school systems by eliminating more than $1.5 billion, even as elected officials suggested that more per dollar money was being spent more efficiently per school than ever before.

At the same time, public schools were fighting to meet by far the worst public mandate for public schools ever approved — “No child left behind,” which took more money from schools.

These were the stepping stones for charter schools to be the savior of public education by offering a alternative and stripping more taxpayer money from public education. Even U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland and other state-elected officials stated education control should be at the local level.

There are more than 200 charter schools in Georgia. By 2013, all 180 school systems must choose a path for their future. In 2012, the Fulton County Board of Education did just that by becoming the largest public charter school system in Georgia. This gave more than 90,000 students a brighter future with more flexibility of learning, more opportunities of independent studies and online college classes.

How does local decision of a better choice of our children’s education and putting education control at ground level get lost in translation by the GOP controlled legislature thinking that politicians and lobbyists know better than a locally elected school board?

Make no mistake, more money will be cut from public education by millions in addition to federal funding if the new charter school amendment is passed.

Big government control of education is not the choice.

Rick Page, Newnan