Cherokee County school board opposes constitutional amendment

The Cherokee County school board has joined a small but growing group of opponents to Gov. Nathan Deal’s plan to take over “failing” schools.

The board voted 7-0 Thursday evening to endorse a resolution opposing the Opportunity School District referendum on the ballot Nov. 8. The referendum would amend Georgia's constitution to allow a new statewide school district with a superintendent answering to the governor.

Deal has said some local school boards have allowed students to languish in failing schools and that districts without failing schools have nothing to worry about. The new Cherokee resolution says the constitutional amendment would reduce local control over education while diminishing local budgets.

Cherokee joins a handful of other districts that have formally opposed the constitutional amendment. Some, such as Bibb, Chatham and Richmond counties, have schools performing poorly enough to be taken over. Others, including Cherokee, Fayette and Henry counties in metro Atlanta, do not.

» MAP: See which Georgia schools could face state takeover

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