Many of you were surprised to learn recently that Gwinnett County Public Schools has been using education funds to pay for the salaries of Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce employees. These payments started in 2007 and continue in 2012, even as school board members Mary Kay Murphy, Carole Boyce, Louise Radloff, Robert McClure, Daniel D. Seckinger and Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks publicly complain about a lack of funds for education. With a shockingly low high school graduation rate of only 67.4%, the board members of Gwinnett County Public Schools should explain why paying the salaries of chamber employees takes precedence over spending that money on educating Gwinnett students.
Because school board members refused to answer questions about the payments to the chamber, documents from open records requests were sent to the Georgia Department of Education. The Director, Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts, Education Audit Division, concluded:
“These types of payroll expenditures do not appear to meet the criteria in Official Code of Georgia Annotated §20-2-411 which states, "The school funds shall be used to pay the salaries of personnel and to pay for the utilization of school facilities, and for no other purpose.
"We recommend the Department of Education seek legal advice from the State Attorney General's office regarding the legality of these types of expenditures and take appropriate action with Gwinnett County Board of Education based on the outcome.”
School board members owe Gwinnett County taxpayers answers to these questions:
- Why did open records requests reveal there are there no minutes for the board's meeting to approve these multi-year payments that now total over $900,000?
- Why did GCPS classify the salaries for chamber employees in their financial records as “Banking Fees and services for central office and local schools (including fees for investment advisor)"?
- Were these payments an incentive to the Gwinnett Chamber for the tasks listed in the Partnership Gwinnett Report Card which included advocating for SPLOST initiatives, millage rate increases and to support GCPS in their legal action involving constitutional local control of charter schools?
- Because responses to open records requests did not produce any substantiation to claims that GCPS received $6 million in return for paying chamber salaries, what is the basis for that claim?
Do you want the school board to continue to pay the salaries for Gwinnett Chamber employees, while teachers are being furloughed and school board members and the school superintendent publicly complain about a lack of funds for education?
You can learn more about these activities and view the Partnership Gwinnett Report Card at www.gwinnettpetition.com.
Sabrina Smith, Chairman
Gwinnett Citizens for Responsible Government
I would like to point out one item. Although the graduation rate is listed at 67%, this is the result of some new math in the state. A few months ago, probably to help market the Charter Schools initiative, the State chose to change the way that graduates are accounted for. Prior to this "re-do", Gwinnett's graduation rate was 84%. New rule: If a student enters a school as a freshman, he must graduate in four years from that same school. Logical-Not quite. What was taken away was any allowance for Special Needs students and students that for "any reason" were held back due to grades, illness, accidents, or family issues. And most interesting, if a student's family is transferred or if they simply change schools, they are not counted as a graduate...even if he is in another school. The above reasons should not label a students as drop outs, or a school as having a low graduation rate. Gwinnett's schools have been proven to be top performers, not just in Georgia, but across the country. Proof is that they received the Broad Award last year which is a national merit award for achievement. Whatever the reasons for the change in math, it will hurt Gwinnett's ability to market homes and businesses. After all, the first item a new family looks at is the reputation of the local schools and at the new 67%, we don't look very good. Sorry to change subjects as your article was very interesting and eye opening.
So I have a vested interest in how the graduation rate is publicized, not only to Georgia, but across the country. I am offended that "someone" decided it was important to discredit the graduation rates of public schools. I have spoken to School Board Members and several Principals and they really have no answers (that they are willing to tell). After talking to a couple of local politicians, I developed the belief that this was done deliberately to discredit public schools. I am not an expert on this and find that no one really can explain it well. So, left to my own noodling, I suspect, due to the timing of it, that is was a political move to support Charter Schools. But this is a groundless opinion I developed after several conversations. I do have to question why on earth would the State deliberately make our school systems look bad. It has a direct effect on property values and businesses! Google Georgia Graduation Rates, you'll see what I'm referring to. I hope my "conclusions" are incorrect, but I see no other option. I do know that Gwinnett schools are respected across the country and hate that they are being discredited. I would love to know the truth about this and the "donations / salaries".
We pay school taxes for a very specific purpose, educating children. Where does the GCPS authority come from to allow them to give the money to the Chamber of Commerce? What else are they spending education money on that we don't know about?
GCPS is in the business of education. The chamber should be investing in GCPS. Vote Jen Falk for school board.
This happened about 7 years ago and the graduation rates fell then too, but then rose back up to the mid 80 percent range. It's a stupid formula and no one likes it. But suffice it to say the "actual" graduation rate is higher.
(Sorry visions of T-SPLOST logic dancing in the background) AS to the spending, the lack of proper back-up specifically relating to Chamber funding has done some damage to GCPS credibility. The inability to communicate or total lack of desire to correct this ongoing operations "flaw" defies common sense. It almost begins to rise to the level of SRTA - lite...
I agree with you. The formula is stupid and hurts the reputation of the state (as if it's not bad enough now). A perfect example will be what's happening now.............All of the students in New York and New Jersey will most likely miss a major part of their school year and have to make it up. If they are in high school, they won't graduate on time or they must transfer to another school somewhere else. Both scenarios mean they are considered dropouts and the school's graduation rate will be very low. So much for these two states having high rates! What a pathetic system. Too bad with the timing as our new and improved rate is being touted on television by the pro Charter School Advocates as a reason to build Charter Schools. Perfect example of what happens when politicians get power over education.
Have students graduated in four years. Sounds easy? It should be. But the new and improved system does not account for normal variations. The easiest one to illustrate is; When a family is transferred or moves to another school cluster, the student is considered a drop out and this counts against the graduation rate for that high school. Another current example is what's happening in New York and New Jersey. These kids will not graduate on time or will transfer to another school. Either way, they will lower the graduation rate of their prior high school. What a great system!
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I personally have great respect for the GCPS. The District has earned national acclaim in a variety of caragories; most importantly as the recipient of the Broad Award. I live in a cluster that excels. Every school exceeds AYP and has extremely high CRCT's and ITBS scores. SAT scores are recognized nationally and are among the best in Georgia. Therefore, I am proud of this District. With that said, if they broke the law they should suffer the legal consequences. I am not qualified to know what those should be, but I am confident there are provisions to deal with this issue. At this time there is no proof they have done anything wrong. However, you have piqued my interest and I will be watching to see what transpires.
Jen Falk has openly and aggressively opposed this practice in her blogs and in a recent debate with MKM in Peachtree Corners. MKM said she condoned and was proud of the practice. Jen Falk has written many blogs and Q/A reponses to express her opposition to this topic. Let's take a look at a few: http://duluth.patch.com/blog_posts/a-turning-point-4f3ad769 http://peachtreecorners.patch.com/blog_posts/qa-on-district-3-candidate-for-gwinnett-county-school-board (see question 7) http://duluth.patch.com/blog_posts/where-we-stand It is time to unseat MKM, 16 years is far too long. Vote for Jen Falk! We absolutely need more accountability and transparency in how our tax $ are spent. I want my tax $$ used in the classroom not the Chamber. Jen will be a good steward of our tax $$. Jen Falk will foster accountability and transparency in all that she does as our District III school board representative,
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