Can Clayton lure new businesses?
A few new businesses are trickling into Clayton County. At a time when much of the attention is focusing on problems in the school system, it’s refreshing to learn new jobs are being created. Read my latest blog entry on Wordpress
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March 2009
Can Clayton lure new businesses?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A few new businesses are trickling into Clayton County. At a time when much of the attention is focusing on problems in the school system, it’s refreshing to learn new jobs are being created. Read my latest blog entry on Wordpress
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Join us at our new home!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Clayton Talk officially moves to WordPress today. Readers will find this new platform easier to use. Clayton Talk’s new address is:
Be sure to bookmark this URL and sign up for the RSS feed.
There’s much to talk about in Clayton. Today, blogger Kimberly Allen writes about the board’s decision to oust Superintendent John Thompson. Share your thoughts on the matter. Does this put Clayton on the road to accreditation?
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Time to raise taxes?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Less than one year ago our board of commissioners believed county finances were stable and passed a $168 million budget with no tax increase or service cuts.
Now Chairman Eldrin Bell “guestimates” Clayton to be at least $17 million dollars in the red.
An annual audit is currently being performed and should be completed this month.
As per news reports, this shortfall is due to alleged fiscal mismanagement by the county finance department, which led to the loss of state grant funds. Despite the deficit, commissioners recently attended a conference in Washington D.C. at taxpayer expense.
“As a taxpayer, I would like a full accounting of how our money has been spent, by whom, when and where, with an assurance this will not happen again, says Pamela Noah, one of several residents who have asked the BOC to conduct a forensic audit. “Mr. Bell has been quoted saying one thing and other commissioners are saying something else. I want to know the truth and how the p ublic’s money is being managed.”
The BOC recently ordered all county departments to cut three percent from their budgets, and according to Finance Committee Chair Wole Ralph there will be no layoffs or cuts in residential services. But a three percent cut to the police and sheriff department budgets will undoubtedly affect our quality of life. While I don’t want to see anyone lose their job, given a choice I’d prefer not to lose any public safety services. While our BOC has successfully kept taxes low, some residents believe raising taxes would be the fastest and most efficient way to solve many of Clayton’s ills.
. What do you think? Would you be willing to pay higher taxes if it would get us back on track financially, and improve Clayton’s overall quality of life?
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Is Clayton accreditation within reach?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Should residents be optimistic about Clayton County Public Schools retaining accreditation? Perhaps so, based on information provided at a recent board of education meeting.
BOE SACS liaison Dr. Pam Adamson (District 1) discussed the four levels of accreditation that The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools can grant CCPS. They are: accredited, accredited advised, accredited warned, or accredited probation.
“The good news is that if we receive any form of accreditation from the list above, our students will enjoy the benefits of full accreditation,” says Adamson. “The other three simply mean that SACS may impose additional work for us to do in a given period of time - usually one academic year.” The odds appear to favor the Class of 2009 receiving diplomas from an accredited system.
The only visit from the SACS team will take place April 13-15. Although it’s unclear how long they will deliberate, SACS knows graduation is fast approaching. “That’s not to say that the visiting team will automatically recommend accreditation,” adds Adamson. “The sustainability of what we have accomplished since September should be a major question in the minds of the team - can we keep it going or is this just a good beginning that we can’t sustain.” According to an AJC article, [80% of the SACS mandates] (http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/clayton/stories/2009/01/26/claytonschoolsaccreditation ..html) were met back in January.
“We are faced with the hardest tasks boards are asked to address: redistricting, a massive economic challenge, a superintendent search, seeking reinstatement of accreditation, and regaining the confidence of our community,” says Adamson. “We have committed ourselves to transparency, honesty, and integrity and desperately need the support and encouragement of the community.”
Our BOE will vote March 3 to choose a superintendent search firm in order to satisfy mandate number 9.
Which search firm do you think should be chosen? Should the BOE stick with Georgia companies and candidates, or keep their options open?
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