Gov. Nathan Deal's school takeover proposal is facing opposition as it hurtles toward a key deadline in the Legislature.
Powerful education groups, Democratic opponents and a smaller cadre of Republicans coalesced against the bill, Deal’s signature legislative initiative, Monday as a House committee signed off on it.
The committee passed Senate Resolution 287and Senate Bill 133 by comfortable margins. They would amend the state constitution to give Deal's office the power to take control of perennially failing schools. But supporters predict a tougher fight on the floor of the House, where the amendment needs a two-thirds majority to pass.
With an April 2 deadline looming, Deal and his allies are hoping to schedule the vote as soon as Wednesday.
"What we're doing isn't about trying to point the finger or lay blame," said Rep. Christian Coomer, R-Cartersville. "It's about trying to figure out what's the best tool for students to have the best opportunity for a quality education."
The governor has staked the beginning of his second term on the ambitious proposal, which would give the state new powers to take over the most distressed schools, convert them to charters or shut them down.
A failure could have great consequences for Deal, whose power in the statehouse has rarely been higher since his re-election victory. A defeat could force him to scale back other ambitious proposals and threaten his relationship with the legislative branch.
Deal and his allies managed to corral precisely the two-thirds majority they needed in the Senate earlier this month thanks to the support of a sole Democrat who crossed party lines. Deal’s staff has worked with lawmakers to address concerns in the legislation, including providing more oversight for local politicians.
SB 133 sets out the parameters of the proposal. SR 287 would ask voters statewide for permission to fund an “Opportunity School District” controlled by the governor’s office.
It is based on a model used in Louisiana, which has produced notable academic gains in New Orleans but had less success in other parts of the state. A similar approach has also been adopted in Tennessee and Michigan.
Dozens of students, principals and education leaders protested the legislation Monday, holding signs that read “makeover not takeover.” Georgia Association of Educators members led protesters in a chant of “my school belongs to me.” They say control of schools should stay within local communities and believe the legislation doesn’t take into account the schools’ challenges.
“You’ve given us 10 years of cuts. We’ve had to cut teachers and increase class sizes,” said Sid Chapman, president of GAE. “We haven’t been able to recruit the best because who wants to come to a cheap school in a cheap state.”
The two-hour committee meeting featured an airing of concerns from Democrats and Republicans. State Rep. Wayne Howard, D-Augusta, warned it could be “dangerous” to rush into such a sweeping change. And state Rep. Tommy Benton, R-Jefferson, questioned the need for the legislation.
“I still don’t like it,” said Benton after his “no” vote. “They made some changes, but not enough.”
The measure could reach a vote in the full House as early as Wednesday, but a gathering Tuesday could set the stage. That’s when the chamber’s Democrats will decide whether to take a stance on the bill.
In the Senate, the entire Democratic caucus save for one defector opposed the measure. A similar position could doom the proposal in the House, though some Democrats already suggested they would buck the party line.
“We are at a juncture, and we’ve got to do something,” said state Rep. Mike Glanton, one of two Democrats to vote for the plan in committee. “I would hope each individual in our caucus would weigh the opportunity. We need to do some radical things. Everyone won’t be pleased, but what we have now isn’t working.”
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