Perdue seeks power to fix local schools

Upset about his lack of authority in Clayton County, Gov. Sonny Perdue is looking at a possible change to the state constitution to allow Georgia to intervene more with troubled school systems.

“The governor would be willing — even if it took a constitutional change — to give the state authority to get more involved in a situation like this,” said Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley on Wednesday. “The frustration the people are feeling of the state’s inability to go in and give the state more of a role is something he’s been thinking about.”

Clayton County schools headlines:

• Photos: Timeline of Clayton schools' woes

• AJC editorial: Less hope

Read the full report to SACS:
� Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Read SACS' report (PDF)

Photos: Non-meeting | Angry parents | 400 protest
Clayton County news

Dozens of Clayton County residents have asked Perdue to take control of the 50,000-student school system, which lost accreditation last week.

The governor’s executive legal team is looking at what it would take for the state to step in — something that rescued other troubled schools across the nation, Brantley said.

For Georgia, the Senate and House would have to approve a change to the state constitution. The amendment would then need voter approval in a statewide referendum.

The earliest that could happen is November 2010, Brantley said.

That likely will be too late for Clayton, which became the second school system in the nation to lose accreditation in the last 40 years.

A group of Lovejoy residents is threatening a march on the Capitol and a letter-writing campaign to ask Perdue for more involvement.

“The goal we have is for the state to step in, run the board while they are being trained and when they are capable of handling it themselves, turn it back over to them,” said Lovejoy City Councilwoman Marci Fluellyn, who is helping organize Lovejoy of Clayton for Accreditation group. “In the meantime, give us our accreditation back and handle administrative issues in an administrative way.”

In February, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools recommended Clayton’s accreditation be revoked unless it met nine mandates to correct issues with governance, ethics and finance.

A week later, Perdue appointed two state board of education members to serve as liaisons to help the Clayton school board. He also signed a bill that allows qualified students who graduate from unaccredited schools to receive HOPE scholarships until June 2010.

Last week, Perdue removed four board members after a state administrative judge found they violated state law.

He wanted to do more, but legally couldn’t, Brantley said. “Everything we did was in an assistance mode,” he said.

Since 1988, more than half of all states have passed laws that allow state officials to take control of troubled school districts.

About 50 school districts across the nation currently have some sort of state involvement, said Kenneth Wong, director of the urban education policy program at Brown University. And about 40 percent of those districts have returned to local control after turning around, said Wong, who has studied state takeovers for the past 10 years.

“The governor needs to convene the state Legislature, as well as local leaders, to work together and develop a plan,” Wong said Wednesday. “There is an educational crisis in Clayton County, and the state needs to think about how to engage themselves in fixing this particular crisis.”

Hartford schools were on the verge of losing accreditation until the state of Connecticut took over in 1997.

Atlanta schools Superintendent Beverly Hall was the state-appointed district superintendent for Newark Public Schools from 1995 until she came to Atlanta in 1999. Hall was unavailable for interviews Wednesday, district spokesman Joe Manguno said.

New Jersey’s state education department took over Newark schools in 1995 after state investigators found the system rife with mismanagement and financial problems, according to a state report. Newark remains under state control, according to the New Jersey education department. New Jersey became the first state to seize control over a local school district when it took over Jersey City schools in 1989. The state currently runs three school districts — Patterson, Newark and Jersey City.

Wong said he has seen a range of intervention from governors appointing a board and superintendent, to local universities running individual schools.

“The fact that it [Clayton] lost accreditation means the problems didn’t happen overnight. The public needs to be patient,” Wong said. “It has taken a long time to come to this point. And even with the support of the Legislature and governor, one needs to think of a three- or five-year plan to turn this district around.”

This is the second time in five years that SACS cited the board for micromanaging, abuse of power, misuse of funds and other ethics violations.

Researcher Sharon Gaus contributed to this article.

Comments

By tootall

Sep 8, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

georgia gov cant even get anything done with what there dealing with now. what makes pedue think he can help in any way shape or form. I'm really looking forward to the day he is out of office. I also hope when the voting is over this year anyone in office now will not be in office then. our state gov and fed gov are the most do nothing govs that i can remember in my life time and ive been voting for 32 years.

