Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2008 > May > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USEric Johnson on Clayton County schools and the ‘civil rights battle of the 21st century’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Late Wednesday, Senate President pro tem Eric Johnson of Savannah loudly — or as loudly as e-mail allows — proclaimed his frustration with his colleagues’ recent failure to address his voucher program.
The legislation was aimed at rescuing the slow-motion train wreck that is the Clayton County school system. But it ran into trouble when parents in neighboring school systems began to fear that fleeing, voucher-wielding students would swamp their boats.
Johnson began with the day’s news:
“I was outraged to finally see the contract with Clayton County’s new part-time School Superintendent. Even though he was declared unqualified by the accrediting agency, he will now receive $285,000 and a car and driver for 133 work days a year.
“Think about that. That is more than $2,100 a day plus benefits! Think about what that could have done if it was spent in the classroom. Some legislators, including most of the Clayton County delegation, opposed my attempt to give each child in these schools a $4,500 scholarship each and every year.
“They did it because of pressure from the same people that elected the present school board.”
Johnson’s exposition continues on the jump.
“Clearly this Board doesn’t get it. I believe the debate about Clayton’s schools needs to turn to ‘choice’. Should we give parents control of their own tax dollars that are spent on their child’s education? Or should we give it to a Board that hires a Superintendent at $250 an hour?
“Should we let parents decide whether they should go to a local school that is not accredited or an independent school that is accredited? Should we force children to attend a school that threatens their ability to go to college and earn a higher income the rest of their lives?
“Or should we allow students to escape to a better school? School choice is the civil rights battle of the 21st Century. Clayton County citizens need to demand vouchers. And they should demand them from any candidate running for the State Senate or House of Representatives.
“Before you vote in the July 15 primary, find out whether they think this School Board should spend their money or whether the parents should have that right.”
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Comments
By Ray
May 1, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
How much, exactly, is spent on a child’s education in Clayton County?
By JustMe
May 1, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
Eric Johnson from Savannah doesn’t give a rat’s a$$ about Clayton County. He also doesn’t care at all about improving education. He is only interested in giving his wealthy voters tax dollars for their private schools in the form of vouchers.
I really hate these false hypocritical right wing nuts claiming to be helping anything when all they want is money for the wealthy. Just say it like it is - he wants tax money to pay for private schools.
By TA
May 1, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
Thank you for your support Senator Eric Johnson. I am a Clayton County parent that can not afford a private school education for my two children, but I am sending them anyway. I don’t know how I am good to pay for it, but sending them to an unaccredited school will not happen. A good education is too important to me not to make sacrifices beyond ability for my children’s future. I watched as SB 458 did not pass because of political reason. I saw the bill passed that allows a tax deduction for the rich and companies to give to private schools for scholarships. That bill will not help all children, but the vouchers bill would have assisted me and others in our efforts in paying for a private education. I watch as my state tax dollars and my property tax dollars go wasted as the Clayton County Board of Education continue with their personal agendas without any liability. The State of Georgia and Clayton County haven’t done enough to stop this abuse of power. This is clearly a case of Taxation without Representation. Thank you for not turning your back on us. Please continue to try and help us get this voucher bill pass. I am ashamed of the local Senate and House members would allowed political pressure to let this bill stay in the House withdrawn and recommitted. I don’t know how you can sleep at night knowing that the future of these children’s education has been compromised. Senator Johnson cares about others who need help. God bless you!
By Neighbor of clayton
May 1, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this
They do not need vouchers. They need people from the state superintendents office to step up and fire the school board and take over getting the system back on the right track. All it would take is weeding out the low-life school board who obviously only care about themselves and not the students…
By Michael
May 1, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
Ray:
My understanding is that the budget for the CC schools is $566MM which works out to around $10,700 +/- per student.
By Insider
May 1, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
Per pupil spending is actually around $7100, Ray. Check out the Clayton Co. school board website for the stats.
Call the Governor to support SB 300 that would require the spending of all state agencies to be placed on a searchable, publicly-accessible website. Push his to ensure that every check written by government is able to be examined by the citizens.
By SharonH
May 1, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
That’s funny. All those right-wingers in Henry and Fayette probably would be the first to tell you that they are all in favor of school vouchers for their children to attend private schools. They didn’t intend for the vouchers to be used for those people to use them to attend school with their children.