GCSA CEO Issues Statement on Lawsuit Appeals
The following statement is from Dr. Tony Roberts, CEO of the Georgia Charter Schools Association, in response to the recent decision by the Bulloch and Gwinnett County School Boards to appeal a May 7 ruling by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Wendy L. Shoob.
“After hearing arguments by attorneys [Friday, May 7] representing the school districts suing to close the Charter School Commission and the schools it has authorized, it became abundantly clear that Gwinnett County and other like-minded school districts do not like the law passed to give children and their parents choices to attend public charter schools throughout the state.
“They think they have a monopoly on education and will go to any length or expense to exert their power. But our State legislature and Governor rightly saw the need for expansion of charter schools in our state and passed HB881 into law which created the Georgia Charter Schools Commission.
“We welcome the quick consideration of this matter by the Georgia Supreme Court so the children of Ivy Preparatory Academy in Norcross and Charter Conservatory of the Arts and Technology in Statesboro will not have to live in daily fear that their school of choice is closed. They and their tax paying parents chose those schools knowing that “one size does not fit all.
“These two schools are some of the highest performing public schools in the State. They are models of what public schools can be. I call on parents to direct the members of their school district boards to get back to the business of educating children and stop wasting time and money fighting a law which has been ruled constitutional and is good for our children in the strongest possible terms.”
Tony Roberts, Ph. D.
CEO Georgia Charter Schools Association
One Response to “GCSA CEO Issues Statement on Lawsuit Appeals”
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I understand what you are saying about education. However, public teachers never seem to get the respect or recognition they deserve. These teachers work countless hours (many off the clock) planning, grading, attending meetings, having parent conferences, organizing their room and many other things that the public does not realize. Although I am a parent and I want the best for my child, I am not sure that charter schools are the answer. What kills me is that someone always has a better way. If you really want to improve education, then be a part of the process. Why not pour your time, money, and effort into improving public schools?
I just don’t know how you can justify using state money while public schools are in such a deficit. Teachers are being fired and furloughed. Classroom size is growing and education is moving backward all the while.
My proposal is that if you have a better way, then educate us all. Join forces with the public school system and be a part of the solution.
I believe that our public schools might fare better if we too were able to pick and choose who is educated in our classrooms. I know that we would fare better if we were able to mandate parent volunteerism like charter schools require. However, we remain a non-elitist environment who chooses to accept all students at all levels. We also know that some parents work full time jobs or sometimes two or more jobs and can’t commit that kind of time to their parent school.
I am sure that my comment will go no where and that you will continue to do what you do. We are all just trying to survive in these economic times. However, maybe my comment will help you to understand our position as public educators. It is very insulting when someone says, “I can do it better,” yet doesn’t want to share those fabulous ideas.