Despite a citizen disquiet marked by widespread disdain for most any public institution, last week’s E-SPLOST election results and other recent events prove voters and taxpayers are still willing to back our schools when it counts.
That’s encouraging news for the public schools that educate 9 of 10 Georgia children. Georgia’s Constitution demands that an “adequate” public education be provided for each child. And never has that promise more needed to be fulfilled.
“Yes” votes approved education special purpose local option sales taxes in the cities of Atlanta, Buford and Decatur, and in the counties of Cherokee, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett and Henry. The SPLOSTS are projected to bring about $3.2 billion into those districts during the next five years.
The elections showed voters could put aside skepticism or disbelief that the SPLOST proceeds would be well-spent. Now it’s up to school boards and administrators to make sure that’s the case — or else.
For although voters were willing to step out on faith, they remain wary. And rightly so, thanks to too many instances of questionable, poor or pitiful performances by some boards and school leaders. School board members and administrators must accept that their work going forward will be closely watched by a restive citizenry.
Yet it would have been flat-out wrong for voters to have done as many suggested and voted “no” in a misguided protest against poor school system governance. That would have punished the children for the actions of the adults.
Instead, voters should redirect that sentiment to where it’s appropriate — school board elections. That’s where voters can have a proper, profound impact on how well schools are governed.
The threat of voter ire and increased scrutiny of public spending should push school boards and leaders to ensure that the SPLOST receipts are spent honestly, appropriately and with a thrift that’s warranted during these tough times.
One district that’s showing signs of having heard this message is Atlanta Public Schools. Given the recent announcement that state officials will monitor five schools, and 40 others will take hits related to the key “adequate yearly progress” benchmark, it’s clear APS still faces large challenges.
Even so, Atlanta schools have seen positive recognition of reform efforts in recent days. Those actions were needed to begin moving past a CRCT cheating scandal, discredited leadership and a dysfunctional school board.
APS got the good news earlier this month that it was no longer at risk of losing accreditation for its high schools. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools took the district off probation and placed it on “advisement” status. That equates to SACS taking a watch-and-see view as to whether the board’s changes and progress will hold sway over the long-term. For the sake of Atlanta and its children, the board must continue to keep its act together.
The Atlanta board’s progress also staved off the doomsday scenario of the state Board of Education recommending removal from office of all board members. The state board unanimously decided last week not to pursue that extraordinary remedy. They repeatedly cautioned board members, though, not to veer away from their course of improvement. Too much remains at stake to let that happen.
It’s encouraging also that APS Superintendent Erroll B. Davis Jr. seems keenly focused on the nuts-and-bolts work of rebuilding the district’s management and leadership machinery with the stated goal of improving learning outcomes. His well-honed skills are sorely needed to help the district fully turn onto a new, and better, page.
With several large metro area school districts having faced significant issues with SACS and/or other problems, the need for effective, efficient school leadership has never been more clear. It’s up to administrators and boards to do, or continue to do, the tough, right things to make that happen. Voters should demand no less.
Andre Jackson, for the Editorial Board
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