Last week, the Gwinnett County Board of Education and district leaders met with the Gwinnett legislative delegation to share key issues and concerns that affect our schools and programs, students and staff, and finances and governance. The 2020 session of the Georgia General Assembly begins Jan. 13.
Following are highlights in four key categories:
Funding: Ensure no reductions in local or state funding, which jeopardize our ability to provide students the quality and effective education our community demands and expects, and challenges us to maintain a sound financial position and our AAA bond ratings. Specifically, the Board urges the General Assembly to…
Ensure any new funding formula is quantitative, student enrollment-based, adequate, and equitable; maintains a fully funded Equalization Grant; generates no fewer dollars than the current formula; and continues maximum funding levels for capital outlay.
Continue allotment of additional funds, and allowing a local school system flexibility in expending these funds, to meet the system’s safety and security needs.
Conduct a comprehensive review of the State Health Benefit Plan and considering all possible solutions and cost-saving measures.
Review the research on the impact of early learning programs and providing the fiscal resources needed to implement effective programs and practices.
Fund pupil transportation at a level that eliminates the gap between state-allotted funding and the actual costs to local districts.
Sustain the current Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, recognizing that it is a compelling incentive for recruiting and retaining quality educators.
Fiscal and School Improvement Initiatives: Sustain the improvements made in these areas:
Ensure continuation of the Governor’s School Leadership Academy, funded through the First Priority Act.
Support the recruitment and retention of mathematics and science teachers by maintaining the funding for endorsement supplements for teachers in these critical-need areas.
Provide funding to hire and train school counselors so students will have greater access to services that address academic preparation, college and postsecondary planning, and career readiness.
Support the recommendations of the “Vision for Public Education in Georgia” project.
Expand funding for APEX school mental health services.
Governance/Local Control: Support the Constitutional authority of local boards of education by…
Maintaining local school board control over such things as instructional resources, local revenue sources, student discipline, curriculum, school-year calendar, etc.
Sustaining Title 20 flexibility for Strategic Waivers School Systems.
Supporting the implementation of innovative assessment options at the local, state, and/or federal levels.
Ensuring sovereign immunity of local boards of education.
Allowing local school systems operational control over social issues that have an impact on school climate and instruction.
Continuing Positions: Support long-standing positions of the Gwinnett County School Board:
Encourage legislation that promotes a safe and secure learning environment through a focus on facilities, staffing, students, parents, and technology as means to maximize school safety.
Resist efforts to provide contracts for classified employees.
Protect public education funding by opposing vouchers and/or tuition tax credits.
Require impact statements for any new legislation before enactment.