This is our students' last week of the school year. As I reflect on 2010-2011, I am filled with much admiration for your hard work and results you've obtained. You're truly amazing, and you need to know that.

One of the significant events that occurred this year was outside of our control, and it was the Georgia Supreme Court's decision this week on the charter school lawsuit. As many of you know, several school systems including ours sued the state and the Georgia Department of Education about a law that was implemented several years ago. This law allowed for a state-appointed commission to authorize charter schools without the approval of local school districts and also directed that local dollars be diverted from the local school systems to pay for the charter schools. The court's 4 to 3 decision reaffirms the support for public education and the importance of having the people closest to the voters, the local school board, approve charter schools.

But, it isn't over yet. Many believe there will be a push to amend the constitution or find ways to work around the Supreme Court decision. Please continue to stay informed of what's happening. At this point, this week's decision was good for public education.

On a different note, I attended the Morehouse College graduation last weekend. As I watched the graduates, I saw one of our former students with the class! (In fact, I now know that we had two former students graduate from Morehouse last weekend.) I think my sense of pride when I saw them is the same sense of pride that elementary and middle school teachers and administrators have when they see their former students graduate from high school.

You do a great job of preparing our students for success, and this is an additional example of your results. Congratulations to those of you who know a former GSCS student graduating from college this year.

As we close out this school year, I want to share some personal notes with you. These are small things, but small things sometimes become important to each and every one of us.

On that day last July when we had the Norcom Education Celebration and Kids in Need Free Store for Teachers, I was fortunate, privileged, and honored to personally welcome (most of) you back by greeting you during your free store visit at Spalding High School. I shook your hand and said, "Have a great year, I dare you to do better!" I was also fortunate, privileged and honored to close out this year by signing your contracts for next year. These are just small gestures on my part. But, relationships are important. My personal belief is that being able to see you, look you in eye, shake your hand, welcome you back, and then sign your contract for next year is my way of saying how much I truly respect you. And, I'll tell you, both events had one commonality: my hand was sore when it was over!

As we will continue with celebrations and the ending of school this week:

• Please continue to support and cheer Spalding High School's baseball team as they compete in the final four of the playoffs.
   
• Please continue to support our graduates from Griffin High, Spalding High, and A. Z. Kelsey Academy as they commence the next part of their lives.
   
• And lastly, help me thank our 2011 retirees. Your contributions have been great - we will miss you! Don't be a stranger, come visit us, and continue to help us help children.

And for all - Continue to Dare to Do Better! Have a great weekend!

At its called meeting on May 17, 2011, the board of education. . .

Griffin, GA - Today, May 16, the Georgia Supreme Court reaffirmed that the level of government closest to and most responsive to the taxpayers and parents of k-12 students - local boards of education - has exclusive control over k-12 schools. With today's ruling, the high court reversed a Fulton County court decision by ruling in favor of locally elected school boards and against the General Assembly-created Georgia Charter Schools Commission.

Griffin-Spalding County School System Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones said, "I am pleased with the state Supreme Court's decision to strike down the Charter Schools Commission. This is a truly a victory for taxpayers and public school systems in Georgia who serve over 92% of students in our state."

Dr. Jones continued, "The opinion of the Court is lengthy. We will read and absorb the information especially the dissenting opinion to learn all we can. The ruling only affects the 14 schools approved by the Charter Schools Commission. The state Board of Education can still approve charter schools that were rejected by local boards and grant them state funds but not local funds. These public funds belong to local taxpayers who give authority to their locally elected school board members to spend them wisely. When the state Charter Schools Commission approved start-up charter schools around Georgia, the Commission indirectly funded them with local tax dollars, taking away the control taxpayers have when they vote."

The Griffin-Spalding County School System has been waiting for the court decision for several months. Griffin-Spalding along with Gwinnett, Bulloch, Candler, DeKalb, Atlanta and Henry County school systems filed a lawsuit in Fulton County Superior Court challenging the constitutionality of the law that allows the state to divert funds from local school systems to charter schools.

Griffin-Spalding County School Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones, who gave a deposition for the suit, said, "With this decision, the Georgia Supreme Court has shown its respect for the work public school teachers do every day for 92% of the children in Georgia, for local school governance, and for all public school employees. "

The decision was handed down in the midst of the development of the Griffin-Spalding County School System's FY12 general fund budget. The initial FY11 school system budget of $76 million was down $4.9 million from the initial budget the year before, and the prospect for more funds is dim. For the past three years, the millage rate has remained at 18.80 mills under the constitutional cap of 20 mills.

Dr. Jones said, "Our board of education is accountable for both tax rates and the quality of our public schools and has made difficult choices necessary to operate within a millage rate of 18.80 these past three years. Rather than divert dollars from the local school system, the Supreme Court decision recognizes the authority of school boards to fund public education."

The Georgia School Boards Association is pleased with the Georgia Supreme Court's strong endorsement today of the role of locally elected boards of education. The Association and its members are committed to continuing to provide a strong and innovative system of public education for all of the state's children.

In a decision that upholds the "fundamental principle of exclusive local control of general primary and secondary public education," the Georgia Supreme Court held the Georgia Charter Schools Commission Act to be "clearly and palpably" in violation of the State Constitution.

In preserving the 134-year history of local control enshrined in the current and earlier Georgia Constitutions, the Court rejected the General Assembly's attempt to expand its authority to create "special" state schools and to define "special" to mean whatever it wanted it to mean.

According to the Court, the special schools authority "cannot be interpreted either as a relinquishment of the historical exclusivity of control vested in local boards of education over general K-12 schools or as a carte blanche authorization for the General Assembly to create its own general K-12 schools so as to duplicate the efforts of or compete with locally controlled schools for the same pool of students educated with the same limited pool of tax funds."

GSBA, through its Delegate Assembly, has a long history of supporting charter schools approved by local boards of education.

"Charter schools, approved by local boards of education, that focus on increasing student achievement through unique programs can be a strong addition to the diverse educational opportunities offered by local school systems," said GSBA President Dr. James Pope, who is also a board member on the Carrollton City School Board.

Tickets are required for A. Z. Kelsey Academy, Griffin High School, and Spalding High School graduations. Please click here for more information.

Important Dates
 

Wednesday, May 25
Griffin High and Spalding High Schools Baccalaureate Service
First Assembly of God Church - 7:00 p.m.
*Ticketed Event

Thursday, May 26
AZKA Graduation
Griffin Auditorium - 9:30 a.m.
*Ticketed Event

Friday, May 27
Griffin High School Graduation
Memorial Stadium - 7:00 p.m.
*Ticketed Event

Saturday, May 28
Spalding High School Graduation
Memorial Stadium - 9:00 a.m.
*Ticketed Event

Tuesday, June 7
Board of Education Meeting
6:00 p.m.

• Current or former students of a nominated teacher
• Parents of current or former students of a nominated teacher
• Coworker of a nominated teacher
• Current or former principal of a nominated teacher
• School district staff