CLAYTON COUNTY: Leadership problems stymie federal funds

Clayton County schools will not get any federal money to offset the $23 million in shortfall it will see because of the system’s accreditation loss.

School staff, along with about 40 Clayton politicians, lobbied Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) Saturday for federal funds.

“We’re going to have a $23 million shortfall because we lost 3,000 kids. We can’t wait to educate children,” state Sen. Gail Buckner (D-Jonesboro) said. “This is clearly, clearly a major need for this county.”

Scott said he can’t help the 50,000-student district with those cuts. Instead, he offered to help ROTC students land scholarships and schools get anti-gang grants of about $150,000.

“We can’t affect the exodus and dollars we are losing because of that [accreditation loss] … but we are changing the image of our school system,” Scott told the group.

Dozens of Clayton officials attending Saturday’s countywide leadership forum gave Scott their wish lists, which included help for foreclosures, job programs, recreation centers and roadwork.

“We are not getting things going to other counties because we are a Democratic county,” state Rep. Mike Glanton (D-Ellenwood) said. “We need … things that put people to work immediately.”

Scott said he “guarantees” Clayton —- the hardest hit in the state by the mortgage crisis —- will get additional money to offset foreclosures. Clayton already has received $9.7 million in federal aid to help with foreclosures, but that covers fewer than 100 of Clayton’s 2,800 foreclosed properties, Clayton Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell said.

Scott said it’s difficult to secure money to assist with the unaccredited school system and other problems caused by elected officials.

“We can do better in Washington when we get it oiled down here. Leadership is very critical for our county,” Scott said.

Scott is hopeful that Clayton is turning around on that front: A new school board, sheriff and district attorney have been elected.

Scott said he hoped money is the one thing the politicians could agree on. But that wasn’t the case on Saturday.

Mayors of Riverdale and Morrow asked for federal money for a Boys & Girls Club. Other elected officials asked about youth job programs, while commissioners wanted money for foreclosures, economic development around Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and a regional 911 system.

Scott said Clayton could lose out on federal money because of county financial problems. The state has frozen grants after the county failed to submit required financial documents. Auditors also have said they can’t trust information from the county finance department.

Another hurdle for Clayton’s funding is the stalled commuter rail project, Scott said. The state has $120 million sitting in the bank waiting to build a train from Atlanta to Macon, Scott said. The project would stop in southern Clayton.

“The train has already been paid for and sat there for 12-15 years. There’s been such volatility, infighting and all in Clayton, that it’s hit hard,” Scott said. “We have ostracized leadership that doesn’t like each other.”