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Education

Clayton school board opposes state taking over “failing” schools

By Ty Tagami
Sept 7, 2016

The Clayton County school board has become the first major metro Atlanta school district to openly oppose a proposed constitutional amendment to let the state take over “failing” schools.

The board voted unanimously Tuesday for a symbolic resolution against the referendum for a statewide Opportunity School District that is on the ballot Nov. 8. The Clayton resolution says passage of the amendment would lead to a local loss of both educational funds and control over education.

Gov. Nathan Deal is pushing for the constitutional amendment, saying school districts are trapping students in failing schools.

ExploreSome Georgia districts that have adopted similar resolutions have schools performing poorly enough to be taken over, such as Bibb, Chatham and Richmond counties. Others, including Cherokee, Fayette, Henry and Troup counties, do not.

Clayton has no schools that are performing poorly enough to be taken over.

In Barrow County, next to Gwinnett County, the school board also was considering a resolution against the statewide district for its meeting Tuesday, but a vote was postponed until next week. That district also has no schools performing poorly enough to be taken over.

» MAP: See which Georgia schools could face state takeover

About the Author

Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.

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