By InvolvedCitizen

Sep 6, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this

I live in CC and I do not have a child in the school system however I realize my responsibility in all of this as a resident. I don't stand in judgment of anyone. There is a circle of blame here. This situation is not something that happened overnight, it is the result of a process.
I am involved in the community and I have attended all of the recent meetings and I am really disappointed in the lack of participation by other residents/parents/homeowners/business owners etc.
We can all pass blame, play the race card, judge, and point fingers as much as we want. The fact of the matter is this is where we are now.
Truth be told, what is going on in Clayton County is indicative of what is going on in this country, (failed school systems). For whatever reasons, CC has become the poster child.
With as difficult as this is, if this "cleansing" is what is necessary for CC to rebuild, (which it will do in time) then so be it.
There are bad apples everywhere, before you even think about passing judgment, think about all of the students who work so hard at excelling in their education, (and there are many). or the teachers who are suffering silently, think about the homeowners who have worked so hard to achieve what was once called the American Dream. Think about the business owners who have worked so hard in establishing their businesses. Think about all of the residents who despite all of the bad press, despite all of the bad media, continue to work front line in doing all that they can to help to resolve this issue.
CC has been pounded by the media for years now and the public has been deceived into believing that everything going on here is negative, NOT.
Yes, there are many issue. Yes, this is a crisis. I am not sugarcoating this at all! Some of us do understand the power and the influence of the media. They seem to get a kick out of airing CC's "dirty laundry, (and we all have some). I just want you to understand that there is a lot more to CC than what meets the eye.

By So sick of you people

Sep 6, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

To all of you who keep stating, "Clayton County got what it deserves"! How many of you actually voted in your elections ? I voted and have voted since I first gained the right at 18. How many of you actually own your home ? I do and own it with pride! How many are gainfully employed ? I am. I went to College and got a degree. I actually have a Career not just a job! How many are involved in civic organizations ? I am and will continue to strive to make my community better! How many are active participants in their child's life? I am and will continue to be. You keep talking about Clayton County voters not voting in the correct people, well we can only vote for our district. Can you vote across district lines? I don't think so.

Only God sits up high and looks down low and you are by no means God. From the sounds of things, most of you aren't even God like.

Clayton county doesn't want you to rescue us. We just want you to take your problems that you shoved on us back. If Atlanta would have kept their own project people within their own city limits, Clayton County may not be going through this mess now! The best thing all of you can do for Clayton County is keep Bowen Homes residents right where they are. They don't want to come out here anymore than we want them to!

By Jesse

Sep 6, 2008 6:56 AM | Link to this

My nephew did not pass the GGT and we found a solution for him that will also work for seniors in Clayton County schools. It is a diploma from a private school that was issued based on the credits he earned at his school. He chose to go to Grambling, but any college/university would have accepted his new diploma. I will be happy to share the solution with anyone who may be interested. jesse@algerprep.com

By natalie

Sep 6, 2008 12:45 AM | Link to this

For all of you calling for state intervention; you seem to think that the Gov. or the State Superintendent can intervene at will. That is not the case. At the present time, without any changes to the state constitution, it is illegal for him to intervene. He cannot do anything to take over the system or he would be breaking the law. What would SACS say then?

On a more unpleasant note, the former board members were elected by the same citizens that are now so upset about the revocation of the accreditation. Then when you had the opportunity this year to vote for new board members, most of the people in the county passed up the chance to go to their polling station and affect change. You reap what you sow. Even the new members that have been elected barely understand how to call a proper meeting. They even attempted to appoint someone to the board without a vote. It seems as if no one wants to learn the lessons of the past board. At this rate you might as well move out of the county because you will not be able to regain accreditation with this type of leadership.

By one argry parent

Sep 5, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this

While our children are in disarry the State superintent Is on a Tv show winning money for herself and she stand on side lines looking dumb founded with our governor Mr. perdue laws should have been passed when this first happen not waiting until now We feel as if this was in his or her nieghborhood or counties in which they kids or community is located and this happen the outcome and thier action would have been totallly different but since it is in a 95% black attended county no seems to care about these kids educatation and they deserved the level of education as any other child

telling like it is

By Lillian E. Campbell

Sep 4, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this

My name is Lillian E. Campbell. I am the parent that spoke out at Clayton County school board meeting ( This is a mess). That meeting was a joke, a bad joke. These people do not have a clue as to what they are doing. John Thompson is a opportunist capitalizing on the new board members not having the knowledge of how the board is to operate. So Thompson is directing Garrnett and Anderson like puppets. Someone from the Governor office needs to be at these meetings to witness the mess that is going on. The steaks are too high,for Georgia not to take control of this school system. Please let's keep in mine 9 people (the old board members) actions are the reason why Clayton county lost the accrediation.

Now 52000 children, homeowners, educator, business owner, Hartfield- Jackson Airport and tax payer are affected by their actions. We need the governor office involved in this process. We need all of Georgia to get involved in this process. The Ford Plant that is going to become a mixed use community like Atlantic Station need to get involved because it is in CLAYTON COUNTY.

By YourSadness

Sep 4, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this

I believe that the STATE should get involved. I really want an accredited diploma and a scholarship when I graduate.

We're not just Clayton County, we're Clayton County, GEORGIA. And we can't do this alone